LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES TO LAUGH AND LEARN

September is when I get going on my Joyful Journey Retreat at Red Rooster Retreat center in Crane Hill, Alabama, even though it is 7 months away. Those who attend the current year are guaranteed a spot the next year. Their early bird advanced registration is going on right now. The middle of September I will invite others on the waitlist to fill any open spots. 

This retreat is different from the usual "open sew" retreats. The primary purpose is to build and foster great friendships among wonderful women who share a passion for quiltmaking. There is lots of laughing and learning, I am always teaching something, and our bonds grow stronger every year. My admin assistant Kathy and I put a lot of time, effort and thought into making this a special event the attendees don't want to miss. 

See these posts about previous Joyful Journey Retreats:

Joyful Journey Retreat #1 2020

Joyful Journey Retreat #2 2021 

Joyful Journey Retreat #3 2022

Joyful Journey Retreat #4 2023

Joyful Journey Retreat #5 2024

We limit the group to 19 total and I do expect to have a few open spots for March 5-9, 2025. If you would like to receive the registration information mid-September, please let me know right away. I maintain a waitlist of topnotch people who will be a good fit for this very special event. The cost is $475 for 4 nights, 11 great meals, lots of snacks and so much fun. It is payable with your registration. There is much more information available for those who want to join us. Don't wait to contact me if you are interested.

There are LOCAL CLASSES with me too. While I teach all over the country I still offer some classes locally. If you want to take a class from me and live near me, now is the time. 

One of my most favorite classes is TWO FOR ONE. I am offering it once more, and may not offer it again. I call it a "Doritos" quilt, you can't make just one. You will want to make more. Each set of 8 fabrics, from light to dark, makes two blocks, one DARK and one LIGHT:

Register by going to or calling Patches & Stitches. Class is Saturday September 20, 10-4 AND October 11, 10-1. 

QUILTMAKING 101--the beginning class for those who want to learn lots of tips and tricks to be successful at quiltmaking pieced blocks. This is being offered on 3 Saturdays by request, September 28, October 5  and 19, 10-4. I have found that having all day with beginners is far better than 2.5 hours over 5-6 weeks. Register by going to or calling Patches & Stitches

16 blocks made with basic Pieced Units

A simpler border variation

3 YARD QUILT: Here is a simple quilt that teaches the basics of accurate piecing. It only takes one yard of 3 different fabrics. Learn a lot in only one day, Friday September 27,10-4. Register by going to or calling Patches & Stitches

I hope you see something here that interests you. Don't wait to contact me about the Joyful Journey Retreat #6--when it is full, it's full. Don't miss out.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

FEATHERED STARS WITH THE SUNDAY SEW AND SEWS

Recently the Sunday Sew and Sews met to show what they have all been working on. Most are doing Feathered Stars--I have written about that before: Sunday Sew and Sews 2024

Here is a look at their progress:

Susan C with her Washington Medallion

Mazie showing her bright aqua stars

Cheryl has a beautiful star

Donna has a plan and is sticking to it

More from Donna

Pam is making Fussy Cut centers to applique on her star--each is unique and amazing

Victoria has a space theme going on, very original and exciting

Victoria finished her Two For One--a great class I will be teaching locally in September and in Texas and California in March 2025. Such a fun quilt to make!

Jan is working to finish a long ongoing applique project with Feathered Stars in the corners

Peggy is working to finish SIZZLE, the 2019 Block of the Month for The Quilt Show, designed by Becky Goldsmith, great color palette!

And what have I been working on? Feathered Stars got put aside in favor of Oh, My Stars! since I need another class offering for 2026. I am very pleased with how this is coming along:

The handout I will provide to supplement the pattern instructions will include an alternative small star--one with points that "float". It is so much easier and faster to piece and requires far less precision than the large Lone Star blocks do. The look is the same, but easier and faster is good.

