Retreat at Sorrento!!

We had such a wonderful weekend. For 2 days the sun shone, the weather was beautiful.

Then on Saturday, down came the rain and well, we didn't care!!

 Cause we were busy sewing!!

Its wonderful spending time with these girls. We are like a well oiled group.

 Opinions shared, jokes made, teasing, laughs and lots of sewing!!

Not to mention the food!!

This is a quilt Chris finished over the weekend.

She only had the borders to put on.

Its for her daughter's girlfriends 21st birthday.

Then Chris and l decided to make a jelly roll quilt,

using the method shown here.

This is the quilt Chris made, and it only took just over an hour.

Here is mine. l used a roll that was only 1 1/2"wide, so my quilt is smaller, more cot sized.

These were fun to make. My girlfriend, who has just bought a quilting machine,

will quilt these for practise, and we will donate them to a charity.

Here is Bev and Margaret, busy on their hand work.

 Bev is appliqueing a border for her stunning pink and green pot of flowers quilt.

Margaret is making Inner city blocks. Forgot to take a photo when

she had them on the design wall. Sorry!!

Here is Chris, working on a new quilt. She is always busy.

Jill was working on a Chris Kringle project.

And sends a wave to Lynne, who is sure to be watching!!

While standing in line to have my book signed in Houston,

a Moda rep was handing out these samples packs of fabric.

So l had a play with them.

These are the 2 mini quilts l made using a different pack for each quilt.

Cute and fun!!

Friday night after dinner was time for our Xmas exchange.

 Here are all the gifts waiting.

And here are 5 ( and the 6th behind the camera) happy smiling women with their quilts.

This is mine, made by Margaret.

This went home with Bev, made by Sandra.

This is Margaret's, made by Chris.

This is Christines, made by Bev.

This is Sandra's, made by Jill.

This is Jill's, made by me.

Here they are all together on the design wall. All stunning, all made using

Lori Smith fat quarter patterns

Bev also brought this quilt along. A past exchange, only just recently finished,

and now living at Chris's house. See the fingers top right for scale.

And Sandra had this to share. Another exchange in the next week or so.

Sandra has mastered small. The half square triangles are 1/4".

Wish this one was coming home with me!!!

l was also cutting for a new quilt. Red and white of course!!

Its for my daughters birthday, and as she might be looking,

 this is all l can show you at the moment.

Chris was also busy with the rotary cutter, cutting, prepping and sewing

on 2 new quilts.  Both red and white. This is the first.

 A lone star, it will have applique in the outer corners when finished.

This is the centre for the 2nd.

It will have double flying geese borders, and stars in the corners.

Plenty of room for stunning quilting. This one will be a star!!

And of course, to keep our red and white theme going,

delicious raspberry's, picked fresh from my garden,

with cream and meringues. Delish!!!

Off to pick more raspberry's. Any one for morning tea!!

Thanks for visiting.

Linda.

Inspiration from Castlemaine Applique Group.

l am packing to head off for our last Sorrento retreat for the year.

 l am sure to have some great show and tell on my return.

 This year we decided to swap for xmas,  a small quilt,

using the fat quarter patterns by Lori Smith. Mine is all finished bar the binding,

 so l will probably have to hide in my  bedroom to get it finished.

Its red and white, so we can use it in next years exhibit.

 l wonder if any of the other retreaters thought like me!! We shall see!!

Meanwhile, l thought l would leave you with some inspiring works we saw

at our recent meeting of the Castlemaine Applique Group.

These women are amazing, not only with the speed they work at,

 but the stunning works they make. l am proud to belong to this group,

and hope their skills in applique rub off one day!!!

This stunning quilt was inspired by a pattern, English Baskets Quilt,

 designed by Corliss from Threadbear.

here is Margaret with the centre of her latest creation.

These 2 quilts are made by mother and daughter team. Stunning work.

Here is Meghan with her dutch chintz quilt.

This scrappy bow tie quilt was a winner.

Here is Dorothy's completed Mary Brown quilt.

Several women are making these clam shell bed runners.

A quilt with out making a quilt.

Bev has been super busy. Here is her almost completed

 big pot of flowers quilt. Just 3 borders to go.

Bev started this stunner after Mary Koval visited us in June.

Its from Mary's Favorite Blue and White Quilts book.

Bev made hers red and white, so we can hang it in next years exhibit.

And Bev only has 1 border to go on her Civil War Brides Quilt.

This stunner is called Steve's Garden. We have watched the progeress on

this one closely and its wonderful to see it finished.

Pattern is by Patchwork on Stoneleigh.

'

Here are some of the ladies getting more inspiration from the books

l brought home from Houston.

Who knows what we will see at next years gatherings!!!



Well, l hope you enjoyed our show and tell,

and that its inspired you to start something new.

Yes, thats permission given!!! LOL

And to all my US friends, old and new,

Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanks for visiting.

Linda.

Quilts and Friends at Festival.

Just a hand full of the quilts that caught my eye at Festival this year.



While the quilts and vendors play a large part in the reason l enjoy visiting Festival,

 its the friendships made and strengthened  during my visit that keeps me coming back  each year.

Back row- Me, Deirdre, Carol, leonie, Betsy, Marilyn,

Front row- Anne, Debbie and Kathi.

Cindy, Mary Anne, Jo.

L-R Norah, Kathi, Debbie, Me, Dawn and Sue.

L-R. Anne, Betsy, Anne, Janet, Patricia, Me, Leonie, Betty, Deirdre.

Back row- Betsy, Patricia, Betty, Annette, Leonie, Sonya, Marilyn, Carol.

Front row- Me, Anne, Janet, Deirdre.



Thanks girls for showing us Aussies a GREAT TIME!!

l am very grateful to know and love each and every one of you!!

Thanks for visiting.

Linda.