Retreat Fall 2016

We love retreats! They are the favourite activity of many of our guild members. Last year we had two retreats for the first time, one in the fall and another in the spring. This year we are having two retreats again but longer ones. We are away three nights instead of two. This give two full days of sewing so lots and lots of work is done.

 Linda W was working on a quilt for her nephew's wedding. 

 Priscilla finished the top of her Anna quilt. It has been to another retreat.

Anna was back working on an apple core quilt. She kept moving the pieces around to get the perfect colour harmony. 

 France had twelve placemats to finish and she did!

Mary S finished the top of a baby quilt.

 Jeannie needed a rest with tea and a book, quilting of course.

Barbara M put together and quilted a wall hanging in the same pattern as Mary T.

The floors were very clean and shiny and without the cat hair many people had at home so, everyone made good use of the surface. Nathalie is pressing a little boy quilt for her grandson.

Allison is sandwiching a mystery quilt.

Mary S began quilting this project started by a friend in 1984.

This a quilt for Mary's husband. It is all finished except it needs more quilting on the top border.

 This is a quilt for Nathalie's other grandson. Many peoples ideas went into its final form. 

Mary S was trying another pattern. Only when looking at the picture was the mistake noticed!

Jeannie with a pile of blocks for a quilt for her son. It's a quilt as you go. 

After France finished the placemats she had more binding to sew on oven mitts.

 Priscilla's friend Sarah had never quilted. The best place to start is at a retreat as there is inspiration and lots of willing helpers. She cut fabric and began sewing blocks for her first quilt. 

Group picture with two of 10 quick exposures. Quilters having fun!

 

Another set of group pictures showing what people accomplished at the retreat.

We thoroughly enjoyed the longer retreat and we will be back at L'Ermitage in April for three nights ready to quilt again.

A New Season

 We were all back in September, ready for another great quilting season. Roz and Rita worked hard on our program and we are going to be busy, busy all year. This was a meeting catching up with quilting friends and showing what some people did over the summer, while others took a break. 

  Mary T finished her table runner started at the April retreat. Its all hand quilted with red thread.

Mary also sewed two preemie quilts using some of the guild stash. We have much more fabric to use. She is behind the quilts while Anna admires them.

 Linda W finished two preemie quilts. They are small and fun to make. 

Monique showed off a really cute quilt with turtle appliqués

Linda F also worked on preemie quilts using a chevron pattern.

Sandra finished a small but very intricately and accurately pieced quilt she worked on at last falls retreat.

This year we have a Block of the Month, a Mystery Quilt, another Paint Chip Challenge,  our raffle quilt to begin workshops. So there should be lots of interesting work to see on the blog.

I Finally Finished It!

At our final meeting of the season the results of our IFFI Challenge were revealed. Members had pledged to finish certain projects with money due if they didn't complete their quilts. The pledges were up to each quilter and it didn't necessarily mean a completely finished quilt. Some pledged to complete the piecing of a top or to quilt a top or to finish a certain number of squares. Most members participated and many but not all items were finished.

Linda W. with a finished quilt

Mary S had already given her sister the finished Pig Quilt  

Linda W. with a whole cloth wall hanging she had started years ago, finished!

Linda F. with a quilt top for her new granddaughter

And another quilt top for her new grandson.

This is Rita's quilt all ready for a wedding gift. Rita also finished two baby quilts but they had been given away.

Priscilla had a very large quilt she pledged to finish quilting. She tried to find a place to rent  time on a long arm machine  but eventually with time getting short had to quilt it on her domestic machine.

Priscilla also finished a baby quilt

With even some little detail on the back.

Anna had a quilt top all pieced. We had seen the beginning of this quilt at our September retreat

Mary T folding up her grandson's quilt. Unfortunately the picture of the completely finished quilt, all hand quilted was not in focus!

Sandra also had finished her IFFI, a quilt for a fundraiser for Artistry Sud. That quilt had already been given away.

There were other members who didn't finish their IFFIs and came with their money and their uncompleted projects.

Roz started these blocks years ago at a quilting class. She began them hand piecing but was finishing them on her machine. She has three of four finished but green isn't her favourite any more!

Another quilt top that Roz hadn't quite finished

Monique showed us this quilt top at the beginning of the season. It still isn't finished as she worked on many other projects over the year.

Looking at quilts

Looking at more quilts!

Some members who didn't have or didn't finish IFFIs still had work for Show and Tell. 

Colleen had a preemie quilt she had finished

Colleen was also showing off her decorated jeans. 

Yoyos were appliquéd to her pants

Monique showed off her quilt top made for a friend undergoing cancer treatment . Many guild members made squares. 

Allison had a circle challenge from another guild

Moshe always has lots to show. Here is his bargello wall hanging

A bag made from strips of fabric

And three really cute eye glass cases. 

Linda W was really busy. Besides finishing her IFFIs she also completed the top of a mystery quilt for the Beaconsfield guild. She didn't like the colours at first but it makes a stunning quilt. 

Jae hiding behind her recent piecing

Jae has been perfecting her paper piecing.

Anna showing how easy the sewing of a curved block can be. This was from our curved ruler demo that Debbie from Loose Threads gave us. We all  got a block to make and they will be put together for a community quilt.

Diane couldn't join us but she had made us another preemie quilt 

       Another season of quilting is finished. This was a great year. I think the best part of this year was having seven new members.  We have really enjoyed getting to know Nathalie, Linda F, Monique, Moishe, Barbara M, Laura and Joan. The attendance at every meeting was way up and some members were always waiting at the door when I arrived.

We had a wonderful varied program thanks to Roz and Rita. They did an exceptional job. Both our Paint Chip challenge and the Mystery Table Runner had lots of participation. Sixteen squares were made in the challenge and they will be sewn together for a charity quilt.We had some excellent workshops with members from other guilds;  Debbie showing the curved ruler and Marijke with board basting. Many  members of our guild also did demos. We all  know some technique or can find an idea which we can teach each other. Every week there were creations to oh and awe over in the Show and Tell.

This year we had a second retreat in April. Thirteen members attended and it was a great success. Four new members were there and they found out what a lot of fun a retreat can be. Aside from the fun you also get lots done and problems can be quickly solved with all the help around. It was Nathalie's second retreat as she came to our one in September, even before she had been to a meeting. Very brave of her. Now it seems  two retreats a year aren't enough and some members want longer retreats. So, this September  we will have Thursday added on if six people sign up. The retreat will be from September 29th to October 2nd.

Our Preemie quilts were finally donated to the MUHC.  Monique first took in 22 quilts and then later a few more. Thank you Monique. If you feel like making something small they are all very much appreciated.

Programming next year will again be Roz and Rita and we look forward to another super year. Think about what you could do for a meeting and contact Roz or Rita. We should also think about having an outside teacher for a workshop.

Our next show will probably be in May 2018. At our last meeting Allison demonstrated Electric Quilt. With an idea from Roz we decided a chevron pattern would be the modern look for our next raffle quilt. Allison will work more on the design and then we will search our guild stash for fabric. We have boxes of fabric. We need to use this material. If you are planning to on some summer sewing: preemie quilts, quilts of valour, other lap quilts come and look through what we have.

We still have two more events.  Sunday June 12 there is a trip to Nathalie's farm with a hamburger lunch and then our closing diner Tuesday June 14 at Alex H on Sherbrooke St.

I look forward to seeing you all in the fall. Happy quilting.