Retreating

Every year our quilt guild has their retreat at Long Lake Conservation Center. I have missed the past two retreats. Not this year. Even cold temps and snow would not keep me away.

We were on the road Friday, making three quilt shop stops on the way up north. We need to keep our local shops here, right?  

Stopped at Quilted Treasures in Rogers. They have a great variety of fabrics. Then on to The Noble Quilter in Elk River. Love their embroidery patterns and CW fabrics. Finally Country Caboose in Wahkon. They have expanded, and offer a great variety of batiks. 

Arrived at the retreat before dark. Always a good idea when snow, wind, and cold involved.  Unpacked and sewing!  Nice to have someone else cooking. Fifteen hours a day of uninterrupted sewing.  What a great deal!  

I brought two projects to work on this year.  I have learned to reduce the number of projects I "try" to bring.  First one is Bonnie Hunter's mystery, Celtic Solstice. The "reveal" was on New Year's Day. I was on a ski vacation then, so I am playing catch-up.   I am using an alternate setting, so spent some time calculating the number of blocks I will need for a king size quilt. 

 

Finished chevrons.

First attempt at setting.

Those nasty Four patches!!!

Holiday break found me skiing out west with my family.  That meant sewing blocks would have to wait until I returned this week.  In an effort to link to Bonnie's blog by tonight, I wanted to finish four blocks.  Only four, but that took forever.  And chaos resulted.  

Celtic Solstice is a wonderful quilt.  But you have to be awake while making the blocks.  Everyone has been asking people to "check" their blocks.  Are they facing the correct way?  I have seen many who have one block here and there that needs to be flipped.  Me?  That wouldn't happen.  

Oops!  Yes, I know the four patches are going the wrong way.

Well tonight it did.  In an effort to have four blocks done by tonight (my personal goal), I quickly assembled them.  Excited with the results, I sewed four together, took and picture and BAM!  One entire set of four patches went the wrong way.  How could I do that?  I was being soooooo careful.

The correct placement!

After a quick bit of frogging and stitching, I have everything lined up and going the right way.
Now to make how many more blocks????  I am making the king size quilt.  

Many reasons to be behind

We are skiing our hearts out.  I broke my reading glasses.
Impossible to work on the quilt.:-(  
Had to find a new pair.  Stitching will have to wait.

Busy enjoying the snow

Trying to catch up on steps 1, 2, and 3.