Thursday, March 3, 2011

Retreat Wrap Up!

On my last post, I talked about the first day of my retreat and showed you a picture of our room at midnight. Here it is full of quilters with some knitters, stitchers and hookers (the rug kind) thrown in.
Retreat!
On Saturday, Paula Barnes of Bonnie Blue Quilts stopped by for a trunk show.
Bonnie Blue Trunk Show
I think I like her quilts so much because she uses a lot of red. I love red!
Bonnie Blue trunk show
This was a favorite and would look fantastic on my bed. One day!
Bonnie Blue trunk show
Teresa and I spent all of Saturday doing some finishing. First up was the Schoolgirl Linen Sewing Book by Stacy Nash, a class project from our trip to A Primitive Gathering hosted by The Attic Needlework in January. The photo below shows our supplies laid out on craft paper to protect the table and our assembled sewing books waiting to be aged. Knowing my personality, you'd think that this would be the part that I would have the most angst about. In fact, I love this step! It feels so free form reminding me of the abandon with which I approached my projects as a child. Fun!
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Here is Teresa working on her sewing book - just painting away with the walnut stain made with walnut crystals and water.
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Teresa's finished sewing book is on the left and mine on the right. As you can tell, she likes the aging to be featured more predominantly than I do. The stain on the linen dried a little lighter (these are dry here). Surprisingly, the cotton on the backside didn't lighten up much at all.
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Next up, Teresa took me through finishing an ornament step by step. I put this down around 11pm to dry and finished up the cording on Sunday. It's not perfect but for a first attempt I must admit I'm very pleased. It's a testament to Teresa's patience and skills as a teacher. The part that I thought would be the most fiddly - sewing on the cording - was actually the easiest.
First Ornament Finish!
I added this charm to the backing. Isn't it cute? You can find them at Down Sunshine Lane about a third of the way down (great shop if you're looking for one). Next time I'm going to maybe stitch my initials and year on the back. I started finishing another ornament but it's not quite completed yet. Hopefully soon.
Charm on the back of Ornament
My Lessons Learned from my first retreat experience:
1. I don't enjoy finishing 14 hours at a time. I should finish in stages over time.
2. I took too much stuff to work on. I'm going to work on editing and finding that happy place.
3. There is too much food. The meals are too big. Snacks are not necessary.
4. I need to bring very warm slippers. The floors were so cold that my wool socks were not warm enough (I can't sew with a shoe on).
4. Staying up late each night and so we could enjoy every moment was totally worth it!

I came home to find a surprise waiting for me. Patty sent me a beautiful biscornu and some thread. I've never seen a biscornu in real life before. It's stitched and finished beautifully. Thank you Patty! If you haven't visited her blog Hanging on by a Thread please do stop by and see what she is up to. I promise her blog is full of good stuff!
Biscornu from Patty at Hanging on by a Tread blog
Spring has definitely arrived here. The sun is shining, our a/c has been on twice, and there is pollen everywhere. I'm sneezing like crazy! I hope that where ever you are that it's warmed up a bit and you can feel the hint of spring in the air. Enjoy your week and happy stitches!

31 comments:

Mad about Craft said...

Looks like you had a great time!

The cross stitch looks perfect to me.

Margaret said...

What fun! I have some walnut crystals. I guess I really need to try it out sometime. I need some lessons on how to sew the cording on -- where the cording meets. lol! That's always my problem spot. Looks like a great time!

It was feeling more springlike, but now it's cold again. :( There's still snow on the ground too. Less of it, but still predominant, unbelievably.

Pat said...

I love your book and your ornament. I, too, would be lost about how to fasten the cording where the two ends meet....but it looks as if you had no problem at all.

Annie said...

Both of your projects look fabulous. 14 hours of finishing? I don't think I could stand 14 hours of crafting/stitching of any kind! And I always wear shoes.. I'd wear them to bed if it made any sense! I guess we have our own lessons to learn. ;-)

quiltingnana said...

sounds like fun...your projects look great

Barb said...

