The Sewing Retreat....Among Other Things!

For the past several years, my sisters and I have gotten together for a fun "sewing retreat!" It started off as just...."Let's meet up and sew a quilt together." Now, it has turned into a yearly expectation. I am the only sister that lives away so it does take some planning and preparation.

Over the years we have sewn some pretty fun, incredible quilts together. Each year we decide on the quilt we will be making. That is always a tough choice. If I may say.....there is always an unspoken competition between us. We always have to have the CUTEST! quilt. Sometimes we choose the same fabric and sometimes we are on our own. Whatever the case, we have a blast together...laughing, sewing, eating, staying up late and catching up on life's busy times.

All of my sisters are talented. Some more than others hehehe! My mom is primarily responsible for the sewing addiction that we all have. But it is a talent that we all enjoy together. (Most of us, that is!) I do have one sisters that is ohhhhhh, I will say a Career Woman! She giggles and scoffs at our need to "Pet" all the fabric that we come home with. She kindly rolls her eyes and really cannot tolerate our infatuation with the fabric "bug." But we do still love her!

These are some of the quilts we have made together over the years!

This was our first! Done in blocks that are cut apart
and sewn back together.

"Kansas City Troubles" This one is not yet finished.
We made several unplanned trips to the fabric
store to get it "just right!"



This is my absolute favorite! #3

FLOWER POWER! This was a blast!

"Block Party" Hmmmmm do we like?

"Flutterby" A Moda Creation...love it!

I wanted to make this quilt because I just loved
the fabric. It took me awhile to finish this one
after I stowed it away in my cupboard.

Did I forget any of them? Each one of them were fun to make and I have made it a point to finish them all....A few of them still need some attention. But these are fun memories with my sisters.

This year we got together during the first week of October. My sister, Linda, always hosts the quilting event. She cooks for us (always delicious), sets everything up, battles her doggies and children, and manages to finish her quilt first! I can never figure that out. I think she sews in the middle of the night when the rest of us have gone home. Fess us Linda! I will confess that I am the slowest sewer in town. Just the way it is....and I love it! I cannot hurry or be rushed during my quilting time.....hmmmmmm no big surprise! I love the tedious nature of piecing a quilt together and taking my time.

This year we made a 30's quilt. Neither of my sisters had ever made one, so the decision was made. Truthfully, I was luke warm, as I have made several 30's quilts. But this one looked very cute and I was happy to use my scraps that I had accumulated over the years. Whatever we sew turns out to be so much fun! And this was no different, and yes, I was the last to finish!

This quilt was different because you had to lay the WHOLE thing out before you sewed it together. It was sewn "on point" and you had to match the squares or "cards" which was the reason for laying it out before you began to sew. That process took almost one whole day! Read on for the fun we had together.

My youngest sister has joined us.....she comes when she can, she still has little ones!

Remember the doggie duty?? It is like having another child.....!

We are never disappointed with our "Cook". She always fixes yummy meals!

A Side Note....Linda's grandson walked in with this!!! Yikes! the Hunters had returned home with their Elk. This was "leftover" I thought it was a picture worth taking...hehehehe!

Kathy's Quilt

Yep!!! She finished first!

We had such a fun time together this year and everybody finished their quilt. I think that is a first! It is really fun to share some time with my sisters. I don't see them often and I end up thinking...."Why don't I do this more often?" Until next year.....!