Oma's Quilt Retreat Weekend!

WELLLLL what a start to my quilting retreat!!!

See I started with Physio (Grant) on my aching knees at 7:15 am and after the 10 min icepack I got dressed and just WALKED OUT WITHOUT PAYING!!! Guess my brain was numb too!!! Then I rushed to grab some breakie before arriving for my hair cut (St Vital), then zoomed across the street to the bank for spending money for the weekend and off to pick up my sister in Fort Gary. AND I forgot all about ordering my meds Wednesday, so put in a rush call to Costco’s pharmacy and lo n behold they had it ready for my 11:00 pick up (very unusual with phone ins after hours she said) and then we headed out of the city with one minor stop at Northwest Fabrics for some basics. We also stopped into our favourite Dollar Store in Selkirk (very unusual home décor etc in there) and even the second hand store where both Sylvia and I found clothes at first glance – might have something different to wear if they fit – we didn’t really try them on and I got a ball of yellow size 20 cotton for my tatting. THIS time I did not take the wrong road out of Selkirk - don't laugh another time I did and land up at the dead end of Breezy Point!!!

It didn’t take the hour and 20 minutes as the South Beach Casino & Hotel maps said it would from the city but it sure is out in the sticks in Scanterbury Manitoba!!! There’s this WOW resort like setting out in the bush – really out of place - but awesome by me!!! Our rooms were spacious, clean and very comfortable and the banquet room was definitely spacious for us quilters around the perimeter and we even ate in the centre buffet style. They weren’t too sure about the food we'd eat, but have noted changes for next year and as usual we interfered with the power a couple of times so some irons had to be unplugged. But for the most part I would say this is a very very very nice place for our quilting retreats. There isn't much else to do there, except the Casino for some entertainment, and the restaurant and bar if you so choose and a huge salt water swimming pool too.

Here are some pics I took of the weekend, my sister, Adiena and mostly of my Aurora friends!


Florence & her casserole carrier

Tami & her casserole carrier

Dianne & her finished casserole carrier

Jan & her other project

Audrey working on her project

MOI working on CQd Encrusted RR block

Sylvia working on her fall tablerunner

Adiena of Oma's Quilt Shop

Another's quilt project

Closeup of fabric I found interesting

Another's project with Northwoods fabrics


I chatted with the front desk and they are doing renovations to the Casino first (5 years old now) and then the next phase is the hotel (3 years old now) and they are going to add in a hot tub in the pool area along with a gym and hopefully a couple of computers for guest usage in the lobby. I think that will totally top my best quilting retreat facilities (right up there with Gimli except no massage or nail care) at very reasonable prices.

I didn’t take many pictures this time at all. Just had a lovely time visiting and stitching and actually curtailed my spending compared to other retreats!

Another CQd Block Completed!

Naked Block

Yahooie I'm tired but very happy as I've finally finished this bock and it'll be mailed off today too and hopefully in the hostess's hands before the end of October (safe and sound too)! This was a 12 inch block I had to crazy patch (some fancy fabrics and the bridal lace bottom left provided) and then totally embellish too ensuring beads etc were anchorded securely.

On this block I was trying to do it with a hoop but found my 8 inch was just too small and it was difficult to hold the hoop AND stitch!!!

At my Ravenesque meeting dear sweet Roberta lent me her "Needle Easel" to try out - basically a collapsible frame that is held by your thighs! Don't laugh it works GREAT!!!!!! (like Tony the Tiger's motto) I don't think Roberta is getting this baby back! See I've had a couple of weeks to adjust to the sometimes in the way arms but when I switched to my 14 inch hoop (that holds the WHOLE 12 inch block nicely) I caught on quickly and boy what a difference in the look of my embroidery too!!! Thank you Roberta!

Needle Easel

Flipped up for thread clipping ease.

Extended

Collapsed

OKAY back to my Making Memories block donation for my Crazy Quilting International (check out some of the awesome eyecandy the ladies have done)!  Here I tried fabric manipulation, attaching bridal lace and other Venice lace appliques, added my own tatting pieces, and then embroidered the heck out of the block. Oh and I used the purchased leaves on stems that my girlfriend found for me - Thank You very much Shirley!!! I tried to outdo my past embroidery attempts by adding the dimensional carnation - I LOVE it!!!

