Pieceful News: New Quilt Kits & Vending at NSQG

Hello Pieceful Quilters,

I can't believe how long it has been since I wrote in the blog. I was trying to update at least once a week, but you know how that goes.....

Since I last wrote, we had a staff retreat at the lovely Homestead Retreat Center in Hillpoint, Wisconsin. Patsy, our hostess, always makes it a relaxing and carefree weekend. I suggested that she turn it into an Old Quilter's Home in 15 or 20 years when I retire. What a fab idea!

Part of our staff retreat included working on shop projects - mainly, I had to finish the top of a large Karen Witt quilt, Friendship Album, so that Vonnie could quilt it on Tuesday, and we could have it ready for vending at NSQG (Northwest Suburban Quilt Guild) on Thursday night! Crazy! Everyone pitched in and helped me finish the blocks and then I stayed up most of the night putting it together. I may be getting too old to do this - nah - I refuse to succumb!

The rest of the weekend was spent working on some other shop projects and a few things of our own. I worked on my Mystery Quilt, which I hope to have finished (at least partially) by our next meeting, and I finished part of my Sew Simple Pinapple quilt - which I LOVE!

Other people worked on some new samples for our beginner classes, and projects for new classes that we have starting next session. Deb worked on our next project for Sarah's Club - Wow! It is really going to be pretty.

The retreat was a lot of fun, and the Friendship Album quilt got quilted and mostly bound just in time for the meeting, where our friend Karen Witt was speaking. Her talk was fascinating and very informative. I didn't fall asleep even once! I usually have to struggle to stay awake if I sit down at all in the evening!

Here are a few pictures of our vending station: