Retreat number 1 - The Statler girls...............

I better get this post published, before it turns into 'old' news, as the second retreat is well underway.

It was Sunday almost a week ago when the first lady arrived to spend a few days. Later in the afternoon it was time to collect another from the bus station. The next one arrived early the next morning. Due to illness we were small in number, which meant there was room at the tables for me to sew as well, and we had room to 'spread'. There was much discussion of our industry concerns which is always good.

One lady always brings lots of projects to work on, and we always tease her about being the 'over achiever', but I think she might have had some competition this time? Another lady has been busy, too busy in the lead up to the retreat, and arrived without a sewing machine or project to work on. She just needed time-out and this was the place to come for that. 

Elaine's first job was to trim this quilt and sew the binding on, and what a great quilt full of scraps it has turned out to be!!

Next on the list was a quilt for her granddaughter, who had request one with cats. The fabric was cut into strips and the intention was to sew some blue and green strips in between. Sometimes you have to go with Plan B, when a few suggestions come your way from other people??

This is a closeup of the cute cats on the fabric. One of the suggestions was to border each strip with the black......

...... and then another was to add some more colours and strip piece them......

.....and crosscut them to make the rows in between...........which meant the the original plan was completely changed!!

There was quite a bit of fabric strips left, so the next job was to join all the leftovers to use in the back for the quilt.

Another granddaughter wanted a unicorn quilt, and the only fabric Elaine could find with unicorns was a panel. So after adding 2 borders this quilt was finished!! Great result.

We had a few competitions to add to the fun, and after I handed out one of them, I was aiming the camera to get a shot of Alison concentrating  trying to work out the answers!! But she surprised me by looking up at the last minute and laughing, hence this pic.

At a recent Valuation meeting there was discussion re the timing to piece blocks. One of the girls said it took her 1 hour to piece 81 squares, that were 1 1/2"!! I really thought she must have been a fast worker, and remembered I had a box of 1 1/2" squares in the bottom drawer had home. 

On the way home I talked about it to Pat, and thought that I might try to do this and see how long I took. And realised that after sewing 81 squares together that I would only have a 9" finished block!! Why would anyone want to do all that sewing for only 9"!!?? But while I had room at the table, I decided to try this out.

                               

                          It took me just less than an hour to get this done. And then it was bed time. Next morning I decided to do more blocks. But after another 2 I decided that it was enough. I could put my time to better use!! So the box and my 3 blocks are back in the drawer, until I decide I want what I shall do with 3 blocks, or whether I want to make any more?? Big decisions......

I decided that my next project would be to work on the applique of these William Morris blocks from the Dear William pattern. I started these many years ago. Perhaps I need to find out when, or maybe I don't want to know how long ago!! There are 9 blocks in the pattern and they all fused on the blocks ready for stitching. By the time I had to put my machine away ready for the arrival of the retreat 2 ladies, I have completed just more than 7 blocks. So I can see the end in sight.

We had a visit from Robyn one evening.

There was another Judy at the table and it was interesting when someone asked a question to Judy and we had to try and work out which Judy they meant. I think I ended up being called Jude. 

Judy also brought a lot of projects to work on.... and her first finish was this..

...... the pattern called French Market Medallion.....

.....and the next..............

and then enough blocks to make 2 quilts, all laid out on the floor ready to be sewn together...........

and then a scrappy trips quilt..................

and now finished with borders!!

And here is the start of another quilt. Then the bags were packed and hand stitching project came out, but sorry no photo of that.

After saying that Elaine might lose her status as the over achiever to Judy B, we changed our opinion as it was late afternoon on the day that Elaine had departed when I received this photo. Elaine had arrived home (a 4 hour journey) and loaded the cat quilt onto her longarm and already quilted half of it!!

As the theme for the retreat is black and bling one evening was set aside to 'dress' appropriately and the table was decorated for dinner.

A visit to the Op shop occurred earlier in the day and some 'bling' was purchased, or borrowed..........

......and it was fortunate (??) that one of us was able to do the 'selfie' thing and here is our little group for the obligatory photo for the files. All standing in front of the raffle quilt.

While we were small in number, it was still a great catch up time after not being able to meet up for awhile. It was late 2019 when the last Statler retreat happened and we look forward to another planned for later in the year, when we hope that the missing faces will be well enough to join us. 

Departure times varied for each of the girls and Judy B had to catch the train on Thursday to head over the border. While we were at the station we got chatting to a guy who was also waiting for the train. This was his luggage, and he was telling us about his travels all over the world. In the black bag is his bike!! It is a folding bike, and it fits in this bag. His journeys include train travel, some flights, and much cycling to see the world!

This train was also the train that I had to meet to pick up the fairy who was coming for the next retreat. Judy and Raylene had never met, but did have time for a quick hello, goodbye and nice to meet you hug!!

Then it was time to head home and remake beds, clean, and tidy for the arrival on Friday of the next crew. There are 6 stayers, and 2 day trippers for a total of 8 at the tables. Will be back to report on Retreat number 2 in due course. The house is not so quiet this time!

Blessings, From Jude