Big Girl Quilting Camp

Tomorrow I'm headed to my first overnight quilting retreat. Yippee!

I had hoped to be packed by this point, but you know how it goes. My suitcase is still empty, save for the items my children kindly packed for me. Contents currently include a teddy bear, an Incredible Hulk action figure, a Hello Kitty backpack, and a Dora coloring book. So, aside from these essentials, what else do I need to bring?

Time to tackle the UFO pile

Here's my list so far...

sewing machine
my sewing projects
rulers
rotary cutter
pins
scissors
thread
extra bobbins
seam ripper
machine feet
painter's tape
extra fabric

and I'm also thinking...

ear plugs (I'm a light sleeper)
slippers
camera
an electronic device for connecting to the outside
cell phone
directions to the retreat center
food

Retreat prep day. Cutting up precious Hope Valley yardage.

What are your quilting retreat tips and essentials? I'd love to hear from you.

-Annik

P.S. Thank you, Minneapolis Modern Quilt Guild, for organizing the retreat.

I've been hexed

Hi. Sorry about the long silence. What can I say? I had a great summer with my three kiddos, including lots of new experiences and adventures. The old blog was kinda the last thing on my mind. Thanks for sticking with me these past few months. I promise to make it up to everybody with a giveaway, so stay tuned.

Blogging wasn't the only thing I didn't do this summer. I hardly touched a sewing machine. But the weather is getting cooler now, the leaves are turning red (okay, mostly dry/dead brown), which can only mean one thing: it's sewing season!! And what better way to get back into the swing of things than to take a class with Jacquie Gering of Tallgrass Prairie Studio fame?

Jacquie and my dear friend Rebecca hamming it up for the camera.

This past Saturday the Minneapolis Modern Quilt Guild brought Jacquie to town to teach us how to machine piece hexagons - a dry run for her sold-out Quiltcon class in February. Jacquie is warm, kind, encouraging, thoughtful, concise, and so talented! You lucky Quiltcon ducks are going to love her class!

The Hexie Class of 2012 at Sewtropolis. Our esteemed teacher is way in the back. How did that happen??

Some people in the class did a ton of sewing. Me? Not so much. Those are my hexies up on the design wall - that was as far as I got. Next time, more sewing and less chatting.

Lizzy House's 1001 Peeps plus my sewing machine's cords.

Hexagons begging to be sewn together

Even if you don't have the opportunity to take a class from Jacquie, do check out her amazing book called Quilting Modern. The photos alone will provide endless inspiration.

Okay, I've got lots of things to show and tell you but you'll have to wait until tomorrow...

Happy sewing,

-Annik

P.S. Serious props to Flaun for making this weekend happen :)