Spring Quilt Retreat

This past weekend the barn hosted the Stitchin' Chicks spring retreat.  A few years ago, Beth wrote this about our gathering.

"As the cool morning air settles in, a group of chicks gather in the loft of a barn to molt away the stress and troubles of daily life, a chance to rejuvenate.  They gather needles, thread, sewing machines, yarns, a good book and projects that have been sitting in waiting, sometimes for years, due to the daily demands in the barnyard of life.  Armed with laughter and sometimes tears, they relish in the next 48 hours of pure bliss.  Welcome to the Stichin' Chicks."

Here are a few photos of our weekend together.  What fun we have!!!

A fully loaded gator with items that need to go to the barn.

This is a fun quilt that I made that is very bright pink!

And this is the same pattern, that Claudia made, in reproduction 30"s fabrics.   I would really like to make this myself someday, with these fabrics.

Brenda can, and does quilt, but her expertise is embroidery and cross stitch.  

This is evidence of her ability to combine both embroidery and quilting!

A closer look at the center block of her quilt.  She used a vintage hankie to make it look like the basket was sitting on a picnic blanket.  

Brenda never stops at just embroidery.  She can find the most interesting ways to embellish her work.

Buttons and snaps add to this block, as well as crayons, and of course some red thread!

Claudia can embroider, and cross stitch and piece quilts, and even do the quilting on the pieced quilts!  

This is an interesting piece that she finished and displayed.  The color is not orange, it's "cheddar"!  For those quilter types reading this, this block is made with 2 nine patch blocks and two snow ball blocks.  Kinda cool.

Our breakfast table Saturday morning was so beautiful.  These were all the oatmeal topping choices!  Where to begin?

It's not strawberry season, but these berries looked so pretty on the yellow plate.

And these amazing blueberry muffins baked by Cheryl.......oh my!

I am happy to always remind the other Cheryl that she is crazy, which is evidenced by this lovely and very intricate quilt that she paper pieced.   This photo doesn't do it justice.

K, you can't believe some of the ideas that Kathy comes up with when creating!  Her brain just never stops, and neither does her happy and jolly laugh!!  When Kathy laughs, so does the rest of the barn!  I can hear it now and I'm smiling!!

Renea is not afraid to tackle any new project.  She's another one that keeps our laugh muscles working all weekend!

And here's blueberry muffin Cheryl.  She both pieces, and quilts beautifully.  This weekend she worked on more Farmer's Wife blocks, and they were perfectly put together.

Nan, on the left, worked all weekend, quilting a delightful quilt for her God daughter's baby.  I neglected taking a photo of the finished product, which I regret because it was just wonderful.  Sisters, Therese and Margaret both sewed and embroidered, and Therese spent some time with her colored pencils.

This is a water color painting that Therese brought to display in the barn.   You could truly smell the trees and hear the gurgle of the water stream, when looking at this paining.

And the same was true with this one.  I had a hard time taking my eyes off of them, and all the others that she shared with us. Such talent she has, and continues to build upon.

Therese called this a "practice" piece!  

She also has a talent for washing dishes!

Grandma Nancy is working on a crochet afghan.  She made some good progress.

Sisters Emily and Sarah are productive and creative workers like their mom, Beth!

Barb comes with a plan to each retreat, and gets lots accomplished.  She is so quick with a kind word and a gentle smile.

Margaret worked on a family heirloom.  She is adding some embroidery work to a block that her mom pieced in the 50's.  When finished, she will make a pillow for each of her three sisters, and herself.  They will all have a happy reminder of their mom.

Combining St. Patrick's decorations with chicks salt and pepper shakers on our dining tables!

And more chicks, or peeps and fruit!

Here's one of Kathy's clever creations.  She made the bags, and placed goodies in each one, at each plate for Sunday morning breakfast.  I chose an orange one!

So, Renea arrived with four projects partially bound.  Beth and I took it upon ourselves to finish the binding on one of them, and Lynnie finished the binding on two others.  Renea had a good retreat!

At our fall retreat we each received a 5" square of fabric from everyone present.  (And a few that weren't!).  Our challenge was to take those 20 5-inch square pieces home and do something with them by spring retreat.  There are some very clever and creative people in our group, as you will see from these photos.

This photo shows off the projects that arrived finished, or nearly finished.  There are a few of us that have yet to complete our assignment!

Beth made these darling baskets and then worked them in to a throw, using this fabric panel that she bought many years ago.  Score one for the stash!

Martha made this wall hanging.  

Then she made this darling cross stitch label with all our names.

Paper piecing Cheryl make these super cute tulips!  

And I think Blueberry muffin Cheryl made these spools.  Forgive me if I'm wrong.  Anyway, most of these projects were designed around having the person that contributed the piece of fabric, sign either near, or on their contribution.  These will be a Stichin' Chick keepsake for all of us.

And finally, Baxter had a birthday yesterday!  He's three years old.  Is it too much to hope that the terrible twos are over?

The picture of innocence and calm.  Ah.....to be three again!