08 May, 2007

Time To Sew

I spent the weekend sewing, non-stop. (Except to eat!) The setting for our retreat was lovely, at the Montreat Conference Center located in Black Mountain, approximately twenty minutes from Asheville, NC. We had full use of the Reynolds Lodge, a one story building that sleeps thirty; it has a huge kitchen and workspace facility all under one roof, there were twenty of us. My goal was to piece a Stack and Whack quilt top from fabrics accumulated for almost a year for this specific project. There's a story behind this particular undertaking, and my burning desire to get it done! When we lived in Puerto Rico I received a gift of a cross-stitch snowman from Quiltkeemosabe. I have always been meaning to turn it into a pillow but hadn't found what I considered to be the 'just-right' backing fabric, and so, it has languished in a drawer. Last summer I spotted an Alexander Henry fabric at my LQS, Quiltkeemosabe was with me at the time. We both knew it was the perfect fabric to complete my pillow. The LQS owner expressed her dislike for the chosen fabric, which both surprised me and challenged me at the same time. I assured her that I could turn this fabric into something wonderful! She countered my enthusiasm with her own skepticism. Well, I love a challenge as much as anyone; now I had something to prove. Game on. My purchase escalated from enough for a pillow to all the fabric remaining on the bolt! I'm sure she's forgotten all about it by now. I can not wait to appear with this top to witness her reaction! I've found a perfect stencil to mark it for machine quilting, too. This "flimsy" won't remain a UFO now that it's pieced... I'm on a mission! Follow the photos below from the inspirational cross-stitch through the fabric and subsequent quilt top, ending with a detail shot. I've already paid my deposit for the Fall retreat... new goals, new projects; luckily there's no danger of running out of either one. Life is Good!

20 comments:

quiltkeemosabe said...

I've been waiting to see these pictures!!! You said you were taking a stack and whack to work on, but someone else had to clue me in to the fact that it was the snowman fabric. It looks wonderful!!! I'd say you met the challenge well. LQS owner will be amazed---and sorry she didnt' buy more of the fabric (it sold rather quickly despite her protests of how ugly it was.) Looks like your weekend was VERY productive.

peggy said...

I have that snowman fabric! I have a UFO which now maybe I'll finish. I love your stack and whack. Mine is a modified "Warm Wishes" design, available on the Quiltmaker magazine website. That retreat sounds like someplace I'd love to go.

Nancy Near Philadelphia said...

That fabric is POIFECT for S&W. What a great project!

atet said...

Love the fabric, don't know what the shop owner was talking about. And it looks wonderful as a Stack and Whack!

meggie said...

Yes, perfect for the gorgeous cross stitched snowman, & perfect for the quilt! Well Done!
That Retreat looks so inviting!

Ancestor Collector said...

What a great quilt!! I love the melty little snowmen and such a good representation of your time in PR. Quiltkeemosabe is a good friend and a great inspiration maker! I'm glad you had a good retreat weekend. Hugs!

keslyn said...

So glad you had a great week, I knew you would,there is nothing better then sitting sewing for 2 days, quilt look fantastic
Kerry

Paula, the quilter said...

Retreats are just soooo much fun. And the snowman fabric is perfect for a SNW.

Tanya said...

What a great piece of fabric! God put you in the right place at the right time with the right motivation! I love the "coincidences" in life!

Shelina said...

Wow, sounds like a lot of fun. You're right, that is the backing fabric. If the shop owner didn't like it, she gave you a super deal on it, right? And what a fun stack and whack too!
The Ohio quilters had a retreat too. I didn't go, but I got lots of sewing in, so life is good for me too.

Quilting Memories said...

I too was shown the fabric when it came in and ashamed to admit I felt just as the LQS owner. I couldn't imagine WHAT someone would want with that!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, guess I didn't know you!!!!! The pillow and the quilt are just wonderful. I love it when someone can take something so "off the wall" and make something so beautiful. YOU DONE GOOD.
Glad you had such a good time and was so productive. I have never been to a retreat, but is sounds like a great weekend for sewing and eating, what more could a Girl ask for!!!!!!!!!
Welcome back!!!

CONNIE W said...

Great project, great fabric! And I write with envy at the thought of a retreat in that gorgeous setting.

leigh anna said...

i honestly don't know how someone couldn't love that fabric, but being that i love both the beach and the snow, i guess i am a little partial to the fabric....
but regardless of how others feel about the fabric.....i think your quilt is completely creative and amazing!
you done good!

Helen said...

That looks like a great place for a retreat. Your stack and whack is wonderful. Interesting novelty fabric produces the best results for this technique, I think.

Teodo said...

Beautiful quilt and beautiful fabric.
I think that I never will have the courage to cut a fabric like this............it's more more........ beautiful.
ciao ciao

Mama Spark said...

I can't believe what that shop owner said! I totally LOVE the fabric and think it was the purrrfect one for your pillow. I wish we had such a wonderful retreat close by but alas, maybe I will have to travel to find one. We will be having Quilt University this summer though and that should be fun. An entire weekend of quilt classes!!

Unknown said...

I can´t say I love the fabric but the quilt you made looks beautiful, that was very courageous of you to tackle such a project. From what I have seen in other places, it really seems that the pattern looks best with "challenging" fabrics. I am glad you had such a nice week-end and thank-you for sharing. Take care.

Anne Heidi said...

The quilt is amazing! And the retreat looks wonderful! I've been to Asheville once- years ago :) during my Florida years ( that could be a Floridian snowman as well LOL)

YankeeQuilter said...

Quilt retreat near Ashville...how wonderful! Love what you did with the snowman fabric!

Flake said...

I really am thinking that "Sandy Reflections", "Sandman Reflections" or even "Reflections of a Sandman" would be great names for this quilt.

KTHXBYE


-Kyle