Bag Class

 I spent the day at Best Little Retreat Center in Texas.  My friend and I took a bag class from Donna Petrick.  Donna is a great instructor.  The goal was to do a project that could be completed in one day but include sewing with vinyl, zippers, mesh.

We made Just in Case  by Annie.  Had lots of fun.  Pics below:

Tessa Quilt

 I made this quilt for my niece in the 2nd year of covid.  Her favorite colors are pink and purple.  I loved the pattern from Kitchen Table Quilting and was happy to make it.  Quilted it in swirls with one of the big boards from Circle Lord.  

2 Classes - Sew Fun

 I signed up for Dorie Hurska's Mandala Club which is a yearlong class.   Mandala Club 

I have a friend who is 9 months into her class and I greatly admire what she has accomplished.   My class/club started Jan 1st. There are video lessons every week.  I am really enjoying it.  Dorie is very talented and is an organized, thorough teacher

Practice piece below:

2nd  class was Bonnie Lagenfeld.   She offered a 4 week zoom class on thread painting.  class  I learned so much and it was fun.  She supplied the window picture from one of her quilts.  I want to change some of what I did - so I have bought a 2nd panel, but haven't started that yet.

Day Retreat with Friends

 Last month I spent a day at https://bestlittleretreatcenterintexas.com/   This is a great facility and we want to start going once a month to work on projects.

I think I should take pics of my friends' work next time because part of the fun of a retreat is seeing the work of other quilters.

first of my projects -- This is from a class Cristina Arcenegui Bono  through one of the Mancuso Quilt Shows online.  I took it in Jan.  I can't find a website for Crisitina so I will link to a description of an upcoming class.  

whimsical quilt class

She was a good instructor and I enjoyed the class..  I trimmed threads at the retreat center because I just did straight line quilting...starting and stopping to drag threads across the motifs.  I want to color this quilt but I need to experiment with how I am going to do it.  blue marks on the quilt are wash a way blue pen ....I am leaving them to show me where I want to color.

The other project I worked on was my Plaidish quilt.  which is a free pattern from Kitchen Table Quilting .  I actually started this pre pandemic at another day retreat with my small group.  It uses up charm squares that I had accumulated from swaps.  Ran out of time - so I didn't complete the top.  I thought I had all the blocks made, but I seem to be short some so I need to look through my sewing room before my next retreat. 

 I like simple projects at Retreat so I can relax and visit while I sew.

Siblings got together in Vegas for Super Bowl Party

 I love that we live in a time with free long distance calling, email and zoom but meeting in person is wonderful