Hello, hello!

Well, I'm back from the retreat. This one was SUCH A GREAT time. We laughed and ate, and laughed and ate some more. I only wish we could see this group of people more often than once a year. 

And, I was very, very productive. Day one:

First to be put together...the orphan block baby top

My Creative Grids pineapple blocks baby top

The QOV from just a jelly roll and a few yards of fabric

And I was thinking to myself I was way (way) ahead of schedule in my head. 

Day two:

Produce Section is a top

Day three:

Notice the 3-D napkin hanging

And day four:

So cute!

All of these but the table runner need borders and/or setting pieces put into them but they are constructed correctly and are ready for me to make them whole. Look at all these new quilting projects I have just created for myself. I had one of the retreat members give me a quilt to take home to work for her, so it wasn't just a 'vacation' for me but also a working situation. 

Here's day five (because technically, the retreat was still happening):

Taking the morning slow

I finished crocheting my slippers and did nothing else but put everything away and sort out the many lovely gift bags we received. 

So warm and comfy!

Today I'll be working on Bernadettes Tilda Sampler on DW while watching the snow falling slowly from the sky. Not expecting any customers with the snow/freezing fog we had last night and the continued snow we're getting today. 

Retreat Almost Perfect

All but one of my projects were completed. Well, the third one still needs borders attached, but until I obtain some more fabric, that isn't going to happen. Here it is on the wall...

Metro Rings

I'm loving this quilt! The borders will be a 2 1/2" white, and then a 5" black to tie in the center squares. Apparently I forgot a few things up at The Springs and Monica so graciously dropped them off this morning already. I love Monica!

I've already unpacked, logged in the three quilt tops I received for business, and am ready to dive right back into it tomorrow morning. Paulette gave me an AQS magazine while we were there and enjoying a rare sunny day in February with a good magazine sounds like a plan. Jim worked yesterday so we are looking forward to relaxing a bit this afternoon with some good food and Rom-Com movies.

Post-Retreat Check-in

Here are a few things I was able to get done at our weekend retreat...

A new "crazy" quilt top

Two Pillow Cases

Elijah's new big boy quilt top

The center of the Cotton Cuts BOM and a new carry bag

Once I was home and had everything put away yesterday, I started right in on the Dream Bigger. I'm not sure how many petals I actually did do but here are the pics...

It looks to be about eight. Today (and tomorrow, and probably the next day) will be spent chipping away on this piece. My goal is to have it off the frame by this weekend (Memorial Day) because we are expecting all the neighbors up with the holiday (despite not having a lake). 

A Productive Unproductive Weekend

Nothing was long armed this weekend. Zero! I needed to take the weekend off and recharge. Going as much as I have was burning me out and that's the last thing I want on my big machine. I love that machine. But I want to continue to love it.

We received a storm on Friday night/Saturday

But we picked out our tree before the storm hit

When Jim got home Friday afternoon, I immediately turned off the long arm and we beat feet to get our tree before the predicted rain/freezing rain arrived. We decorated on Saturday, I wrapped some gifts, and I worked on the nine-patch blocks. I crocheted Jim's mom some dishcloths and started a scarf.

And hand made gifts are always the best!

Sunday I needed to do some Flimsy downsizing. They used to be on a large "Z" rack hanging in the spare bedroom. This had to be moved every time one of the kids came to stay for even one night because it was a toddler temptation for sure. And it was pretty crowded in the bedroom with it in there. 

All the tops were folded and put into a tote for safe keeping. I organized the WIP's that were sharing the rack with the Flimsy's and will complete those over the holiday season. Nothing new is to be started until I work through all of those (about five of them...or so).  

Given I needed to finish what I've started after my purge session, I diligently worked on the nine-patch top throughout yesterday afternoon/evening. It is ready for the long arm. Didn't grab a pic before I folded it up and put it in the queue. Sorry. I finished the scarf and started another one. 

Today I feel refreshed and ready to fire DW back up and continue on with the king-size quilt for Cpt. Morgan (see Thursday/Friday post).  If I don't get too distracted and keep my head to the grindstone, I should be able to finish it up today. I have four (Bunny and Mary Kay's) quilts being picked up today, and Bunny doesn't usually stay and chat for too awful long so my goal should be attainable.