WIP Wednesday/Retreat Report

Warning! Long post ahead!

I'm back home and, having gone to sleep at about 8pm last night, I am nearly caught up on the sleep I *didn't* get on the weekend.

Friends, it was absolutely fabulous. From 3pm Friday until 2pm Monday, all I had to think about was quilting. No meals to make, no cellphone reception, nothing but eating, chatting and quilting. Lots and lots of quilting. Also, chatting. And laughing.

Krista did a wonderful job of planning - the location was wonderful (snow on Saturday that we watched fall as we sat cosily sewing away in the great hall) and the food was delicious. Here's what the work room looked like - LOTS of activity, eh? Those windows let in so much lovely natural light, and the view was marvelous - when I raised my head from my work, I could see the trees and Loon Lake. Gorgeous!



Here's my work area, with one of the preschool quilts in progress (and a bag of delicious chocolate-covered pretzels in the background):



Speaking of the preschool quilts, here's my "what I planned/hoped to do vs. what I actually got done" list and it's not half bad if I do say so myself!

Preschool quilts. I wanted to get all 3 basted and quilted. GOAL EXCEEDED! Not only are all three quilts quilted, but I cut the bindings for all 3 and two of them are sewn on. Here's a peek of the quilting on one of the tree quilts. VERY happy with how these have turned out.



Stash Trad block. Goal met - the block is dunzo:



Habitat Challenge. Wanted to get all 4 pillow covers made. HAHAHA. Annnywayyyyyy, I got one more pieced, and the fourth cut out/planned. Not bad. This happened late in the retreat and I forgot to photograph my progress. Below is a photo I took just now - didn't even press the darn thing for you. This is likely not going to be done in time for the VMQG meeting on Thursday. Ah well. I'll bring what I've got.



Commission Quilt. Wanted to get the top done at least, and only managed to get the tree cut out and fused. Not too shabby.

Mom's placemats. Didn't get worked on at all. But with all the progress I made on the quilts, I will have these done for Christmas no problem.

And finally, I used up more of my luck by winning one of the door prizes - a copy of Modern Blocks, which I got signed by one of the designers, Krista of Spotted Stones. I've got it sitting on the back of one of the quilts, with the World's Most Perfect Backing Fabric (from IKEA).



Krista and another Flickr friend, also named Krista (!!) came from far away to spend the weekend, making it all the more enjoyable. I also want to shout out to my work space partner and roommate Sindy, who introduced me to the wonderfulness that is chocolate-covered pretzels. Dang those are yummy.

Linking up with Lee and Monika again!