A Quilt Retreat was exactly what I needed

This was the scene over the past weekend. 14 of us gathered in Tobermory at the Trails End Lodge for an extended weekend of quilting, visiting, good food and overall great fun. As you can see from the photo we each had our own sewing space. Gayle and Cathy are becoming very proficient at organizing these events. They handle the food and the main projects and developing a theme for the event. We can stitch the projects or bring our own UFO's. This year I did a little of each. I finished up the blocks from a mystery and from my second sample for the Scrap Workshop I lead at Kincardine. Both now move to the needs to be quilted pile. At this retreat I showed how to make a small folded star block that would make a coaster or a Christmas decoration. The picture shows some of the finished or almost finished little stars. I had some tricks for reducing the bulk on the outside edges as this finishes about 4".
This was the third annual retreat and I for one hope there will be a fourth annual retreat.
It is refreshing to get away and share a laugh or two with so many like minded souls. I also love to see the colours people select for their projects as it always gives me new ideas for things to put together.
On the home front our daughter is moved into her new place and the boys each have their own rooms. One has chosen a hockey theme and the other wants a pirate theme. Grandma (me) has made curtains for each room and next longer term project is a pirate themed quilt. I need to start collecting fabrics for that task. Good excuse to visit some quilts shops. Piecefully, Joanne