Yes, this was the weekend of our retreat and it was WONDERFUL!

The weather was lousy until Saturday...but NC needed the rain really badly. I just got home and first thing got my pics uploaded and will post them as soon as I can.

A terrific time was had by all: from the Forum were Faye (aka Wendy), Fran, Jennifer in VA, GrammyP (Beverly), SunnycentralFl (Gwen), Scootersgirl (Georgia), Teresa, and quilting friends of mine Gerry and Keren. Also joining us were Gwen's DH Rob, Beverly's DH Tim, and Georgia's baby boy Mikey.

We had a wonderful large sewing room for our use, great meals - that we didn't have to cook! - fun and games, treats such as Beverly's poundcake and chocolate mice, classes on paper piecing, quilt-as-you-go, English paper piecing and we even hung a quilt show on the porch railing of the building where we were sewing.

Here we all are with the nifty ruler holders that Gwen's DH Rob made for us:
seated left to right, Gerry, Fran, Beverly, Teresa, Keren, Georgia
standing left to right, Faye, Jennifer, and Gwen

{{!gwi}}

Here is a link to my Picturetrail Album with more photos from our retreat. Click on the small pics on the left to see enlargements.

Some of the other forum members who attended the retreat may post their pics soon.

Teresa

Here is a link that might be useful: Teresa's album on the NC Retreat

I'm home too!
I didn't get much sewing done, this was Mikey's first time on a trip so he was quite demanding. But I had a fantastic time meeting everyone and learning some new techniques. I haven't unloaded yet but will try to post pics soon,
Georgia

It looks like everyone had a wonderful time. You all look so happy. It's nice to put a face to some of the names from the forum. Thanks for sharing,Teresa.
Geraldine

Great pictures Teresa--looks like you all had a great time and got a lot accomplished.

Geri

I'll bet the time flew.

Enjoyed the pictures looks like you all had a good time, pleased to see you smiling Bev.
Gillian.

Did y'all make all those quilts at the retreat?!? If you did, you were some busy ladies! It looks like great fun. Thanks for sharing your pics.
Linda

I made it home at 6pm, but since today was DS's 3rd birthday, we went straight out to dinner! He even fell asleep on the way home so didn't even get chance to open his presents!

We all had a great time! And though we did accomplish A LOT, No, Noocha, we didn't do ALL those quilts at retreat. Many were brought just to share, so we included them in the 'display'.

Fran & Wendy (aka Faye) both have long trips home and probably won't add their .02 cents for a while, but it was indeed a fabulous time had by all!

(We didn't have internet service or cell service (unless all the planets aligned correctly) so we weren't able to post anything earlier!)

Well... I'm Glad you girls finally checked in. I just couldn't wait to hear all about it. Teresa I'm so glad you posted your pictures. What beautiful smiles you all have. It sounds like a great time was had by all. I feel a little left out:( I would love to have gane, maybe next time. Georgia, can't wait to see your pics., and Mikey is a cutie!

It looks like everyone had a wonderful time!
TFS
Red

Thanks for posting your pictures, Teresa. All you gals look like you were having a ball!! Great quilt display!

SharonG/FL

It was indeed a wonderful weekend. The location was great, the food was wonderful and the company was fantastic. I can't wait for next year. Our internet was down last night, so I will post pictures this afternoon. DH and I did some bike rides and I got some great scenic pictures. They don't do justice to the beauty of the area, but will give you a good idea of just what a great area we were in.

beverly

Actually, Linda, after looking at the pictures again, We worked on 8 out of those 11 quilts pictured!! Guess we were busy!!

The meals were fantastic! We had salad/fruit bars at all meals, pork roast & green beans for dinner Thurs. with fresh made brownies, salmon, red skin potatoes and asparagus w/hollandaise sauce for dinner Fri. with pumpkin spice cake, Sat. lunch was chicken or steak fajitas with fresh roasted peppers and homemade salsa, and dinner Sat. was standing rib roast (some of it still rare!) with mashed potatoes and roasted veggies and homemade cookies.

The staff was wonderful, and the sewing space couldn't have been any better. Wonderful lighting, plenty of outlets and loads of space! Teresa definitely found us a wonderful spot to spend a weekend! By Saturday we could even see into the valley below and the mountains across!

And I just have to brag on Jennifer! What a terrific job of organization she did for our retreat! There were gift bags for all, excellent mini-lessons, and a number of games with great prizes for the winners. Some of the attendees also brought very nice gifts for all of us.

Tim and Rob were very helpful loading/unloading our cars and little Mikey kept us entertained with his lovely baby noises.

I can't wait to see some of the others' photos! We really had a lovely time getting to know "in person" our friends that we already knew from this forum. Forum friends are just "the very best friends you've never met!"

Thank you again, Jennifer!

What a wonderful retreat! I want to know about the game you played with fabric. That seems like a good idea. I found this quilt game online that I also want to try.

Here is a link that might be useful: Quilter's Board Game

OK, are we doing this again next year? Or are you too tired to think about it right now? :o)
It looks & sounds like y'all had a ball. Thanks so much for sharing your pics & stories.
Linda

You're definitely welcome, Teresa!

Well, we had a Quilter's Board game...but we never played it! LOL

The game we played with fabric strips was called Left-Right-Center dice game. We played with red, blue, yellow & neutrals, 5 strips of a color for each round. You roll the dice and if you get an "R" you pass a strip to the person on your right, an "L" and you pass to the left, or "C" to the center pot. Eventually, all strips end up in the center and the last person to have any left wins the bunch.

