Retreat at the Farm - Day One

Thanks for the vinegar tip! I need a spray bottle for the vinegar to make it easier to apply. And I know where to get a great one. I've heard that before, but never got myself organized to make that happen. 

Shoot --- something bizarre happened in the morning and I was going to tell you about it, but it's gone! Maybe by the time I finish writing this morning, it'll come back to me. Anyway, I finished getting everything ready and packed it all into the car. There actually wasn't too much this time. Some items are not coming home with me, and I shouldn't be bringing anything extra home. 

MOM -- again? 

So why did I need to find those flat clips? Well, the one I was using was on the right, and I think the non-claw edge is what caught on my headphones and ripped the material. Too bad, but I never even thought of the consequences. I needed something else anyway and went searching for the flat clips, which I LOVE as they don't dig into my scalp. But there was an even more important reason for those flat clips. 

Flat clips versus a claw clip

It's a challenge to put that claw clip under my hat and have it fit comfortably. So the flat clips work like a charm, and I'm a happy camper! I can continue to use the claw clip at spin class. 

My Tilley hat

To save some time, I decided to take the toll highway, only to discover a slowdown ahead. OH!!! That turned into a delay, but fortunately, I was able to get off the highway, do a U-turn, and get right back on. There was a significant accident between the off and on-ramps of that road, so that worked, but it still cost me time. I was the first to arrive at 10:30, which is a very late start! But all was good, and it didn't take long to unload the car. 

There are always goodie bags waiting for us at Retreat at the Farm, and one of the small gifts from a local store (Creekbank Sewing Center) is small bundles of fabric. OK -- I confess, I peeked into each of the others' bags (our names are on them) to see what each person got. We have been known to switch things around when someone hasn't yet arrived. 

This was a lovely curated bundle of black, white, and yellow. I like that! 

Black, yellow, and white

Someone else got black and orange, and a small strip of green. OH -- they didn't have a larger piece like the others? Anyway, this could be a nice fall theme. 

A great fall theme bundle

Someone else got a nice bundle of blue/grey neutrals. 

Blue/grey neutrals

I got these two fabrics in my bag. Both are a bit bright, but then I like cheerful, so I can't complain. 

Bright fabrics in my bundle

But wait -- where's my third fabric? I laughed so hard at this one that I couldn't switch with someone else. I thought - how fitting that I deal with another brand, and yet, I get this fabric!!! I know someone who can use that, so I'm not worried about getting rid of it. Only they would have branded fabric. Actually, I've seen other branded fabrics, so they are not alone. 

Look what I got in my goodie bag!

Eventually, the rest of the group arrived. We are a small group, and it's so quiet and peaceful! I threw this project into my bag as I was surveying Studio B before I left. It's been hanging out on the design wall for months. The final border was mostly pieced, but it wasn't sewn on the quilt. Well, the quilt top is done! This is Vintage Christmas by Lori Holt, and it is one of the projects we worked on as a long-term project. I didn't bring the binding fabric with me, so I can do that when I get home. The bottom line - the top is done! 

Vintage Christmas quilt top - DONE!

Then I got to work on another project that I really wanted to finish at this retreat. It was started at this same small retreat four years ago!! The other three finished their bag at that retreat, but not me! Oh, I wanted to use scraps to make the lining, and that hadn't happened. Well, those pieces were made at an earlier retreat this year, and I thought it fitting to bring this back here and finish it with the group. 

At the other retreat, the others said that my scrappy pieces were more exciting than my original outside, and I agree, so I swapped the pieces. Here's the outside of the bag. I believe this is the Midi Bag. 

Side One

You need to make four rectangles for the inside and four for the outside. And yes, although it took a long time, I really do like the new outside. It has fusible fleece on it, which is what I usually put on the outer pieces of a bag. 

Side Two

The fabric is leftover bits of a particular designer, and I want to get rid of it because I'm not fond of it. 

Side Three

These are leftovers from the Urbanologie (Sew Kind of Wonderful) quilt. And yes, one section was more white than the others, but that's OK. 

Side Four

This was the original outside, which was the same fabric, but just squares!! The only thing left is to close the seam on the inside where I turned it inside out. I like the bag so much that I'm going to hand-stitch that closed this morning. It was too dark to see last night. Well, not too dark, but my eyes were tired! I'm going to use it as a retreat bag. Even with fewer retreats, it'll still get used.  

The inside of the bag

I went for a walk after dinner last night, and it was glorious. It was mainly shaded, and I got warmed up as I walked, but it wasn't bad at all. I'll be heading out after writing the blog to beat the heat, although it's a bit cooler in the country than in the city. 

A shaded walk last night

There's always a creek!!! 

The local creek

You'll want to follow along on QUILTsocial this week as I play with some very creative tools in the Creativate Digital Toolbox. 

Here is Monday's post --- What is Creativate, and what's included in the digital toolbox

Here is Tuesday's post  --- Using the Creativate Crafting software and the Singer Momento to cut

And on that note, I'm out of here. I have a big job ahead of me today. I brought my next writing assignment with me, and I'm editing and working on it today. You'll see that one in August. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!