Circle of Friends

I know, I know.  It's been a while.  There has been a lot going on.  I think we're finally finished with raking the leaves.  We still have oak blooms coming down, but they disintegrate pretty fast and we don't really have to rake them up.  Now, if we could just get some rain we would be set.  It has been at least two months since we've had rain to amount to anything.  Trees and plants are suffering, and the crops are in dire need of rain.  


I went to a Circle of Friends quilting retreat last weekend and had an absolute blast!!!  I was so tired by the time each day ended that all I wanted to do was collapse into bed for some sleep before getting up the next day to do it all over again.  


There were 80+ of us there, and I'd only met two or three of them before the weekend.  We came from all over the country and one lady was from New Zealand.  She and I actually share the same first name, so that was a treat.  Somehow, I managed to stretch a three and a half day event into six days, what with traveling to and fro!!  

There were great classes on all kinds of quilting things.  I learned how to paper piece, how to do back basting applique and even a bit of machine quilting.  


The depth of knowledge among these ladies is just more than you could believe. Here are some of their creative endeavors.  These were Round Robin tops.  Someone made a center block and then sent it along to another person who added to it, and then that person sent it on to the next person who added to it, etc.  This continued until all the folks in that particular group had added to the piece, and then it was returned to the person who made the original block and it was hers to keep.  Meanwhile, she had been adding rounds to the blocks begun by the others in her group.  And, until the retreat, none of them had seen the finished items. 

In addition, there were many quilts made as part of a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the drawing for the lucky numbers was done by four firemen from Charlotte. 

They had no idea what they were getting into when they drew the short straws and were sent over.  Normally, firemen from nearby Gastonia, NC do the honors but they were unavailable.  I'd like to thank Jean and Thearica for all their hard work in getting this fundraiser off the ground and raising a good chunk of money for MDA.  Here are some of the many quilts which were generously made and donated to the cause. 

When roomie and I checked into the hotel, I told her that our room number (711) was a lucky one.  Over the course of the weekend, I won three quilts (including the last two shown above) and a fabric cutting machine called a Go! Baby, along with assorted other stuff,  which constituted quite a haul.  Even my hubby commented how lucky I had been, since "you never win anything".  


We were also treated to some fabulous artist presentations.  Master potter  Phil Morgan  demonstrated some of his techniques and theories.  In addition to teaching classes,  Cathy Wiggins  presented a trunk show of her fun and fabulous quilts.  We also had Susan Brubaker-Knapp for a trunk show on Sunday night.  Her art quilts are unbelievable.  I still want to pet that kitty, and its nose should be wet!!!!!    It thrills me to no end to see creativity exhibited all around me. 


Y'all take care.