Sweet Home Quilt Co.

Second installment…this is the good stuff! I said before that this was the most productive retreat group I’ve ever seen and I wasn’t kidding!

In addition to all of the projects they brought with them, they were compelled to watch the demos I did throughout the weekend. Here I’m demonstrating how to insert a zipper using Terry Atkinson’s Sweet Zip pattern, and we had quite a few tackle zippers for the first time with great success!

We played with selvedges and made heart-shaped pincushions…

And Gwen made great progress on a queen-sized selvedge quilt…

Her plan is to do two blocks a week until it is finished and she figures she’s about ten weeks ahead of the game thanks to this great start!

Sew Simple Pineapple was another popular demo…

Here’s one Millie whipped out from a couple of fat quarters after seeing the demo…I love the effect of the stripes!

Sometimes you just need a friend to help out…Debbie’s pastel Popsicle Sticks went from this…

to this in no time flat! Debbie has a real hard time with “scrappy” so this was a bit of a challenge for her! Great job, Debbie…

Diann finished this Underground Railroad Sampler which will be a gift. She had to make a few extra blocks and then sash everything and get the borders on…it’s a king-size quilt so she had a ton of work to do to get it finished! Beautiful…

Donna finished this bright pink and black quilt…the black prints have fun smiley faces, chili peppers, etc. and although you can’t see it in the picture, the pink fabric has a texture that makes it look like chenille. Every single person reached out to touch that fabric only to be surprised that it wasn’t really chenille!

I think Gwen was the first to finish a project…a work-in-progress for a couple of years. This quilt is simply amazing and far more beautiful in person!

Jane whipped out not one…not two…but three (!!!) of these cute baby quilts in no time flat! Not to mention the fabulous neutral and gray quilt she’s working on for her son…unfortunately, she ran out of a key piece of fabric and now we’re on the hunt to track down enough for her to finish it up!

Marsha completed her Footprints in the Sand quilt…a fun Instant Bargello technique!

Millie finished her rail fence quilt made from Bowood House by Robyn Pandolph. She had to do a bit of maneuvering with the borders due to a shortage in the kit she had purchased, but it all worked out!

Peggy put together this fun quilt for her grandson. Her joy turned to agony when I pointed out that she had several of the same fabrics touching…why didn’t I keep my mouth shut???

After a bit of wailing and gnashing of teeth, we figured out that it was just one section (and thus one L-O-N-G seam!) that was reversed. An easy fix…thank goodness!

I lost count of how many pillowcases Peggy made after Gwen taught her the Magic Pillowcase method!

Ruthanne was a chain-piecing machine…

resulting in this beauty! Doesn’t it remind you of sea glass?

Vicki finished this great patriotic quilt (after a quick trip to SHQC for a different border fabric!)

This was our Mystery Project…Happy String Flowers…a fun wallhanging or baby quilt!

I know I have more pictures somewhere (note to self: don’t use the iPhone, iPad and camera to take pictures!) but I’ll have to find them…something else for you to look forward to!

Melisa