"Family Forever"

In 2012 I met up with a group of friends for some shopping at Hancock's of Paducah.  My friend Rose Mary and I thought it would be fun to work on projects together at our upcoming retreat that summer, so we each bought a "Tropical Breeze" pattern by Fat Quarters Anonymous.  We were both drawn to the same fabric line so we bought everything we needed and started on our quilts that summer five years ago.  This is all I got done --

I set it aside for a long time.  (Hmmm, I seem to do that a lot, don't I?)  Finally, last year I decided it had been a UFO long enough and I needed to finish it.  I wasn't really loving the fabrics I had planned to use for it.  It really needed some more color.  (I do that a lot, too!)  Color definitely helped.

I wanted to use some of the fabrics I had originally bought for the borders, especially since I had so much of it.

The first one looked pretty good ....

..... the second one, not so much.

That was okay, though, because I have quite a selection of batiks  Surely, I had something that would work.  Hmmmm......

With help from Hubby I auditioned border fabrics until I finally found one that would work.  At first, I wasn't sure the binding fabric, which I matched to the backing, would work either.  

Once it was finished I decided it was perfect, and I love it!

I mailed it last week to my former sister-in-law who I still consider to be family, and I always will.  That's why I named this quilt "Family Forever."  We share many precious memories.  I hope they come to mind whenever she snuggles up in her quilt.

I'm linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  Can I get a Whoop Whoop?

Retreat Report - Final Notes

Many of the quilters wore their quilty tattoos for the week and a few of them had their husbands wondering when they got home!  

I didn't get much sewing done during the week (I was pooped after the my marathon sewing day on my Black & White challenge.)  

Rose Mary and I had agreed ahead of time that we would work on the "Tropical Breeze" pattern using the same line of fabrics.  She started on hers the day I was sewing on my B&W, so I should have been fore-warned with all the muttering and complaining I heard coming from behind me.  I (fearlessly) started working on mine and ended up having this guy show up at my machine.  (That's what happens when someone notices that you have to "RIP IT!")  After watching for someone else to pass it along to, I ripped very discreetly after that!  

I did manage to get some of the center parts of the blocks made, but I eventually gave up, too, deciding to work on it at home instead.  Besides, I didn't want to miss anything that was going on!


It was wonderful to have two massage therapists lined up to help out with those tense muscles that come from sewing too long.

Of course, the years that Becky can't make it to retreat, her sister makes sure she is there in spirit, as well as in Barbie form, and SHE had to have a massage, too!

We had a lot of really great Show and Tell throughout the week.  Here are just a few...

I had such a sweet Secret Quilter who spoiled me with all these gifts.

I came home with 27 adorable pillowcases to donate to Children's Hospital in St. Louis.  This is a very generous group of quilters participating in all kinds of different charities, so I am grateful to them for helping me out with one of my favorites.

That pretty much sums up our week.  I hope you have enjoyed reading about it as much as I have enjoyed sharing it.  If you STILL haven't seen enough photos, or you want to see more of Show and Tell, you can see them on My Flickr page.