Monday Made....Pin Cushions

It's Monday and some weeks, I share something on my Tasha Tudor site for Monday Made. Today, I posted some pin cushions that I made or that were given to me. I love pin cushions and if you sew or quilt, they seem to be everywhere! Please excuse my photos, as I took them last night in my sewing cottage and the lighting wasn't really good.

When Peggy and I were running quilt retreats, we had different themes and would gift our customers with a pin cushion. This is one of my favorites. We had a laundry theme that was so cute and we made these little wash tubs filled with the wash and tiny clothes pins.

My quilting buddy Tierney gave me this one that she made out of wool. It's nice because it's heavy.

LaVonne saved a little old leather shoe and turned it into a pin keep for me. She used her wool for the stuffing. She knows I love old buttons, so she added a few...cute idea.

My Tasha Tudor friend Robin made this little bird one for me. It sits on a spool. If you look under it's wing, you will see a place for needles too1

Another Tasha friend and quilter, Jan made this one for me. It has a tiny miniature block in the center! It's so well made and is also good because it's weighted so it stays put. Jan is an excellent quilter too.

This little mouse is probably my favorite and most used pin cushion. One of my friends hoped it wasn't a VooDoo mouse! Goodness, no! This was a gift at a quilt retreat from a wonderful lady who ran the best retreats! Sadly, she had to stop doing them too.

So there you go...lots of fun to enjoy. And yes, I have many more!!!! Happy Monday and have a great week ahead. It's still very hot here...our 3rd day of 90 + in a row with one more to go. Jim is finally feeling better. He sure got hit hard with this stomach flu. 

Annual Quilt Retreat at the Sandbox

Last week I got to join my quilting friends for our annual quilting retreat at Gleneden Beach on the Oregon coast. It's held in the SANDBOX room at the Beachcomber's Haven in the lower room of this building. It is owned by a quilter, so she had the room set up for quilting retreats. The lighting is wonderful with windows all along the side to look out towards the ocean. We have gone there for many years and it's really fun. We have 4 apartments and it's like a little home away from home.

The weather was just beautiful most of the trip. We got to stay from Sunday afternoon until Friday morning. It's so reasonable and just so much fun.

I'm not sure which of our quilters made this lovely table topper, but it was really pretty and nicely done.

Each room takes one night to prepare the dinner meal for the whole group. Not much cooking and it's nice to stay in to share the evening meal. The food was really yummy this year.

My group usually has the Sunday dinner on the first night. This is Donna and Nancy~ two of my roomies making dinner and having some fun.

Ina always brings her little Featherweight. Those little machines are such workers that last forever. She looks pretty serious!

This is my friend Gloria in the background and Vicki was new to our group this time. She is a long arm quilter and  makes lovely quilts. She brought her coffee machine and made us wonderful coffee drinks. Thank you Vicki....what a treat!

This is one of Vicki's quilts she was making for a friend.

Gloria loves lots of color....fun fabrics to fussy cut.

Kathy got to sit by me this year. I really got to know and enjoy her during this week. She was working on a large quilt for a friend. Such pretty fabrics!

This table topper was also Kathy's creation. It was soooo pretty and interesting.

Peggy was also working on the same pattern. Sadly, Peggy's hubby Al, had a heart attack and had to have a double bypass, so Peggy had to leave. I'm sorry I didn't even get a picture of her. Al is doing well, but it will be a long haul for the patient and the care giver. Our best to you both Peggy.

More quilting friends....Karen, Roberta, Jan and our other Vicki. Jan and Vicki pump out the quilts like you cannot believe! They do beautiful work too. I didn't manage to get photos of Vicki's work! I really missed the boat!

Two more of Jan's quilts!

And, we cannot forget our Donna! Funny funny Donna who also manages to whip up so many quilts at each retreat. I can't even keep up with her!

This was a favorite of everyone. It's just so bright and cheerful.

When we went over to our room for a break, we found Joy enjoying a Coke...everything goes better with Coke...right? There were a few candy wrappers too! She said she was busted! LOL.

This is one of Joy's mini quilts. She is just getting interested in them and wants to frame this little one.
Very sweet.

Joy hated this fabric, but look how great it turned out! I just loves the print and the colors.

This is our other Nancy in the background and our youngest quilter Torie. She was just so upset, struggling with a project. We have ALL been there. It turned out really cute, but she didn't like it.

And last but not least, my good friend Nancy! We stayed up talking late every night and I always have the best time with her! I cannot believe I didn't get a picture of any of her quilts! She would have them up on the design wall and when I went to take a picture, they would be gone! She does beautiful work and also long arms quilts.

I can't show you any of my work, because my projects are going to be given away this summer at a special party for my high school buddies. I promise to share them all before I give them away. They are really cute and I am having fun making them. 

