The sorting queen!

Thanks for the vote of confidence on my split 9-patch! I'm going to cut more strips and continue! 

The last day of the retreat is always sad because everyone has to go home. But it's also exciting because you get to come home, unpack, and see everything you did! 

Before I came home, I was determined to go through that bag of Oh Canada scraps and sort it out. This is what happened. 

I found several bags with pieces from various projects, but it was a hodgepodge. I unsewed any pieces that were sewn together. I also found scraps from a quilt I designed and made in 2017. Oh boy! 

Pressing the last of the scraps

This is what I found. The pile of non-Oh Canada fabric wasn't huge, and now it's together. There were quite a few components for making half-square triangles, so all that went in one bag. I found a few blocks (lower right) and some other colors that were part of the Sesquicentennial collection, which are also separate. And some Oh Canada bits would NOT work for the log cabin. 

The sorted Oh Canada fabric

Then, there was the pile of fabric that would work for the log cabin. While the last ladies packed up, I cut the pieces for ten blocks. As the blocks are 14", two more rows of blocks will make a decent-sized quilt. I'll have to sew a few pieces together to get some of what I need, but my sewing machine had been packed away by then. 

Pieces to finish the log cabin quilt

I guess I'll get three quilt tops from that bag of scraps, and I'll be quite glad to get rid of them!

And then the room was empty. There are a lot of garbage bins in the house, and I know I got them all except for the one in the laundry room. It was a great retreat—one of my most productive, and I was thrilled. I think it was pretty productive for the others as well, as we saw embroidered items finished, pillows, quilts, and so much more!!

The sewing room

Thanks to everyone who came! Loading the car wasn't a huge thing since I had most of my stuff in it. Once I'm done with something, I try to put it in the car to make packing up easy. It took some people a bit of time to pack up, and there was some snow falling, so I was glad I did it gradually. I swear I took a picture, but I did not. 

The roads were wet, but they were fine. There was a lot of traffic, but everyone seemed to be driving according to the conditions, so it was not a big deal. I wanted to get home, as sitting in the car is not one of my favorite spots these days! 

But I was soon home and had everything in the house in six trips! I don't waste time. Of course, I had help, and the minute she was out the door, she was in the back of the car. I hate to disappoint her, but she seemed happy enough to come back into the house. 

MOM -- where were you? I was worried! 

I had bought a snack to eat when I got home, but you could tell there was an expectation in them both that they wanted a walk, and they were not too patient about it. So they each got a walk. Our sidewalks are good in this area, and even if you want to fall backward, it's impossible to do so when you have Murphy pulling on her leash! Lexi thought she had died and gone to heaven! SNOW!!!!

MOM - I missed the smells!

Right after the walk, we went to the restaurant for dinner. I was good for the first part, but soon, I wasn't happy sitting in that booth. Imagine a grown woman spread over the bench, trying to get comfortable. It's not a pretty sight, but DH insisted on having a second beer, so it's all his fault!!!

When I got home, I went to bed immediately—it was 6:30!!! It's the only way I can relieve the pressure on that spot. And I slept for four hours. Hmm—what does one do when you are no longer tired? I went downstairs to see if I could sort some of the stuff out. 

I took one of the quilt tops out of the bag, which happened to be a flannel one. I put the quilt top and the binding in the appropriate pile, and then I put the scraps in the pile in that basket. While I'm here, I could grab some scraps for the next retreat. 

You know where this is going. One thing led to another, and soon, the entire basket was on the work table. 

Sorting the flannels

I sorted things as best I could in color families and got some plastic bags so they would stay neat and tidy. 

The flannels are sorted

The bags went into that basket, and everything returned to the same spot. The next bag of scraps went into the retreat box. I found a tub where I could put the squares I created as they await to be sorted into groups to make new quilts. 

The flannel scraps

That job was going to have to be done soon, as 2025 is the year to deal with all the flannel at my house. It's done, and as I add to the basket (cut-offs from the backings that I'll be quilting), it'll be easy to keep it all in order. So yes, the great flannel depletion of 2025 is going to happen!!

I finally finished reading a very bizarre book. It was about a teacher who had an affair with a student. The book was set in the UK. I knew the character was based on a real story, but it was only this morning that I found the name of the person it was based upon: Mary Kay Letourneau. She sounds like quite the person and ended up marrying the student. I don't get it!! But both her bio and the book - the character was pretty messed up. 

Anyway - that's done, and I can move on to another book. I'll take a mystery! 

I have two Zooms this morning, which are almost ready. Then, I'll have the afternoon free to unpack and finish a quilt. 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!