Retreat - Everybody Else!

This last week has been so jam-packed with stuff that it's simply been impossible to direct my focus on finishing the task of sharing the last of the retreat sewing. I did promise, however, so here ya' go! Special note to Sheryll: I didn't take a single picture of any of your needlework! I'm so sorry!!

In this post you saw what Sharon worked on; in this post I shared what I accomplished. Now let's see what Terry, Becky, Jan, Lisette and Susan created. The variety is inspiring!

Terry is preparing for a patriotic year with this R-W-B stars and stripes quilt. Won't it be spectacular?

Missing at Becky's table was her sewing machine! That's because she didn't even bring it. Her intentions were to do handwork for the duration of the retreat. She has two in progress - stars and Grandmother's Flower Garden. What fun to watch these two quilts grow throughout the week. Becky is very skilled at color placement and fast, yet fine stitching.

Jan's impressive accomplishment was finishing this WIP (work in progress). She came to the retreat with most (maybe all) of the stars made. She constructed the checkerboard blocks and then put the quilt top together. Ever since I've known Jan, her preference for bold colors and strong, graphic designs has been evident in her quilts.

A WIP from Lisette was one of these trees; while at retreat she made and attached two more. She likes working with tiny pieces. For further proof of that, get a look at this next WIP.

 

This quilt is made with the narrowest of strips - scraps, potentially - using paper foundation. It is going to be so stunning when completed.

 This little beauty appeared on the design wall in the vicinity of where both Lisette and Susan were sewing; I'm sorta' thinking it was completed by Lisette. What a lovely little table topper/wall hanging.

Lisette likes to be organized as illustrated by the little clips of all her block units. I'm sure this increases her completion rate; I ought to take heed and try it myself, right?

These lovely flying geese strips are a WIP from the talented hands of Susan. I have forgotten the precise project she is working on, but it seems as though it's a sampler quilt. 

Another of Susan's projects was this pretty poison green/navy star creation. I don't know her eventual plan for this. I do know it was made following instructions using a disappearing 4-patch as the beginning point. The girls who are in a guild together had this demonstrated for them at their last meeting; it all seemed rather too complicated for me!

I mentioned that I did not take pictures of anything from Sheryll. Let me post one I have in my camera roll; I have lots of pics that never make it to the blog. This is representative of the handwork Sheryll specializes in; and it is always lovely.

While I show you this Christmas picture, I can tell you that Sheryll was working on a beautiful red bird design. Additionally, she was piecing some hexies for flowers; I apologize for not doing a better job of fact-gathering.

So our Spring retreat was a wonderful success. We go back in mid-August for another 3-night/4-day retreat. I so look forward to these getaways so much!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

The KF Retreat

As I pulled together the projects I planned to work on at the recent retreat, I mentioned that this might become known as the Kaffe Fassett retreat - that prediction was spot on. I made three quilts with this glorious fabric, and I love all three.

First, I finished a WIP (work in progress) that was begun while in Florida. I made blocks of an entire mostly-blue KF jelly roll. That was all done prior to the retreat. I set off those gorgeous blue/green/purple blocks with a narrow pink sashing, and used some blue from my stash for the cornerstones. 

That pic above looks washed out; here's a different angle; hopefully the colors look more vivid.

 The final measurements on this jelly roll quilt are 45"x50".

The second project was the project I planned to do with my dear friend Sharon. We'd spoken for a year or more about using our KF fabrics to make an Around the World quilt. I shared hers in yesterday's post. She'd begun it back in the fall while I delayed because - get this - I didn't have enough pastel colors in my stash. I had to buy more! (I know, you're all ROFLing, right?)

The wonderful floral pattern above was my center panel. From there, I just added border after border after border - all different widths and all selected with the idea of cohesiveness of color and design.

I really didn't know what it would look like when I began, but this is what I ended up with. I sort of expected that it would be more pink, but the fabrics led me to this and I'm pleased with it. It measures 48"x62". I could conceivably add more borders. Now that I am home and have access to my entire stash, I might just see what I find. However, I do like this and may just leave well enough alone.

Having this completed, I turned my sights on making a baby quilt for our new granddaughter. Both Cate and Reagan have quilts made like this, and I thought the newest little girl would need to have one as well. The last thing I grabbed when packing for retreat was a stack of solid fabrics piled on the end of a table. It was meant to be.

The  blocks for this quilt use the same general principle as Around the World - that is, begin with a panel of colorful florals or prints, border it with a matching solid, repeat a border of the floral/print, then finish off with the solid. Make 9 of these blocks and stitch them together. Voila! Baby quilt in no time. This one measures 60"x76". I am sure the ones I made for Cate and Reagan were lots smaller. Since there's not a set pattern, you end up with a surprise. I used narrower strips or started with smaller central panels on my previous versions. 

 I just found this picture in my camera roll; I'm completely clueless! One of these went to Reagan; I must have gifted the other one...but to whom? I forget...Below is the first one from 2022 when Cate was born.

