Working for the Weekend

I thought I'd show you a progress picture of Jenny Bean's Halloween today. I'm still really enjoying stitching this one even though progress is slow. Work has been crazy, other commitments, etc. You all know how it is.

A big highlight for me this past week was the arrival of the goodies I won from Deborah at Cranberry Samplings for her 300 followers celebration. I felt like it was Christmas! Deborah, thank you so much for your generosity. If you're not familiar with her blog, do visit her, read some of her posts and say hello. You won't be sorry!

Early tomorrow morning, DF Teresa (Girl With Needles) and I will leave for a weekend retreat. I spent the entire 3 day weekend last weekend getting prepared. It's not that far from home but it's located in an entirely different world than the city we live. It should be fun though. While I'm gone, I might start a scarf/shawlette called the Age of Brass and Steam. I love dark colored yarn so this heathered gray is perfect for me. I have another knitting project ready to go but I have a feeling I might not start that project.

Teresa and I will most definitely start Hallow Eden by Plum Street Samplers. We're going to have a SAL. For us that means "start a long". We'll start it at the same time and then do our own thing. I've wanted to do this one for a while. I have another very small stitching project kitted up ready to go should the mood strike. I'm also taking a couple of WIPs and a few ornaments as we're going to try and finish a few of them.

My time consuming prep work was all quilting related. I've never been to a retreat before but I do know that any ironing or cutting areas will have a steady stream of people going to and from. As a result, I spent a lot of time cutting things out over the weekend and prepping most of the blocks that I'm behind on from last years $5 Quilt and Stitchers Garden. I had kept up what seemed like most of the year and then all of a sudden I was really behind. I also have a small Jo Morton project planned to start should I want to and a WIP that needs some ripping and a pieced border made. The retreat location is pretty remote so there isn't anyplace to go buy something that I've forgotten. I have a lot of stuff to haul with me. There will also be about 200 people attending (I hope I won't get sensory overload) - many of whom I will not know. I thought it might be a good idea to have a rolling tote type thing to pack/haul my stuff in so Greg went to the big orange box hardware store. This is what he came home with:

The thing is HUGE. 50 gallons. And I managed to fill it up with my knitting and quilting (stitching is packed separately). I'll find out this weekend if I forgot something critical. We loaded up tonight and I made should I could get this beast into the van without killing myself. It was close.

Greg has been telling me "You're only going for 3 days, not a month". And I have to wonder if he actually saw the size of the tote he bought me. I mean, seriously, did he think I was going to take the thing half filled?