Standing Outside the Fire

 Hello Everyone,

Sorry, no quilt pictures from the retreat today.  Yesterday was intense. A thunderstorm rolled through in the morning, sparking fires all around our area. My location is the blue dot (Arnold) at the top of the image. 

My Watch Duty app was relentless—pinging every few minutes with new alerts. I’ve got our go-bag packed and pulled together a few more essentials, just in case. Both cars are gassed up and ready to roll. The landscape is bone dry—everywhere feels like a spark away from disaster. 

The charming town of Murphys (2-6 & 2-7 fire) was evacuated—a deeply unsettling turn. As we sat out on the deck last night, ash drifted down around us like a quiet warning. I'm sure the cars are covered in ash this morning. Needless to say, it was a sleepless night.

Keep our area and the firefighters in your prayers.

Soon,

Lynn

Show & Tell at the Retreat

 Hello Everyone,

The big room at Snowflake Lodge was buzzing with energy, laughter, and the unmistakable joy of creative souls gathered together. Quilters filled every corner, each one bringing their own spark to the space. Just look at this stunning example: Enchanted Autumn captures the essence of fall in every stitch. It was one of Debra’s first forays into appliqué—and it’s absolutely gorgeous. Her craftsmanship and attention to detail shine through in every leaf and block.

Valery took my original Country Sampler pattern—which featured nine blocks—and gave it a bold new twist we're affectionately calling Country Sampler on Steroids! She stitched each of the original blocks not once, but twice, then dove into the bonus blocks from the back of my Patchwork Math book to expand the design even further. The result? A stunning quilt that’s bursting with creativity, precision, and heart.

Barbara lovingly restored a quilt that holds deep family and historical significance—originally stitched by her grandmother in the 1930s while at Napa State Hospital. As she shared the heartfelt story behind the quilt, her words moved many in the room, drawing quiet tears and a deep sense of connection. It was a powerful reminder of how stitches can carry memory, resilience, and love across generations. I've always said that quilters write their name in cloth.

I took a picture of one of the blocks and with Barbara's help, we made a quilt label.

Melissa scooped fabrics up from the free table at her guild and look at the gorgeous end result!

Linda made this quilt using a panel with bears.  That very evening a bear broke into her garage and raided her freezer. It took the dessert she made for the retreat! Maybe they were looking for this quilt to decorate their den.

Beth shared a beautiful Crabapple quilt which she made.  

This is Mary Sue's Lil' Orphan Scrappy.  This is so beautiful in so many different ways.

Some of the members of the Independence Hall Quilt Guild attended the retreat.  It is great fun getting to know everyone better.

The Sew Sisters made Sylvia and honorary member!

This lively trio was an absolute delight! New to the retreat, they jumped in with contagious laughter and a playful spirit that lit up the room. Their energy added a fresh spark to the group, reminding us all how joyful it is to welcome new faces into the Sew'n Wild Oaks quilting family.

I’ve got a treasure trove of photos to share with you this week—it’s going to feel like a mini quilt show unfolding each morning! Get ready for a daily dose of beauty, joy, and the incredible women behind these heartfelt creations.

Soon,

Lynn

Sew'n Wild Oaks Retreat Day 1

 Hello Everyone,

Last Sundy, August 24th, was set up day and the first day to quilt, quilt, quilt and get acquainted.

Snowflake Lodge was transformed into a giant quilting studio for 36 quilters.

I had product out so the girls could shop.

There was a lot of chatting and quilting going on and then the machines were turned on and started humming across the room.

Halloween was in the air at Peggy's table.

Debra is putting her own spin on my Madrigal pattern.  It is going to be gorgeous! 

I have a little lecture area where I teach, and the quilters gather to listen.

I taught Cozy Country Christmas.  By the end of the retreat, Beth had most of the blocks made for this this quilt.

We had an appetizer dinner on Sunday night. This is just a small sampling of the delicious food.

It was a warm day, so everyone decided to eat inside instead of out on the deck.

The girls were taking daily walks around the lake.

My delightful friend Julie stayed with me at the cabin last week, and what a joy it was. Each morning, we’d settle onto the deck, me with my coffee Julie with her protein shake, and talked until it was time to head down to the Lodge at 7:45 a.m. That’s usually my blogging hour—but honestly, time with Julie was far more precious. So, for everyone who emailed wondering if I was okay: yes, I’m more than fine, just soaking up good company.

The cabin is only a minute’s drive from the Lodge, but on Wednesday night, we had to pause for a mama bear and her two cubs crossing the road. I was thrilled Julie got to witness that moment. And yes—this is exactly why we don’t walk home in the dark!

Here we are in all our glory!

The camaraderie within this tightly knit group of quilters defies description. The retreat was more than stitching and patterns—it was a heartfelt gathering where laughter echoed, tears were shared, and stories wove us together in ways that words can hardly capture.

Soon,

Lynn