Today, I thought I'd show you some of the quilts all the wonderful gals at my quilting retreat were working on. We also had various show and tells of completed works and works in progress. You are in for a real treat today! Sit back and enjoy!
Now, I hope I remember whose was whose. If I make a mistake, I'm sorry! In the excitement of things, I sometimes lost track!
Terri had this one put together part way through the first day we were retreating. I think she had the blocks done already (maybe). But I sure felt like a schlep when she had this up already by about noon on our first day! LOL. In fact, I had already made some pretty bad cutting mistakes by this time and decided to go shopping! But it is just great, I think! I really, really love pinwheels and the motion they give a quilt. I think this is a great quilt!
This is from Doris. It's going to be a baby quilt for her...grandson? I can't remember now. But the daddy is a guitar player. I think this is spectacular use of the guitar novelty fabric. And, I absolutely love the diamonds with the stripes in them. Great work on that, Doris. She also showed the back, which will have a large guitar appliqued on it. So fun. This will be a baby quilt that is treasured for a long time! (Sorry the photo is blurry!)
This quilt is so cute. It's called Running in Circles and was made by Amanda from her stash. She has a tutorial for how to make it. Click here if you want to go to her tutorial. I think I want to try this one!
This is another quilt by Amanda. I think she said that these were quilts she had started at last year's retreat, but I'm not sure.
And here's the back of that quilt. Isn't it amazing how that little strip of coins adds so much interest to the back?
This one is not quilted yet, but this is another top Amanda pieced from her stash. Just wonderful! I love all the bright colors.
Shelly brought this quilt to share. She had started piecing it last year at the retreat, I think. She made it for a cousin who is in the military. I have been wanting to make a flag quilt, but I haven't found a pattern I like enough to do it. I think this one is it, however. I really, really want to make this quilt. I think it's stunning.
Here is one that Cindy brought. Isn't the juxtaposition of the bright colors agains the charcoal nice? What a radiant quilt.
This was one Mary brought to show. I think it's very cute!
I love the fabrics and design of this quilt by Mary. I think it's a Schnibbles quilt. I also think she said she brought this with her to Florida to hand piece and keep her busy. But she had it done in two days and was then like, "Now what?!" So, she had to go fabric shopping.
Another one Mary brought. Cute. I think this was on the Moda Bake shop. I have seen other ones like it. Very cute, and I like the quilting on it a lot, too.
Another Scnibbles quilt Mary finished. I really like this one. Very cute! Very sophisticated.
These blocks Mary made with Fandango fabric were so cute! She said the patterns were free on-line...a Block-of-the-Month, I think. But I cannot remember where now. Perhaps if Mary sees this, she can comment and give us the link. I don't think you can tell from the photos, but the stitching is done with all six strands of floss. So, the stitching really stands up nicely. I liked it a lot! I want to do this now!
This is another by Terri. She said the pattern was on the Purl Bee blog. I need to look up what it's actually called, if you're interested. I am definitely going to do this one. I think it's fresh and cute. She said it was a good exercise to see how many greens she actually had in her stash (and she was surprised!).
This is a really neat set of blocks that Cindy was working on. The block is called a Flowering Snowball. Have you ever heard of that block? I hadn't! It consists of a 1" center square and then the two pieces on the outside that you need to cut with templates. Normally the flared out piece is one solid piece of fabric. But Cindy pieced it with her Sherbet Pips fabric. How cute is that! It adds so much interest to the blocks. I love this. She let me trace her templates while we were there, so I have them now. A very interesting block!
Terri is pretty amazing. While we were at the retreat, she went to Gruber's and grabbed some fun fat quarters, along with some great Kaffe stripes. She came back and just started sewing up Maverick stars. In less than a day, she had designed, cut, and sewn this little quilt. Wow. I want to be that fluent! And that's Amanda's little doll block on the right. How cute is that?!
Doris worked pretty much the whole time on cutting out pieces and sewing her blocks for a crazy busy quilt that is going to be amazing. You can see her templates here, and you can see some of the sewn and fussy cut blocks. A lot of work, but it's going to be very worth it!
Toni was working with these fabrics the entire time (I think). What an interesting color combinations. I like it! Love the big flowers contrasted with teh solids and fine-line print.
I think these are René's pinwheels for a peace sign quilt she's making.
Shelly had this on the design wall (along with a couple of other things that I neglected to get photos of). I like how the diamonds sort of sparkle with the blues in there.
René brought these panels she had sewn to ask what people thought she should do for sashing. I really like these panels. So bright and fresh. I like the charcoal sashing and I think that's what René is going to use.
After Terri finished the star quilt top, she started on yet another little quilt. This one is from Amanda's blog and is called Ticker Tape. It's one that just uses a variety of little scraps, and you quilt the quilt as you sew the scraps on. If you want a brief tutorial on how to do it, click here. It's going to be cute!
