""Winter
is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic
of them all.""
Author: Stanley
Horowitz
This autumn weekend
was definitely a mosaic of beauty, fun, creativity and friendship as I took part
in the fall quilting retreat that our little group has each year. The weather couldn’t have been more beautiful
as Mary once again welcomed us into her beautiful lakeside home. We had everything we needed, sewing machines,
fabric, rulers, seam rippers, ironing board, food, snacks and wine. What more is needed for a weekend with
friends?
We arrived at Lake
Panorama on Friday night and after claiming our sewing spot and our bedroom we
went back into town for a great Italian dinner at Billy Vee’s. Great, food, wine and service! Then it was back to the house where we threw
open all the windows and listened to the sounds of nature. I could have sworn there were whales in the
lake because of all the noise the fish made jumping out of the water after
bugs. Aside from setting up our machines
and getting cozy for the evening, no work was done but we had a good time
chatting and laughing and breaking into the snacks.
I didn’t even hear the
thunder during the night and was surprised to find the deck wet when I woke
up. We spent a leisurely time procrastinating
on the deck, while we drank coffee, shared favorite vacation spots and watched
the occasional fishing boat glide by, causing gentle waves to lap at the
dock. A pair of loons surprised me. I didn’t know we had them in this area. They were fascinating to watch.
I had thought ahead
and had all my fabric cut before this weekend.
The cutting part is my least favorite and I wanted to spend my time at
the retreat doing actual sewing.
Jean was even more
efficient. She had color coordinated her
fabric squares and strips into cute little boxes ready to be plucked out and
worked into a quilt. I will have to keep
that idea in mind, although I’m not sure I’m quite that organized.
It’s amazing how much
varied interest there is in our group. I
just love to see the intricate, fun patterns that my friends create. Lynette was working on a wonderful bag to carry
her laptop. She had fun fabric and
finished it before she went home. I
failed to get a photo of the finished product.
Mary was eager to give
Lynette, the Home Ec teacher, advice on figuring how to cut her pattern. There is no shortage of advice in our group!
Nancy got the baby
quilt for her newest grandchild completed.
This new baby is only a few days old and will surely enjoy being cuddled
in the soft fabric.
Karen has a
finish. Her beautiful appliqued poppies
looked gorgeous against the batik background.
I’ve got her pattern now so hopefully I will find time to get to that
one. It will look great on my wall, and
since she didn’t offer to send the actual quilt home with me I will have to
make my own!
Here’s another finish
from Lynette.
And a new cat quilt
top that Deb has been working on.
This is what I was
working on. I still have the bottom two
rows that will get sewn on this week. I
just pinned it on the quilt on my wall while I was working on it, which
reminded me that I had never posted the finished photo of the quilt that I was
working on in my last couple posts. Here
it is hanging from my quilt rack in my hallway.
And this is what is
currently in my hoop.
A quilting group
shares more than just fabric and patterns.
We share, laughter, tears, celebrations of weddings and births and give
comfort to each other during the changes that inevitably come as our lives play
out amongst the tapestry of our years.
This weekend we shared beautiful weather, great food and made fun of
each other when the quilt measurements didn’t turn out quite right. But mostly we shared and created memories
that will be woven into the fabric of our lives.
“Blessed are the children
of the piecemakers, for they shall inherit the quilts.”
