FINISHED PROJECT

I spent four days retreating with five good quilting friends at Woodland Ridge Retreat facility in Downsville, Wisconsin in mid-November.  This is the new facility that opened last October and is owned and managed by Chris and Mark Daly.  All six of us were VERY impressed with the accommodations and the work rooms...adjustable tables, adjustable chairs and wonderful lighting.

Back in 1993, I had made my daughter a patchwork jacket.  She had asked me about three months ago if I would make her another one as she had lost weight and the old jacket was pretty well worn and too big.  I started this jacket that weekend.

AND, I FINISHED it a week ago.  The picture below is of our daughter in this new jacket. She will not really be able to wear it until the weather warms in the spring but I wanted to complete it and give it to her before I started my next big project.

EXCITING NEW RETREAT FACILITY

 

Chris Daly of Dye Candy Fabrics is opening the Woodland Ridge Retreat Center in Downsville, Wisconsin, effective October 15, 2013

 

She has some exciting plans for this gorgeous facility. I am posting some pictures so you can see what it looks like.

 

You may also visit their temporary website at www.woodlandridgeretreat.blogspot.com to find out about prices and registration.  Please tell all your quilting friends about this great new opportunity.

 



SOMETHING SIMPLER AND SMALLER

After working on the quilt for the Walworth County Childrens' Alliance, I thought it was time to do something a little more simple and smaller.  

We are bringing a new generation into the world.  My great-nephew and his wife are expecting a baby in early September so I just finished this baby quilt a few days ago.

What you see in the background is a whole cloth quilt that hasn't quite been finished yet.  I stopped working on it so I could complete the quilt for the WCACC.

I am going to visit a former co-worker whom I have not seen in years.  She is now 88 years old and lives in Dothan, Alabama. I decided to make this dresser runner from Joanie Zeier Poole's book "Elegant Machine Quilting" and will take it to her as a token of  our friendship.

T

The image is difficult as it is made with white fabric and stitched with gold thread.  I took a close up image of a portion so you could see the detail of the trapunto.

It was a refreshing to do some simpler smaller things before I complete the next large project.

THE WALWORTH COUNTY ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN

There has been a very dedicated group of citizens in Walworth County who have been working since 2008 to fulfill a dream of opening a building where sexually and physically abused and neglected children and their families could come to be counseled, receive medical exams, tell their stories without fear, and helped to heal from their tragic experiences.

That dream became a reality in April of this year when the building was completed and opened to those in the community needing these services.  They named the building the Treehouse.

A friend of mine, Evelyn Schulz, is on the board of this alliance.  I had asked what artwork they would be using in the building and if she would like me to do a quilt.  She said she would ask the board.  The board asked her to approach me about doing a tree because of the building's name.  For those of you who know me, you know that this is not the kind of quilting I normally do.  But, I told them I would try to see what I could come up with.

It has been a challenging but rewarding project.  You know the saying, "You can always get by with a little help from your friends".  Chris Daly of Dye Candy Fabrics (www.dyecandy.blogspot.com), painted the background fabric with dyes.  I have had numerous comments on how beautiful the background is.  Nora Rader graciously invited me to her studio to help me fuse the rather large trunk and also supplied the fabric with the butterflies so that I could just cut those, fuse them and then reinforce them with stitching. There are 135 leaves which were turned and invisibly appliqued.  The squirrel, flowers, petals, cardinal and bugs were thread painted and then satin stitched onto the top. 

The quilt was just finished this last weekend and hung on Monday.  There are a couple of areas that could be a little better but overall I am pretty happy with the result.  The public open house is tonight and I am hoping to see some of my local friends there.

THE TREE HOUSE QUILT
JULY 29, 2013

2014 RETREAT/REUNION

2014 RETREAT

MAY 30 - JUNE 1ST, 2014

Please note that the above dates have been set for the 2014 retreat/reunion.  Also note that the location has changed to Cedar Valley Retreat Center at West Bend, WI.

As you can see, this is a lovely place in a very rural setting.  The guests rooms are well appointed and can accommodate single or double occupancy.  This retreat will be the same as the last in that there will be no teachers.  You may bring your own projects to work on.  

