"When autumn darkness falls, what we will remember are the small acts of kindness: a cake, a hug, an invitation to talk, and every single rose. These are the expressions of a nation coming together and caring about its people ~ Jens Stoltenberg
What I will remember is the autumn weekend in October, 2014, and the gathering of quilters from all parts of Ohio at
Mohican Lodge and Conference Center for a quilt retreat sponsored by the lovely ladies of
Sew Deja Vu in Stow.
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| Judy and Lynn of Sew Deja Vu |
Sew Deja Vu picks out the best places for retreats and the weekend was full of laughter and fun, oh yes, and lots of food! We were blessed with the best weather; bright sunny days and crispy nights. My side-kick Barbie and I enjoyed a walk by Pleasant Hill Lake.
After getting some fresh air, we were ready to sew. A quilt retreat is like a huge classroom full of teachers and students all interacting and sharing ideas, creativity, quilt techniques and stories. It is the epitome of how learning should be for everyone. I have always met the nicest people at retreats. They inspire me to try new things and not be afraid to make mistakes. I need those lessons!
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| Pineapple Block using Civil War prints. I love this pattern. |
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| Christmas Table Runner! Beautiful! |
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| A Quilt of Valor! |
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| Mary inspired me with her awesome T-shirt quilt to not be afraid of free-motion quilting. Just do it!! |
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| Yes, Barbie is finishing yet another snow man quilt. She did a great job quilting this on her machine! |
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| This Hunter's Star Quilt is fabulous! |
Disappearing 4-Patch:
Here is a fun technique that I learned at our retreat. You might already know about it, but it was new to me. Kerry took the time to make a block and show me how it's done. Thank you so much!!
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| First you pick out four 5" blocks and sew them together. Next measure 1 and 1/4 inch from the center seam and cut. Do this on each side. A mat that rotates is helpful here. I hope the picture shows this step for you. Now comes the magic or the fun part. (Do I sound like Jenny on Missouri Star Quilt?) |
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| Switch sides on the two bigger blocks and rotate the little four patch in the middle. Again I hope the picture shows how this works. Then, of course, you sew it back together. |
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| Kerry and her lovely Disappearing 4-Patch Quilt! |
Sew inspired, Barbie and I bought material to make this pattern. Oh, yes we could buy material right at the retreat. Sew Deja Vu brought half the store with them for us to shop. They are the best!
Looking for a new sewing chair? If you are, you can order this little beauty from Sew Deja vu. I tried it out, and it was perfect. Nice support for your back! There are wheels on the legs and the seat opens up for storage. It doesn't weigh a lot, so you can take it with you for classes or retreats. I really like it!
At the end of the day, Barbie and I wandered up to sit back in the rocking chairs by the fireplace.
What a wonderful weekend!
