I had a great time with Victoria. I didn't cut scraps like I had planned. A combination of a back ache, a migraine and no desire to pick up a rotary cutter kept my scraps scrappy. However, I did finish my "B is for Bubble Bath" redwork block. This block went much quicker than the first block. I have started my "C is for Chair" block.
I made a few purchases this weekend. At Joanne's I found Saral transfer paper. One of the members in my redwork group suggested using it for tracing patterns. I wasn't looking for it but it caught my eye while we were wandering the aisles. I'm going to try it for marking my Birthday Garden quilt and also a needle case I'm making for a swap.
At the LQS I bought a 3 inch embroidery hoop for doing redwork, a bottle of Synthrapol, a Clover needle dome and one yard of Gummi Bear fabric. DH loves Gummi Bears and the fabric was too cute to pass up. I'm thinking of making some napkins or placemats out of the fabric.
The Quilter's Anonymous Dinner was fun. 12 quilters showed up and 10 of them worked on projects with their sewing machines. I worked on my redwork and one worked on the applique on a Baltimore Album block. Cindy, the owner, made a wonderful dinner with a green salad, succotash, fresh bread, shrimp and pasta, and for dessert she served pecan pie cake with vanilla ice cream. Yummy!
I learned something about myself while at the dinner. When I am sewing or quilting with a group of women I'm much more comfortable doing hand work than sewing at my machine. When I am machine piecing I become very focused almost to the point of tuning out what is going on around me. I would not be good company if machine sewing in a group of women. On the other hand, I am extremely social when I'm doing hand work. I can multi task better while doing redwork or sewing down a binding or hand quilting. Is anyone else like this? How do you handle yourself when you are on a retreat?
16 comments:
Oh what a cute block! It should be C for Caillou! lol Sorry to read about your migraine and all. Do hope your feeling much better today. How are the repairs coming along in your sewing studio? I do hope they're making headways. Keep well and Happy quilting!
Forgot to answer the last part. I am going to a girls night in on Friday at my LQS. I'll see how I handle this evening. But usually in a quilting course I do my thing and nosy down over to the various machines to see what others are up too! I do plan on taking my applique work basket to this LQS event. I don't feel like lugging my machine.
I understand the machine/hand work thing. I have discovered at the JoMorton Little Women Club that I would rather the teacher spend the time with show & tell and then giving instruction on our project than actually having to cut and sew the block while we are there. I can sew when I'm alone, when I'm in a group, I want to interact, bounce ideas around, etc. Besides, when I get to the machine, I want to get something done, and there just isn't enough time in class.
I'm terrible, be it machine piecing or hand quilting. I block off everyone and everything and miss chunks of conversations. And yes, how are the repairs coming along?
For me handwork is easier simply due to the noise of the machines. I tend to stop the machine in order to speak or listen.
well done on finishing your second Redwork block!! It looks very nice.
I'm the same as you and find it easier to do hand work when sitting around with others. At both the Craft groups i attend, we all bring along handwork to do as it is easier to stitch and talk at the same time.
Your B is for Bubble Bath block is absolutely adorable!!! Have you told us where these patterns are from?
Cute, Cute, Cute! Yes, tell us who it the pattern designer. Also which yahoo redwork group are you in? great job! Take care of yourself!
I'm sorry you didn't feel well but managed to enjoy yourself anyway. Your redwork block is darling. I've printing those blocks, as well, with big plans. Yeah right! LOL (actually I need print C).
When I sew with others I have a tendency to keep my "nose to the needle" so to speak and find that I miss alot of conversation. If I want to participate I have to start and stop and I don't feel very productive. It helps to have a project that I have to get up and press regularly. I love it when I take handwork i.e.hand applique or binding as it's easier to chat.
Hope you can get your sewing room back together soon!
Funny you should ask! We amused each other no end this past retreat because each of us was so focused on our machine work and each of us was talking outloud to ourselves. One or another would eventually stop to listen to the rest of us, then someone else would stop, and eventually everyone was stopped and listening. We had many, many good laughs about this. Conversation happens when going to the cutting table or ironing board, but otherwise we are focused. We save the chatter for meal times for the most part. And that's OK with all of us.
very cute blocks....it is nice to see different designs in red work. Thanks for sharing i look forward to seeing them all done!
I hear you about sewing in a group. I mostly take handwork on retreats, although I do like to do a quick machine project too if everyone else is doing the same thing (like a bag or small wallhanging).
Really cute. Look forward to seeing more
Thanks for taking the time to answer the questiosn in your new post. I love your redwork. I agree with you on the hand work vs machine. Any hand work for me is more social then machine work.
Regarding the personality test - I also took it, and guess what, mine is exactly the same as yours ... ??? And I kinda agree with what it says! LOL
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