Incase you didn't know, my version of Disney Land includes goats that take their meals on metal roofs. What can I say, I'm a simple gal. I tell my dear friend Julie all the time, she is my Disney Land, more specifically my Tigger (she is bouncy and full of energy, and just makes you smile). Every fall for the past three years, she graciously invites several quilters/quilt bloggers to retreat to her little slice of heaven and spend several fun filled days, sewing, shopping, and don't forget the laughing. I can honestly say if it's my one and only trip each year, I can die happy. Meeting with friends, new and old, recharges my batteries and leaves my heart full.
This year, Beth (Cooking Up Quilts) and I met up and drove to the retreat together. The party started early for us. She was even nice enough to let me share a room with her. OMG, you guys! So much fun. We stayed up late laughing, doodling free motion quilting designs and may have ordered a pizza after 10 PM...we live on the wild side, what can I say.
Our group consisted of (starting from left to right) Meta, a local friend of Julie's, who should really have a blog. She is a lover of red work and so knowledgeable on all things historically quilty. Next was, Irene, a regular sewing buddy of Julie's who was just so much fun to hang out with. She even brought over things from her stash she wanted to part with. I was lucky enough to take some of it home. Next we have Sarah (Confessions of a Fabric Addict). This was my first time meeting up with Sarah, and I sure hope it is not the last! Then of course awkward little ol' me. If someone is going to blink in the picture or do the wonky face, I'm your girl...someone's got to do it. I've made peace with that. Then of course Beth (Cooking Up Quilts). Even though she is 2 hrs away from me, I will always think of her as my neighbor. Not pictured because she is taking the picture is our wonderful host, Julie (Pink Doxies).
This was my happy little sewing view for the retreat weekend. It was so nice to be in the same room with other quilters and listening to the sound of the machines working away. As is normal, we were so busy, hardly any of us took pictures. I was able to finish piecing a quilt top and get most of the piecing done on a baby quilt, but we will talk about those later.
So many fun shenanigans happened! I wish I could tell them to you, but what happens at quilt retreat stays at quilt retreat. Let's just say, Beth and I got drunk on fabric and the next thing I knew I caught her trying to pick up a model.
And of course the food in Amish country is ALWAYS amazing!
Sarah introduced me to this neat little marking tool and even gave me one of hers!
This is a hera marking tool. It is such a quick easy way to mark lines for quilting or sewing without any pen marks to worry and fuss over when you are done. I've been marking up pieces like a mad woman since I've been back.
The trip has also left me super motivated to organize my stash and make it more useful for myself. After a conversation with several of the ladies, I've decided anything 1/2 yard or larger will stay untouched (FQ's will stay fat quarters) and anything smaller will be cut into 5" squares, 2.5" squares and 2.5" x WOF strips.
These organized little piles are pieces from the fabrics given to me by Irene.
This is me overwhelmed by just my green scrap tote. This process is going to be ongoing and take a bit of time. It will be well worth it in the end. Instead of having piles of fabrics stuffed into a tote helter-skelter, I will have neat organized piles I can work with. I love patterns for precuts and this will allow me to turn that messy pile into usable quilts! Anyone want to join me for an online cutting party? Maybe we can party on a Saturday night and post our progress to Instagram? What's your favorite way to deal with scrap fabrics?
20 comments:
This looks like my kind of weekend. Laughing, chatting, sewing, shopping and eating. Those are the components of a truly fun time. Thanks for sharing with us. It may have made me a little jealous but oh well, maybe someday...........
If you do an online scrap trimming party, I will try to join in. My scrap tubs are a complete disaster.
Hera markers are the *best* as are Quilters with big hearts and stashes. I’m so glad you had fun and roomed with Beth. It sounds like quilty heaven!
My best way to deal with scraps? Open the drawer, shove them in, close the drawer. LOL Someday I want to be like Sarah :-) Glad you enjoyed the retreat!
So nice to hear you had fun and fun with quilters is the best!
Atta girl for A) defining what can be cut down B) cutting into specific shapes that work for you. You are going to enjoy having the pieces at the ready. And, you know what, if you decided to cut different sizes or shapes with the less-than-half-yard pieces, that is A-Okay. Getting a handle on the stash is a journey that is allowed to morph along the way.
Glad you all had fun at retreat - Liz in Houston
Oooh, such fun, and I know half of you. =) Those are the most helpful cut sizes to me, too. I need, oh ... about 3 months to get my scraps organized! LOL Every time I make a good start, I make a new quilt and it's all for nothing. It sounds like a wonderful weekend. Those fun times don't translate for those who weren't there. I just had that experience trying to explain something to someone about my trip last week. I'm just so glad you had a great time!
Sounds like a wonderful weekend! You deserved to get away and have a lot of fun. Scraps? Organized? Ummm, does stuffing them into plastic bag by color or finished project count? No, hmm? Didn’t think so. Whenever I do get into the 'deal with scraps' mood, it usually only lasts about 10 minutes, if I’m lucky.
Looks like such a great time! Where are the goats on the roof located? Totally too cute!
Those cute goats, but what caught my eye was the old top dresser, where you opened up the wooden flapped top, and put in fertiliser, hitched to the tractor and towed round the paddocks.What a fab time you all had, and this is the way all quilty friends gather their fabric, their friendships and join together , like the song " In perfect Harmony" I am so glad you went, and came back refreshed and with more goodies.
It sounds like you all had a wonderful time. Hope the late night pizza was delicious.
Sounds like a great weekend Tish! I may have seen a photo of you somewhere else pulling faces and mucking about ;-). It took me ages to jump on the hera bandwagon too but I can't speak highly enough of it now!
Amazing weekend! Hera markers are awesome, lost mine a . while back, must get a new one. Thanks for sharing your fun.
Oh that sounds like so much fun, too bad you gals are all so far away from me! Glad you got to get out and go-you deserve it Tish.
Hi Tish! I saw some pictures on Beth and Julie's post on Monday, and it sure looks like you guys had a blast. How nice of Julie to be the hostess with the mostest. What a fabulous setup she has. Isn't fun to bring home fabrics that someone else gave you? It's like a little party gift and so fun to think, hmm, what should I make with it?! I have just recently started trimming 2" and 2.5" blocks from leftovers. The first stack I had mysteriously disappeared. I love the guidelines you gave yourself for trimming - they sound like they will be helpful. ~smile~ Roseanne
Okay I thought we shared a brain...I've had my Hera marker FOREVER, and it's the best! Glad you got to hang out and have fun and eat pie (ya I'm not over that part). :-)
I'm so glad you love your Hera marker! It's really the best, isn't it? I'm giving mine a workout this week marking t-shirt quilts. I need pie!!!
Looks like it was a fabulous weekend with fun had by all! I have some set sizes for cutting down my scraps--mostly my I Spy scraps, which I am constantly using yet never seem to run out of. You picked good sizes. I do a few more than that (also 3 1/2" squares, 2" squares, and sometimes 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 rectangles) and I have an accuquilt die for each of those except the strips. I like to set up my cutter on a card table in front of the tv for a marathon scrap cutting session.
That is so great. Any time you can get away and have a quilty time with your friends is a good thing. (I won't share this with my daughter-in-law. I would surely see goats on the roof next time I go to their house if I did!)
I came over from Beths blog - and oh my - what fun to *meet* you! glad you all had such a great time!
I wanna be a new friend!!! LOL! Looks like fun was had by all.
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