Whole Block

Top left

Top right

Centre

Bottom left

Bottom right

Lot's to be Thankful For!

I can tell you that it was an awesome "Indian Summer" of very warm temperatures, lovely fall colours and very little wind so some of the leaves are still hanging on - maybe just barely though!  The drive to Dauphin was lovely until the sun went down and nature's pallette sort of blacked out for the night!

My weekend with Dad was lovely and I did convince him to partake in his block's Thanksgiving supper of pork loin, potatoes n gravy, beets, carrots, salad, pickles, whole wheat bun along with pumpkin pie with cool whip topping - and all for $7/plate!!!  AND they allowed guests to order to so YEPPERS Dad and I had a lovely supper and there was lots left over for a second meal for him today to enjoy!  He even took his skooter outside and enjoyed the warm weather - like he said who knows what'll come next week and once winter sets in he does not venture outside.  Hey he'll soon be 97 years young and he still is on his own with his daughters' assistance with prepared meals to supplement his sometimes not so balanced ones.  He used to be a very good cook but his strength to stand or work with his hands has diminished lots so those days are far and few between now.  LOL! 

While my car was being checked over by the mechanic, I naturally walked back and forth between my Dad's and my sister's home (where I was staying) and was very thankful that the weather was so balmy and even had to take my blue jean jacket off as I warmed up!  WOW!!!

THEN after an uneventful drive back (another major THANKS) I unwind and then start checking my emails and WOW I won a draw on Darlene's 100th post giveaway and I just can't wait to receive me presents!!!  I've seen many emails and links to E-Bay and photos on these pincushions and wondered if I could find one locally!  Now I don't have to, I just have to remove the cushions and redress them CQwise!!!  Yep I's a grinnin'!!!

THEN as I'm reading on further (237 emails from the weekend) I see an email from Cathy that she's completed her part on my Encrusted RR block - and it's just gorgeous!!!  Here's the naked one again and then the finished pics by Cathy! 

Naked block 

Cathly L's stitching 

heart closeup 

Bluebird closeup 

hand painted button

Just AWESOME so far.  Thank you very much Cathy!!!  I can't wait to see this baby all embellished and back home for me to drool over it all!!!

Now I don't want this weekend to end (well maybe for the aching knees and hip but even that is not so bad as last week) and go back to work!!!  No siree, I want to continue enjoying FALL and all the embroidery I worked on this weekend!

Michelle's Bracelet

Well Michelle travelled east to be with her sons and daughter along with her grandson so she missed out on the Lace Retreat.  BUT she did preorder the kit for the butterfly swarvoski crystal bracelet to make when she got back.  So last night laced with Advil for my aching knees I zipped over there to help guide her in stringing it together.  Once she started I was able to pick up my stitching and we chatted together for an hour or so.  That was so lovely but my tolerance was fast escaping but not before she finished off and some pics were taken.  It's definitely just lovely in turquoise and even Wally expressed his compliments and was surprised she had made it just then!

New Tatting!

Yeppers last weekend at the lacemakers retreat I decided to set aside my familiar patterns and expand my boundaries!!!  And I think I did it!!!

Needless to say trying new patterns while chatting with the ladies etc was quite the challenge and resulted in a couple of bail out attempts by two more experienced tatters, one even set aside her bobbin lacemaking to assist.  So sweet of them both!

First I tackled a Teddy Bear and it's still half tatted, this I set aside as I was tired of the tie and cut sections and the ends were driving me crazy.  Then I tried this Giraffe pattern and was enjoying it very much but with the Lizbeth size 40 cotton I found it was too small and fine to work on in the evening so that too was set aside.  So I then tried a medallion with a Lizbeth size 20 and was doing quite well with it (something to hold onto) but I found the pattern instructions tedious.  I had to stop and slowly write out the instructions step by step instead of "repeat ..." etc as I was getting lost and messing up - cotton too pricey to waste.  I'll try and get back to those projects soon too.

So here's my Giraffe, don't know if I'll name "it", maybe let my friend have that honour!!!  But I used a batik for the background trying to emulate the hazy African landscape - did I succeed?