Quilting Retreat Weekend

Well, it doesn't happen too often, and its quite a rare thing in the UK, but, yep, I'm off on a quilt retreat this weekend. Yeeah!!! After the frenzy of Pat Sloan's OP Challenge, I feel its time I concentrated on completed those last few borders and the other UFOs/WIPs/PSs. And just where is this great event taking place, you might ask. Why Grimsby of course! Where else would you expect? I know for me it doesn't conjure up a vision of peace, tranquility and creativity, but more fish, smelly fish and ... yes fish fingers! But fear not, thanks to Lynne Carter of Wisteria Patchwork, we have lovely secluded hotel overlooking the golf course, with a big bright room to spark that creativity into life! Its going to be a lively weekend, with no cooking, washing or ironing, no one saying 'Mum, can you/we just....', and the best part is meeting old friends and making new ones too. I'm looking forward to it :o) I'm pretty much packed and will be heading straight off after work, so I will post my progress when I return. Hope you all have a productive, creative quilting weekend too.

Thinking Summer Ice Cream

Whilst I was doing my OP Challenge, my top reminded me of ice cream, and even Jan thought the same. We all love Ice Cream right?!! Whats your favourite flavour? Mine has to be chocolate! Well, anyway, back to the OP ice cream thoughts, which got me thinking that I have already made an Ice Cream quilt before, so I thought I would share it with you all. This quilt was made in 2002 whilst I was living in Holland, from a pack of fat eighths ( I think!). I know I had to do a load of maths to work out how many strips of each colour to see what size to cut them. The squares are 1" finished. This was made using the tube method for trip around the world, which is OK if you can sew in straight line without causing those strips to twist this way or that. Whilst I pieced the centre OK, I didn't have any fabric for the border, so whilst I was home for the weekend, a visit to the LQS (top back in Holland) I chose this really subtle rose print and a pastel check for the binding. Fortunately it was only when I got back to the top did I realise just how good a match they both were. Machine quilted, this was one of my early attempts at free motion quilting, and whilst its OK, I know just how much of a battle of wills it was between me and my sewing machine. I was using a Janome, which does not let you lower the feed dogs, you have to put a plate over the top of them. Its a real pain in the proverbial! Fortunately, I have improved my skills, and both my Bernina and Juki lower their feed dogs. Ahh, how I love those machines!

I'll share more of my other quilts with you along the way. I have enough, that's for sure! Can you ever have too many quilts? Certainly as times get more thrifty, I know my family and I will, at least, not be cold! lol

OP Update

Its been a busy day, with DD to keep happy, entertained and on the homework trail, I had to fit in the OP Challenge in between, the cooking, groceries, and baking brownies. :o) but they were delicious, thanks Lisssie! So this is the progress so far. I made a huge error in calculating my setting triangles so there are no cornerstones on the outer edges. Ooops... Still it has worked out well. The borders will have to be over the next couple of days, as its back to school in the morning, and back into the old routine. Plus I really must get down to my allotment! So what do you think so far? Its certainly turned out differently from what I had imagined. And I am thrilled with it, its almost like multicoloured ice cream! Yummy!!!!

Yet more OP blocks

These are my final blocks for the day. And I'm really pleased with them, I LOVE the lime green it really adds an element of wow! Tomorrow I will look at mixing up all the blocks, and seeing what layout options there are. It will be interesting to see what everyone else has done too. I've also started to think about fabric for sashing, and borders. Sashing is proving challenging, but

borders, well, that's an easy choice :o) I've been surprised at how the orange is no longer overpowering with all the other colours that have been thrown in.

Anotehr OP Update

Thought I'd let you all see the newest additions to the OP Challenge blocks I've made this afternoon. Don't they look different with purple sashing. I'm still thinking about it, Hmmm.... we'll see what the lime green does next. I've got 3 different limes lined up, just cutting the next batch of blocks, so will hopefully post more later this evening :o). Then, I'm really going to mix up these blocks (grin). I have to say, I'm really enjoying seeing everyone else's blocks, and meeting new friends too.

OP Challenge

Just a quick progress update, I got these done before I went to bed last night. Its going to be a bright One!!!! I'm going to change the sashing on the next few blocks I think this pale lemon is too glaring. So I'm going to try some of the purple. And then I might try some lime green. (mmm my favorite!) Any thoughts?

Sneaky Little Finish

I added the label to this Double Irish Chain today. So that is the third finish this month! Well, they only had to have binding and labels put on, but it does feel good to finish something. Especially as I seem to have started so much more recently. Overdoing things, no, just over committing!! LOL But I can, hand on heart say that I am working on another UFO, so at least that top will be shortly added to the pile waiting to be quilted. What I really need is some time in the 'office' to get on with quilting my Chocolate and Turquoise quilt. Well, it won't actually be mine, I was asked to make a quilt in those colours for my partners sister. But it is lovely! Am I the only person that becomes emotionally attached to the quilts they make? Surely not, with so much care and attention put into just the fabric selection, the piecing and the quilting, is it any wonder they are hard to let go of. I am getting much better at letting go, I may even sell some one of these days... well not too soon, eh?!!!