Amanda had already finished two other quilt tops by the time she started on these tumblers. I tell you, these girls were going to town. (Not me.) I wish I had gotten photos of Amanda's other quilts, but I somehow missed them!
Mary was sewing on her little Featherweight. (envy) She was working on some amazing curved piecing blocks that I swear I took a photo of, but it sure doesn't exist on my camera! But you can see the lovely teal blue she's using with the Fandango fabric. It is really amazing! I love that Fandango fabric, and seeing what Mary was doing just made me want it more!
There was much, much more going on. But if I had spent more time taking photos, I never would have gotten anything done. I got little enough done as it was. And, Michelle, I completely missed your work in my photos somehow. I am sorry! The rest of you, I cropped people out of the photos, because you were in the middle of talking or whatever, and I only left you in if I thought it was a flattering photo of you. You are all beautiful, but I seem to have caught you making funny faces, etc. when talking about your quilts! LOL!
My show and tell was my Eureka! quilt, which you've seen before. I just brought something I thought they might like to see.
I'll show you what I was working on another day. I think that's quite enough for today! Still much to tell and show!
Come back tomorrow for more. Again, I'll say thank you to these ladies for their inspiration, creativity, and kindness! I had such a fantastic time.
Until next time,
Mama Pea
Great recap! (You have Cindy and Terri confused in the post, but otherwise, all good!)
And thanks for sharing all the pics... My hands hurt from cutting so much but I am SO glad that cutting got done at a fun retreat instead of slogging through it alone at home!
Posted by: Doris | July 13, 2011 at 01:39 PM
Oh, my goodness! You are posting faster than I can leave comments! The second today! And what great ones they are. It's been so much fun seeing the pictures and hearing about the retreat. Wish I could have been there. Thanks for these great links too. I want to make that circle quilt. I hadn't seen your Eureka quilt before. It is fantastic! Looking forward to more tomorrow!
Posted by: Caroll D | July 13, 2011 at 01:56 PM
Thank you, Doris! I fixed it. Terri and Cindy, my sincere apologies! I keep calling Terri Cindy because she reminds me so much of my colleague, Cindy, at work. Then that throws me off. I just commented on Terri's blog, calling her Cindy, or vice versa. I'm in trouble.
Posted by: Stephanie in MI; AKA Mama Pea | July 13, 2011 at 01:59 PM
Haha. You are so NOT in trouble for exchanging our names! I would love to claim credit for the beautiful things Terri was working on. Great picture of Mary, BTW. The embroidery she was working on is from Little Miss Shabby and is called Birdie Stitches. I'm working on it too, but I'm WAY behind...
These are great posts and a wonderful recap. Good times, good memories!
Posted by: liveacolorfullife | July 13, 2011 at 02:01 PM
Wow. (I think that's all I can get out of my mouth - as my chin is on the floor.)
We should do a quilt-along of the quilt with the trees. That's so cute.
Posted by: Linda in Calif. | July 13, 2011 at 02:15 PM
Oh my what wonderful quilts!!!
Posted by: Brooke | July 13, 2011 at 02:36 PM
Thanks for sharing these pictures Stephanie as I didn't bring my camera. I do have a picture of the quilt Michelle was working on, but as I think she wanted to make a few changes, I didn't show it ;-) Loved seeing your Eureka quilt and the batik Yellow Brick Road quilt you were working on!
Posted by: Rene' | July 13, 2011 at 02:40 PM
I thought you did a fine recap of everyone's projects, so you must have fixed the references already. I loved seeing the parade of quilts you put together. It's fun to see all the productivity and inspiration happening here.
Posted by: Terriaw | July 13, 2011 at 07:40 PM
Oh. My. Stars. I love the flag quilt! The only patterns I've ever used are the 'stack-and-whack' crazy quilts because I would rather create my own style (think Gee's Bend quilts), but I'm going to make that one. Let me know when you find the pattern. And by the way, Stephanie, you make a great historian! Lucky group to have you record the event.
Posted by: Terri | July 13, 2011 at 09:49 PM
WOW! A whole lot of sewing was going on there! I bet those motors were hot and the needles even hotter!
Posted by: Maggie Szafranski | July 14, 2011 at 08:08 AM
I absolutely loved your quilt show. The quilts were so beautiful. Youv'e been busy with your traveling and retreating. Hugs
Posted by: Cathy B | July 14, 2011 at 01:40 PM
wasn't show and tell fun? i love seeing what labors of love other people create. so so fun to see a recap of these!
Posted by: amandajean | July 15, 2011 at 05:40 PM
Love to see all the quilts! Mary is doing the Le Petite monthly projects. I thought I recognized those little quilts! Fun to see them up close like that. I, of course always want to see the quilting now! :-)
Posted by: Linda | July 16, 2011 at 01:23 PM