Sew'n Wild Oaks Retreat

 Hello Everyone,

I have so many pictures to post of my activities over the past week during my retreat.  It's hard to know where to begin.  The quilters were amazing, and the group bonded from the very first day.  Here's a sample from some of the show and tell sessions, and work throughout the retreat.  Enjoy the morning quilt show which begins with one of my designs for which I haven't finished writing the pattern.  Laurie put her own finishing touches on Huckleberry Hill.  Now, I want to finish mine!

It was chilly in the morning, and we kept the fireplace on for most of the day.  We would sit by the fireplace with our coffee in hand and chat.

I taught Calico Cottage.

Pauline and Corky.  Corky is 6' 7".....Pauline isn't!  Corky was our human quilt stand and an excellent quilter and addition to our group.

I taught mini sessions during the first two days of the retreat.

We ate well too!

Every retreat I say this is the best group of quilters, and it is true for every group.  Some of us have been together for years and some are new to the Sew'n Wild Oaks family of quilters.  The Sew'n Wild Oaks family is growing by leaps and bounds with wonderful human beings.  They couldn't have been nicer, more compassionate, and funnier if they tried.  

Now I have to play catch up with Etsy orders, invoicing and preparing for a guild lecture and workshop next week.  Then I'm DONE for the next few months.  I can concentrate on a new fabric line or three, quilting, designing patterns, blogging and curling up for a long Winter's nap by the fire. 

Soon,

Lynn 

Sew'n Wild Oaks Retreat Day 1

 Hello Everyone,

Here are just a few pictures from my November retreat. As soon as the cars were unpacked the quilters started right in quilting.

The retreat started off with my little talk and positive affirmation for the day.  I have only one rule, and that is you have to sit with someone you don't know at mealtime.  So many friendships have been made over a meal.

Everyone came over to my cabin for an appetizer dinner and we feasted our way through the evening.

We have a gentleman at the retreat this year. Corky and his bubbly wife Stacey came from Chicago.  Corky is the quilter in the family.

Mazey greeted everyone as they arrive.  She got so many lovies. 

Corky had fun sitting on the saddle barstools.

The retreat is off to a great start.  Since I hosted four retreats this year, I was able to include 8 new attendees.  The fire will be going down at the Lodge this morning, the coffee will be ready, the quilters will start arriving, and we are all set to start a beautiful day in the mountains.  

Soon,

Lynn

Houston Wrap-Up

Hello Everyone,

This is just a very small sampling of the quilts at Quilt Market.

The workmanship was incredible.

The walkways were spacious.

There weren't any crowds when we walked through the displays.

I was all set up for my School House session.  It's a bit daunting when you see all of the chairs waiting to be filled.  They were far from filled but I had a nice group of shop owners who I really connected with.

One of my favorite booths at QM was Sew Cherished.  Click HERE to see Dawn's online shop. Prior to QM, Dawn called me and ordered patterns for Bridle Path.  We chatted on the phone for quite a while.  When I stopped by her lovely booth and introduced myself, we hugged like old friends.  There are so many of her patterns that I would love to make.  

My fourth and last retreat of the year begins tomorrow.  It's been a mad dash returning home from QM on Wednesday, then preparing for the retreat.  First, I had to fill all of the Etsy orders that poured in while I was gone.  I'm finishing up the last of the orders this morning. I have all of the tutorials printed and I'm all set for the arrival of the quilters.

Wednesday, soon after we arrived at the cabin from our 12-day road trip, we got a call from our oldest son telling us our grandson was in a serious mountain bike accident on the bike trails above Del Valle reservoir in Livermore. He was taken to a trauma center via ambulance.  After careful evaluation and x-rays it was determined that he had a severely broken collarbone that may require surgery, 4 broken ribs, a concussion, and many scrapes and abrasions from the crash.  Luckily, he was with a buddy with a calm demeanor and took control of the situation.  The boys walked out about 1/4 of a mile and flagged down a ranger who took one look at Jess and called an ambulance.  

Jess doesn't remember a thing about the accident.  We talked to him on Thursday, and he told us how much he loved us...he remembers us!  When our son called us, it was so hard not to turn the car around and head back to the Bay Area to be with him.  He assured us that Jess would be fine, but this grandma was worried sick!

Jess turned 16 in September, and we gave him a new bike helmet.  We are so thankful he was wearing it!  It may have been a different story without the helmet.

As it turns out, he didn't need surgery and is now home resting, recovering and considering selling his bike!

Soon,

Lynn