Fall quilt retreat

 A week ago, The Stitchin' Chicks gathered at the barn to roost for the weekend for our fall quilt retreat.  We were a smaller group this time, as several chicks had other commitments but they all promise to be back in the spring.

As always, we had a great time.  Several projects were started, some old projects finished up, even a few new projects started AND finished before we swept up the barn and turned off the lights!  We are a diverse group, project wise, with some using sewing machines, some doing hand stitching, some using a crochet hook or knitting needles, and some using colored pencils to create our own unique works of art.

Photos will be much the same as past quilting retreat posts, but I can't help but put up a few images of our happy group and the fun we have together.

Sunrise Saturday morning.   Proof that is was going to be a good day!

A typical scene!

Cheryl googled "quilt retreat party favors" and found this cute idea!  

!

Baxter often found the commotion to be too much and would escape to some of his favorite sleeping spots.

JoAnn is making a lap quilt from scraps from previous projects.

Here's a sample of what she is doing.

And another sample.  It's going to be terrific.

Cheryl had fun putting together this red and black and white wall hanging.  She got the top all pieced and ready to quilt!

This is Cheryl's new toy.  A Singer feather weight sewing machine.  They are coveted among the quilting crowd!

This is one of JoAnn's creations.  It is so beautiful.

Here's a closer look.  She took a class on using different machine stitches to enhance your project.  

An even closer look so show the different stitches that she used to applique the fabric pieces.  It was really something you could spend a lot of time looking at.

Grandma Jo came with a mission to finish a few projects! Betty is in the background talking to Therese!

Kathy and Brenda spent time stitching and visiting.  (Reynald usually calls it stitchin' and bitchin' but they weren't doing any bitchin' because it was quilt retreat weekend and it's all about happy stuff!)

Brenda, our resident embroidery and cross stitch expert, always has something beautiful that she is working on. 

Kathy is working on this fun red work piece.  She came close to finishing the stitching part.  Now she just has to figure out what to do with all those darling red snowment.

Therese finds solace in her art work.  

Sometimes she takes the most simple scene and puts it on to paper and you realize that the things you look at every day have such beauty.

When you look at her work, if feels like you could walk right in to the painting.  The colors and the feel of her work make the image come alive before your eyes.  I can't say enough about her amazing talent.

She was just starting a new piece.  I can't even begin to understand how her brain works to create these amazing pencil art images.

Nan worked with her brother to design this wall lap quilt for their other brother and his wife.  Another, "I don't understand how you do that" project.  It's really wonderful.

Beth and Margaret talking about a quilt piecing short cut!

Margaret and I worked to make this quilt top for her son Anthony.  THEN, Margaret came up with a creative idea for the back of this quilt, which I didn't get a picture of, but will when it comes back from the quilter!  

Sometimes we need to call in the maintenance man to help fix things!

And here's great grandma Nancy with our newest chick!  Emily brought her daughter Hesstyn Grace to meet us old hens!  Hesstyn was born on October 25 and she's a little doll.

Four generations!  Great grandma Nancy, her daughter Beth, Sarah (who will be adding a baby rooster to our group in March!!!!!) and Emily and baby Hesstyn.

Each retreat is different and I can't say that I have a favorite.  This one was quiet and laid back.  Fall retreat is often like that.  The season lends itself to a more relaxed pace.  At Sunday morning breakfast, we set the date for Spring retreat.  By the time that rolls around, the days will be getting longer again, the earth will be coming back to life and the Stitchin' Chicks will gather once again in the barn to put together a few more projects before most of us lay down our needles and sewing machines and turn our thoughts towards more outdoor centered activities.