 So, yes, it WAS a Kaffe Fassett retreat. Wonderful! It was really satisfying to complete 3 flimsies, all made (mostly) from my stash of KF fabrics. I'll be back soon with a final retreat report in which all the other quilters get grouped all together in one giant post.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

Retreat - Sharon's Productivity

Eight lovely ladies attended the retreat this year at Nelsonville's Needles N Pines retreat center. We have all been together for previous retreats, so we just picked up right where we left off, stitching and catching up with each other. 

All of us are seasoned enough at this retreat business to know a few tricks to having a successful week of sewing. One is to show up with a project ready to sew. It is the very best way to progress quickly on a quilt. Sharon absolutely epitomized this theory with THREE - 3 finishes.

First, this Around the World quilt was a WIP (work in progress) and almost finished upon arrival. She'd started it last fall. Once she began sewing, she made quick work of it by adding a few more borders to get to this final quilt top. 

You may recall that I was planning to make one, too. Well, I finally dove into it at retreat; stay tuned for an upcoming post in which I reveal it. Now, let's move on to Sharon's other finishes.

She'd picked up a layer cake of juvenile fabric, and decided that her great nephew was sufficiently old enough to have outgrown his baby quilts. This is that same easy pattern so many of us have been making with our layer cakes. I will link to this post in which I outline the directions. It is also a pattern that can be accessed from Fat Quarter Shop.

And last, she found a treasure in the depths of her sewing stash. She had a fat quarter pack of French General fabric - possibly one of the oldest of all their collections. She also found the pattern for Turning Twenty. The result is stunning!

All these quilts went together so fast because she came with all the cutting done. Being able to just sit right down and begin sewing really does get ones momentum churning. And there's nothing too fussy going on either, so that is a bonus. A couple of the quilters had quite a great amount of fussiness, and I will be sharing those, in coming posts.

It sure feels good to boast 3 finished projects after 3.5 days of retreat sewing. Gets one excited to go straight to work on the next one! 

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

A Joyous Event

As eager as we are to arrive in Florida each January, I am equally eager to return to Ohio in April so that I can wrap my arms around the little granddaughters and all other family - mother, siblings, children, all. This year we anticipated an exciting new addition to greet - and now she has arrived!

Our family is thrilled to welcome our newest blessing! Annie James Dillon arrived at 3:44 pm yesterday, April 10. She weighed 7 lbs., 10 oz. and measured 20.5 inches. We couldn't be happier to meet our newest little love. Parents Erin and Jeff are doing well.

Big sister Cate, age 3, is as adorable as ever, and was absolutely brimming with equal parts questions and explanations of all the goings on. 

During the previous week, we'd had the chance to spend time with darling Reagan Jayne. Emma and Glen have quite a growing girl on their hands! At 18 months, she very nearly tops the charts in height and weight.

I missed these little sweeties so much over those Florida months, and while FaceTime is wonderful, it cannot equal the squeeze around the neck and the peck of a sweet kiss on the cheek. I am soaking up all the cuddles I can.

Our Easter celebration was with my side of the family at sister Sandy's - we had 39 in attendance. Both family and friends joined our feast. 

Easter was followed by a 4-day quilt retreat, and gosh was it great! So productive! I am eager to follow up with quite a few posts highlighting the quilts of all the attendees. Several posts are in the works; be sure to return for those!

Here's sneak peak, heh-heh. 

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

Hello April! So Glad You're Here!

April is here! We here at the home of Jayne's Quilting Room have been eagerly awaiting this month since learning that we would get another grandbaby this month! She will be here soon!

 

  

Now you know why we just HAD to get back to Ohio by April first. We are awaiting baby girl's arrival any day now. 

In addition to being eager to welcome our newest little love, I am preparing to head out to a 4-day quilt retreat. Deciding what projects and necessary supplies to take is taking up a lot of my head space.

Other head space is being devoted to food prep for Easter celebrations coming up this weekend. 

My head is just full of stuff, isn't it!!? 

One project going to retreat will be this jelly roll quilt that I started while in Florida. I stopped work on it when I began having trouble with my sewing machine. It should be a quick and easy finish. The Kaffe Fassett jelly roll I used is one that came from my dear sweet Frienzie Kay, who passed away last year. I am so grateful to Kay for introducing me to KF fabrics oh-so-many years ago. 

This retreat may become known as the KF retreat, as this next quilt will see some sewing action. Trip Around the World, from the Fasssett book Heritage Quilts, is one I am making with my sewing bestie, Sharon. She has actually done a bit on hers, as we began it last fall. 

I want to have a pastel look and my stash, while extensive, did not contain adequate lighter colors to suit me. With that in mind, while at Florida's Quilted Twins, I shopped specifically for fabrics with lighter, pastel tones. I am pleased with the collection of 1-yard cuts that came home with me.

One more piece is a larger amount, because it is what I plan to use in that jelly roll quilt (see above) for the sashing strips. It will also work in the pastel assortment for Trip Around the World.

 Two KF quilts at a retreat? I think I can do it. I suppose I will also take along some back-up plans for just in case situations. Never want to run short!

Happy April, dear quilters, and Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne