Family Pieces 2011

 I told you I would show you the pillow my sister Judy made using silk for her Cathedral Windows.  Isn't it beautiful?  Makes me want to go finish mine right away.  I will eventually.

But first I promised to tell you more about our retreat.
It starts with getting everything into the car.  That can be a challenge.  Fortunately there were four cars leaving from my area so I sent a few suitcases with my sister, and some random stuff that we just couldn't fit in with my nieces. 

Once we get there we all unload and help set up.  With so many people, this goes fast.

Side Note:  So many of you made comments about our retreat saying you couldn't believe we have so many family members interested in quilting.  Well it wasn't always that way.  At our first retreat, (15 years ago) just my sisters and Mom were there.  The next year some of our married daughters wanted to join us.  So that is how we got here.  Most daughters and daughters-in-law have never quilted when they come for the first time.  But that changes -- as you know, quilting can be addicting.  Some of the young moms don't have much time for quilting, so this may be the only time each year that they get out their machine.  We all help each other and learn together.  

After we set up we have a meeting and introduce the project and classes we get started.  The first night we have a trunk show and get to see what everyone has been working on all year.  This is a highlight for me.  I have just a few trunk show photos to show you, as I get distracted and forget to shoot!

Lisa with her completed project from last year.  You may have seen mine on my website, (it's in my book) it has a green border, but don't you just love the gold?

Jane finished hers from last year too.  It was in a different colorway.  Darling!

Maika with one of her MANY completed projects.

Tori showing her beautiful long arming on this project from a past retreat.  Tori does a lot of quilting for me.

Christine showing what she made out of leftovers from one of the round robbin quilts last year.

Hillary with one of many projects.  She is a prolific piecer.

Nicole even made an elephant!

Margaret's Candied Pretzels from last retreat.  (From my book)

Melissa version of Candied Pretzels

Maika with a quilt she made and quilted for her daughter.  Maika does all her quilting on her home Bernina.  Amazing!

It's probably a good thing I didn't take too many photos, or you would be bored.  (And we wouldn't want that.)  Anyway, after the trunk show we have a crazy tradition.  We watch the video spoofs that my kids make.  It started out with them making fun of our quilt obsession, so every year they do a new video.  Here is the one my daughter, Talia and niece Andrea made about their "best friends."  You may relate.....

Well that's enough for today.  Tomorrow I will share the other video skits and tell you about all that wool we dyed and how we used it at retreat.
Have a happy day--with your best friend!