Retreat Time!!

Last week was our annual retreat - 3 days of crazy fun!....10 of us gals from PTA - (Professional Textile Artists, AKA - Piecers, Talkers, Appliquers) gathered together to sew, laugh, eat, drink champagne, laugh, tell stories, laugh and drink more champagne. Each year gets better and better.... We arrived around 9:30 - ish on tuesday...Mary had yummy donuts waiting for us as we set up our stations and being creatures of habit, scooped up the same tables as the year before.

 We all bring tons of stuff to work on thinking we may actually run out of projects. The room is very large and perfect to accomodate all of us, our machines etc.

 We hang up our design walls and are off and running.

Some of our members like to come for just a day to hang out in the community room. Dort was here on tuesday and working diligently on some smaller pieces.

 First things first, we had a quick show and tell...Mary brought a piece she made utilizing fabric she created herself using ice dyeing and deconstructive screen printing techniques...Love it! Love it!

 Georgia brought some fabric she purchased featuring New York City...I've got to have some of this....

 Kate was working on a piece using half hexagons but put it aside as she wanted more fabric choices....As much fabric as we bring...sometimes it's hard to know exactly what we'll need.

 Barbara was working on some interesting blocks - slicing and adding strips, all very spontaneous.

 Janice and Leigh Anne were working on the same quilt - different fabrics...

using a pattern from Maple Island Quilts.

 Georgia also found this wonderful "tree" fabric from Northcutt, which will feature an pieced owl..... still in the designing stage.

 I was also working on a piece using half hexagons. I had them arranged on a flannel "board" and glad I did. I brought extra fabrics along in case I wanted to do some swapping out. My hexagon template was not very good and Kate came up with this idea.

 First off, you must know that Kate is the Queen of Recycling...These were flip flops used in pedicures...Kate saved them knowing they would serve a future purpose. Our good pal Denny lent us her Accu Cut machine to bring along..

 and running this through with the hexagon die...

gave me this....a perfect and very sturdy template - It will be put to good use when I no longer have access to the Accu Cut - thanks Kate!

It was Mary's birthday and what better way to celebrate than with cake, bubbly and a crown...

and lots of funny cards...Well that was just day 1......Please stay tuned for more fun and beautiful quilts.