We played two rounds for each color and had loads of rip-roaring fun! You could also play with charm squares or fqs or whatever. We thought charms would be good without specific color requirements.

We talked about doing it again. Some really had to travel far to reach this one!! But the location was fabulous! It would be real easy to see us there again!

And because it rained all day Thurs & Friday, we actually got a lot of sewing done before the sunny weather got some of us outside on Saturday!!

I just want to kick myself for not going! I am in Knoxville, only about 4 hours away. Both my kids were out of school last week and I didn't have anyone to leave them with. Then last week, DH decides out of the blue to take DS on a camping trip for 4 days...the same days as the retreat! I could have packed up my DD and myself and come on over if I had known his plans in advance and had registered on time. Grrrrr...next year I will be there come hello or high water!

Rebecca

Here are some of the pics from our ride on the Virginia Creeper trail. It is a Rails-to-trails multi use trail. We rode about 23 miles and it was fabulous.

This was the start of the trail.

This is passing thru some of the pasture land.

More scenery along the way.

One of the bridges we rode over.

beverly

We took these on the drive from the trail to the camp.

We came around a curve and saw a double rainbow. Not sure if you can see both of them or not.

Just some of the beautiful views along the way.

beverly

Beverly! Those rainbows are terrific!!

Here are some pictures from the camp.

Faytay, Georgia and Mikey, and Tim (my DH) on the deck outside the dining room.

The view from the deck.

Basting Jennifer's quilt.

Jennifer's QAYG lesson

You really can make a bowl in less than 1 hour!!

Mikey sitting on Georgia's New Years mystery quilt.

Me snipping away at DGS#2's Christmas denim I-spy quilt.

Our puzzle we worked on as a distraction from sewing.

Georgia and Mikey. He was such a trouper.

beverly

Saturday DH and I went to Galax and rode about 20 miles on the New River Trail. It is just as wonderful and the Virginia Creeper is.

DH and me at the park at the start of the New River trail.

The trail follows Chestnut Creek.

A waterfall along the way.

A shot up the trail.

beverly

I was able to find the 2nd rainbow - don't think I would have seen it without your having mentioned it. Lovely trails.

The camp is gorgeous. The quilt beautiful.

I'm officially jealous!

It look like everyone had a wonderful time, and the quilts are wonderful. Maybe next year.....

mary

...and a great time was had by all...

Thanks so much for all your work Jennifer and Teresa! It far exceded my expectations...Rob and I both had a good time! I learned alot and the best part was meeting you all !
We are still traveling and as it gets colder here in Murphy we will be heading back to Sunny Central FL next week.

Gwen

Looks like the weather was just perfect.
What a great trip.
Beverly, your pictures are wonderful!

The quilts are beautiful. What a great picture they make on the porch.

TFS
Sally

I am so in awe of the pictures shared here. You guys look like you had so much fun and the scenery was just fantastic!!!! Thanks so much for sharing your memories with us!!
Susie

Looks like you had a great time. Same time next year?

Aunt Net

I finally arrived home about 3 p.m. today. We spent two days on the road and a third in Intercourse, PA, heart of Amish country. That was a wonderful place and worth going out of my way for. The retreat was great although I think I gained 10 lbs. from all that wonderful food and delicious snacks. I managed to finish a generous lap size quilt top and got started on another. It was great fun to meet everyone and I too want to thank Jennifer and Teresa for organizing this. I never found my camera while I was there so don't have any pictures to add.

Iwas just going to up load my pics and post them but it looks like my husband took my camera hunting. Well, maybe tomorrow
Georgia

Georgia, did he take a deerstand?

beverly

I'm home! We spent a couple of days in Toronto and pulled in this morning around 2am. What a WONDERFUL vacation!

The L,R,C game is a wonderful game. ;) (I won twice, lol)

Besides meeting up with a great group of friends and having 2 days to do nothing but sew, the camp itself was unbelievable. The view, the air, the staff, the facilities, the FOOD!! Everything, A++. I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.

Thanks Teresa and Jennifer for putting this together, and thanks to everyone who made the effort to come. It was great!

Faye

Beverly,
Yes, he has 2 stands on a friend's private property. He got 2 deer this morning and took pics but I still don't have my camera back. I'll try again when he gets home from work.
Georgia

Georgia, at least he wasn't following elk.

beverly

Oh Georgia, please don't post pictures of the deer. I'm a little squeamish that way.

Wow, looks like you all had a wonderful time!!!! I am loving the pics of all your smiling faces and the scenery is GORGEOUS too. OH and I love the quilts too!

What a great time you all must have had and what pretty quilts came from it. I'm going on a quilting retreat in January held by the Girl Scout council for the adult leaders (one of the perks of being a girl scout leader). Seeing those photos of the NC retreat makes me even more exited about it.

I hope you plan another. It's a long flight but I'd like to try it if I can figure out how to pack a sewing machine safely in a suitcase. Love the pictures.
Linda

Here is my photo contribution.

Back row: Jennifer, Georgia, me
Front: Gwen, Teresa, Fran, Beverly

Our space

Beverly and Tim gone for a ride

Faye

Thanks for the pictures Faye. We don't get many pictures of us both on the bike. I'm ready to go back, how about you?

beverly

Thanks, everyone, for sharing your pictures and retreat reports. Looks like a great time. Someday I'd enjoy doing one and meeting you.

Ginny