Quilt Retreat

My first quilt retreat was amazing. I left the girls with a babysitter on Thursday morning and my mom and I went shopping at a LQS, had excellent Mexican food for lunch and were finally on our way to the convent. The convent is located on a famous road in Temecula, CA--famous for it's wineries. It seemed an odd place for the nuns to be with tasting rooms for neighbors, but the views from the room of the open fields and grape vineyards was amazing.

We were almost the last to arrive and set up our area in the back of the room. It was so pleasant, we had a lovely group of ladies and one man to spend the weekend chatting with and learning from. Our instructor, Pearl Pereira, was so lovely. She was patient explaining all the techniques for freezer paper applique, being self taught it was nice to have someone who was so patient even with teaching me easier ways to hold the stiletto to move the fabric better.

Here are some of the creations that people worked on or were brought in for show and tell this weekend. The first is from a lady who just stopped by for the trunk show on Saturday night. She made this one for her daughter & son-in-law, the signature blocks are from the guest at their wedding.

The flowers are from this pattern below of Pearls called Wildflowers. I love how unique the top one is. I love when people take a pattern and make it their own.

Linda worked on finishing the blocks up for a summer quilt "Gifts from the Sea" by Verna Mosque. I loved the bright colors. And I am sure that my girls would love the quilt... maybe one day.

This one was from another quilt shop owner Julie. She spent the weekend trying to get caught up making samples for her shop.
Here is Pearl's finished Baltimore Halloween Quilt. Four ladies were working on it at the retreat. After seeing the size of some of the tiny pieces that had to be turned, I can guarantee that this one will never make it to my to do list. But it is absolutely beautiful in person, and I certainly understand the attraction to make one.

Her Christmas quilt with the big pieces is much more my speed. Aren't the faces sweet on these guys?

Here I am industriously working on my applique pieces. The pink fabric is super cute in its finished spot, and the little brown arch turned into the handle on this basket. Do you remember the background I posted about a few weeks ago?

Aren't you excited to see the whole quilt? I am about 1/3 way done stitching down the applique. so be patient hopefully in a couple more weeks it will be ready to be quilted. Of course for each pattern that we are designing, we have it done in two different color ways, so maybe I shouldn't be so optimistic that this pattern will be ready soon, but I hope so.

Happy sewing,

Kami