Most of you know my quilting group -- Wacky 6-Pac Quilters -- frequently get together for retreats. One highlight of our year is our annual Deer Season Retreat! We normally have it on opening weekend when all the guys are in the woods. However, this year we changed it to the second weekend; it just seemed to fit everyone's schedule better.
We went to the Lakeview Methodist Conference Center, deep in the woods of East Texas. We stayed at the "staff house" which was a 5-bedroom house complete with kitchen, living area, and THREE bathrooms -- did I say THREE????? Sorry, but for some reason I didn't take pics of the house.......duh.....
Here are some pics from our fun weekend:
We will start with entering the conference compound. Here is the sign complete with a map of the facilities and look a sign welcoming the Wacky Pac Quilters!
We did not have any specific projects to work on -- everyone just did their own thing. We did do lots of laughing (till we almost peed our panties!), lots of eating and just making memories.
Annie had her embroidery machine singing to us the entire weekend. Below is a picture of a little towel she made for her granddaughter. Love those lil frogs!
The Wacky Pac usually always has some type of group project going on. Annie brought her finished project -- her Texas Quilt. Annie chose the theme and we all made her blocks. This is the last project that our dear, departed Jerri was able to participate, making this a very precious quilt for Annie. Annie had a local gal do the quilting and it was HORRIFIC!!!! Annie pulled every single stitch out of that quilt and took it to another lady over in Hubbard and Nelda worked her charm. Below is a pic of the final product (for the second time).
An ongoing group project the Wacky Pac is working on now is a row robin. We each chose our theme and we are making each other a row according to the person's guidelines. We finally got wise and did NOT set a deadline for this project 'cause we never meet them....hehehehehehehe.....ANYWAY, where was I??? Oh yeah, below are pics of rows made by Molly (top) and Annie (bottom) for MY row quilt. My theme is spring. Didn't they do GOOD?
Rhonda and Kathleen chose their rows to be vertical rather than horizontal and she wanted flowers. Below are some of her rows -- some completed and some not! The row on the left is Kathleens that she made to set the tone. The three rows to the right are Rhonda's.
Molly chose her theme to be ranch related. Sorry I don't have any pics of this one...maybe next time.
Our member, Molly, (you know her from Molly's Place), has been working on a beautiful red/green quilt. Molly used to be the curator for the Freestone County Historical Museum (and a wonderful job she did!). She used a quilt housed in the museum as inspiration for this little jewel. It is just beautiful -- the picture does not do it justice!
One of the projects I worked on was an apron for Shawnee's Winter Flirty Apron Swap. The requirements were that the apron had to have a snowflake somewhere on the apron. Also, we were to chose a word of the season. Using that word, we were to provide 'tuck ins' representing each letter of the world. The word I chose was TRADITIONS. Here is a pic of Molly so graciously modeling the apron I made. Note, it doesn't have the pockets put on yet! Is she the cutest model???? This is the beginning of a full-fledged career in modeling aprons....LOL! I think she may have been saying something to me like.....would you put that camera down?!!
And, lastly, but not least, a picture of the Wacky 6-Pac Quilters. We will always be the "6-Pac" because there were six of us. Our dear friend Jerri left us last March to join the great quilt guild at the feet of Jesus. She fought her cancer battle long and hard, but became too tired to fight any longer. She is always with us. We laugh and tell her jokes and stories and are always saying "well as our friend, Jerri, would say.........." So, before I start to cry thinking about my friend, without further 'adoo', here we are.................................................................
This picture was taken on Sunday morning before we left. Not all of us have on make-up and our hair done up real purty, but hey, it's US and we are HAPPY!
L-R: Rhonda, Annie, Kathleen, Kathy (that would be my big fat self) and Molly!
I hope you enjoyed this small sampling of retreating with the WACKY 6-PAC QUILTERS!
Joyce is a fun person who retreats with us. Look at that precious chicken pin cushion. I love me some chickens/roosters (but not the real ones -- LOL)
This is a precious baby quilt that Debbie was putting together. Gotta love that sashing!
And here is crazy Bobbie! She is watching Brenda show her latest wallhanging.
Urggg....Mr. Ziggy hit the dump cake and has passed out from eating so much!
Last year at retreat, we had a 'cutting bee' and exchanged different sizes of strips of Civil War fabrics. This is the top Kathleen put together -- Jacob's Ladder.
Isn't this the cutest thing??? The skirt on the girl is 3-D...you can lift it up! This is to be the center of a quilt for Joyce's granddaughter.
Kathleen was determined to get some of her WIP's completed.
The following are the BOM's from the internet that Kathleen has been working on. She is really doing a great job "keeping up".
Of course, we have to EAT while we are at retreats! This is the group at the Durning House Bed and Breakfast. The placed was really neat and I loved their decorating.
The following is the group at a local Mexican Food Restaurant (don't remember the name right now). The food was "okay" but the margaritas were to die for!!!!
Kathy and Molly loving those 'ritas!
MARSHA, MARSHA, MARSHA! 9/16 inch, 9/16 inch, 9/16 inch. We kept hearing someone muttering these words over, and over and over. We realized it was our Wacky Buddie, Molly. Molly is a pattern tester for Marsha McCloskey testing a new feathered star pattern. Here she is working on that block. Lookin' good Molly!
TA DA!!!! The block is done!
And here is the completed block. Way to go Molly! We are sew proud of you!
Of course, you have to drink a glass (or three) of wine while retreating. Here is Kathleen enjoying the wine. Really...she drank it out of a glass and not straight from the bottle but it sure makes a great picture!
Molly and Rhonda are taking a break from sewing and checking out the world wide web.
That's all for now folks.......I'll get some more pics posted later.
The Inn is just wonderful and is located in a house that was built in 1884. The original house was approximately 2,300 square feet and the Alford's added an additional 3,000 feet. You CANNOT tell where the old stops and the new begins. The renovation was absolutely wonderful. There are two rooms that sleep 6, one that sleeps 4 and another with a queen size bed. There are beautiful quilts on all the walls. The Inn is decorated just beautifully. We sit out on the wrap-around porch and enjoyed a wonderful Texas evening. The quilt shop had great selections of fabrics that catered to almost any taste.
We had a wonderful time laughing, sewing, eating, and shopping in our Jammies. It is a great place. Alford Inn can accommodate a group of 12 or a small group of six. I highly recommend that you check it out. Be sure and tell Cindy that Kathy with the crazy Wacky Pac group sent you!
And here is our sweet Annie. She is snacking and enjoying her 'favorite beverage' in the Hula Girl glass.
I will post pics from the retreat later.....just not in the mood right now. We did have a wonderful time though! Stay tuned..........
Hospital Block by Anna, of Centerville, TX -- Check out the machine embroidery trees and ambulance
Beauty Shop Block by Bobbie, Palestine, TX
Library Block by Kim of Crosby, TX
Sweet Shop Block by Pat, Porter TX
School House Block by Caroloyn, Palestine, TX
Fire Station Block by Me!
