Category Archives: Quilting Retreat

A Word About Retreats

Posted on March 10, 2019 by heARTs Creations

Recently there have been several inquiries about the Quilt & Sew-In Retreats held in the Spring and Fall in Blowing Rock, NC. This is a great time where quilters/sewers/knitters, etc. come together to work on their projects, share, laugh, shop and enjoy the wonderful restaurants and all that downtown Blowing Rock has to offer.

Where’s the registration? Returning retreaters have an exclusive early sign-up period. After that time, if there are openings, information and the registration form will be posted on this site.

Spring 2019 Quilt & Sew-In

April 3 through April 7

The Spring retreat is currently FULL. If you would like to be on the wait list, please contact me at heARTsCreations@outlook.com.

Thank you to this year’s Sponsors!

2019 sponsors

Back from A Retreat

Posted on February 8, 2019 by heARTs Creations

Talk about fun! There might have been more laughter than sewing! Thankfully, there was a lot of sewing on my part. As usual, I brought more projects than I could possibly have worked on. Just in case I have a problem with a project, or if I should get bored with a project, or if I miraculously finish a project, I’ll have another to keep me busy. This was a “Featherweight Lovers” retreat, so we all brought our Featherweight machines. Although not a FW, Dee Dee’s Singer was an absolute beauty and I love her elegant setting with a table lamp!

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I actually worked on three projects at once. First, was my leader-ender with 2 1/2″ squares finishing as sixteen patches. Second, for the “I Spy” I am doing, I did “square in a square” for the five inch cut picture squares. Simultaneously, I sewed parts of the project using the Egyptian fabric. Only one complete block to show, but quite a bit done on the others. Update: Corrected block. There were 3 pieces turned the wrong way – this is meant to be a star!

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ALL the “I Spy” squares are now a square in a square. I set them all out and pinned – now I just need to sew together. I did need a few more and I have such awesome quilting buddies – I now have all I need. Thank you!!

And finally, my sixteen patch leader ender. I set out these blocks because that is just so much fun. A few of my 1 1/2″ strips happened to get onto one of the blocks and EUREKA! I knew I had to use them for sashings. I ran out of long enough strips, but did manage to get this much together. A little wild, but I love it. After I’ve added the other sashed blocks, I’ll work out a border – maybe I’ll have another happy accident!

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Lots of great sewing done by the other retreaters. Here are just a few: Pam’s scrappy and her batik (borders to be added) –

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Jennie’s charms and stars – I love those colors –

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Janet’s Sunbonnet Sue. The setting is delightful. And how about her tiny pieces from her ongoing leader-enders?

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Seatta loves to do the Bonnie Hunter quilts –

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There were so many more that did not, unfortunately, make it into my camera. Very inspirational group. AND, an intensely fun group!

A big Thank You to Debbie for planning this fun and memorable retreat!

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Posted in block pattern, Color, Featherweight, Projects, Quilt Setting, Quilting, Quilting Retreat and tagged projects, Quilting, Scraps. Bookmark the permalink.

Lots of Cutting & Retreat Prep

Posted on February 4, 2019 by heARTs Creations

Sewing retreats – so very much gets done! To prepare for a 4 day retreat I’m going to, I cut out not one, but two new projects! The first is for a gift for a little boy. I’ve never done an “I Spy” quilt before and thought it would be the perfect gift for the little guy. Unfortunately, my stash is not very supportive of this quilt. I did manage to cut 9-five inch blocks and then the request process to friends and my guild for more. I’m going to do “square in a square” blocks, using various colors of polka dots for the outside of each I Spy block. This should be so colorfully fun! Yeah for my quilting buddies – they surely came through with squares. What I have is cut, pinned and ready to sew.

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And I cut the Egyptian fabric I had. I’m using a Kaffe pattern, “Mardi Gras Star” from the book Kaffe Quilts Again. First time I’m using the paper plate organization method a friend recently shared with me. I love this! Every block is in it’s own plate. So much better than plastic baggies. This too is all ready to sew.

