Virtual Retreat - Ongoing (started January 2019)

[genevacarroll]

Hello! I'm a day late reporting in but I wanted to finish the quilt I was working on to show you all.

But first, Sharon, I live in the Eastern side of Washington. I won't be going to the Everett show. Everett is about 3+ hours over the Cascade mountains from me. If you are driving I-90 across WA, you will have to wave at me when you reach Vantage. If you'd like to come by we are in the Tri Cities which is where the Yakima, Snake and Columbia rivers meet to then flow south west to the Pacific Ocean. The Columbia River is the border between Oregon and Washington. Everett is on the "wet side" of WA. We are on the "dry side." It is a desert here. Quite the opposite of the wet side, where it rains..... a lot! All the produce that Washington is famous for, wine, apples, peaches, pears, hops and much more are grown over here. I bet that you are all probably bored with my geography lesson! Sharon, I would love to see you if you'd like to stop by. PM me!

Also Sharon, congratulations on your two ribbons! It's such a nice feeling to be acknowledged by other quilters. And as Wendy said, a viewers choice is especially nice. Well done!

Eileen, I'm so glad you are out and about quilting again. It has been a tough year, but isn't it nice to see the light shining on us again!?

Ok, so February and March were really snowy. It is unusual to have this much snow here. But because we were housebound for 8 weeks, I spent a lot of time in my sewing room. We live off gravel roads and have a 600 foot driveway. There is a mid section of the driveway that gets 4-5 foot drifts that are impassable with even a snow blower. Luckily we have neighbors who have tractors and are willing to spend hours digging us out.




I found a charm pack of Op Art Reflections in my stash. It has to be several years old. I bought the QCR mini ruler at a quilt show last year and have had fun playing around with it. Then at our guild meeting they had a QCR book in the library! I'm not good at following a pattern. I'd rather make stuff and put it together in my own design. I started cutting up the drunkards path blocks using solids I had in my stash. I cut some, sewed some and did it again.



And I got closer and closer to some sort of setting.







Making the center pieces the same length as the on point and straight set blocks was tricky, but I did it! Here is the finished quilt







I don't have enough "add file" to show you the backing. It's a teal grunge fabric and has a center using up all the left over drunkards path pieces.

It was fun to make and I enjoyed the quilting. I used Superior Rainbows white and black for the majority of the quilting and then another variegated Superior thread for the in between lines. Found the binding in my stash. Except for the backing, it was all made from my stash. It's about 50" x 50".

In between I have been helping to sew together one of those butterfly quilts. The one that is huge and has many individual blocks and a right side and left side. One of my small groups is making it for the guild raffle quilt for the 2020 show. I hope we can get it all pieced in the next few weeks and pass it off to the long arm quilter. It's been interesting. Sewing together a large quilt with small pieces made by a dozen other people is tricky! :dry: I'll post a picture when the top is done.

I planted zinnia seeds in seed pots to grow and plant in our outdoor pots a little later. Spring is finally here!

I don't remember if I told you, but I hung some of my quilts at the Department of Ecology in Union Gap. To be perfectly frank, it's a soul-less building, with seemingly acres of gray cubicles. June Cleaver on Acid was hanging there since July. I went to pick up the quilts a week or so ago and yesterday I received the kindest thank you note! Several people had written how much they enjoyed my quilts, especially June, and hoped I would bring some more to hang. It made my week! We artists love to hear about how our art makes people feel good, huh?

I hope the rest of you quit getting snow. I wish you fun times in your sewing rooms!

Take care, geneva

[genevacarroll]

I forgot to tell you! The quilt is called "4 Ring Circus".

And here's the back.





gc

[genevacarroll]

It’s so good to hear from everyone!

And I can totally agree with Geneva, it’s nice when another quilter compliments you. It means they are confident in their own methods and can freely recognize someone else’s!

I have the large/original size QCR and one of these days,,,,,, lol. Your quilt is very inspiring.

