Results from Retreat

I am very pleased with what I got done at retreat this last weekend. 

This is everything that got completed. I know some of you might be disappointed that this is all to show for my time away, however I am thrilled. This UFO is Orange Crush a Bonnie Hunter Mystery that I started in 2011 and it has been sitting until now awaiting its turn to come out of the cupboard.

There are 20 blocks here on the left, I made the little corner units for these and put them all together this weekend. On the right are 30 of the border blocks that are required, not many to go and the units in front are for the rest. Feeling great about getting this flimsy much closer to the completion mark.

Now for anyone that hasn't been convinced about Bonnie's Leaders and Enders, check this out

These piles are what was sewn together as Leaders and Enders by my friend and myself over the weekend. They were twin units waiting to be sewn into four patches, which they are now. They aren't for anything specific at this stage, I just grabbed them as they were sitting ready it go. My girlfriend didn't have anything and was sewing onto a scrap and of course I had something better, so we shared them.

I will save my other photos for a later post, so until then - happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Packed and all ready to go!

Here is my sewing stuff all packed and assembled, ready to be loaded into the car.

Those two containers at the front are my projects, the main one in the bottom container and the top one, just in case as you do.

I hope I have remembered everything I need. Taking a cushion in case the chairs are too hard, it makes a difference when you are sitting for a while. 

How much stuff do you take when you are retreating and how many projects do you take just in case?

Let me know in the comments.

Happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Yeehah! Today I am off to a retreat...

Yes off to retreat!  A very special time to catch up with some special friends and get some serious sewing done. Can't wait to hit the road.

Here is my main project for the weekend all cut and ready to roll. I wonder how much I can get done.

Watch this space to find out - will update when I can.

Happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Orphan block update.

Progress is going slowly but steadily on the orphan blocks. They have been sewn together with sashings and corner stones. However after three episodes of reverse stitching due to my quilting attempts I am on a road that I like in terms of the quilting on these.

I haven't quilted much in the last six years - heaps of piecing as time allowed but definitely not much quilting. I have to admit I was very hesitant about quilting this table runner for many reasons. The first was indecision as to what I wanted to do, secondly I had lost my confidence about quilting it and I kept over thinking it and talking myself out of doing anything. I even attempted hand quilting - and I seriously can not hand quilt.

Coincidentialy at our quilting club one of the ladies has recently given a class on free motion machine quilting and has been talking us through the processes as to how she works and what works for her. I already knew most of what she said, as you do, but it was a very powerful reminder and motivating experience for me. I decided one day without too much thinking to just pick up the table runner and start quilting in the ditch. When this was all done I knew what I wanted to do next and that has continued as I have worked through quilting each element.

This table runner is a good piece to practice on as it isn't precious to me in the same way that something which is intended as a gift would be. This table runner is to be a utilitarian piece to give some protection to the main part of the dining table on a daily basis when we don't have a full table cloth on there.

I am still working on this but you can see some of the quilting that has been done already.

Here is the back which probably shows the quilting a little better.

Well this quilting activity is very addictive. I am worried that I will get carried away and over quilt it, however because it will be table runner I am not too concerned about that and the resulting stiffness as that might be an advantage on the table. Still have some to do .... So hang around and check out the final product. Let me know what you think of what I have done so far, would love to hear your thoughts.

See you then, happy stitching everyone

Donna-Maree