Spring Retreat!

As you may already know, my guild, Lakeview Quilters Guild, has a retreat every spring in Galveston, Texas.  A nice size group of quilters, somewhere between 80 and 90 this year, settle in for four and half wonderful days of solid quilting and camaraderie.  So, this month's blog is nothing about me and my work, and everything about the awesome projects and inspiration that I saw at the retreat!

First up are a couple of quilts that my friend Becky Stephenson has been working on.  The top one is a square in square quilt that she and a group of friends did an exchange with, and she recently finished.  The colors and movement of the quilt are just mesmerizing to me.  Note that the white "border" isn't really a border.  The squares are all sewn on-point, and then white triangles are added to the ends to square up the quilt.  It turns out creating an imaginary border! 

The quilt just below that one is the center block that she's been working on for the Happy Trails quilt by Pearl Pereira at P3 Designs.  Being a native Texan, I can't help but love a boot filled with yellow roses and bluebonnets!

Becky's Square in Square Quilt

Becky's Happy Trails center block.

This next quilt is an Aggie quilt made by Sara Genoa.  And, she hand quilted it!  I went to Texas A&M, so Aggies are near and dear to me.  And all of those little words quilted into the border just stole my heart!

Sara's Aggie Quilt

Closeup of Sara's quilting.

Speaking of Aggie quilts, my friend Cynthia Clark spent most of her retreat time working on one for her soon-to-be step-grandson.  It will be a beautiful Aggie log cabin!

A stack of Cynthia's log cabin blocks in work.

Cynthia's first finished block!

This Bed of Roses quilt has a very unique story.  The blocks were made by Deborah Salisbury, who had Alzheimer's disease and was unable to finish the quilt.  The blocks were given to Marlene Lewis, who asked Mom for help with it.  Mom helped her to square up the blocks and figure out how to put it together.  I think she even cut some of the sashings for her.  I think it turned out just lovely, and I love the story that goes with it.

Deborah's and Marlene's Bed of Roses

Sometimes, we start new projects at retreat after seeing something inspirational in the room with us.  That happened here!  This first picture is a block that Carolyn Hooks made, called Far West.  She and a group of quilters exchanged fabrics only and made their own blocks.  Becky saw the block and really liked the look of it.  But, she thought it would sure be nice in a smaller scale.  Becky's sister, Jerrianne went ahead and made her a small version.  So cute!  I think we may have to make a full size quilt of small blocks!

Carolyn's Far West block

Jerrianne's/Becky's mini Far West block

We also have non-quilt items that are inspiring.  Here we have a small sewing case that Johnnie Nottingham made for Holly Cagle.  Look at all of that embroidery and detail.  It's absolutely gorgeous!

Holly's sewing case, outside.

Holly's sewing case, inside.

This next quilt, I think Mom would have loved!  Linda Ainsworth took her Bunny Block Sampler blocks and took them to a whole new level.  She added multiple borders and tons of embellishments, and she's working on hand quilting it.  Beautiful!

Linda's Bunny Block Sampler quilt.

Linda's Santa Bunny, with embellished gift sack.

Linda's Halloween Bunny with pumpkins, a spider, and almost Mardi Gras-like mask.

Linda's Thanksgiving Bunny, with added turkey and carrots.

Marci Henry actually finished a quilt at retreat (something I always wish I could say).  I have an affinity for blue quilts, and this is no exception.  I love it!

Marci's blue pineapple top quilt.

Nancy Ferverda made this lovely Shabby Vintage Rose quilt using pink and purple fabrics.  I like the look of sampler type quilts like this.

Nancy's Shabby Vintage Rose quilt.

This next quilt caught my eye when Jeanne Whittle put it up on a design wall.  The bright colors and waves going both vertically and horizontally add so much interest and movement. 

Jeanne's Crown Jewels using the X block.

And as soon as Jeanne's quilt came down to be sewn together, Mary Ann Alexander put this next quilt up, with even brighter colors.  This pattern is called Gemstone by Henry Glass.  Again, the movement and colors draw me in and make me want to keep staring.

Mary Ann's Gemstone quilt.

And yet another eye catcher was this Chains quilt that Phyllis Grounds was working on.  Lovely florals in soothing colors.  I can imagine myself wrapped up in the finished quilt, keeping warm by a cozy fire.

Phyllis' Chains quilt.

Last but not least, this quilt top is one that Mom purchased several years ago for $20, and it wasn't all put together when she purchased it.  A group of quilters has since completed the top and finished the applique that wasn't quite finished.  It will be quilted and up for auction in our guild's annual auction this August.  I'd guess it'll bring the guild a nice sum of money.  So pretty!

Antique quilt top.

Antique quilt top

That's all for this month.  I hope you enjoyed viewing some of the works of art from my retreat, and maybe got some inspiration of your own.  Have a fantastic April, and I'll see you next month!

Keep on sewing!
Jenny