Both are 4" finished, the top one "floats" so the points don't touch the outside edge. The bottom one is the "precise" one, from the pattern instructions but made with 4 flying geese units for the star points:

The other thing I am working on "in the background" is plans for my next Joyful Journey Retreat March 5-9, 2025. In late August those who attended this year get the first opportunity to sign up for 2025. After early September those on the waitlist are invited to sign up. We expect a full house with 19 happy women who will gather for friendship, relaxation and lots of sewing. 

I plan to offer 6 of them the chance to make Oh, My Stars! as a class. They will work on this as their primary project during the day for three and a half days. This gives me a chance to see how much students can accomplish over several days, the way it will be at Empty Spools Seminar where I hope to teach this in the future. It also gives me feedback on my Handout and how it can be improved. 

My walk each day is my happy time, when I work out details of things I am working on. Or just sing along to my favorite playlists of music. Two hours most days, 8+ miles a day, I really love being outdoors. It has to be EARLY now with the heat and humidity or after dinner. Sometimes I do half in the morning, half after dinner.  

The other day I was excited to come close to this beautiful creature:

Great Blue Heron

I also see foxes often, young and adult, and lots of squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, and hawks. Canadian geese and mallard ducks are always at the two big retention ponds where I saw this Heron. I sure appreciate the air conditioning when I get done!

Let's quilt.

Barbara

JOYFUL JOURNEY RETREAT #4 --The Wrap Up

 We had a wonderful Retreat at Red Rooster Retreat Center, in Crane Hill  AL. The weather was fine, until a storm took out the power for a day and a  half. But the whole house generator kept the sewing machines  humming, and the irons pressing, and all was well.

Just some photos to give you a taste of our 5 day sewing vacation:

We had 9 new people and 7 returning plus Kathy and me--a great group of women!

Major decluttering before I left--all of this went to good homes

My stuff to work on during retreat

Lots of good stuff to give away at Retreat--all of this is gone too

We assign table places and sleeping quarters so everyone has a good spot and makes new friends

Kathy is the Admin and takes care of all the details--she is also the queen of Retreat set up, her work space is awesome

Too cold to swim in March but a lovely view

Shelley was determined to get Homeward Bound farther along--116 circles

Victoria R brought her Two-For-One and I was so happy to see her working on it

Conna finished a project that took about 20 years to complete

Julie showed off her Western Sun--a great class I love to teach 

Pam made great progress on Cadence Court 

Cadence Court pattern

Amanda with her first finish of the week

Cyndi with her Garden Party Down Under just back from Patty Wilson the longarm quilter

Shelley with the Alabama quilt she made for her husband

Suzie with her perpetual Retreat project, 3 years and counting, no rush

The 365 blocks that will surround Suzie's compass middle--some of them have more than 50 pieces in 6" blocks--amazing!

Julie serenading us after dinner

Shelley and me and Garth--he gave me that T-shirt personally. "The Cat in the Hat"

As usual, the food was GREAT:

The only dessert I ate, Texas Sheet Cake, worth every calorie

I used this Retreat to "practice teach" an important class I will be teaching in California next March. I asked 6 students if they were willing to be my guinea pigs as I develop the class plan. They blew me away with what they accomplished and all the input and suggestions they made. I know they worked harder than they expected to. A huge THANK YOU to these women who stepped up to help me:

Design Boards all the Retreaters received as gifts came in handy

What they accomplished

Cyndi the rebel changed one round completely

Julie also designed a new round--making this in Pittsburgh Steeler colors

Two of my four Quadrants done, two more to go

Sue did great--she also changed one round

Kathy and I were determined to create a Retreat that is a safe atmosphere for learning and laughing. Where each woman feels accepted, cared for and welcomed into the group. This year was no exception. The loss of power was a mild inconvenience--no lights in the bedrooms or bathrooms for two nights. But there was laughing and singing, and a little crying as we told our life stories to each other. 

It is no wonder this group asked us to sign them up for next year already. Even though I won't be there--I will be teaching that week in California. They are just not allowed to give away my spot! Because I will be back with bells on in 2025. 