Quilting

I spent the day at my little quilting group today. I am finishing up some projects that I started in October when I was able to attend my favorite quilting retreat. I was thinking of my other quilting friends and how much fun I had with them all. Most of the ladies live in Central Oregon and belong to the Scrapbaggers quilting group. We have given ourselves the nane Can Bee Quilters for the retreat held in Candy OR. It's a great conference center with very nice private rooms and good meals provided.

Here we are....all smiles and having a great time.

Susie is Gloria's friend from Hood River OR. I had actually been to a few retreats with her years ago.
She was having fun with a Jelly Roll race quilt in greens.

Charity quilts ready to be delivered. The group works on these all year. The contact person came to pick them up.

This is Nancy's modern quilt. Such a cute little fun quilt.

Kathy was finally able to finish her kitty quilt. It turned out so cute. I ike the boarder too.

Roberta and Ina were working on these amazing pot holders or hot pads. They are just beautiful.

One of Vicky's many quilt tops that she finished. She is amazing.

Nancy was helping Peggy make scarves. They are really fun to make.

Nancy was finishing her baby quilt. She didn't want me to take a picture, but how could I resist?

Peggy and Gloria are such good friends. They went to Alaska this summer with their husbands for 2 months! They had a ball.

Serious Nancy!.

I can;t wait to go back next fall. 

Our Last Retreat at Piece Lodge.....

This quilt retreat was planned over a year ago in January 2012 and little did we know, that this would be our last retreat at Piece Lodge in Brush Prairie WA. Cathy and Dave Moldenhauer are selling their beautiful home and are ready to retire from the quilt retreat business. They have delighted us with their hospitality and home and while we are so happy for them, we are so sad for ourselves!

So this is Tierney clutching a basket of goodies. Her charming friend Betty Anne helped her make some treats for us from us-pin keeps out of Pendelton wool scraps.

We each got to choose one...pretty fun!

 

This is mine...pretty in pink. Thank you ladies, very thoughtful.

When we met last year, we decided to have a quilt exchange. We all had over a year to finish those quilts but somehow, everyone was scrambling at the last minute to finish them up! Such is life, heh?  I was really touched when we had the discussion about how many of us had ever been given a quilt....I hadn't. Quilters are always making quilts for others but no one actually gives us quilts.

This is the batik quilt that Barb made for Debra. Isn't it beautiful? Debra was thrilled!

Kathy made this arty quilt for Tierney. Tierney has moved into art quilts, so this was a perfect quilt for her. Love the colors!

I couldn't get a good photo of Tierney jumping up and down for JOY when she saw her quilt. She was SO excited!

This is Judy showing off MY quilt! I love the holidays and she made me this lovely Christmas quilt. Of course, I don't have a picture of me accepting it as I was taking the pix! The funny thing is that we were together last summer in a quilt shop and I helped her pick out the fabric! I had NO idea! I love my quilt.

This is Debra's quilt for Kathy. Very sweet and bright and colorful.

Lots of hugs that night!

Cathy has been so busy with getting the house ready to sell, so she offered Barb a quilt that she had bought at an auction. Of course it was so beautiful and Barb was happy! She had her choice too and she chose this one.

These two girls had us in tears! I love how Lisa is wrapped up in the quilt that Tierney made for her in this picture. Lisa has had breast cancer and the quilt that someone made for her during that time is falling apart and she had packed it away. It had hearts on it. Tierney didn't know this, but made Lisa a quilt with lots of hearts as her heart is so big! Then Lisa told us the story about her other quilt and of course we were all grabbing for the Kleenex box!

This is Lisa after she stopped crying...

Lisa has a quilting machine that does amazing work. She made Cathy this wonderful wall hanging. We were all drooling over it!! We were glad that she had Cathy's name as it was a very fitting good bye quilt for her. Don't you just love all these hugs???

The masterpiece!!! Just amazing Lisa. I love all the colors and I know it took you forever but what a great job.

I got a great start on my baby quilt for my soon to be here grandson! They love retro and storks. Found the fabric on line. I better get going as Otto will be here in July!

Cathy is a fantastic cook! Oh we will miss those gourmet meals!

Some of us did do the Jelly Roll race. Here's our friend Shirley, we all call her mom. She is a sweetie!

Love this picture of my friend Judy....bliss.

This is the way Judy usually is...so full of life and just a kick in the pants.

Barb looks pretty relaxed....having fun. Love her purple quilt.

Our last meal together in the great dining room. We sure are happy and relaxed. Is there anything better than quilting, friendship and good food?????

Time to say good bye...sniff sniff!

Trying to say good bye.....

The gang....thanks Cathy and Dave for all the great memories over the years. We wish you the best.

I didn't get to show you Judy accepting my quilt as I was the photographer. She posted this picture after she got home, so here it is in her house. I think the pink batiks are perfect with her couch! Glad you liked it Judy.