R & R

 After way too much of 'the husband's' 2022 year long health drama, a lull allowed me to attend our annual PTA (Professional Textile Artists) retreat, ongoing since 2009.

Bliss.....laughter galore, great food, ample bubbly, and a sewing marathon made it perfect.

This year we each got two narrow tables!!!  I was able to snag a spare one to use for a sewing station.  One negative...the chairs were so low, even with multiple pillows I couldn't achieve a good level to sew and press....lots of having to stand up between sewing seams.  I'm a press as you go sewer.

  My blocks are now arranged on my design wall at home in preparation for the black and white sashing I'll be adding between the blocks. 

Here's a mock up Lynne (and expert at EQ) made for me after I began to fool around with some simple black and white checkerboard strips I had sewn. I like the random placement of the fabrics better, so this is the route I will probably take.

Barbara's show and tell.....awesome isn't it?

Barbara worked on several projects.....here's one

And here's another......

Cathy was working on this happy and oh so colorful 9 patch piece.  I should have gotten close-ups of her hand stitched accents.....just right additions!

Our meals were perfection again this year....we finally got smart and used paper products to reduce our kitchen chores.....okay it's not environmentally friendly, we get that!!  This is Shrimp Gumbo, and homemade brioche buns with what else?!?  Yes, bubbly.....

After several different approaches to meals over the years....finally the last two years Leigh Anne and Barbara pre-made most of our delicious meals.  Leigh Anne is an excellent and enthusiastic chef....she and her husband are embarking on their own food truck which will be stationed across from the Virginia Quilt Museum.  Don't miss it if you are ever in that area!!  (We may use paper plates but we do recycle....photo taken lunch time day 2.)

Marene's project had us all drooling......aren't you??

There were 9 of us this year, unfortunately I missed snapping photos of all the projects.....so intent was I on getting my blocks made!!