Retreat in the rearview

Aaahh...back from our day guild retreat. The committee members arrived on Sunday and set things up, practiced the funny songs and went out for a nice dinner together. Monday the participants arrived and we were off to the races! My friend Kay and I were both demonstrating techniques along with two other skilled quilters. She showed her new appliqué technique, and I showed ways with 10 inch squares. Leslie showed a better way to make continuous bias binding, and shop owner, Patricia, demonstrated a new mat from Creative Grids. ( I need one! )

Kay with her appliqué

My split ten inch square blocks

Our fearless (and quite silly) leaders at the podium.

The sewing room buzzed with activity when the ladies weren't in a class. We ate together in the resort restaurant and had a blast even though it rained all the time!

On the last day, everyone who took a class showed off their projects. We also showed our UFO sewing and then won loads of wonderful prizes. I wish I had taken more pictures, but I was quite busy with my committee member duties and didn't get many. Thankfully, a couple of other girls took photos and I have borrowed them to show you here.

The sewing set up. Kay made the bowl in the foreground.

Another shot of the room.

JoEllen was super pleased to finish a project she's had going for a long time.

Here are the barn quilt painters with their instructor, Sonia.

The free motion quilters with their instructor Diane.

Kay's Draw-Sew-Trim class. Kay wasn't feeling well and missed the ceremony.

Noni with her paper pieced project.

Some members made these variations of a strata that were later cut and re-sewn to appear on point. They will be given to children. Thanks, Nancy, from Hugs and Kisses.

Our QOV coordinator, Sue, got 60 blocks from retreat goers! Enough to make two Quilts of Valor for deserving Vets.

The evening meal, served family style, was a hit. I'm hamming it up for the photographer.

The Dillard House is a lovely resort just outside Dillard, Georgia. They have farm animals in a petting area, horseback riding, hay rides and open spaces for everyone to enjoy. This is what you see looking out the guest room windows in the morning. Lovely!

One of the animal barns.

Some of the horses

It is so pretty with the mountains all around.

Here are the committee members closing down the retreat with a song!

Yesterday, Kay got some fabulous news. Her quilt of my grandson won a first place in the Pigeon Forge quilt show! She was so stoked. Me, too. The perfect end to a fun retreat.

Dechen in fabric

Dechen in person