Last weekend at Picket Fence’s annual quilt retreat, I met wonderful, talented women.  This is Terri and her sister Marsha who was visiting from Missouri.  They both made Junk Bags, but with a crazy quilter spin to the pattern using wonderful, interesting embellishments.  I love seeing how they used their imaginations – crazy quilters find the most ingenious ways to use so many different elements in their quilts and projects.

Donna, Lisa’s daughter, who is in the education field, worked on finishing up the Mother’s Love quilt with the ruched borders.  Donna is also a knitter and crocheter and does wonderful work. 

Barbara, who I didn’t get a photo of, was working on two Cute as a Button Baby Jackets for gifts.   Baby girl  Lilly, has  a  L on the  pocket.  She fussy-cut the letter from my Sweetest Gifts fabric.  Both jackets are lined in cotton flannel.

Three glorious days in the quiet country sewing with friends and getting projects finished, what a wonderful treat!  Thank you Lisa for putting together a lovely experience!

PS: I promise I didn’t pay these gals to work on my patterns at this retreat, but what a wonderful  thing to get to see!  I learn so much watching others create and it helps me as a designer to see what the patterns and fabrics can become!

My dear friend, Lisa had a Christmas Open House at her quilt shop, Picket Fence on Saturday and  invited me to do a short presentation on making gifts and wrapping gifts and to introduce my Junk Bag pattern.

Click on the image to download a .pdf of this handout, also listed in Helpful Hints.

Steph and Bev joined me to help with handouts and door prizes.

I also got to see projects that friends are working on and projects they have finished.

How much fun are Wanda and Sandi having?  I love it!  Sandi brought her bag she made to show me.  She crocheted this lace.  I love this idea, very clever Sandi!  The crochet lace is Tamara’s pattern from the bed-skirt in one of my project books, A Mother’s Love.