Virtual Retreat - Ongoing (started January 2018)

[idaho]

Just droppin' by to wish all a Merry Christmas from my little corner, where it's snowin' softly this morning and surely
looking like holiday time. I think it has been very quiet of late on this forum. Hope to see a little pick- up as winter
settles in and we all take a bit of sewing time in the days before spring. Haven't been sewing much...too busy loving
our new family member...Her name is Pepper (obvious why when you see her) and is a re-home from a friend who
couldn't keep her. Well trained and smart! And a luv bug! Lap friendly and big enough at 18 # to walk miles with DH!
She's been filling up my free time very well! :lol: Not much sewing , tho'...and the yarn fairies attacked and I've been
knitting a bit...out of practice and so slow! Sending along a few pics. Hope you enjoy. Once more...Merry Christmas to
all the Forum friends! and those who are no longer posting here but not forgotten !!



DH and Pepper ...not great pic but you see her face anyway

Like I said a luv bug !
...both of 'em..sound asleep!

[Pemela]

Idaho, thank you for your lovely post. Wishing you and yours and all the forum friends a Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year.
Pam xx

[eileenkny]

To everyone in the TQS family, a very Merry and Blessed Christmas and holiday season. May 2019 be kind to us all.

[twiglet]

Hello friends and Pepper. Enjoy the next few days, and Happy Christmas.
I can share a mini quilt I made for a Facebook swap. We need another challenge on here



And a baby quilt for the other granny.

Lots more quilting after Christmas see you then xx

[twiglet]

Merry Christmas to all !!!

And for that ‘challenge’, Wendy,,,,

I remember a few years back when someone said wouldn’t it be fun to be able to have a retreat for all of us. Well, that was what started our ‘virtual retreat’ happenings. AND along that same line of thought, I’ll propose the

2019 Challenge

Every month on the date of your Birthday (mine is March 5th, so for me that’s the 5th of every month), we post here what we are investing our time in. Even if it’s not quilt related, this is a retreat amongst friends, and the conversations are what make us closer. Pictures are always welcome, (hint, hint, Miss Lottie). And because our ‘treats’ never have any calories, carbs, or consequences of any kind, share your favorites.

And now that I’ve said this, and I’ll need to mark it on my Bullet Journal, or I’ll be the first to forget, lol. These are pictures of what I’ve been up to recently:

[twiglet]

Both of these quilts are beautiful.

[SoBelt]

Merry Christmas to all and may 2019 be good to all. Love the idea of monthly posting, even though I haven't been,
Pat

[NanaPie]

Twiglet, your quilts are lovely! Could you share the names of the patterns? I have looked for a wall hanging pattern at around 36" x 36" and your applique one could sure be made in to that size. And the granny quilt is cute as a button!

[NanaPie]

AnnieLu, you have been busy!! Lovely quilts! I think it's a good idea to post what we're working on monthly - would inspire me to GET MOVING on making progress so I didn't have to post the same picture over and over. Idaho, enjoyed your pictures too - especially the two sleepers in the chair - what contentment! I miss the active forum posting we used to have too - it's the first thing I look at when I log in. Many old friends and making new friends. Merry Christmas, everyone!

[genevacarroll]

I have soooo missed our forum chats. Luann, your idea to post on our birth date every month is perfect. I'm game! My day is lucky 13. It will give me a push to get something done. You all have been so good for me and to me all these years. I miss some of our friends that don't post, Rita, Ritzy, Lorchen, Terri... if anyone has contact with them, let them know I miss them and wish them well. By the way, I gave "Mardi Gras", the mystery quilt we did with Terri, to my niece and her mother. They love it!

We laid my mother to rest Thanksgiving week. It is the final chapter in a life lived with adventure and love. Losing my mom this year has been difficult, and unfortunately more difficult by the actions of my two siblings. However, when tough times strike, it make me see that there is a learning experience to behold. Making "Positive Energy" was a step towards peace. Also, Eileen and Luann reached out to me and made my journey more loving and peaceful. That's why we need each other. Not just for quilting, but for life.

In any case! I just finished my latest quilt top, "Direction". I'm trying to use up all my hand dyed fabrics so I can dye some more this summer! I used the same group of hand dyes that I used in Jolly Rancher and Straight to the Heart. It's interesting to see how settings and backgrounds change things. I used a wild Kaffe fabric for the background. (is there anything not wild about Kaffe?) It was fun, even though I made two major mistakes which caused the quilt to be different than I imagined. But I think the quilt knew better than me! :blink: Put your sunglasses on!




I've also been working on a rendition of a photograph with my small group. I'll post that when it's a little closer to done. I took an Ann Shaw class in October and HATED my poppy! I have it sitting in a corner waiting for a rework. I'll get to it. The Ann Shaw-Ruth B. McDonald method is brilliant! I like it a lot. I just picked muddy colors and not much contrast. Oh well, live and learn!

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I wish that 2019 will be good for all.

Take care my friends... geneva

[idaho]

Merry Christmas Geneva! Your quilt made me laugh out loud! Psyco geese in a snow storm !!
Consider letting us see the hated poppy?? The input might be fun and helpful. You got snow up your way?
3-4 inches here over nite. It's pretty in the trees! Cheers!

[genevacarroll]

Marilyn, Thanks for making me laugh out loud also. Psycho Geese in a snow storm is an awesome name!

No snow here, which I prefer. Yesterday we were supposed to get 2/100ths of an inch. I'm not sure how to even measure that!

Here is a picture of the hated poppy. I plan to remake it purple with some yellow accents. Someday....




Marilyn your Merry Christmas picture is so nice. And Pepper looks so cute and such a nice companion.

Luann and Wendy I neglected to mention your quilts are so wonderful! Good work everyone!

Merry Christmas! geneva

[eileenkny]

I haven't picked up a needle since my mother died in July. I try, and I'm able to do a few stitches, and then Pfffttt. I'd like a 2019 challenge that doesn't have to include quilts. I have a confession to make-Lotti was my international partner. I have a beautiful quilt from her and didn't make one for her. I think that will have to be my first priority-to make it up to her.

[twiglet]

Eileen you've had a lot happen this year hope next year is better. Same for you Geneva xx

Love all the makes psycho or otherwise.

There isn't a pattern Nanapie. I traced the monkeys from the decals on the boys bedroom wall. The other quilt I drafted using Ricky's Rhapsody method and used Google images of Turkish Iznik ceramics. I'll put up a pic of my drawing which you may be able to enlarge.



Hope it helps

[NanaPie]

Wow, Twiglet, you are one talented lady! Thank you for pointing me in the right direction and posting your drawing and information. I really like yours. Did you machine or hand applique? It looks just beautiful.