More From Zion Retreat

Today was our last day at Zion Retreat. We've had a lot of fun as Dixie Quilt Guild Members.

One area was set up for those who didn't want to take classes, but opted instead to sit and work on their own projects.

Everyone contributed to the snack table and I ate way too much sugar.

This year we chose local talent for our classes instead of bringing in National Teachers.

Annie Unrein taught Texture Magic.

With over 30 students in her class, Annie let each person select one of her Texture Magic friendly patterns for their project.

Pat, Annette and Jan.

So fun to be with such wonderful (and talented!) women.

I roomed with Bev and Margaret.

Margaret not only taught today's classes, but she also did a Trunk Show for the group last night.

Margaret showed a history of the quilts she has made for Guild events over the years.

For our banquet and trunk show, we met at WildCat Willies in Springdale, Utah.

A few of Margaret's quilts:

There were a lot of door prizes. At the end of the evening, they even had a drawing for the table decorations.

Benita was wondering what she should do with her table decoration. We thought she came up with a great idea. Easter is just around the corner, and she just might be needing a hat.

Tessie came up with an even better idea. She nicknamed her centerpieces "Horsie and Boots".
(I even told her I was planning on putting this picture on my blog!)
There is a lot of laughter in our guild.

The final part of our evening was spent going from hotel bedroom to hotel bedroom for quilt Show and Tell.

Florence Green is another award winner in our guild.

Quilt Retreat Game

Pat Peters is in charge of our Zion Retreat this year for the Dixie Quilt Guild.

Sherri is on Pat's commitee and started us off last night with a game.

Well....we didn't KNOW we were playing a game at first.

Sherri announced that the hotel was having trouble with their supplier and had run very low on toilet paper. She reported that the hotel felt the problem would be remedied by the next day. But for tonight, she passed around rolls of TP and requested we take as much as we felt we needed to get us through for the evening.

As typical with any group of ladies, some took a little....

And some took a lot.

Annie Unrein (designer of Texture Magic patterns) is a past President of our guild.

After everyone had a chance to grab a wad of toilet paper, we were then informed that for each square of TP, we were to stand a tell something about ourselves.

Oh no!

For those who had a long, long piece of toilet paper (like Charm C.) we learned quite a bit!

Others, (like Cathie P.) tried stuffing their wad in their bras and pretended like they didn't have much to say.

"What TP?" she innocently asked.

After roars of laughter, and maybe gathering too much personal information from guild members, things settled down and we were treated to a Texture Magic trunk show by Annie.

Zion Retreat Day 1

Every Spring our Quilt Guild, the Dixie Quilt Guild goes to Zion National Park for a retreat.
We just arrived tonight and are setting up our machines.

One of the traditions is to bring a quilt to share. We place them on our beds for Show and Tell.

This is Cathie Purdy's quilt. "Carolina Lily" from Australian Patchwork & Quilting Collectors Edition.

Cindy Carlson made this Bargello Cabin quilt.

We just had a class as a guild where Bev Lewis taught Fabulous Fractures. Cindy is making a pillow sham out of hers to match the quilt.

Here are the ladies across the hall. By tonight we should have around 75 members arriving here at Zion.

This is our view out our bedroom window. Spectacular setting.

Halloween Swap Quilt

The Halloween Swap quilt is now back from the quilter.
I participated in this swap last year, led by Jane of Jane's Fabrics and Quilts.

We were asked to make (12) "theme" blocks and (1 2) 9-patch blocks and send them to Jane. She put us in groups of 12 who did the same. Once she had all of our blocks, she sent back 24 blocks from our group members.

Patti Morse did the very creative machine quilting.

Some of the blocks were 3-D. This quilter used glow in the dark thread and added a fuzzy spider.

This block was taken from a Buggy Barn design. Love the dangling legs.

We each decided how to set the blocks. I knew I wanted to have some Texture Magic in the quilt, and used it in the corner stones.

There are a lot of fun Halloween fabrics out there right now at good prices because it's off season. I love the ones I found for the border and the backing.

*Some of you have e-mailed me and asked how you can participate in this same swap. Sorry, the swap is over. But if you like the idea, you could always start a swap of your own.

All Dressed Up Quilt

All Dressed Up Quilt is back from the quilter.
My friend Nanette Merrill of Freda's Hive is the pattern designer. I love this quilt and think she did such a wonderful job in creating the design.
What little girl wouldn't like to have All Dressed Up to decorate her bedroom?

Judi of Green Fairy Quilts did the fabulous longarm quilting.

I had so much fun making All Dressed Up, that I'm a little sad it's finished.

All of the dresses were hand appliqued.

Judi's quilting really "made" the quilt. She had such talent!

Some of the dresses have buttons.

And some are decorated with pearls.

A few have both ric rac and buttons.

Others were made with Texture Magic.

Texture Magic for the apron.