I recently enjoyed a trip to the Sierra Nevada mountains for Lynn Wilder's Retreat. She does retreats 3-4 times a year for about 35 women. I was happy to be invited to join them this year as we wrapped up Laurel Ridge, Lynn's Block of the Month design for The Quilt Show. You can still get the patterns FREE as a Star Member: Laurel Ridge Block of the Month 2025
Here are just some of the the highlights in photos:
My accommodation for the week was a lovely cabin a few doors down from Lynn's cabin. Her friend offered to host us--we had the cabin to ourselves all week.
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| View off the deck of our cabin |
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| Lynn Wilder and Pati Violick, Director of Marketing Marcus Fabrics, my roommate for the week |
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| My room |
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| The kitchen |
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| A welcome card, homemade chocolate chip cookies, champagne |
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| View from the Loft above |
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| View from the Loft |
The next day 5 of us made the 2.5 hour drive to Yosemite. It was a glorious Fall day and we enjoyed the trip, my first to a western National Park:
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| To prove I was there |
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| Candace, Pati, Gwyneth, and Lynn |
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| El Capitan |
The next day Retreat began, with setting up the large room and Lynn's "pop-up shop". Many hands made light work. Attendees came about noon and the sewing and chatting began:
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| My Laurel Ridge was finished there |
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| Lynn's Laurel Ridge on display |
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| The door prizes donated by Marcus Fabrics |
The first dinner was Appetizers, Desserts and Wine, brought by the attendees. The food all week was good, this was really great:
Lynn's sister, Gail, even remembered from my blog that I like Moscato--she kept my glass ready each night. Thanks, Gail!
Each evening there was Show and Tell. This is a very accomplished group of quilters. Here is just a glimpse:
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| Angi is knocking this one out of the park |
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| Linda made this in a class with Jean Impey |
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| Lori makes art quilts mostly--this is made by burning in the black lines |
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| Gay L brought her Color My World--I believe it's the most well-made of any I have seen. Completely flat. She is now inspired to finish it. |
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| Melinda worked on this much of the week |
For MORE PHOTOS from RETREAT, check out Lynn's Blog: Sew'n Wild Oaks blog There is so much to see there.
I worked on two ongoing projects:
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| Border blocks for TEXAS STAR and Old Italian blocks for MY NEXT LIFETIME QUILT |
Monday morning we got to watch Alex Anderson live as she revealed the 2026 Block of the Month quilt, Game On!, designed by Becky Goldsmith exclusively for The Quilt Show. Here I am watching:
Now I could pull out my Solid Kit and start working on Game On! I had printed the patterns and instructions at home so I was ready to begin:
For more information on this FUN quilt, see: Game On!
One evening I gave my presentation TIME MANAGEMENT FOR QUILTERS. It is always well received and I enjoy giving it. Many watched:
The next night Pati gave a presentation about how fabrics are designed and made--it was very informative. Prices will continue to rise and manufacturing quilting fabric in this country will not happen again.
All week I watched these women making quilts, friends and memories. It was so good to be with them. Many return at least once a year, 10 of us were first-timers. There was a mother daughter daughter team who kept SO BUSY it was hard to get their photo:
The only problem for me was I didn't get a power walk all week--no cell service outside Wi-Fi in our cabin and the Lodge, meant I could get hopelessly lost and it is BEAR country and MOUNTAIN LION country. Windy roads that all look the same, no sidewalks, steep drop-offs to driveways or woods. No, I just had to stay in and sew after walking with Pati to the Lodge most mornings.
And the food just kept coming. Each day the snack table grew--I called it the OH NO! table. Homemade goodies and some of my favorite store-bought goodies added to the challenge. Thankfully, I only came home up 3 pounds and they were gone quickly:
A well-run retreat is a super experience, a chance to get away from the duties at home and make new friends. There were gifts, laughs, and so much more. I am happy I was there to enjoy it.
My flights there and back were mostly uneventful. Returning the first day of the "slow down" of flights was worrisome but the 2 hour delay leaving Sacramento was due to equipment, not cancelations. The 3 hour layover I expected in Atlanta became a one hour layover and I arrived in Huntsville at 11 pm, as expected.
And now I am home for a few months so it is time to get something done!
Let's quilt.
Barbara
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