June Quilting Retreat

In June we had our annual 'spring' retreat and after lunch we celebrated our two June birthdays - both BJ and Carmen are June babies so we all enjoyed birthday cake before we played 'strip poker'! 

Blowing out the candles!

Our first round of strip poker on Tuesday was for 2 1/2 inch strips of polka dot fabric - who knew there was so much polka dot fabric in the world? 

The lucky winner was Darlene - I wonder if she has made anything with those jelly roll strips? They're super colourful!

 Here's Jane, Cheryl and Darlene discussing a quilt layout.....hmmmmm.... 

Here's Helen who brought along a drying rack but turned it into a quilting accessory - she is using it to hang her strips to make it easier and neater to piece them - what a great idea!!

And this is Helen's new baby! Beautiful! We all crowded around it to check it out - it is so quiet and so beautiful! It's a Baby Lock Crescendo and you can check out all it can do at this LINK. I think we were all drooling a little bit - I know what's going to be on my list to Santa this year!

And here are some of Helen's blocks going together - beautiful colour combination. 

BJ is working on her block of the month program - it called Bertie's year and you can order yours from your LQS (local quilt store) or here is a link to the program on Fat Quarter Shop - BERTIE'S YEAR. The kits are wool and they are adorable!

Here is October and Bertie has a corn candy hat!

This looks like Summer - and Bertie has a flower hat!

Here's Faye #1 with the start of something lovely! 

And here's Phyllis working on her Necessary Clutch Wallet. 

Judy is cutting out the pieces for a tote featuring giraffe fabric; she purchased this kit at The Quilt Patch in Moose Jaw when we went on our bus trip. The link to the Quilt Patch is right HERE

Carmen is using her nifty upright thread cutter to cut the thread between the hundreds of four-patches she pieced together. 

Carole is pressing an applique - I think it is going to be a spring table topper. 

Darlene is busy working too but I can't remember what she was sewing - sorry Darlene! But you look very intent! 

Faye #2 is finishing up her quilt - I think a finish is coming very soon!

 And Myrtle is close to finishing her beautiful polka dot quilt. 

I'm strip piecing batik jelly roll strips for the start of a new quilt - and, no, my UFOs aren't complete but I want to work on something new!

Louise is showing us the ruler keeper that she made; it fits over the door and has compartments for every size of ruler. It is made from that meshy-vinyl-that-you-would-use-for-a-beach tote. 

She sized the compartments for the rulers she currently owns but has room to buy more! Very ingenious!

Darcy from the Tilted Quilt dropped in to visit and to bring the blocks of the month to those who had signed up for the program. And she also left behind a door prize for us to draw later - thanks!

Then for a break, it was on to bowling! After all we do meet in a bowling alley! 

 Another round of strip poker for brown fabrics and I won! Thank you ladies!

Myrtle's Polka dot quilt - lovely! The black and white sashing really makes the blocks pop right off the quilt! 

Another finish! Yay for Faye #2 - beautiful!

And another! This is Carmen's quilt - it is a masterpiece! I think she said each block has about 100 pieces - yikes! 

 There she is behind the quilt! 

And another finish! This is Judy's giraffe tote from the Quilt Patch is Moose Jaw. Very nice!

Cheryl is working hard on a 9-patch quilt that she designed. 

Louise is adding the applique to the borders of this gorgeous quilt!

Myrtle is happy! (she's always happy!)

 Louise's finished quilt - gorgeous! And such beautiful colours! 

Everyone had a great time - thank you to Judy and Cheryl for organizing and planning!! 

Our first meeting in July was cancelled due the air conditioner breaking down during our heat wave but we'll be back at it soon. Take care and sew straight!

Bev