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Of course, that’s not all that’s traveling with me. The leader-ender project I have at my machine at home will go with me and so will the string quilt I started recently. One more WIP that’s been around for a while is going also. Hmmm, only 4 days. Too bad I’ll need to stop to sleep.

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Posted in block pattern, charity quilts, Fabric, Organization, Pattern, Projects, Quilting, Quilting Retreat and tagged Patterns, Quilting, Tips. Bookmark the permalink.

Days Away Sewing

Posted on December 12, 2018 by heARTs Creations

A few of us were supposed to head to the beach for a week of sewing at a big retreat. Unfortunately, Hurricane Florence did much damage to the host hotel and it was cancelled. I quickly found someplace closer for us to go for a few days of sewing – sometimes you just need to get away!

I didn’t do a crazy amount of sewing, but did enjoy the sewing I did. I did a fair amount of hand quilting too. This Kaffe scrappy quilt top will get several more rows and then borders.

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Judy was so proud of herself for getting this blue beauty done right out of the gate. She spent a lot of time working on an impressive wool felt project.

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Janet worked on this neutral quilt a lot. Oh all those little pieces! She is the queen of little pieces. This quilt really drew me in.

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Laurie really likes to make Christmas quilts. Someday I think there’s going to be a Christmas Quilt Museum that will hold all her quilts. I didn’t get a pic of the finished bargello, but she did get it all together. And yes, then there were two more beauties!

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Beverly made this very attractive batik jelly roll quilt and put together batik squares. Her batik wall hanging came with the challenge of finding the right sashing fabric and she succeeded wonderfully!

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Two local gals sewed with us. Nancy finished piecing her scrappy rainbow quilt and Cathy worked on these clever table runners.

Now that I’m home I’m more motivated than ever to sew. Hmmm, when will I wrap the Christmas presents??

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Posted in Art, block pattern, Christmas, Color, Projects, Quilting, Quilting Retreat, Scraps, Stash and tagged Christmas, Color, projects, Quilting. Bookmark the permalink.

More Great Creations

Posted on November 20, 2018 by heARTs Creations

Fall 2018 retreat was a new challenge for me – instead of 20 attendees, there were 30! So glad too – every one was so talented. I already shared the show and tell. However, a few were left out! Someone had graciously taken pics for me and I completely missed one of the emails with attached pics. Quilters – please forgive. I love your quilts.

Here’s a great “self portrait” by a very classy lady. It is just so fun and creative!

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and a few more I missed posting…

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I never tire of seeing other quilters’ creations. Thank you for sharing ladies!

Amazing Talents!

Posted on November 18, 2018 by heARTs Creations

Fall Quilt & Sew-In Show & Tell

The Quilt & Sew-Ins are always so packed full of talent. Show and tell is a great time to see all that these quilters have either accomplished outside of the retreat or during the retreat. Many thanks to Sandra R for helping with the photography. It can be a daunting task!

Please enjoy this feast of color, & creativity. This makes me very excited about the Spring retreat – more inspirtation and talent!

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Posted in Art, Color, Projects, Quilting, Quilting Retreat and tagged projects, Quilting. Bookmark the permalink.

Back from Retreat I

Posted on November 10, 2018 by heARTs Creations

Whew! Retreat is just so much fun – but really, 30 quilters?! There was a lot of sewing, sharing, laughing, games, prizes and fun, fun, fun. What a wonderful group. And I had the privilege of meeting some for the first time and there were a few that hadn’t been in a while. There are those that come every year. All lend so much to the retreat. In addition to North Carolina, they came from South Carolina, Virginia, Alabama and Florida!

Here are some of the pics – another took some and am awaiting those to be sent so there will be a second post soon. Each day began with a great breakfast to fuel us for the fun and work ahead. Lots of serious discussions too!