Orca Bay & Sewing Retreat

The mystery quilt, Orca Bay that Bonnie Hunter has designed has been a lot of fun for me. I followed along, lagging behind with each step and it seemed I just couldn't catch up. And I'm still not caught up. I need to finish cutting, piecing, and adding the borders yet. Hopefully it won't be long until I get it finished.

My sister Polly the Patchworker and I got to see each other's quilts in real life this past week during our annual Heatwole Sewing Retreat. It was so special to be together and compare our quilts side by side.

And now I want to share with you some of the quilts and highlights of the week.

Our dear Mother worked on 6 doll comfort tops made from velvet.

My name sake, Julia, came and visited and cut out quilt blocks. We enjoyed her dry sense of humor and cracked up laughing.

Her daughter Queena sat across the table from me. We have many fond childhood memories of being with their family. Queena made this traditional top using 1930's reproduction prints.

My niece, Rebecca started this Jan Krentz star last year. She wants to add Hunter's Stars around it and make it bed size.

Another project of my sister Coleen's was to make 2 reversible denim/flannel rag comforts in size large!

My sister Sheila was glad to get the borders on her red and green quilt.

Cheryl, my brother Oren's wife, sewed on this heart quilt ...

... and this string quilt.

Some of my projects included this crib quilt for our son Craig & Ang's baby, Tina Sue.

I also worked on making a quilt from Father's shirts sewing them into boxes, and a small printed picture, and then I sewed some of my Possum Town, Delta Mystery quilt blocks together.

My sister Emily made this buggy wall hanging for her mother in law.

She also created this improvisational quilt using a bandana with cows as a spring board.

My sister, June, worked on her velvet clam shell quilt.

All too soon the week was over and it was time to go home. Paul and I gave Coleen & Claire a lift to Georgia where Glen picked them up. They were so grateful for the ride, but waiting for 1 1/2 hours for Glen wasn't their cup of tea. They were asked "When will the garage sale start?" and then other people wondered if they could help them. I'm sure they were glad when Glen finally came.

Sewing With My Mother & Sisters

This has been a great week sewing with my Mother & sisters. Here Mother is making velvet squares for a doll quilt.

Her grandaughter Hannah is the lucky recipient of this one.

June is also working with velvets.

Coleen is making quilt blocks for her "Hidden Wells" quilt.

I am working with Father's shirts.

Sheila is showing three of our aunts the velvet comforter that she is working on. 

She finished making the last block this evening. 

Polly is making this red and white quilt for a wedding gift for her son Tim & Diana. 

Emily marks the antique quilt top she found in Ohio. 

She also made this modern quilt for her son Adam from a bandana square of cows. 

Barbara is working on a quilt for her third quilt book.

This one has diamonds running through the honeycomb.

And Oren Jr's. wife Cheryl is working on a heart quilt.

Sewing Retreat

My sister Emily found this postage stamp quilt treasure at an antique store in Ohio. She plans to repair a few spots and hand quilt it to finish it up.

Mother is the first to finish up a project. She made this reversible ragged edge lap quilt from some flannel she found at the thrift store.

 

This afternoon I was delighted to have a visit from some long time friends that I haven't seen for years. Grace Anna and I go way back to Bank Church and high school days. 

Louise and I go back to preschool days when our parents took us to the Smokey Mountains. We grew up as childhood playmates in church and school.

Timmy & Diana watch my sister Polly working on their wedding quilt.

My sister Barbara doesn't know it, but her grandbaby Brighton is learning to whistle at an early age.

After church this morning we took the long way home and crossed over the slab at the Bank Church.

My sister Sheila is showing us a wonderful quilt that she started years ago. I hope she can get it finished this week. She is such a busy hostess and taking such good care of us. Thank you so much, Sheila.