Saturday, June 15, 2013

More Retreat Makes

We're at the end of school crazy time around here and while classes finished yesterday we are now in the throes of exam prep. Each of them have 5 exams to write to write this week. I may lock myself in my sewing room to keep from incessantly nagging them to "Get the heck off Facebook and study!"  Honestly, how does anyone make it through university these days with all the social media they have to keep up on?

Ok, so I'm really dragging this retreat thing out, but here are a few more pics. My spring retreat buddies are French General Fanatics. When we retreat, they both just bring bags and bags of every line of FG. And I mean every line. Then they proceed to make the most beautiful quilts, pillows, pin cushions, table runners and bags out of it!

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To start, here was our basement sweat shop! The set up was perfect - big cutting table, individual work stations, a heater and carpeted floor. Our iron was just around the corner in the laundry room.

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Isn't Rossie's bed gorgeous?! That's my dresden plate pillow pattern on the right - she 
made a beautiful one!

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This is the quilt top Sandi got together. That border print is a fav of all three of us.

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Here are our farm fresh breakfast eggs from local friend Sue's hens. And a sweet table topper by Rossie under the rose glass bowl.

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Rossie's hand-quilted couch throw was super cozy in the mornings.

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She made this gorgeous 241 Bag with Martha Negley's Farmdale feathers print and a French General linen look blue solid.

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I was the beneficiary of a few choice selvage pieces and had some of my own to add so I got a start on this pillow top and made a few little pin cushions of similar design with leftovers

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My second Scrap Vomit top is together. This time I used Kona pomegranate and a grey/white dot for the accent blocks.

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I started free-motion quilting my first Scrap top that's been basted for weeks already. I was struggling with shredded top thread (I'm using a gorgeous variegated Sulky Blendable in 40wt). I tried 90/14 and 100/16 topstitch needles but the problem wasn't solved. I said a few choice words and soldiered on, but it was very frustrating.

A little neighbourhood
A neighbourhood of tiny houses destined to become tape measure holders. I'm making these for the Fat Quarterly retreat sample swap. Laurraine's pattern can be found here.

a little Scrap Burp name tag for my partner. Those are 1/2" squares.
I also made my secret partner's nametag for FQRLondon. I have to get that in the mail this week! The idea is that we send them in advance so we can arrive all nametag-equipped at the retreat Friday afternoon.

I think that just about wraps it up for spring retreat 2013. Only 31 more sleeps 'till I leave for London and I'm running a day retreat next Saturday as well, so there's plenty more social sewing in my near future. Yay!

18 comments:

Lisa said...

You were VERY productive. Love the pomegranate and grey dot in the scrap vomit. Your nametag for your secret partner is to die for...I am in love with the teeny tiny squares and of course the tape measure strap!!!

What Comes Next? said...

looks like you all had a great time, and were productive! Love the second scrap vomit - makes me want to go slice up some scraps! The grey polka dot is great with the pomegranate.
Like your quilting on the first one - hope the shredding subsides for you - that is very frustrating!

Nina Lise@Mrs Moen said...

Who knew something called vomit could look so good! I understand quite a few people have the same experience as you free motion quilting with the varigated Sulky. Very frustrating; good for you not giving up on it.
Looks like a very productive retreat indeed!

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Loads of lovely makes there missus, all that brown and red had me a bit twitchy though!

Catherine said...

You have been very busy. Love the FQR name tag, someone is going to be very lucky

Sarah said...

Lots of eye candy here! Love your FQR name tag!!

Isisjem said...

Lots of pretties here - is it only 31 days or so until the FQ Retreat!?

Kirsty @ Bonjour Quilts said...

Nice vomit! No carrots though, how strange.

Jodi said...

Looks like a very busy place! I'm not a big FG fan, but that quilt is gorgeous! Thanks for the link for the little houses. I want to make some - how cute! And that's a very nice name tag!

Jodi said...

OH, and I forgot to say, I LOVE the scrap vomit quilt! I have one in the making, alas...

Elsa said...

Retreats are the most fun. Looks like you all had a great time and got lots done. I do 2 every year and I'm always amazed at how much work everyone gets done.

paulette said...

Well I personally enjoyed every moment of our retreat!! What do you mean I wasn't there?...of course I was!! I love the General too!:o))
P

Barb said...

Such a fun retreat! I've been having problems with shredding thread too (but with a mettler variegated silk-finish thread). I finally gave up on it and went back to good ol' aurifil. Now I've got some picking to do. Yours looks beautiful!

PinkGranny said...

Great projects...and I am inspired! One of these days I am definitely going to make the Dresden Plate Pattern.

Sarah said...

Gorgeous red and white quilts in this post! I am a bit partial to French General. The name tag is unique. I really like it, lucky recipient!

Anonymous said...

My, those projects really took my breath away. Those are certainly wonderful and stunning, and whoever made those stuff are really 100% talented and sweet. Quilting is a very hard thing to do. I just admire all quilters. They truly are inspiration to all of us. Great job everyone! Ciao!

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Anonymous said...

My, those works really made me crave for more. Those are certainly wonderful and stunning, and whoever made those stuff is really an inspiration to the rest of us bloggers. Quilting is a very hard thing to do. I just admire all quilters. They truly are someone to look up to. Great job everyone! Ciao!

from Annie at PhD Degree

Live a Colorful Life said...

So I have a FG layer cake that has been neglected since I got it, and was about ready to get rid of it (to a good home, of course). I'm kind of rethinking that whole idea...