Penny was just as cute as could be in her little apron. She taught workshops on paper piecing and improvisational piecing. The workshops were great.They had the perfect mix of information and inspiration with some challenge thrown in for good measure. I learned a lot.
I made these sewing machines without a pattern. I just improvisationally pieced them from my own little sketch. I looooooooooooooove them! This is nothing I have ever tried before, (shoot, this is nothing that I had even thought of doing before) and I am so pleased with my first attempts. The spools were Penny's idea and I think that it totally makes the block!
We had all agreed in advance to do a pot holder swap. It was fun to see how all 6 of them coordinated so well. Aren't they so so sweet? The second one from the left, made by Carmen, came home to live with me. Yay!
I sewed on this cutie patootie sewing machine all weekend, thanks to the ever generous Julie.
The prize bags were filled to the gills with goodies! We all got spoiled. Thank you Tara!
There was also fabric shopping, which was actually more like fabric hunting. :) We had great success. Hurray!
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| from L to R: Penny, Amanda, Tara, Carmen, Melinda, Audrey |
On the flip side, it is great to be back home. I missed my husband and kids so much. Now, I have to find a home for a bunch of fabric scraps and the yardage I acquired while I was away.
How fun - and those blocks are amazing!!
ReplyDeleteThe sewing machines blocks are so cute!!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good time - anxiously awaiting our retreat!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun time! And I LOVE your blocks!!! Can't wait to see what they turn into!
ReplyDeletelooks like a perfect sewing weekend to me! I swear, I NEEEEED to whip up a few pot holders! What do you use for the inside? Some sort of heat resistant batting? hmmmm
ReplyDeleteThe improv sewing machine blocks are soo cute!!
ReplyDeleteI've never been on a sewing retreat before, but it sounds like fun!
ReplyDeleteThe sewing machine blocks are fabulous. I agree that the little spool makes it. I'm going to have to give it a try myself :)
ReplyDeleteThose sewing machine blocks are adorable. And don't you LOVE sewing on a Featherweight? Retreats are the best fun!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the sewing machine blocks! Great job!
ReplyDeleteI love the sewing machine blocks! How terribly cute and clever.
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness, those sewing machine blocks are adorable!!
ReplyDeleteCristin,
ReplyDeleteI used a layer of insulbrite inside the pot holder. No batting. Just batting doesn't have enough heat resistance. Batting and insulbrite is too puffy for my taste....it makes quilting it difficult. Hope that helps!
aj
i had a wonderful time meeting you in person and laughing with you. seriously, you are so flippin' hilarious. i'm having a heck of a time explaining, "hate that guy," to my husband. we'll just have to rent the movie. he's also not amused by, "i can't be bothered..." i wonder why? i sure hope we can organize some sort of sewing time in WI. i need some sewing buddies that are *encouraging*! :)
ReplyDeleteI see you got some Denyse Schmidt fabric! That stuff is the spice of my life at this point :). Have fun with it, it feels like butter!
ReplyDeleteHappy Quilting!
www.skippitydodahquilts.blogspot.com
Cutest Blocks EVER!! Those sewing machine blocks are just darling!!
ReplyDeletep.s. I instantly thought of you when I saw the new Denyse fabric!
Can't wait to see what you do with it!
Add some embroidery for a needle. Love it!
ReplyDeleteWelcome home! I love the potholders--such a wide interpretation of potholder--and the sewing machines. I see a whole line in your future.
ReplyDeleteI so wanted to attend this retreat, but it just wasn't in the cards for me. Looking forward to November - hope that one happens.
ReplyDeleteLooks like Tara really put some great gift bags together, I am really really sorry I didn't make it now.
Oh wow, what a fun weekend! It sounds like you had a lot of fun with those new products, and lots of productivity too. Love seeing all your smiling faces. How lucky to be able to get together again like this!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea of doing a pot holder swap! They are lovely, I like how everyone used such bright and cheerful fabric. Gift bags of goodies too, I wish I could go to a retreat like that!
ReplyDeletelooks like a fun time! and those sewing machine blocks are AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteI love your sewing machine blocks :-)
ReplyDeleteI had such a great time meeting you! You are so funny and encouraging, and it was neat to meet one of my virtual bee buddies.:) I love your pictures of the retreat, and I wish I taken one of us as a group. Your sewing machine blocks are so amazing!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a wonderful time! How cute are those little sewing macines!I'm excited to see what you are going to do with those blocks!