Please let me know if you want to be on the waiting list for 2024: March 6-10. Most will return but there are always a couple who cannot attend so we fill that spot from the waiting list. So far, I have two on the waitlist. Remember, this year we welcomed 9 new women.

One of the best things I have ever done was say to Kathy  5 years ago "I  have an idea..." The rest is history.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Joyful Journey Retreat #3 -- the Wrap-Up

Hard to believe, but our 3rd annual Joyful Journey Retreat has been over a week already. We are all still on a high from such a great 5 days of fun, fellowship and LOTS of quilting!.

This year's awesome group--19 wonderful women: 

Five of these women were new to  the group, getting a chance to join when cancellations happened. They are now guaranteed to be part of the gang next year, if they want. All 5 felt welcomed immediately and took every chance to get to know the others. And the regulars got to know them too.

When I came up with this idea about 4 years ago, I wisely chose my friend Kathy Root to be the Admin--she handles the money, the bedroom and table assignments, registrations and lots of other things. She is great to bounce ideas off of and we make a pretty great team. We wanted this to be an EVENT--not just free sewing time. Each year the Retreat exceeds our expectations!

To encourage people to get to know each other, we do a few things not often done at retreats. First, we ask everyone to sit with different people at each of the 11 meals. There are only two tables but lots of chances to sit beside most everyone there, at least once.

After each meal we have "20 Questions": two different people select a question at random and answer it for all to hear. Just a few to give you an idea:

What is your greatest accomplishment to date?

What advice would you give your 20 year old self?

What is your favorite quilt that you  have made so far?

What is your best memory?

All questions are positive, open-ended, and designed to let the group know something about all of us, that might not come up in general conversation. We don't know what our question will be until we draw it. This is the one thing that has helped to form friendships and a bond that makes people want to return.

Every year we rearrange sewing table assignments to prevent the "territorial thing" that can happen from year to year. Sitting near new people is good for everyone. 

A few photos to show just a bit of the fun and productivity that occurred during our 5 day, 4 night Joyful Journey Retreat:

AdventureLand pattern by SuzyQuilts, my first finish 

Kathy with her first finished top

Saturday morning brought a light dusting of snow

Several worked on Garden Party Down Under 

Suzie caught up on her 365 Challenge in Teal 

Regular Brenda declared this her first ever "over the railing" quilt--a show entry for HQH show

First-timer Shelley made this beautiful elephant collage and we all wanted to know how--she showed us

                                                       

Audra got this far on a long-term project--beautiful!

It's a "make-up free zone", a "pj's all day are fine zone" and a "Drama-Free Zone".  And it is full of teachable moments. Everyone learns at least one new thing, including me. Much sharing and caring happens at this Event. Life advice can be offered with love by those who have experienced your troubles. 

One brought a quilt she had just picked up from a long arm quilter. The owner was not happy with the job and asked if anyone agreed with her that there were problems. When all agreed, she felt a little better but faced the daunting task of removing all the quilting so it could be redone. Many people jumped in with their stitch rippers and although it took all of Retreat, the quilting was removed and a celebration was heard when the last stitch came out--now, that's friendship:

Hard at work "un-sewing" 

Cue the "Hallelujah Chorus":

And no Retreat  report would be complete if we didn't mention the food. First, quilters bring lots of snacks to share, this is just an early photo, before everyone arrived, the counter was ultimately full:

We had 11 meals, all excellent, and most different from the last two Retreats. Three times a day the dinner bell called us to eat and we all agreed, it is the DINNER BELL we will miss the MOST!

Homemade Lasagna, full of gooey cheese--great!

Each meal we eagerly look at the Menu board to see what awaits

Those with dietary needs were accommodated, with their meals in separate dishes from the rest. They were very appreciative. 

So now we look forward to next year, March 1-5, 2023. If any of these women can't attend, we'll work our way down the waitlist. A couple who had to cancel this year hope to get back in. And there are others who want to experience what is truly a Joyful Journey, on the road of life as well as quilting.

Let's quilt.

Barbara