To the Villa we Went!

This is the first time since I started going to the villa retreats that we were situated in the main level conference room.  It sure is roomy and bright and loads of plug-ins.  Here's where Marilyn got set up with Jeannie across from her. You can see that Susan is in the back corner with Pat opposite her.  Leigh and her cousin Sharon shared their tables by the big windows.

I sat near the window on the other side with Muriel at my back. We started out facing each other but I found it awkward having my machine on the right side of the table and not the left so I switched around and faced the wall...not meaning to be anti-social , I just had a hard time accessing my iron and such. There's Carolyn who lucked into two table s to spread out her work.

Here you can see the two hand workers, Judy is still working on her gorgeous Hawaiian reverse applique and a few other pieces that required hand work.  Vivian bound a sweet quilt for a baby and then worked on some PHD's along with some cross stitch.

 This is my row by row project from 2015.  Quilt shops across the country offered free patterns based on the theme "Water". You had the option of  just the pattern or a kit with fabrics to finish their 9" X 36" strips. How you put them together was up to you but you needed 8 strips minimum (all finished) to bring back to whichever quilt shop you included in your project in order to earn fabulous prizes...I was too slow and never got mine done.

Look at this gorgeous candle mat/wreath or table topper that Carolyn made. I think she is about to make a few more.

 Jean worked on this gorgeous table topper along with a baby quilt.

 This is my second project..another crayon quilt.

 The nice thing about the Villa is everyone shares their expertise , along with opinions when asked. Plus everyone is so complimentary it makes you feel good.

Smiley here got a couple of things on the go and even finished a beautiful pastel table runner.

Here she is, the star of the retreat...diligently working away on her cross stitch.  We were able to obtain a wheel chair to transport her back and forth to the dining room...it was the only restriction she placed on herself..she sure is an active participant and a pleasure to have at the Villa.

Villa Madonna 2016

There they are, the ladies of the Villa  for 2016....what a great bunch and look who's sitting in the centre of all...our Vivian Patriquen...99 years young and putting us all to shame.  She hand sewed the from day  one to the last day .....stayed up as late as everyone else and was up bright and early in the morning.  She smiled the whole time...what a joy she is to be around.

We had a few new faces this year....sorry I did not get last names....Lois , sister to Joanne and Jean Thompson joined us.,...she is a knitter and almost...almost finished a jigsaw puzzle...we never gave her enough time between, meals, snacks and a few games.

Leigh brought her cousin Sharon with her and taught her a few things...she is interested in making a log cabin and finished a top for a future grand baby.  I think we may get her hooked.  It was a great week ...well four days really and we hated to see it end.  If you have never been, consider it, It's good fun in a  clean, attractive and comfortable work space.  I've already committed to next year and probably the year after and maybe........


Photo:  back row, Jean Ewart, Lois, Leigh Smith, Marilyn Wynn, Muriel Gilbert, Joanne Goddard, Jean Thompson, Sharon and Judy Steeves...in the front row Pat Byrne, Vivian Patriquen and Carolyn Lockhart(the Coordinator extraordinaire who does a wonderful job of keeping us all on time and organized) Missing from photo by design...Gail Fearon...

April 18, 2016 Eveing

We re-scheduled out work night and the dates got mixed between some workmen and us.  We carried on anyway , in between the drills and the hammering...not to mention the darned off tune whistling.  MEN!!

Anyway,  Jeannie's grandson is going to  be one spiffy little dude with this sweet little bib..cutest little tie ever!

 Our most prolific quilter has been under the weather and only got this wall  hanging done.  It will be placed in her front entrance...great job, Wendy...feel better quick.

Chris brought in her cathedral window to show us...she's been working on it for a long time.  She put batting behind the windows on hers....I'm not that ambitious. Done either way, a cathedral window is stunning.

Joanne got her quilt all quilted and ready for binding.  you will see it in the quilt show this fall.She did a wonderful job on it.

April 12, 2016 Meeting

The chemo quilt project has been a wonderful success...and here is one reason why...look at this wonderful quilt , made by Wendy Hillier.

 Agathe made this organizer bag for her organized grand daughter....has really cute monkeys on it.

