2017 Retreat at Zinck's - Berlin, Ohio

Okay, I admit this retreat was in June and it is now September.  My blog has been suffering some neglect this summer.  So sorry.  Still, I want to maintain my quilting adventures on my blog, so please excuse my late posts.  I will try to catch up soon.

Jen's Block

The retreat at Zinck's is always fun and full of ideas for new projects.  On this weekend, Gretchen instructed us on how to make a "Tumbling Block" wall hanging.  It was really fun and easier than we expected.  Here are some of the Tumbling Blocks we completed:

Barbie's and my Tumbling Blocks

One ambitious person decided to make a whole quilt of tumbling blocks - Awesome!

Other projects that caught my eye:

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This Quilt below is all "Hand-sewn" and I've been watching it grow for the last three years.  It's a Hexie, but each square is fussy cut to form the design.  Absolutely a work of art!  

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Another great retreat complete in Amish country.

Big Bang Quilt Retreat

It's that time of year again.  Time for the summer retreat at Zinck's Inn in Berlin, Ohio.  This year's theme was the "Big Bang Quilt Retreat" and it really fit.  We learned how to make an exploding pineapple block, hence the name "Big Bang." It really was easy, even though it seemed complicated at first.

Many of the ladies created some awesome quilts with this new technique.  Take a look:

As in every retreat, we ate too much good food and stayed up too late sewing.  It was perfect!

Mr. Tomato Head, a gift from my granddaughter Zoe, kept me company while I sewed.

Show and Tell Projects:

Barb added sashing to her disappearing 4-patch

Love, love this English Paper Piecing Project

We had some amazing art quilters at the retreat!

Take a look at Betty Lou's rotary cutter - it's a Martelli  

I finished piecing a disappearing 4-patch baby quilt

Scrappy Sample Quilt for the "Big Bang" or Exploding Pineapple Block

Cutting Boards

I was amazed at all the different and unique cutting boards that other ladies brought to the retreat.

This is a Martelli board - CLICK HERE for more information about this product line:

I wonder if it is time for a new cutting board yet?  

I loved learning how to make the new block, but as always, the best part of the retreat was the camaraderie among the quilters.  They are all about sharing ideas and friendship.  What a wonderful weekend!  

"There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love.  When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age."  ~ Sophia Loren

2014 Ohio Amish Shop Hop

This is my second year of participating in an "official" Amish Shop Hop where you can enter to win prizes after you get your card stamped at all 10 shops.  A big thanks to by two ambitious friends, Kathy and Lynn, who planned the trip and did the driving.  They made it easy for me to tag along and enjoy the ride.  It was an awesome day!

We managed to visit 10 shops in one day by starting out at 7:00 a.m. and driving to the farthest shop first; Mercantile on Main in Coshocton.  We were there when they opened.  Then we worked our way back up toward Akron visiting all the other shops with a stop off for lunch at Floyd and Wurthmanns in Berlin.   

List of Shops and Phone Numbers on the Shop Hop

If you don't understand how a shop hop works, which I did not until last year, each shop has a block pattern that is free or a block pattern and material which is usually $5.00.

This year the blocks were more, $6.50 because there was enough material with each block pattern to make "two blocks."  So that was a deal!  Then each shop designs a quilt using these blocks and sells the setting kit pattern and material if you are interested.  Prices usually range from $100 to $150 for the setting kit.

I bought a setting kit last year, but still have not started it.  Needless to say, I thought it best not to buy another one this year.  However, I still bought the ten blocks and patterns.  Here is the card with the different quilts designed by each shop:

Looking at the printed material, at first Kathy, Lynn and I thought it was a thirties material.  But after talking to shop owners, we were told that it is considered more of a modern print.  The material line is April Showers by Moda - very bright and pretty.  The shops did a wonderful job designing their quilts using this fabric.

Now I have enough shop hop blocks to challenge my brain and keep me busy all winter.  The bright colors will certainly cheer me up as the days will get shorter and colder here in northeastern Ohio!  Brrrr . . .

After a shop hop, it will be time for a "Blog Hop."  It's in the planning stage!