Retreat fun for 2016

We, the Variable Stars, were back at Turk Lake again the weekend of March 10. Just 6 of us this time and one day timer.  Lots of projects to be worked on.

Personally I took: 1. Scrappy mountain majesty to true up blocks and finish the top; 2. Clark's Stars to get the backing done to take to the quilter on Monday; and 2  quilts I started in Bonnie Hunter's last workshop at guild.  Would like to have tops pieced before her next workshop on March 17. Hopefully that will keep me busy for the 3 days.

I got the backing for Clark's quilt done and delivered it to be quilted the following Monday.

I got this much done on my Bonnie workshop quilt but found I had neglected to bring enough neutrals with me. This will probably be one of my veteran's quilts although my nephew has said this graduation quilt is getting pretty worn out.

 

Becky finish 2 tops.

 

And Jo got busy and finished 2 tops as well.

 

Barb played with triangles that I think she had left over from a project.

And Carol finished her log cabin made strictly out of men's recycled shirts.

And Pam came just for 1 day and brought some handwork with her.

So all in all a very productive weekend.  Can't wait until the next one.



Quilt Retreat

Our small group, the Variable Stars, had a retreat in August and then again in October.  We have begun extending the retreat from Friday, Saturday and Sunday to adding Thursday.  That gives us two complete days to sew, and we seem to get a lot more accomplished with the extra day to sew.
Following are a couple of pictures from our August Retreat.  We're so busy sewing in October that we didn't take any pictures.

The view from the lake side porch.

Two table pieced quilted and ready to be bound for the VFW Christmas craft show.

Summer Star Retreat

This past weekend we had a retreat with our variable star group at Turk Lake.  We have found a very nice cottage there, right on the lake.  For once I have no deadline project to work on.  There were 7 of us who were able to attend.  Although we all worked quite steadily, there weren't a lot of "TA-DA's".

Barb worked on finish a bag she has started.  Roxie worked on a gingham quilt for her new guest room. Becky worked on a piecing job.  Carol worked on more borders for her hand dyed challenge.
Melanie was quilting on her double wedding ring quilt for Jim, her husband.  And Gerry was quilting on a wedding quilt.  I worked on a recycled shirt project and got all but 2 corner's done.  Then worked on a 60 degree table runner project.

Hand dyed fabric challenge

Our challenge in our variable star group this year was to do something with our hand dyed fabrics.  We shared our results at our June 10 meeting.  The challenge was to use the hand dyed fabrics we have made over the last, oh, 20 years?  We could add one other fabric if we wanted.

 

I think this was Jo Langes.

 

This was Carol Schon's.  Sorry for the blurry picture.

 

One of 3 that our overachiever, Pam Marcis did.

 

 

 

#2 of Pam's

 

 



#3 of Pam's

 

 

My challenge

 

 

 

Barb Kantner's quilt

 

 

 

Rosanne Brower's

 

 

Big 60

So a couple of weekends ago I threw myself a 60th birthday party.  I figured surviving to this age rated a party as there were times in my life I didn't think I would see 35 let alone 60.  But as life has gone on and I have come to accept my singlehood instead of pining for the relationships/marriages that my friends have, I've grown comfortable.  Now I fully expect to see 85 at a minimum.

I had the party at SmittenDust which is a friends business in an old brick building in Dimondale.

I had fun making table runners, whose fabric will be used to make quilts for children in local hospitals through our guild's heart warmer's program.  The vases on the tables will get reused for my niece's bridal shower in June.  I had family, quilting friends and highschool friends.  And I think everyone had a pretty good time.

Quilting friends

 

 

Family



High school friends

 

Catching up

Busy times at work with exams starting.  We have pressure put on to get the exams ready at least 5 days ahead while convincing the profs to help us along sometimes is a loosing battle.  What's a girl to do?  I guess just sit back and hope the copy machines are actually working and you don't get sick in the mean time.  Because we don't have a single bit of control. Ugh!

First a couple of pictures from the last Turk Lake Retreat with the Variable Stars this fall.



A beautiful quilt Carol Schon has been working on.  Love the colors.



I think this one was Carols as well. Recycles shirts at their best.



This is a t-shirt quilt I'm putting together for my trainer out of her college and softball t-shirts.

Last weekend was my mom's side of the family's Christmas party.  A coworker is also a cousin and her grandmothers home was right across the street from my grandmothers home.  My grandmothers home, owned by the bank, was torn down as soon as she passed away.  Sarah's grandmother's home, owned by her uncle, is slated to be demolished.  I suggested to her it was forth getting pictures  to preserve those memories.  So since I wasn't sure she would be able to get over and get pictures I stopped by on Sunday and took some.  Love the stone work and gingerbread trim.

Loved the round topped windows upstairs.

I have several retreats coming up, 1 in January, 2 in February and maybe a show in Indiana in March.

Guess that is enough for now.  Take care, enjoy your families!

Garden Whimsey and the Variable Stars

Tuesday night we met again at Roxie's house, this time to try our hand at making garden whimsey's out of garage sale finds.  There was some glass breakage, but all in all I think even those who didn't make one still had fun.  Even Roxie's grandsons joined in.

Carol concentrating very hard to get it just right.

This is the red, white and blue one I have been saving bits and pieced for for the last few months.



Is Roxie wondering it it's tooooo tall?

This is my green one.  Melanie pulled some of the class that I used.

whimsical paint job

A couple of weeks ago when Rosanne hosted the Variable Star Christmas party, she invited us to take a peek at the painting she was having done in the half bath that is attached to her master suite. Beckie Beaudry (sp?)is doing the painting for her. In the past we have seen her work on garden stakes and last time she was painting evil eyes. Here is what she is up to now.

Good news of the furnace. Won't need a new one this heating season, wuh-hu.

Quilting was good this afternoon. My aunt had made what I think is a full size quilt. My mom, her 2 sisters, my aunt's friend and I just about had it all quilted by the time we left about 4:30.

So it was a good day.

Variable Star Christmas Party

Last night was the Variable Star's Christmas party. Rosanne hosted us and served a wonderful chicken lasagna. We also had salad, stewed onions, bread and christmas cookies.

After a wonderful dinner and good conversation we got down to the business of the evening, the gift exchange. This year we said to simply bring a "hand made" item in a brown paper bag. It did not have to be quilt related, just something handmade. Here were the results of this groups creativity.

Carol with a christmas tree made by Wendy and Rosanne with a garden whimsy made by me.

Jo with a necklace of antique buttons made by Pam. Melanie with a box of home made breads from Jo.

Me with a christmas wallhanging made by Rosanne.

Pam with a wall hanging with felted designs from Becky.

Roxie with lemon cookies and "puppy chow" from Melanie.

Wendy with a watercolor painting by Roxie. And Becky received a bag that holds your hot iron made by Carol.

It was a wonderful evening except for 2 missing members, Barb and Claudia.
Hope to see you at next month's meeting.