I'm back from a great retreat at the Jones Mansion in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. It was a gorgeous fall weekend, the kind that makes you wish October could just stretch out forever.
Mineral Point is an area of very early settlement in Wisconsin--lead mines attracted lots of Cornish miners and early Wisconsin state government was centered in this area. Much of the town hasn't been modernized significantly, lending a funky and authentic antique charm to everything. The ambiance is great but I just love getting away with my friends--lots of wine and chocolate, and lots of inspiration from them, all very accomplished quilters, and by golly, I got things done too.
I got a good start on the Crossed Kayaks quilt--all the ditch quilting is completed. But I got tired of slinging it around in a fairly cramped spot at the retreat and set it aside to attend to at home.
One day was declared my Day of Discipline. I brought out the small putzy blocks I'm working on for a friend.
This block took several mind-numbing hours to make. I finished this and a second block and decided I had hit the wall on this project too.
So I set to work on my Kansas Troubles/Delectable Mountains and completed ALL 100 blocks by Sunday noon. The blocks aren't pressed or trimmed, but they're sewn.
I haven't looked at these blocks on the design wall at all--I'm hoping they won't be totally chaotic visually. As much as I'm dying to see how they all play together, tomorrow I'm headed out once again--to Green Bay, Wisconsin and the annual state library conference. Back Friday for what I hope is a totally unstructured weekend. I have more to share about the retreat and I WILL get to that.
8 comments:
beautiful trees - wow, it really looks like autumn there. not that pretty here. love the paper-pieced blocks, great color, but yeah, I'd be bored piecing that too.
Love your pictures...that's an interesting way to do half-square triangles on the black and orange blocks. Is it a new way of sewing them together?
The black/white/orange block is looking very interesting - bold and sharp. Nice.
Hey -- what is that technique with the your black triangles? Is it more accurate or less fussy?
Glad you had a good time! I loved how beautiful the Jones mansion was the last time you went. And thank you so much for giving the link to all the retreat photo's! I"m going ot check them all out tomorrow!
Nice post! Some very interesting things there. Look forward to seeing more.
Oooh, looks like you had fun and were able to get a whole lot done! Can't wait to hear more.
I was interested in the new to me technique too! The block looks great.
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