Chicago Modern Quilt Guild Spring Retreat!!!

Alright...(insert giggle).

I can't begin to tell you guys how awesome this weekend was! First of all it was really great to feel accepted as a part of this group (even though I'd only ever been to one meeting so far). Second, I was super lucky to be able to get a ride with Emily - so my husband didn't have to make that trip to drop me off (thanks!!!). Third, I accomplished a TON! Fourth, there were nuns. lol Ok I'm going to stop with the numbering and get on with the pictures.

Friday:

 We arrived and set up our sewing spaces. I worked on a couple additional blocks for my bee quilt. Emily had much help unpicking some free motion quilting (that honestly was pretty great and could have been left) -- I know none of my regular friends will understand what that means -- to help someone unpick quilting?! WOW. I got a lot of input about what to do about finishing a mini quilt for my UHGS partner and managed to finish, quilt, and bind it all that night, I also finished binding my DQS10 quilt. Ebony, Emily and I made a pact that we'd stay up until we finished our projects (unpicking quilting - Emily, binding my UHGS mini - me, piecing a baby quilt top - Ebony). It took us until almost 4:30am. lol. Not too much later than normal for me though (notice the clock in the background of Ebony's pic.)

Saturday:

 Breakfast was at 8 but many people slept in. We had enough snacks in the room to feed four times as many people so there was no problem of being hungry. I made it down to the room before 10 and worked almost all day on blocks/quilting/binding the quilt for Gia (which I'll post about later). Ebony gave us a little lesson on how to us MR T and her other cutters. I'd never seen anything like this before. AMAZING! I was impressed too by how people popped up out of the woodwork to help others out when they were cutting on the machine and prepping fabric to cut. Pretty cool. Also cool is the stack of Nicey Jane that I cut into 2 1/2" strips and 2 1/2" squares and millions of circles using the Studio (MR T). It was scary to finally cut into that fabric, but now I'm sure that I'll use it!

So much was accomplished on Saturday. Quilts were coming together all around. We did a charity competition and in a matter of half an hour sewed up enough blocks to make two baby quilts to donate! 

*edit* not Iron Quilt Challenge lol charity competition.

Once again Emily, Ebony and I closed out the place at about... 2 or 3am. Eileen was up nearly as long making the absolute cutest robot/rocket ship pillowcases with her kids' names on them! I got Gia's quilt done (minus the hand sewn binding)!!!

Sunday:

Sunday everyone was wrapping up projects and packing up. Emily finished piecing a million green squares for her (st Patrick's day) altar banners, we had a few more 10 minute demos, and took a group picture.

Here are the projects I worked on. Three blocks for my bee quilt, a baby quilt finished, two doll quilts finished (binding included), a flannel baby blanket sewn, and one cloth napkin embellished (which may have broken my machine....).

I'd say it was a successful weekend! And the group has already reserved the location for two more retreats, one in the fall and one next spring! Exciting!!