Thanks for sharing your retreat with us, looks so fun and glad you had a good time. Also appreaciate the likes and dislikes of it....especailly to take little slippers....

Laurie in Iowa said...

Looks like everyone was having a fabulous time.

Anonymous said...

Cute projects!

I know what you mean about the pollen. I have a dark grey car that currently has a nice yellow sheen AND ash all over it from the brushfires.

Beth said...

The finished stitchery looks awesome! Love that little charm!

Littlebit said...

Jackie, I had a wonderful time just reading about it; I can't imagine the fun you had being there. Omg..that ornament!!! I LOVE IT! LOVE IT! Your finishing is absolutely perfect. Your sewing book, too. Isn't it amazine how we can have something instant vintage?

Tammy said...

Sounds like a fun time had by all. As for editing all you took with you, that sounds like a hard choice/decision. Thanks for sharing - I love reds too and those quilts at the beginning were beautiful.

Deborah said...

Sounds like you had a great time. The needlebook is beautiful.

valerie said...

Fun, fun, fun! Love your needlebook and ornie finish! Great job. Finishing for 14 hours straight is hard though...ugh. I get tired after 2 hours!

Julia said...

What a great time! I'm very jealous!

Carol said...

You really accomplished a lot at your retreat, Jackie and both the needlebook and ornament look terrific!! I'm glad you and Theresa had such a great time :)

Karen said...

I love the sewing book! How pretty ....love the stained look!

Great job on the finishing too. I see many more in your future! So glad you had a good time.

happy stitching....

Michele said...

Looks like you had a great time :-)

Brigitte said...

Oh Jackie, I was having so much fun looking at all the pictures you show from your retreat. I can't get enough of retreat pictures. Thanks for sharing yours.

woolwoman said...

How fun to get your needlebook finished up too at the retreat. The photos were fun to see. Looks like everyone was having a great time. That little charm on your ornie is cute - had not seen those before - nice finishing touch. Enjoy your weekend - Mel

Unknown said...

SO much fun! So many beautiful things!

Berit said...

Gorgeous!! Love those SN's! :D

I TOTALLY want some walnut ink crystals!

Love those quilts--perfection. :D

Thanks for sharing your trip.

P.S. No shoes for sewing?

Katie :o) said...

Wow! You sure stay busy! I'm tired just reading all of that.... Looks like a lot of fun, though :o)

Micki said...

Looks like you all had fun! What talented and creative people!
Micki

Lainey said...

Thank you so much for sharing Jackie it looks and sounds like you had a wonderful time. Your needlebook and ornie finish are gorgeous!
Beautiful biscornu from the lovely Patty, her blog is always such a treat to visit.

Simone de Klerk said...

What a great time you have had! Love your finishes and what a wonderful person Teresa must be!
Those sewing books are perfect and so pretty!
I always love your lessons learned (o:

Cari said...

WOW OH WOW Jackie....I must have been sleeping through your blog updates. You have been one busy girl. Thanks for sharing your wonderful retreat memories. I sounds like, and looks like you had a wonderful time. Good for you!! Hugs

Jodie said...

Jackie, that place looks like Heaven!!! I'm glad you had such a great time :-)

Loris said...

Looks like lots of fun and I love everything but especially the sewing book.

Linda said...

Your projects turned out great! I love going to retreats where you sit and do the same thing. I learn something new every time I go on retreat. Ok, I'm going to ask a dumb question. I am not familiar with biscornus. Are they pincushions? Why are they called this? Thanks for sharing your wonderful pics!

Lori said...

I'm glad you clarified what kind of hookers were in attendance. LOL

Looks like a great time!

paulafrances said...

Haha, I understand loving red! I was at the quilt shop other day, checking out, and my friend pointed to some fabric on the counter, and asked if it was mine. I said " No...." And she replied, "Well it IS red, so I had to check!"