Vivian tried a new technique....a seven inch square with 2 inch borders then cut in half two ways and sewn back together...Eights is its name and it is a great way to use up scraps...

Susan Snyder made this cuddle quilt and found the fuzzy fabric in the squares a bit of a challenge...it was stretchy.

She is welcoming a baby into her extended family and this pretty quilt was made before the baby shower and the guests all got to quilt a stitch...a wonderful keepsake.

 Every room in the house needs a quilt , especially if you are a quilter...this one is going into Susan's bathroom...works for me....

Jackie is busy getting ready for Christmas...plus look at that gorgeous bag she made ...love the fabric she used.

 She made this owl cuddle quilt that went to Joyce's stash.

Sandra has been doing some needle felting and showed us some beautiful needle felting she did.

Jean Thompson does some amazing work...very quietly sewing and quilting away ...she never fails to contribute to our cuddle quilt programme.

Judy H. got her cuddle quilt all quilted after sewing it together at our last sewing day.

Then she showed us the sweetest wall hanging of a Christmas tree with buttons for decorations...a Debbie Mumm creation.

Look at that Ellen H. go...here is her block of the month pattern all together in a beautiful table runner.

 and so did Gail Rodgers get her BOM table runner all finished.

 Renate made this cuddle quilt

 Joyce Bean brought in a quilt for the chemo project from her friend Ann Dugan.  What a generous lady!

Ann bought this gorgeous quilt at a quilt show on behalf of the Heritage Society and is selling tickets...be sure you buy one.

 Marge put together some pillow panels she bought. She decided a quilt would make better sense than pillows...I can understand that.

Judy showed this one and the next quilt for Vera who was busy quilting...they are teddy bears and for the cuddle quilt programme.

A fun Day despite the weather

by the time I remembered to take my camera out to take some pictures of our programme day, Sandra Carter had won the "guess the block name" contest.  Out of the twelve patterns to name she got nine of them right...smart cookie got a fat quarter for it, too.

The next game was funny and fun....dress the bride in toilet paper.  We had three teams and here is team number three dressing Judy Hughes.

Team number two getting Jean Thompson all dolled up...I was with team number one and Renate was our model.

Here are the lovely brides...notice Judy's fascinator....

She stepped on her train and lost it...poor bride.

Renate looks like runaway mummy....she was tucked in pretty tight there and will probably find pieces of the paper later...Good fun and a few laughs..best therapy in the world.

 Helen made this sweet place mat for her grand daughter...I have a feeling it will be chocolates in the pockets instead of cutlery.

and here we are ...we're such gamblers...playing Strip Poker...Leigh was the winner here after a hard fought battle with strips of fabric going back and forth...we'll be playing this at the Villa Madonna for sure. I need a few more chances to win the srips somehow.

 Show and tell started with a jean quilt that Muriel and her sister in law made. They donated it to our comfort quilt programme.

Vera made this orange and teal quilt from a kit she bought while in Ottawa last year.  Turned out pretty darn nice there, Vera.

Jean put together a scrappy cuddle quilt..she's always bringing in sweet quilts for the project.

Susan made her cuddle quilt and brought it in ,too.

This beautiful piece of fabric came from Thailand via Ann's grand daughter...she said this stunning fabric cost only four dollars....wow!

She also brought in her cuddle quilt...nice bright colours.

 Evelen showed us this sweet child's quilt.

Lilliane got her Block of the Month chickens or are they roosters?  done in a table runner.

 Joan did a striped quilt as you go cuddle quilt.

 Leigh made this bright quilt for our Chemo quilt project....she also brought in an anti -ouch pouch and matching drain bag....well done!

 and this is cuddle quilt she is still working on.

 Sandra quilted this cuddle quilt.

and Marilyn got into her knitting...this gorgeous cowl has wooden buttons...for some reason the picture I took of the quilt she brought in did not come out...you can see it folded over the back of the chair...it is a lap quilt she made for a friend undergoing chemo.

Quilters are such generous and kind hearted people...I had one lady tell me at one time she felt she wasn't nice enough to be a quilter and now we know what she meant.