ReplyDeleteSewing machine quilt, sewing machine quilt, I wanna see sewing machine quilt!
ReplyDeleteGlad you had fun, and I am seriously envious of you learning paper peicing from someone. Too fun.
oh! it looked so fun! Love love love the sewing machine you pieced :)
ReplyDeleteLove those sewing machine blocks!!
ReplyDeleteLooks like someone went to JoAnn's LOL! Your sewing machine blocks are adorable -- sounds like a super fun time!!!
ReplyDeleteI love your sewing machine blocks! Very cute. So were the potholders. Sounds like you all had a great time! I am SO jealous....LOL!
ReplyDeleteHappy quilting!
Karen
wow, loving those sewing machine blocks. i really need to learn to do that. They look soo good.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a great time Amanda, I love your sewing machine blocks and all of it!! It's always fun to learn something new, especially hands on, with a fun group. How did you like the featherweight, I love mine for piecing, really accurate seams and perfect little stitches.
ReplyDeleteEsos bloques de la máquina de coser son maravillosos.
ReplyDeleteSon muy difíciles?
Me encantan.
It was fabulous seeing you and sewing with you again! I can't wait for November. :)
ReplyDeleteYour little sewing machines are fantastic!
ReplyDeletesounds like a lot of fun!!! I love your sewing machine blocks! I hope you're going to do a whole quilt of them!!
ReplyDeleteLove the sewing machine blocks! As for the "cutie patootie" sewing machine your friend let you borrow, I wouldn't sew on anything else...I love, love, love my Singer Featherweight! Glad you had a great retreat; can't wait for my next one. Happy quilting!
ReplyDeletehey!!! that cutie patootie is my everyday machine! :) and how cute are those machine blocks!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love, love, love your sewing machine blocks. Care to share?
ReplyDeleteOh that looks like so much fun! I love the sewing machine blocks! They are adorable. I have that same little "cutie patootie" machine at my house, aren't they great to sew on!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a wonderful time! Hope you didn't have to come home to the snow that we're getting though!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait until the day I can get away for a little sewing retreat!
Those little sewing machines are so cool!
ReplyDeleteThe sewing machine blocks are so adorable and cool! LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun week-end! I love your sewing machine blocks! The apron is adorable.
ReplyDeleteSounds like FUN! Love the potholders! I'm moving to Colorado in TWO weeks - glad to hear there are quilters there : )
ReplyDeleteLOVE the sewing machine blocks! Hope you don't mind if I use your idea to make a wall hanging for my quilting grammy. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYour sewing machine block is adorable! How fun to knock into hidden talents and best of all to have such good times with crafty friends! The potholders are cute!
ReplyDeleteWow Looks like you had a great time! What a blessing to be able to have a retreat.
ReplyDeletehttp://dbriese.blogspot.com/
Wish I could have been there! I definitely need to retreat with you and Tara sometime soon.
ReplyDeleteHow cool is that improvised piecing?!? I imagine you're going to have a ball with this, you queen of scraps. Looking forward to seeing where this might lead.
ReplyDeleteThose sewing machine blocks are amazing!!!! Looks like you had a very nice time :o)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you were able to work through that headache of yours Amanda! Just think what you'll do without one, lol!
ReplyDeleteI had such a good time with you, it was really good to get to know you better!
How fun! Now, that sewing machine block is one of the cutest things ever!!! I am totally gonna try to make one to put in my sewing room and one to give to a friend...hope you don't mind!
ReplyDeleteLOVE LOVE LOVE the sewing machine block... can you make a pattern? I am just starting to get into paperpiecing and I love it!.. I also love the triangle pillow and have cut out the template to start my own!
ReplyDeleteAdorable stuff. Simply adorable.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a lot of fun.
ReplyDeletelove your improv sewing machine - turned out great!
ReplyDeleteI like your work and I congratulate them
ReplyDeletehave agood day
Josefina
Tijeras y cuchara wordpress.com
love the sewing machine block!
ReplyDeleteHello! Your little triangles made with scraps are so so beutiful! I need to try that once! But - I just loooooooove your sewing machine blocks! You have made them so lovely with just white and one colour - the thread bobbin is the cherry on the cake!
ReplyDeleteThank you for wonderful ideas and inspiration!
Sunny wishes from Greece! Teje