Colorado Retreat, part 4

As part of the fun prior to the retreat, we were invited to join a challenge round robin, in which we were offered one of two fabics; either a pink/yellow design or a blue/green design. We were NOT allowed to see the fabric first, we just chose by the color description. I chose the yellow/pink, which turned out to be this:

Others got the blue/green, and within a RR group, we could expect to work on both fabrics.

After we received a fat quarter of our chosen fabric, we were to choose a certain number of additional fabrics to go with it, and a trim or two, and send all of this along to the next person on our rotation. That person added a few more fabric choices and pieced the 16" block but did not embellish it. The blocks then made the remaining rounds (theoretically 4 other stitchers) who embellished the whole block. All the blocks would be revealed and returned to their original owners at the retreat. Well, it didn't exactly work out that way, but that was the plan.

I don't remember whose block is whose for most of these, but I do recall working on this one. I added the dyed lace motif, the loopy gimp trim, and the spider and web.

These next 4 I didn't work on (there were 2 groups in this RR).




I did work on this one, adding two 3D butterflies, a ribbon rose spray, and some seams.

This is the one I pieced for Rebecca. She wasn't able to come to the retreat, but her block will be sent to her.

I didn't work on either of these blocks.


On this one, I did the little embroidered fan, some seams on the large fan blades, the ribbon work pansy and the swirly embroidered vining around it.

This block is mine! It was pieced by Gerry H, and beautifully embellished by Kerry, Nancy, Colleen, and Rebecca.

Oh, and this fella made an appearance in front of our cabin one day, bugling and lazily chasing three lovely ladies (elk ladies, not human ones).

We were also visited by a coyote, who brazenly walked down the sidewalk in front of the cabin and around to the end, where he made himself at home on the patio. I'd seen him walk by the dining room window and thought, "I wonder whose dog that is....it sure has a bushy tail." Then I got curious and walked out of the living room door (which was standing wide open!) and around to the patio. One look at that narrow muzzle and yellow-eyed face and I knew that wasn't a dog. I shooed him away, in a funny high pitched voice, but he left reluctantly (gave me a "well, if you insist" look) and sauntered over to the cabin just up the hill. He was definitely not frightened by humans, which might eventually be his downfall.

Colorado Retreat, part 3

We spent a lot of time just chillin'....stitching and visiting and sharing techniques. Here are Hazel and Kerry....

...Diane and Lauri....

Michelle, Juli, Josie, and Sharon (behind the lamp)....

....and Holly, Gerry K, Sandy, and Claudina.

Colorado Retreat, part 2

We were in an 8 bedroom cabin in a most beautiful mountain setting. Here's the dining area, which also doubled as a stitching area and classroom:

One end of the huge living room:

And the fireplace at the other end:

Here are some of the views we were surrounded by.

Colorado Retreat 2011

I'm back home from the retreat, and it was so much fun! We began on Wednesday evening with introductins and show and tell. Then on Thursday morning, we had the Stash Dash! Loads of donated fabric, trims and buttons were up for grabs. The Fabric Fairy got us started:

Isn't she a vision? I hope she doesn't notice the gaping hole she eventually had in the back of her gown. I mean, who could resist that lovely green brocade??? Not me, uh, I mean not someone with scissors in hand.

Diane pointed the way to the heavily laden tables, as the scissor-wielding stash seekers milled around like impatient pirates ready to pillage a pile of pfabric!

Not everyone was cut-throat about it, though. Here are Hazel and Pam, vowing to share scissors.

Going to the CQ retreat!

I've been working on some painted images to use in CQing. Since we'll be in Estes Park, Colorado, which is full of elk this time of year, I tried a few different views of bull elk.

And a couple of owls.

Some gold finches.

And assorted wildlife.

These are painted on cotton or silk patches, ready to be pieced into a CQ block. I think I will offer these for sale at the retreat. One of the images (and I'm not saying which one) will be part of my Chinese auction package.
I also got to see what Lauri is doing for her package, and let me tell you, one of us retreat goers is going home very happy. I predict the rest of us will be happy also, but SOMEONE is getting something very special! And that's all I'm sayin'.

Two finished blocks

This is a just-for-fun block I did with a part of a bread cloth as the center piece. I added a lot of detail stitches to the machine embroidered image. The multiple embroidered band across the top above the gimp trim was done partially with some hand-dyed variegated threads that Lauri gave me. I'm trying to get her to dye some to bring to the retreat to sell. They are lovely and wonderful to stitch with.

This one is for a friend who is going through a rough patch.

CQ blocks

These are some blocks I've been playing with lately. I really should be working on finishing my witch hat, but I kind of hate to finish it. It's been so much fun to work on and add stuff to, and when I put it together, that will be done. It'll be fun to wear it, too, but I bet I'll get some funny looks at Walmart.



And speaking of funny looks....this is a clear plastic mask that Michaela painted. We took turns trying it on, but it looks especially weird on me, if I do say so myself.