[twiglet]

Geneva your quilt is amazing. The wonky lines each side of solid colour are fab but beats me how you did it.

[twiglet]

Geneva great to see your latest work - 4 Ring Circus is fabulous!

My goodness what a lot of snow! We were in Seattle for an event during the first snow then back a couple weeks later for another event and look at CWU in Ellensburg for a second time with our granddaughter.

Barb

[lotti]

love the 4RingCircus, Geneva. and am looking forward to seeing your "community butterfly quilt". I bet your quilts made that building ever so much more happy. quilts, whether to snuggle under or on walls, give so much warmth and comfort.
have a great week everyone

[genevacarroll]

Thank you everyone for the nice compliments. :kiss:

Barb, my husband spent some time at the college in Ellensburg. He liked it. Ellensburg is our half way stop point when we are driving over to Seattle. It's a nice little town.

Wendy, Here's how I made the wonky rows. I made two 4" drunkard paths of the same solid color on the skinny side, one with the white on the big melon side and one with black on the melon side. I sewed them together along the color side and ended up with a rectangle 4" x 7 1/2", Then I sliced a little angle off different sides of the rectangles and sewed them together. Then I trimmed the outside edges to make a straight border I could sew to the same background color. (White or black). Here's a close up.



Have a good week everyone! geneva

[genevacarroll]

Geneva, yes Ellensburg is a great little town! DH earned his Masters degree there. Our oldest daughter also attended.

Barb

[eileenkny]

Well, I'm home from MQX, and this was the best one ever! I took classes for the Intelliquilter system on my longarm, one on my Scan n Cut, and a wonderful class with Sarah Vederler, the creator of the 2012 TQS BOM. She is a delightful and patient teacher. There was also an exhibit of 30 of Sue Garman's machine quilted quilts. I thought her daughters would be at the show, but they weren't. Several of our BOMs were on display, and I just kept walking through the exhibit and remembering them all. Hubby and I helped with show take down and we got to help pack Sue's quilts back up for shipping. I got kind of emotional, knowing that I may not get to see them in person again. Makes me realize that I have to finish what I start. With all Sue had going on during those last years of her life, she still found time to finish many, many quilts.

Here's what I created in Sarah's class:

[eileenkny]

Just went through everyone's posts, and people have been busy! Geneva, you are so right! I feel like a piece of my heart has been restored. Your quilt is really great-I love your color combinations.
Lotti, I hope the weather has been cooperating with what you need to do. Has anything begun to bloom near you?
Sharon!! WooHoo! You are on fire with your quilting.
As much as you want to help your Mom's husband, take your time with the placement. We were really burned by one place because we were short on time placing my mother. I honestly believe if she hadn't gone there, she might still be with us. She didn't have any dementia, but got overwhelmed and frightened very quickly.

[eileenkny]

Eileen,
Your piece from the workshop is really interesting.
Glad that things have gotten more balance for you.
Luann

[eileenkny]

:unsure: .

[sewengel]

You guys are the best therapy I need right now. Feeling frustrated with the health system for older folks, etc. But enough about that.

Geneva, we are flying into Seattle, but plan to drive there next (2020) summer. But my goodness you are such a creative quilter!! Wanted to let everyone know that Robin Gold is moving to the Sisters area next month. Her hubby retired and this is where they wanted to settle.

Eileen, the heart is beautiful!

You guys are all so dang creative. Thanks for the lovely comments.

Sharon in, finally no snow, Colorado!!

[eileenkny]

Robin Gold told me she was moving to the Sisters area. I am so jealous, but I told her now I have even more reason to get my butt out there to see the show.

[genevacarroll]

I'm glad to hear Robin is moving to Sisters. Now she'll be closer to me!

Sharon, if you need help with placement for your parents please PM me. I used to work in Long Term Care and can help. And I'd love to see you next summer when you are driving through.

Eileen, your piece from the MQX is lovely! It is good to be on the upside. :cheer:

Barb, it is a small world. Especially for us!

take care, geneva