Augusta 2009

Rita and I started on our excellent quilting adventure bright and early on Monday morning.  I managed to get everything I had packed into Rita’s van and off we went.  Traffic wasn’t bad and we got to the Sew Little Time Quilt shop in Hudson just as scheduled at 9 am. . . . Unfortunately, summer hours were in force and it didn’t open up until 10 am.  No problem for Rita and Jan, always prepared; we donned our tennies and took a walk.  By the time we got back, the rest of the entourage had arrived and the owner couldn’t help but notice and invited us in early.  Yay!

 

 

Shopping was fun as always, especially since there was a fat quarter sale.  

After making some purchases, we reboarded our vehicles and moved on to Menomonie to have lunch at the Green Mill.  After being refueled with food and conversation, we started the last leg of the itinerary.  

Some people stopped at Weavers in Fall Creek.  If you haven’t been there they have a remarkable selection of food.  

The rest of the group headed straight for Augusta and Bridge Creek.  We hurriedly unpacked and set up our sweat shop – well, not really, it was nice and cool in the sewing room!

We got right down to it, unloaded our snacks . . .

 and beverages . . . . .

and started producing our projects.   I decided to start with something quick and easy, so I worked on my pair of  ”Is my grandbaby a boy or a girl” runners.  One was blue for a boy and the other pink for a girl.

 

 

Next I moved on to putting the last border on my Very Hungry Caterpillar quilt for Baby S (did I mention I’m going to be a grandma for the first time in September ?

Then on to another pair of runners.  One was red with green and the other green with red.  Did I say those were my favorite colors?

Here’s Mary’s Heritage Club quilt.

. . .  and Rita’s black and white beauty.  I think it would look great in my house.

Shirley made a cute baby quilt.

 

And Cindy showed off her Jo Morton pink and brown beauty.

There were lots of thinks to admire on the design walls.

A close up of Sue’s wedding quilt.

On Tuesday we were up for a little field trip to Fall Creek. Although small, it’s an interesting town. Deb, Rita and I ate lunch at Grandma’s little hometown diner .  

Next we were off to check out a quilt shop in town called Yard Work.   I love the name.  It’s full of many bargain fabrics and run by some very friendly people.

Back at Bridge Creek, an intense afternoon of sewing left us all hungry.  Jason came to the rescue.  He’s the owner of Tep’s Drive In in Augusta and agreed to cater a meal for us.  It was fabulous.  

We had an amazing amount of fabulous food:

Egg Rolls

Tossed Oriental Salad with Bok Choy, Napa Cabbage, and Spring Mix with Toasted Sesame Peanut Vinegrette and Ramen Crunch

Sweet and Sour Pork                                                                         Sweet Chili Chicken Stir Fry  and                                                   Sesame Garlic Broccoli and Beef

Noodles and Fried Rice

Dessert was Crisp Fried Wontons topped with Coconut Milk Ricotta Cheese and Fresh Berries.

Man cleaning kitchen!  Could it get better?

Lots more quilting.

The Gussie Awards.

Some good laughs.  No, I’m not explaining this one.  What happens in Augusta, stays in Augusta.

We had our farewell dinner on Wednesday night at the Black Bear Supper Club. 

We had to stop at the most photographed spot in Wisconsin (again) but it’s a place you wouldn’t easily tire of.

We managed to sew 39 pillowcases for charity. ( Pat on the back.)

I am so grateful to be a part of this great group of women.  

Finally, it was time to pack up for home.

Some of us went home with a few things more than we brought.

Good bye to Bridge Creek for another year.

Only 350 some days till next year.  I’m counting, because I can’t wait to go back again.

As my fourth graders often say at the end of their writing. . . . .

THE END!!!

Off to Augusta

Today’s the big day.  I’m off for our annual quilt retreat to Bridge Creek Cottage in Augusta, Wisconsin.  

 

All packed and ready to go.  Do you think I forgot anything?  Good thing my friend Rita drives a van.  We wouldn’t want to leave anything behind.