There are already 24 quilters signed up for this retreat and we have room for 10 more.  Arriving on Thursday, May 29th for afternoon stitching, dinner at the facility and overnight stay is optional.  The additional cost for Thursday is minimal as you will receive a weeknight rate.

The registration form is attached. It lists the prices and other information.  Please contact Mimi Oxman with questions.  Her information is on the registration form.  Here's the link https://docs.google.com/document/d/105XjW7CK1gIfgd6giJ1GJ_R9HHf11GbN9kjrkVkofF4/edit?usp=sharing

Please join us.  If you have not attended this retreat, you will not be disappointed.  This is a great group of quilters. For a better look at the facility, please see www.cedar-valley.org.

I'll be looking forward to seeing you there.

UPDATE TO IQA BUS TRIP

For those of you who still might be interested in the day bus trip to the IQA show in Rosemont, here's the update.  I have been informed that the second bus has been filled and they are keeping a list for a third bus.  June 21st is just around the corner.  So,don't hesitate.  The third bus will only travel if it is filled.  See the previous post for cost, times, etc.

DAY BUS TRIP TO IQA SHOW IN ROSEMONT, ILLINOIS

SEW N SAVE IN RACINE IS HOSTING A BUS TRIP TO THE IQA SHOW AT ROSEMONT, IL

ON

FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2013

THE BUS WILL LEAVE SEW N SAVE

AT

8:45 A.M.

RETURN AT APPROXIMATELY

7:00 P.M

.

COST IS

$45.00

(COST INCLUDES ADMISSION)

CHECKS OR CASH ONLY

ONE BUS HAS ALREADY BEEN FILLED

THOSE WHO SIGN UP NOW WILL BE

PUT ON A LIST FOR A SECOND BUS

SEW N SAVE IS LOCATED AT

3701 DURAND, RACINE, WI 53405

262-554-8708

2013 RETREAT/REUNION

 

The 2013 Retreat/Reunion was held again at Covenant Harbor in Lake Geneva.  I tried to shoot some video but I guess I need some additional lessons.  For those of you who couldn't attend you can see what you missed and for those of you who were there you can smile remembering what a good time you had.

 

 

The following images are courtesy of Sue Buckingham and Mary Zinsmeister.  If you have some you would like to share, please e-mail them to me at quiltinglady@tds.net.

 

Information regarding next year's retreat should be coming soon.

 

Don't you just love this image of the Singer featherweight sewing up these Kaffe Fassett fabrics!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



THERE'S STILL ROOM

DOES THIS LOOK LIKE A GREAT PLACE TO YOU?

 

DOES THIS LOOK LIKE FUN TO YOU?

 

 

 

DOES THIS LOOK LIKE A FRIENDLY GROUP TO YOU?

 

 

If you have answered yes to all of these questions, then this is your lucky day. There is still room at the 2013 Retreat at Covenant Harbor April 5 thru 7th.  This facility offers hotel style rooms with a private bath and the food is excellent.  Please come and join us for 2 1/2 days of quilting, bonding, laughing and good food.  What could be better than that?

The following link will take you to the registration form which lists the prices and rooming options.  Contact information for questions is also listed on the form.

 

 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ciZP4FXXLQ5xwfL2Elwrokm9zO9pno5oPaFAtTcBYRo/pub



NEW CLASSES AND SHOW LISTINGS

Please scroll all the way down to the bottom of this page to see 2013 class listings and upcoming shows.  Check back soon as I will be listing more over the next few days.

If you are looking for dates for this year's big shows or if you are looking for a road trip or traveling around the US this year, you may find something of interest to you in these listings.

Happy hunting!

NEWEST WORK

 

 

 

I just finished this Double Irish Chain about a month ago.  It was a gift for friends who had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.  We met and had lunch yesterday and I gave them the quilt.  I am sure that it has gone to a good home and will be treated well. 

Sounds kind of silly doesn't it.  Like I'm giving them a living thing. But after you've spent quite a lot of time working on them they do take on a personality of their own.

This quilt was one of the most heavily quilted items I have ever done.  Not quite so large.  It measured about 85" x 85".

 

There is a stacked heart design in the middle of the block and there is a double heart and my own feather design in the border.  There are straight lines running through the chains.

Hopefully it will last for another 50 years!