Red Dirt Retreats rocked...

I have been waiting to post about Red Dirt Retreats because I was waiting for my photos....


You know me, I am the smart woman who took a bunch of photos (with my point and shoot, I was too scared to bring DSLR), and then left the camera there.  Yes, I am one big smarty pants.


So, I still don't have the photos, but the camera has been located and it will arrive shortly.


Yet, I have to share.  Arriving at Red Dirt Retreats, I came to amazing accommodations just an hour outside of Moab (La Sal, UT).  It was gorgeous.  We were totally secluded.  Not a soul in the world around, just a bear (I never saw it, just heard....), plenty of deer, and a very friendly cat.  Peaceful, beautiful, and for those of us who care....COOL.  It was perfect for me.  I needed a breath of fresh, clean, and COOL air. Ahhhhh.


As soon as I arrived, I had a class to teach.  Yep, I was a little nervous to teach everyone.  But, it was fun and wonderful.  Everyone was ready to learn, and laugh, and get silly.  After classes were over, we of course, had to eat.


HOT DOG!....No we didn't have hot dogs, but boy was the food amazing.  And I mean amazing.  Seriously, everything was homemade, beautiful, healthy, from the garden, and plentiful.  None of us were going to go hungry.  Krista (our host, and my beloved cousin), was constantly in the kitchen making our stay better than we could possibly imagine.  She made our weekend perfect!


That is how the weekend was spent.  Enjoying the splendor of nature, quilting, learning, and not having to worry about a thing.  Meals were prepared and handed to us when we were ready, friends were ready to be made, and the deer happily ate the leaves on the trees surrounding our dwelling.


If you live anywhere close to Southeastern UT, you have got to schedule a retreat.  You will thank your lucky stars you did.


***Have a family reunion you want to plan....it sleeps over 40 people.  Contact Hidden Oaks Lodge.

Home

I am home.

I had a great time teaching, learning, eating, cleaning, and loving at Red Dirt Retreats.  

It was so fun to work with my cousin, aunts, mom, and new friends.  It was crazy busy and wildly fun to be together with everyone.  I can't believe how much energy some people have.   I am only slightly embarrassed about how much I had to blow my stinkin' nose while I was there (yes, sinusitis joined me on my trip).  Oh well, life is like that.

Home is now my friend, and I have spent my time cleaning, doing untold loads of laundry, hugging, and tucking in..... to tell the truth, I am exhausted.  Happily exhausted.  

Oh....and that picture??? That is the fabric the Fat Quarter Shop sent me....laminated fabric that is needed for all wild and fun families.  I love it!  Too bad I can't iron out those wrinkles....let's just pretend they are not there.

Charming Gardens Workshop

I had a blast teaching my friends about quilting last weekend, and I have pictures to prove it.  I love that the quilting bug has been passed on, and hopefully the bug will grow into a monster.  I love monsters (as long as they are quilting monsters).

Currently, I am readying myself for Red Dirt Retreats this weekend.  I have cut and organized 11 kits, made worksheets, and ordered more fabric from the Fat Quarter Shop than I really should.  But I am getting ready.  Emotionally....not quite ready.  This is my first trip away from Noah, and my heart is palpitating.  I know, I know, get over it already...but he is my baby....sigh.  He just turned 1 yesterday....sigh again.   So, wish me luck in my preparations, and my teaching, and let's pray my heart stays in my chest.

Charming Gardens.....

Saturday morning I spent the day with some of my favorite ladies.   We spent the day learning, sewing, pressing, and laughing.  I can't tell you how much I love to teach people how to quilt.  I love it.  I love seeing someone go from scared of quilting to empowered.  It's one of the best feelings ever, to share something I love with someone else.

So, here is the first quilt top finished.  I got the picture on Saturday night...

go Katie, you worked hard, and you did it!

  

I love how this pattern works so well with any charm pack.  It looks yummy, no matter what!  I also love that I have planted a love of "good" fabric in my friends hearts.  It's always nice to be addicted to the same things.

Go quilt today!

Schnibbles Times Two Book Review

Schnibbles Times Two

What a fun book.  Do you love layer cakes and charm packs?  Do you wish you knew what to do with layer cakes and charm packs?  I know we all love these little bundles of love.  We adore the variety of fabric we get with each bundle.  Ahhh the joy.

Here's the perfect book for those of us who love the variety of these fabric packs.  There are twelve patterns, each given with two varieties.  One pattern for a 10" layer cake, and one pattern for the 5" charm packs.  

Each pattern is adorable.  Seriously adorable!  I know there are some books that have beautiful patterns...and then some patterns we know we will never make.  Not in this book.  Each pattern draws you in, and makes you think of how you could make it, and who it would be perfect for.  I can't wait to get started on some myself. 

Go check it out on Amazon....I know you will love it!

Fat Quarter Shop has Great Customer Service...

I recently made a big purchase of fabric for kits for my classes at Red Dirt Retreats.  It was such a fun thing to buy fabric for lots of quilts.  I love fabric shopping.  The Fat Quarter Shop was a very pleasant online marketplace.  I made my order, used a fabulous coupon, got free shipping, and was very pleased with myself.


The order came.  I went through it all with excitement.   Uh oh.  I noticed I got 1 yard of the fabric above, instead of 2.  Oops.  I called to sort it out.  I have to say, these guys have learned that a problem is really an opportunity, and they have made a permanent customer out of me.   Not only did they correct my order, they went the extra mile by sending me a little extra, and they didn't charge me for the 1 yard piece they originally sent.  Every interaction I have had with them has been great, they even gave me 20% off my order....even though I didn't give them the code until 6 hours after I placed the order.


It's always nice to find a place to buy fabric you can trust.  I trust The Fat Quarter Shop.  Go check them out!!!!!

Getting Ready

Red Dirt Retreats is coming up fast.  I have quite a bit of things to do before I am ready to go.  I  am so excited to share my love of quilting with others.  

One of the classes I am teaching is Birthday Bash.  This time, I am still doing it out of blue/green/yellow....but FUNKY.  I am excited to see how it turns out.  

I love this quilt.  I love that I have a "you are special-birthday" quilt.  I love that my kids get excited to pull it out and hang it up during their birthday month. 

 I love decorations I can make, put my signature on, and can enjoy for years to come.

The fun thing about these patterns, is they work for traditional styles as well as the super fun funkylicious styles some of us love.

What is your style?  How would you make Birthday Bash your own?  Bright pinks?  Bold colors?  Black and White?  Orange and Blue?  Red and Gray?