Retreat Time ! Snow Time??

Yes, it's snow - about 4" we woke up to yesterday morning!  It's taking a long time to get around to spring here in Iowa.  But the moisture is good!

Well, at least bad weather did not interfere with our retreat trip.  We had an awesome trip up & back from Little Falls, MN, where the retreat was held at Lake Beauty Bible Camp.  The huge room where the quilters all gathered to sew was perfect with lots of space & carpeted side walls easy to pin blocks & quilts up so we could see what everyone was working on.  It was amazing how the wall changed daily, sometimes even by the hour, as the ladies worked on their projects.

There were about 60 quilters plus Sharon & I & Sue Herzberg from Quilt Cove in Eagan, the shop owner hostess.  Food was wonderful, all fixed by the camp, Lake Beauty Bible Camp.  The camp alone brought back wonderful memories of my bible camp days at Okoboji.

Many of the ladies come back to this camp for quilt retreats year after year.  The dining room fireplace was very impressive !

Digitals of most of the quilters are on my personal facebook page & Clothesline Quilts facebook page .  Join us there!

 

And here are some pictures of a few of the quilts from Show & Tell.  Sorry if I missed yours, but I could not take them fast enough.  These ladies know how to get quilts done & show them . . . just saying!  The first one is a large size
Bull Run by Tanya; isn't it awesome with the blue toile.



 As each of the quilts was shown, the owner walked up & talked about the quilt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the Retreat . . . shops along the way

Before I show the retreat pictures, I must share some of the quilt shops along the way that Sharon & I stopped at - after all, it was a 5-hour drive north &, of course, we had to get out & stretch along the way.  Not our fault, if it happened to be right in front of a quilt shop every time!   Oh, & of course, I'll share the retreat, too; still catching up here at the farm.  The pictures are up on facebook already if you must see now.

Val Besser, Spinning Spools

Our first stop was in New Ulm where we found 2 shops - Spinning Spools Quilt Shop & The Thimble Box.  Both, lovely shops.  Val Besser, owner at Spinning Spools, was working on her Legacy Sampler which is her shop's Block of the Month this year.  I was so excited to see her so excited about the sampler that a group of us did for the Kansas City Designer Hop at the last spring market.  Isn't it wonderful - she said it's going together nicely.  BTW, that pattern is now available for sale.  You can call for patterns at 1-712-362-3022.



Brenda Seidl, The Thimble Box

Brenda Seidl from The Thimble Box offers a super large selection of panels; she also does patterns to complement the panels; patterns that are more than just adding borders to the panels. 

Look at the huge African violets she grows!

Gathering Friends, Deb, Kathy & Sue

Then we were on to Bird Island, home of Gathering Friends Quilt Shop, owner/designers, Deb Jacobs & Kathy Squibb.  What a lovely shop we found there, actually 3 shops in one with their own line of books & patterns, all the fabrics & notions, & a gift shop for dreaming.

Sue Sandgren on the right was employee of the day.  The quilts on the wall behind them are from their newest book.  Don't you just love their entrance!

On to Litchfield where we found DeAnn's Country Village Shoppe.  I found some children's fabrics there that will make beautiful little coloring bags & aprons.

Sharon was continuing her search for blacks & white/creams for a new project.

Apologizies, DeAnn; I must have missed taking a picture, but I sure love the pinks & purples I purchased at your shop!



On to Kimball - Gone To Pieces Quilt Shop - Owner Penny Callander is like a smile-in-every-aisle at her warm, quaint quilt shop.  So much inspiration & friendliness housed there & more pinks for coloring bags!




The last stop was at Avon, MN, where we found Aunt Annie's Quilts & Silks.  Owner Lucy Senstad was quick to show us what she does with hand dyes, discharge dyed fabrics & gelatin prints; something you don't find at every quilt shop.

A fabric grouping in yellow, black & white really caught my eye there; have not seen that fabric anywhere else.  That is why we need all the quilt shops we can have - everyone has her own selection which makes this shop hopping so much fun!

Retreat in Little Falls, MN !!

Sue Herzberg, owner of Quilt Cove, in Eagan, MN is hosting her annual Spring Quilt Retreat in Little Falls, Minnesota !

Come join us at the Lake Beauty Bible Camp on April 3 - 7 or whatever arrival & departure works for you.  Sounds like a wonderful place - right? 

Bull Run Quilt

I'll be teaching the second quilt in the Civil War Battle Series - Bull Run, so beautiful in its application of a toile fabric or use a floral in that alternate block for a totally different look.  We'll cover the construction of the main railroad block & the alternate snowball block.  Then let you sew until your heart's delight.

Table Cozees II

Next day we'll make 4 simple propeller blocks for the Table Cozees II , then cover mitering of the corners & scalloping the border with the Easy Scallop.  Again you should have lots of time to sew.

Table Cozees II

Included in the Table Cozees II pattern is a second pattern, Old Maid's Puzzle, & we'll learn border scallops like these.


Here is a link to the brochure for the retreat.  Join us for the fun!

Join Me at Merry's Stitchins in Jesup, IA

I'm excited to forward information to you about a trunk show/retreat I'm doing with Merry at her new shop in Jesup, Iowa.

Consider this your invitation to join us for some fun & sewing the second weekend in October!  Call the shop @ 319-827-6703 to register!

Thursday, October 11

Trunk Show — $10

7 PM to 8:30 PM

at Merry’s Stitchins

(includes dessert and mystery Merry Bucks!)

Join us for a quilt show and a little history lesson.
Evonne Cook of Clothesline Quilts has a fabulous collection of civil war designs to share (with patterns of them all, too!) She has researched the Battles of the Civil War and the Generals. She also is known for the cute "coloring bags" patterns that we have samples of in the shop.   An Iowa Girl, she and her husband make their home on the family farm in Northwest Iowa.

Friday, Oct 12: 9 AM to 3 PM

Chattanooga Class Make your own Civil War Battle Series quilt. Learn some power cutting and piecing techniques. Our sample finishes 40" x 54". Alternative size of 74" x 102" also included on pattern.

Instructors: Merry & Evonne. Lunch included.

Class Fee: $25 Pattern Required. Kits available.

Saturday, Oct. 13: 9 AM to 3 PM

Atlanta ClassMake your own Civil War Battle Series quilt. Learn some power cutting and piecing techniques. Our sample finishes
48" x 58". Alternative size of 95" x 115" also included on pattern.

Instructors: Merry & Evonne. Lunch included.

Class Fee: $25 Pattern Required. Kits available.

Call the shop to sign up today! 319-827-6703