Tuesday's tea and Wednesday's block

Lamb Kofte with rice and fresh peas topped with tomato sauce,
yoghurt and coriander.

Framed New York Beauty block, a stretch for me. I usually
avoid curves at all costs.

I have got so much duty sewing and quilting deadlines I'm starting to feel quite stressed! However completing my block for Quay Quilters' group quilt is a step in the right direction and making a nice meal yesterday (Alan's chef today) and cleaning the house this morning (it needed it) helps me to feel I haven't totally ...


...lost the plot.

Traditional Quilt Group retreat

Our workroom

Jackie at work

This was a lovely weekend and the Jackie Taylor jelly roll/precuts class enjoyed a large space and plenty of tables to work at and spread out work. Jackie amused us all and was very knowledgeable and managed us doing different projects with aplomb so there was plenty to look at and we had a day and a half to make good progress with our work. Lots of examples of her own work for which patterns are available were spread out for us to enjoy. I used a set of strips I'd been given by a magazine which were not the usual coordinated array and which I was anxious to stress were not my own choice from my stash (I'd have done a better job) so my project was traditional in the sense of making do with what I had. Others displayed more taste however!

I took the pink hearts out

Star pieces laid out ready

Trying out setting triangles and border

QGBI TQG Retreat

On the way here I called at The Bramble Patch, a wonderful Patchwork shop where I spent my vouchers.

Our planned hotel for this event had obviously overbooked which caused considerable disruption as we had to stay elsewhere for the first night but the organisers coped very well. However now we are here  it's a super venue with excellent facilities and definitely a cut above the norm. The organisers have coped with the problems with patience and determination to make sure all is as easy for the delegates as possible. Anyway last night we had a super talk by Jan Hassard about her own quilts rather than her collection though she did include a few of her vintage collection items.

One of Jan's early teaching sampler quilts



A Red Cross quilt from Jan's collection



From Jan's collection, a TRIPLE wedding ring quilt

Today we got down to work early at 9 with Jackie of White Country Crafts all working on different precuts projects. My quilting death wish has come into play and I've passed up all my lovely Moda jelly rolls in favour of a very strange selection of strips, not coordinated at all.

Quilt Retreat Last Post

Marigold's Liberties

Photo Call

Ingrid's twirling stars

Judi's dazzling Commas

Becky's modern quilt

Retreat Day 3

For the first time ever I finished a top on  retreat, one started last year when I was here and I've added red frames to some of the hexagons from Maggie Kingston's workshop. So it was a very productive day.

Becky's blocks using
Moda's Comma line

Maggie's delicious bucking brncos (detail)



Gillian's blocks with interesting sashing

Valerie's Quilt Show BOM stars, a group exchange

Judy O's wonderful star layout, a big effort project



My Fabric Fusion top started in a Judy Johnson workshop, Sisters, Oregon.

My twirling stars, higher contrast here than in reality

Maggie's quilt top all done

Isabel's quilt top for a child

Retreat Day 2

Another beautiful bright and productive day. I completed my duty sewing by foundation piecing elements of the Quay Quilters' group quilt and then picked up on a Fabric Fusion project I last worked on during a previous retreat. I've now completed all the blocks and am  joining rows and inbuilt border.

My QQ block pieces

My FF blocks

First two rows

Belinda's top finished at last and it's wonderful

Valerie's kites

Another child's quilt from Mandy

Isabel's blocks



Maggie's quilt top detail

Maggie's quilt layout

Retreat Day1

I set off bright and early yesterday for our quilt retreat. Today has started nice and sunny and yesterday was hot. We stopped for lunch at our usual place and on arrival at the centre tables were up and sewing machines buzzing in no time. Some projects were near to completion. For my part I decided to get my duty sewing out of the way firstly completing my Bonnie blocks only slightly hampered by one piece too few. Next up is QQ group quilt contribution.

Lunchtime view

Here we all are

Mandy's quilt for a baby relative

detail

Belinda's top from a Kaffe Fassett class on its third retreat. I think she will finish it
this time.

My Bonnie blocks

Carrie's quilt ready to trim and bind

Quay Quilters' night

It was a fun evening. I thought it would be chaos but as usual underestimated us as everyone set to and got on with what was needed to be done. I had a lovely evening cutting and cutting in a side room. I love cutting so came home happy with more to do. People were very generous wth their fabrics!
I went to both Tracy's and Maggie's workshops so feel I should finish my things too. I'll take Maggie's hexagons on retreat.

Ann's quilt made to teach French Braid

Valerie's quilt started in Maggie Kingston's "Twirling Stars" workshop

Valerie's hexagon star started in Tracy Aplin's
hand piecing workshop

Pauline showed a gadget to help
with resizing patterns including
photocopier settings.

Artwork in the school where we meet on a Fair Trade theme.

Show and Tell

Before our retreat we get together for a lunch, get to know you and show and tell. Here is a selection some of which may be repeats.

Mine now being bound



Valerie's to be quilted by Maggie

Maggie's hexagons

Marigold's split 9-Patch inspired by Maggie