Our sleep-at-home retreat was this week for three days. We take our machines and projects to sew all day. The room is locked at night, so we can leave everything there while we go home for dinner and sleep. Then the next morning, we are back to having fun. I got there as the doors were opening on Tuesday morning, and set up my spot.
The first project for the day was to make three more bowl cozies in this fun print, so I would have a set of four for the gift shop at the show. About an hour later, the first project was done.
One of our members brought a bag of buttons for the re-home table, and I caught her as she passed by my table. I was able to get first dibs on the bag. Another quilter put them in a large tray, and we passed it around so we could pick through taking turns. I didn’t take much, just a few pink flower buttons and two gold-tone filigree ones.
The next project was to make more of my Farmer’s Market produce bags for the show. I sold all the ones I made previously, and want to have five for the gift shop. This bee and honeycomb fabric with sunflowers is cute. I didn’t have my mat with lines to get the straps straight, so I used a ruler to make sure they lined up right.
The next morning, I had two completed. A third one will have to have the bottom section re-cut as I accidentally sewed the channel on the wrong piece.
Next, I sandwiched two more mug mats, quilted the black sections then added the binding by machine.
It wasn’t until I got home and took a picture of the finish that I realized I had two sizes. I didn’t trim the second one as much as the first.
On the third day, I needed to let My Sweet Babboo have my car to pick up some things, which meant I had take my machine home on Wednesday evening. So, on Thursday, I brought some handwork. I needed to finish the binding on a Quilt of Valor and I did manage to finish this before the end of the day. Then I had a small embroidery project to start.
I also took a bunch of items to set out and show my fellow guild members. I wanted to let the gift shop committee chairs see what I planned to bring, and give me some feedback on pricing. I was also looking for confirmation that the items would fit the criteria set out by the committee.
These mugs will go with the mats I finished the day before.
The great part is I sold $91 worth to my buddies! Now I need to get busy making more of the mug rugs with mugs as they were an instant hit. In the afternoon of the last day, I won the last door prize. It was a half yard of this Christmas fabric with doors, and a pattern. I have no idea what to do with the fabric.
Today, I’ll be putting my sewing room back in order, and figuring out what to do next. It was a fun week!
From My Carolina Home 
Sounds like a fun week. You did get a lot accomplished. That door fabric is a sure a puzzler. I am going to a “sew in” later in March at a quilt shop. It’s an hour from my house so a friend and I are staying in a hotel in the evenings. I still have to get my projects ready and anxiously awaiting it.
Hi Carole, I have a spring show coming up and I was wondering where you purchased your pattern for the market bags, they would be a good idea for the show thanks Donna
Well done! I think it is funny you sold your items at retreat! It means you picked winners! But, it does mean you have “more to make”. I love that you got such positive feedback. Sounds like you were very productive. Hope you had a lot of fun too.
Not only does it sound like a fun week, it looks super productive! I really like that you can do this locally so you can sleep in your own bed at night. That’s such a smart idea.
It looks like you got a lot done at your retreat. And of course your quilting friends loved the sewing themed mug rugs and mugs – I do, too! That door print is fun – a half yard could be the backing for a table topper?
Sounds like you had a fun, productive and profitable time at your retreat. My guild has a sleep at home retreat, too. That format is very popular as some of the members can’t/don’t want to be away from home overnight. The sign up for it always fills up quickly, but I was lucky to sign up in time for the retreat in May and I’m looking forward to it!
The door prize fabric is cute; it looks like it had a lot of opportunities for fussy cutting.
Sounds like your quiltcamp was fabulous even though it was cut a bit short. It’s such an acknowledgement that many of your things sold already. Charlie
So happy you had fun at your retreat and what pretty projects you made and sold–that door fabric would be alot of fun on house blocks–hugs, di
lots of fun indeed, stitching with your friends each day a d home to your own cozy bed each evening.
I love the door fabric, do the doors have enough space between, I can see them or a few of them put into “house” blocks with the houses “decorated” like a street for a Christmas quilt or throw. Love all the beautiful projects you do.