Virtual Retreat - Ongoing (started January 2018)

[idaho]

And I received Wendy's quilt today! Super smiley day here !! :woohoo: :woohoo: It's a wonderful thing!!
Anyone else enjoying their quilts yet ??

[twiglet]

I feel sad the swap's over it was fun though I am looking forward to seeing the others eventually. Your quilt is on my wall Marilyn and it'll be travelling to my groups and in the exhibitions in June and October, so will be seen!

I was talking to Lorchen and she'd like us to do a forum challenge when we have the new website, hopefully this summer. Let's hope it's super whizzy and all can post easily again. Must say I'm not having problems at the moment but I know others find it difficult.

[twiglet]

Fun to hear your’s and Marilyn’s mini quilts have arrived at their new homes! I too am looking forward to seeing the mini quilts on display.

Great idea Lorchen regarding a forum challenge!

Barb

[twiglet]

Thanks for adding me to the group. I will be posting my quilt that I entered in the IMQS as well as the lovely quilt it received from my partner. Hope to see other quilts that were entered.

[twiglet]

That's ok. If you scroll down this thread there are several here. Some are the same as on the fb group. Please post your two here as well. :cheer:

[twiglet]

I just bought the ruler for making the small pieces and also the book. Looking forward to giving it a try. Love your giraffe

[lotti]

Update on life in my little corner of Switzerland.
Obviously I spent a day in front of the TV the other Saturday - watching THE WEDDING.
In order not to just be plonked in front of the tv all day (and again all evenings last week because I had to watch all the programs showing the Chelsea Flower Show), I moved my little artist a into the living room and gave Bernie a bit of a vacation.
Friends are fostering a little boy, so I had to get him a quilt organized in line with his foster brothers. And he is due to be getting a little cousin later this summer, so here the two baby quilts. Just need to get the binding hanstitched down.






My soulbrother’s quilt is also finally getting done. Two-thirds quilted - might need Bernie for the rest as it’s BIG and am having trouble getting to some places in the center to do feathers on the compass arms with good old Artie. The blue background has been quilted with names, places, events and dates that have been very important in his life (he filled three full pages with these). They have all been stitched in, now a few emptying places still need filling and then the binding.



Other stuff? Of course I hunted out a bunch of flowers and beasties this spring












Next job, making a second mini quilt so that my add-on exchange partner also gets hers soon.
And then there’s the dog, Juno’s quilt to do to be given at the same time as the baby quilt, can’t have the boor four legged child going without. :silly:
Big smiles to all

[lotti]

Oh yes, almost forgot, my little ‘garden’ on my balcony is growing. And I have a new attraction right smack in my view of the mount Rigi. Actually i’m Not unhappy about it. A bird has decided that the very top is THE PERFECT PERCH for him to sit and sing. Can you see him?

[sewengel]

Lotti, thank you for the stunning views of your little corner. Do you know what is being built next door, thus the crane?

Sharon in, dang it's HOT, Colorado

[twiglet]

Yes it would be awful to lose the view we're all so jealous of.

The little quilts are fun but it sounds like you're going to have a constant demand for them. Your soulbrother's quilt looks exciting, I love your colour sense.

I've not done much sewing the last couple of weeks I've been busy in the garden and flaked out in the evenings, it's been quite warm at times. Not like Sharon's warm.
Did I tell you I made a dog?



He lives in the garden now. Probably fall apart soon my grandson keeps cuddling him :lol:

[lotti]

Love that dog, Wendy. He seems to enjoy his garden.

No worries, I’m not loosing the view, it will probably be improved actually. The old bakery next door is being renovated and extended (they’re connecting the bits and pieces to give them a new modern kitchen, more space and nice updated apartments. It won’t be taller so I’m good and it should actually hide some of the uglier buildings. Looking at the architects info they use a lot of wood and try to fit modern with traditional - so I think it will be good.
Here’s the view ‘down’ taken this morning



And just to make you nice and envious again - a quick shot out the living room window just now


Have a great day

[lotti]

I want to come visit both of you, Lotti and Wendy. I’d love to have a go at a turtle like your dog, Wendy. And Lotti, your views are pretty spectacular, one just needs to only use their distance perspective.
Charleston, SC is in a growth spurt like never seen before. The skyline is full of cranes! And the taller buildings will be obstructive to others former views. And there aren’t any mountains in the distance to view once you loose your ‘window’ to the ocean. Sad, but true.
Progress isn’t always without it’s discomforts.

A couple of pictures I’m working on lately.

[lotti]

Always love to see your projects, Luann. Love these.
Yes, there is a reason why I moved last summer. Am so much happier here and do so appreciate having the view after living in a dark ground floor apartment on a busy street for the past thirty years. :woohoo:

[genevacarroll]

Hello everyone,

Lotti as usual your photos are fabulous. They make me feel like I'm right there. Thank you! I'm so glad that your crane is temporary! Your quilts are happy. I know the recipients will treasure and love them.

Luann, your books are interesting! You are quite the inventive sewist. Always doing some new technique. Thanks for sharing.

Wendy! You have the perfect dog! No barking to annoy the neighbors, no messy clean up :sick: and he will always stay in the yard. Really tho', it is very cute. I'd love one for my yard. I currently have 2 pink flamingos in my yard. They started out as a joke more than 30 years ago and now they are part of the family. Their names are Horace and Maude. When my children were young they wanted a dog. I said "We already have pets! We have Horace and Maude"! I didn't win mother of the year that year either. Oh well!

I finished the top I was making using the Shibori fabric I dyed at my friend Jo's home last fall. It was a struggle, but I think it turned out pretty good. There are some pieces that didn't make the final product. They will go on the back.




I didn't feel up to figuring out how to make the back using all the pieces. My mom has been failing in health and went into hospice care a few weeks ago. There seems to be so many things to do, and my mind has been scattered. But I needed something to do in my "happy place." Sometimes I just need to be in my sewing room, playing with fabric. I found a package of 5" batik squares of lots of colors that I had bought last summer somewhere. I glanced upon "X" and "O" blocks and somehow came up with the idea of hugs and kisses. I used the hot colors for the kisses and the cool colors for the hugs. I am quilting it now.




The other day I was so worn out, so I sat in my sewing room and embroidered some running stitches and French knots around the border of the quilt. I used pink, orange, turquoise and lime green thread. It turned out just how I wanted it to look! How often does that happen? Here's a close up of the embroidery and a little of the kisses quilting. I'm still tossing around ideas for quilting the hugs.




As I'm sure you all know, this passion of ours can really soothe some of the rough layers of life. This is a bittersweet time for me and my family. Thank God I have my husband, children and grandchildren to hold onto my ankles as I float about trying to do whatever needs to be done. This little quilt is called "Gimme a hug and a kiss". That's what my mom and I say to each other whenever we part.

Thank you lounge lizards.. you guys are the best! geneva

[fabrikath]

Wendy, is the new dog's nickname "Twiglet 2"? So cute. I really like his shape and demeanor!

Kathy