Week in review
Busy week! One week ago today I was sewing my heart out at a guild retreat in Temecula. I took lots of UFO's and WIP's. 3 just needed binding. (see purple string quilt below) I added borders to at least 3 others. In fact, there were only 2 projects taken but not completed. Woohoo! But what was even better than that was getting to know the gals in this guild better. They certainly know how to have fun. Unfortunately dingbat me forgot my camera.
The retreat center is fairly well known in Southern California quilt circles. The name is tough to pronounce correctly so most people just say they are going to go quilt with the nuns. *grin* Vina de Lestonnac is a retirement facility for nuns that has a retreat center as part of the property. I'm guessing the retreats fund the retirement home. Smart, huh?!
I just can't get enough of that place. I've already signed up for 3 retreats in 2008. Two are with the guilds I belong to and those are always fun but the 3rd is something I've been wanting to do for several years. Mystery quilts are one of my favorite tops to make. I love to be surprised and watch things take form. The quilt shop in Poway (Amidon Quiltworks) has an annual Mystery quilt weekend retreat where everyone works on an original mystery quilt design by Pearl Pereira. Instead of a list of fabric requirements for the quilt, participants are given a kit of fabrics selected by Nancy Amidon. She has an awesome eye for color. No two kits are alike. And the piece de resistance for me is the kit assignments. Names/numbers are drawn out of a bag and each attendee gets 30 seconds to choose a kit when her name is called. LOL .... I love it! I guess you go with types or colors you like since the pattern is a mystery! Maybe I'll just close my eyes and choose... =)
Quilters are the best! Most of you probably knew that, but I've been reminded of that fact 10 fold since the fires. In addition to blogging, I belong to a couple yahoo groups. I've received emails and messages of concern and relief from many. Several of the gals from one of the groups (HeartStrings Quilt Project) have been sending me quilts, tops and blocks to make tops for fire victims. Today I delivered 5 quilts for kids to a group (quilter in the Rotary Club) who will be distributing them to families affected by the Harris Fire. In a few more days I will have some adult size ones quilted and together for folks impacted by the Harris, Witch Creek, Rice Canyon and Poomacha fires. A few of those have specific recipients already.... friends or family of fellow quilters.
Good things snow ball! Monday I went to Rosie's (very large LQS) with a non quilty friend to pick up some backings for a couple of fire quilts. The $4 a yard clearance tables out front were marked $3 probably for Veteran's Day. Those tables are the first place I look for backing. With several bolts in hand we proceeded to the cutting table. It was at that point my friend informs me SHE will be paying for the backing fabric.... since I'm putting so much work in, she wanted to do something. The employee cutting our order overhears us and asks what the fabric is for. When she hears about all the gals sending me quilts and pieces from all over the US, she asks for my name and phone number because she has a quilt she wants to donate too. Cool ladies, huh!?!
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings were guild nights. This HeartStrings quilt was donated, through the Tuesday night guild, to a kid at the YWCA Battered Women's Shelter. Check out the fun panto used on this one..... a paw print.
So that's where I've been. Oh yeah.... I got two customer quilts in too....YAY! Before I sign off this post I want to share a stunning photo. It was taken from Point Loma, near the mouth of the San Diego Bay, looking southeast past downtown SD toward Mount Miguel sometime late on 10/22 or early morning 10/23.
This was the Harris Fire, the one directly east from us. Sorry I don't know the origin of the photo... wish I could give credit where credit is due.
To all the wonderful ladies, local and long distance, helping me with quilts for those who lost everything..... Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!! Your generosity is heartwarming.
The retreat center is fairly well known in Southern California quilt circles. The name is tough to pronounce correctly so most people just say they are going to go quilt with the nuns. *grin* Vina de Lestonnac is a retirement facility for nuns that has a retreat center as part of the property. I'm guessing the retreats fund the retirement home. Smart, huh?!
I just can't get enough of that place. I've already signed up for 3 retreats in 2008. Two are with the guilds I belong to and those are always fun but the 3rd is something I've been wanting to do for several years. Mystery quilts are one of my favorite tops to make. I love to be surprised and watch things take form. The quilt shop in Poway (Amidon Quiltworks) has an annual Mystery quilt weekend retreat where everyone works on an original mystery quilt design by Pearl Pereira. Instead of a list of fabric requirements for the quilt, participants are given a kit of fabrics selected by Nancy Amidon. She has an awesome eye for color. No two kits are alike. And the piece de resistance for me is the kit assignments. Names/numbers are drawn out of a bag and each attendee gets 30 seconds to choose a kit when her name is called. LOL .... I love it! I guess you go with types or colors you like since the pattern is a mystery! Maybe I'll just close my eyes and choose... =)
Quilters are the best! Most of you probably knew that, but I've been reminded of that fact 10 fold since the fires. In addition to blogging, I belong to a couple yahoo groups. I've received emails and messages of concern and relief from many. Several of the gals from one of the groups (HeartStrings Quilt Project) have been sending me quilts, tops and blocks to make tops for fire victims. Today I delivered 5 quilts for kids to a group (quilter in the Rotary Club) who will be distributing them to families affected by the Harris Fire. In a few more days I will have some adult size ones quilted and together for folks impacted by the Harris, Witch Creek, Rice Canyon and Poomacha fires. A few of those have specific recipients already.... friends or family of fellow quilters.
Good things snow ball! Monday I went to Rosie's (very large LQS) with a non quilty friend to pick up some backings for a couple of fire quilts. The $4 a yard clearance tables out front were marked $3 probably for Veteran's Day. Those tables are the first place I look for backing. With several bolts in hand we proceeded to the cutting table. It was at that point my friend informs me SHE will be paying for the backing fabric.... since I'm putting so much work in, she wanted to do something. The employee cutting our order overhears us and asks what the fabric is for. When she hears about all the gals sending me quilts and pieces from all over the US, she asks for my name and phone number because she has a quilt she wants to donate too. Cool ladies, huh!?!
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings were guild nights. This HeartStrings quilt was donated, through the Tuesday night guild, to a kid at the YWCA Battered Women's Shelter. Check out the fun panto used on this one..... a paw print.
So that's where I've been. Oh yeah.... I got two customer quilts in too....YAY! Before I sign off this post I want to share a stunning photo. It was taken from Point Loma, near the mouth of the San Diego Bay, looking southeast past downtown SD toward Mount Miguel sometime late on 10/22 or early morning 10/23.
This was the Harris Fire, the one directly east from us. Sorry I don't know the origin of the photo... wish I could give credit where credit is due.To all the wonderful ladies, local and long distance, helping me with quilts for those who lost everything..... Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!! Your generosity is heartwarming.
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