Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Retreat Wrap

Hello all!!! I'm waving at you as I run by my laptop, upload a few pictures and let you know all is well here, just all-consumed by volunteer work, Project Big Project (one of those "I'm working on it but I can't talk about it" things that drives me insane online, sorry), an impromptu visit by my far away sister and a few orders to churn out. 

My annual Loon Lake 4-day retreat has been and gone. Total success. I swear every year it gets more fun as the group becomes more and more comfortable with each other. We squeezed 29 quilters in this year and at times the sewing room was deafening - all that cackling was truly divine, though. A sure sign that people were enjoying every minute! 

  LoonLake 2013

See those scrappy Trip Around the World blocks taped to the far wall? Those were the Block Lotto blocks this year and guess who finally won? Yup, MEEEEEEE!  Apparently I even jumped for joy when I realized my luck. The guilt of walking away (as the retreat organizer) with thirty 12 1/2" blocks soon wore off. In fact I returned home and pieced the top the very next day.

photo
I settled on a zig zag arrangement - here it is on my design wall. I'm thinking a diagonal grid every second square, with wavy stitch for the quilting. Keeping it simple and gettin 'er done for the holidays.

It just makes me all happy inside that people are willing to travel to this gathering. Kristi came all the way from Winnipeg (read her lovely post about her weekend here), Krista K3 from Anchorage and Krista K2 and Sandie from Seattle. Amazing!! Plus all of my incredibly supportive quilting friends from right here in the Lower Mainland (that's what we call Vancouver and surrounding cities), whom I adore.

K3,  K2 and K1 - the Krista's together again
The Krista's together again! K3, K2 and me, K1. 

Liberty bookmarks by Poppyprint
Just some little Liberty bookmarks I made to say 'thanks' to the traveling gals for coming all this way to play.

For the first time in years I did not bring any Christmas gift projects. My plan was to focus on making one large twin sized quilt, and if that was accomplished, I brought some bee blocks along to piece as well. This was my view daily (as of 4:00 p.m.).

Poppyprint on retreat

I haven't worked on a chain-piecing repetitive quilt project for a while and if it weren't for the pretty Denyse Schmidt Hope Valley prints I might have given up in boredom. This is a sweet pattern, though and I'm glad that I stuck with it. The scale of prints perfectly matched those used by Lori in her sample and I think that's what makes the pattern so effective.  I had two charm packs won from Amanda  (Sasikirana on IG) and found almost all of the line in my stash, which was rather shocking to me. I didn't know I liked Hope Valley so much. Thanks to scrap donations from K3 and Kristi, my selection was complete!

Lori Holt's Sugar Flowers by Poppyprint
Just have to add the 2 1/2" borders all around and then this top can join the (long) line awaiting quilting.

Sugar Flower by Poppyprint
Here's the nighttime show and tell shot from retreat.

Just a couple of days after retreat, my sister came to town for a conference and we spent as much of her 'free' time together as possible. Shopping, eating, having fun without kids. A very strange concept for both of us. She brought along my birthday gift (from summer) which I am in love with.

Awesome pewter cuff

There's your update friends. See you soon!

16 comments:

paulette said...

Your quilt is incredible!! And your piecing is perfection!!! Love it!! Also your bracelet is amazing!! Your sis knows you well!

It really warms my heart to see SEW many young women quilting!! You GO girls!!
Take care!~
PO

Kirsty @ Bonjour Quilts said...

So much good stuff. What a haul with the blocks you won, you lucky thing! I love the Denise quilt and would steal that cuff if you wore it to my house. ;)

Anonymous said...

Awesome Krista! What exactly is that project you can't talk about online? :-)

Lise-Lotte said...

So great to get this update Krista! I can feel the energy and fun that you have recently had- along with all the work to facilitate that retreat experience--it's no wonder people would come from wherever to be a part of the wonderful energy that you create on retreat- lucky them!
Lise-Lotte
partygreen.ca

Tammy said...

Looks like you had a great time, again! I checked out Kristie's blog too. You all accomplished so much! Great quilting!

Di said...

Gosh I love the pattern of your Hope Valley quilt. It looks like a lot of sewing and fun happened over four days. Di x

Leanne said...

Glad you had a great time, I think that you forget to mention all the work organizing and running the retreat in these posts.

Live a Colorful Life said...

I want to attend the Loon Lake retreat SOO much (and I was soooo close last year). I have kind of a shocking amount of Hope Valley as well. It's still one of my favorite lines. Your quilt is beautiful. So is the scrappy trip-along! I have enjoyed seeing pictures of your sister. When we went on a fall foliage cruise several years ago, PEI was our favorite stop. Glad you could spend time with your sister and your bracelet is amazing!

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

So jealous of it all - Retreat and sister time xxx

Kelsey said...

*sigh, I just love reading all of the recap posts from this retreat every year. By the looks and sounds of it, everyone had a blast again this year! Perhaps if there is a spot on the waiting list I could mosey on over from Calgary next year *hint hint, nudget nudge*? Congrats on winning the blocks this year and for hosting another great retreat!

Isisjem said...

That retreat looks amazing and what a gorgeous bracelet.

Dianne said...

Sigh....I miss retreat! Thankfully MIR is just a few short months away!!!

Catherine said...

Love the finished quilt too. And what a great bracelet

trudys_person said...

Retreat was amazing, again! Thank you so much for all your hard work Krista!

Katy Cameron said...

Sounds like you all had a blast, and love your pressie!

Sew Create It - Jane said...

I'm so far behind in reading posts but didn't want to pass by and not comment on that gorgeous scrappy bargello. Those blocks all look fabulous together and I love the hint of red in each one... Congrats :-)