This will be sooooo much fun.  Woohoo!

Glad Mystery: Day 2

We started sewing bright and early again for day 2 of the Glad Mystery.  

Both of the sample quilts, made by Nancy and Susan, were hanging up.  I can share them with you since we were the last mystery group.  We don’t have to keep the secret any more.

Out for lunch at Pepitos today.  Great Mexican food.  I ordered the buffet, which included fruit, with a wide variety of Mexican food.  The others ordered off the menu.  We were all happy. Yum.  

The women in our group all chose different color schemes for their mysteries.  Each one seemed to be unique but beautiful.

 

The blocks need to be set together with sashing.  I spent some time looking for sashing after lunch, and after a bit of pondering, chose red for mine.  Surprise, it’s my favorite color!

I love this pattern and can’t wait to get my quilt finished.  I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

Jan

Augusta ‘08

Every year my small quilt group (WISQ), and extended family and friends, goes on a quilt retreat. It’s been going on for quite a few years. (Someone who’s been in the group longer than I have will have to comment on exactly how long.) It started out at Gallagher’s Retreat House in Gibbon, Minnesota. It’s a lovely facility consisting of an old home with lots of character and a separate sewing space with a loft above it. I was able to join the group there for several years and had a fantastic time. Even though everyone enjoyed the summer retreats in Gibbon, we eventually came to the conclusion that we needed a change.

After reading lots of pamphlets and visiting numerous websites, Mary Beth and Karen went out on a scouting mission. They checked out Bridge Creek Cottage in Augusta, Wisconsin. Trusting their raving recommendation, we booked the cottage for a four-day retreat last summer. They were right – it’s a fabulous place. We loved it so much that we returned again this year from August 4 -7. I’m just now coming down from the high of four days of sewing and quilting fellowship.

We started out bright and early Monday morning leaving Minneapolis for our first destination in Hudson, Wisconsin. It’s one of our favorite quilt shops called Sew Little Time. After everyone made sure they had all the fabric they needed – and wanted – we continued on to Menomonie where we had lunch at the Green Mill.

Bridge Creek Cottage

The next leg took us to Weaver’s Country Store in Falls Creek. It’s a neat store that stocks all kinds of bulk food and spices. A visit to this place is really a shopping adventure. From there it was a short trip to the Bridge Creek Cottage. We had arrived.

It didn’t take long for everyone to unpack and set up their sewing spaces. Soon we were being seranaded by the whirring of our sewing machines. Ahhhh! That magic sound. There’s nothing like it to wash away the stress of life. Among lots of talking, music, and laughter we were able to complete many beautiful quilt projects. Here’s what I was able to accomplish.

Black and White "Two-For"s

I started by making two black, white, and red table runners. I used a great pattern by Pieced Tree called Two-For. After piecing some strips and cutting them into triangles, you’re able to make two runners at once. It was fun and easy. I loved the black and white fabric I picked for the runners so much that I bought extra for a pillowcase. Then I completed a blue flowered one with a completely opposite feel. I love it just as much, but in a different way. Nothing can quite compete with my black and white obsession!

I moved on to sewing a binding on my Jo’s Little Women quilt. I decided to match the binding fabric to the border. I’m happy with that decision, since it’s such a busy little quilt.

Isn't it cute?

Another small project I tackled was a braid quilt-as-you-sew runner, called Mini Braid. It’s part of a 3 piece pattern called Quiltie Trio by G. E. Design. It was very satisfying to piece, quilt and bind it in a little over an hour.

After the success of completing some small projects, I decided to tackle my Amadeus quilt (a Miss Rosies Pattern made from the Moda fabric line called Vienna Nights) which was on the five-year plan. I had taken it to several other retreats and intended to finish it before I went went home from this retreat. I did it. I finished it (the top anyway) and I figured out by looking at the date on the pattern that it only took me four years instead of five. Not bad.

Amadeus Quilt on the 4-Year Plan