Sadness....last full day at the retreat!

We are frantically sewing and I am still behind.  I have two projects with me that I have not even touched yet!  I did finish sewing my niece's graduation quilt blocks...she gets to crawl on the floor when I get home and lay it out.  Finally! 

I am having a great time with my friends...

Here we are, standing in the rain in front of a quilt shop.  Cindy took the picture and refused to have her picture taken...harumph!

We went from here to Gene Stratton-Porter's cabin...so there will be more pictures to folllow!

Adventure!!!

What a fun day!  We started out the morning with a wonderful breakfast at the 5 and 20 Restaurant...then went to Rome City and found Carolines Country Quilts...what a cute shop!  I was forced to buy some fabric and a pattern for slippers.  Then we went on to Gene Stratton-Porter's cabin.  Oh my gosh!  What a fabulous place!  I have lots of pictures but will have to take some time to label them, etc.  I will share them later...for now, here is the group, minus Cindy (who insists she is in the witness protection program)....

Cold and rainy!  We saw mute swans and heard Candian Geese...it was a lovely place.

More to come!

Oh yeah, I was forced to go to Lolly's and spend a bunch of money there.  Oh my...too bad for me!

Too excited for words!

I actually slept last night (except for the personal, private, tropical vacation I had at 3am)...I hate hot flashes!  I think tonight may be another story all together...

JoAnn tells me that she is going to be all done packing and get to bed at a decent hour.  Her clothes were packed by the time I talked to her at 5pm...it was just to get the projects pulled together.  What a challenge!

We are all set as far as I can tell.  I can't wait!  I feel like a little kid!

Oh dear! Mixed feelings!

I am packing my heart out...and I know I will forget stuff...and take too much....and wish I had brought something else.  Oh well, I am sure I will have friends there that can lend me what I forgot, right?

I am so excited to be going and yet nervous to leave...I want to be sure I cover every base and make everything OK before I go...but that can't happen.  So, jittery I will have to be.

This year is so different from previous years.  I haven't felt this good for many years and it will be different to be in this place I enjoy so much and be able to enjoy myself!  Hard to express how I am feeling.  Anyway...thanks to my friends for their part in my improved health...the Diva is on the right path now!

Is it Tuesday yet?  I believe we are leaving at 6:30AM which means I may be fired right off the bat.  JoAnn is NOT a morning person!  Oh well, by the time we get to Chicago, she will appreciate me again....since I am the driver.

Here is a preview of one quilt I will be working on:

I love basket quilts...this one will have a double handle on each basket.  The fabrics come from the Nottingham collection which is one of my favorites.

I am looking forward to finishing my niece's graduation quilt at the retreat...she reminds me on a regular basis that she graduated in 2005...AND 2010....sigh....

And I plan to work on, hopefully finish, the mystery quilt I started the end of February.  That one will be extraordinary...pinks and browns...Jo Morton fabric.

Then, just in case I get bored, or need to converse...I have several of my blocks from the Heart in Hand applique that I hope to finish.

What do you think?  Do I need to bring more?  Aren't we there for 4 and 1/2 days?  I need to clear my schedule so I can get to David's quilt...that will be wonderful!

Fun day!

Oh what a fun day I have had!  Met a friend for breakfast and then off to the quilt shop to look at fabric...We are cooking up a new quilt for him.  I am really excited about this!

I am in the midst of packing to go to Shipshewana next week...and I had to stop to make the Barbara Brackman BOW...cute block...Jo Morton fabrics, of course!

This one is called Fox and Geese...I used some new and some old fabrics...my stash is getting some exercise here!

I have a really neat setting picked out...these blocks on point with setting blocks that are half light and half dark...not log cabins, more like quarter square triangles, but more angular.  I am excited to get this one finished!

I hope everyone has fun plans for the weekend!

I am going to visit my sister in the hospital tomorrow and continue to work on packing for the trip.  Oooh!  I can't wait!

Basket!

Here is this week's Barbara Brackman block.  I used some of my favorite fabrics here...just love the look of this block!  Now I have to start pulling stuff together for my trip to Shipshe in less than two weeks!  I am so excited!  Can you tell?

Good day for quilting!

It is a bit chilly and blustery outside...so staying in and quilting is a good idea!  I have a little project to make for a friend and then my weekly Barbara Brackman block.  I just LOVE baskets so I am thrilled this week to have a basket opportunity!  I decided to applique a handle on it so I have it all ready to go, just need to finish the handle...that is a tomorrow kind of thing.

JoAnn and I are going crazy planning for our trip to Shipshewana...we are taking her car this year and I have to start setting things aside to go into the trunk.  By the time we get home, the back seat is full as well.  We have SO much fun!

My sister has had another setback.  She was supposed to be coming home but another fistula has developed and she is going back to the hospital so her doctor can take a look.  I am afraid she may be facing another surgery.  She is so brave and patient!