Quilt Retreat

     I returned Sunday afternoon from my second quilt retreat with a wonderful group of quilters from the Eden Quilt Guild.  What a beautiful weekend it was!  Lots of sewing, lots of laughter, lots of good food and friendship.  Not so much sleeping (and I was the first to bed each night!)  

      Since starting this semester at college, I haven't gotten as much sewing in as usual, so this long weekend was the perfect way to make progress on several projects.  One project was the kaleidoscope quilt, using this big bright floral fabric.  

On the wall at the retreat.

     I had precut my triangles, and sewed them up (in half hexagons).  I placed them on the design wall to start to get a sense of layout possibilities.   Once I get a layout, then I can sew by rows, thus avoiding any Y-seams

     What I didn't realize until I returned home was that I had about 10 more sets of triangles in the bottom of my fabric tote.  I am nearly done sewing those up, and will be working on getting this put together.  I am loving the variety of images created by this method! I separated them on the wall to ensure that I don't create two that look too much alike.  Each set of triangles has three possible variations.  I like to try them each out, and then sew up the one I like the best of the three. 

On my design wall.

      I also had cut out some squares to make a wall hanging for a friend from this fabric.    

     However, after putting those on the design wall, I can see that the stripes are not nearly distinct enough, and that this, on its own, is dull and boring.  Back to the drawing board!   These may become another project all together! 

     Everyone at the retreat also worked on a 10-inch block for a guild project, using fabrics selected especially for the project.   I referred to mine as "that damn blue block!" until it was done.  

     I know this doesn't seem like much for 2 1/2 days and evenings of quilting.  One entire day was devoted to another project, and the large center of a lap quilt was completed.  I am thrilled with it, and will soon be putting on the borders and getting it finished soon.  It is a gift for a friend, so I am not sharing any pictures until it is in her hands! 
     Finally, my new little kittens are getting bigger, and seemed happy to see me home!

Judy (in front) and Betty!  

Take care,
Gretchen