Victorian Stichery Retreat 2008

Val, from the Pink Bunny in Wichita Kansas, got three wonderful teachers gathered together for three days of absolute fun. It was great to get to meet Val.Val is pictured on the left holding the Piecemakers quilt up. Such a beautiful quilt. It sparkled so when the light was shining on it. Of course of all times for my camera to mess up on me so the pictures aren't the greatest. Val done a terrific job organizing this retreat and I have been told that Betty Pillsbury and Judith Baker Montano will be coming back in 2009. Now I'm not for sure about Miss Carole, she told me and Val she wants to come back as a student..so who knows, someone may have the pleasure of sitting right beside Carole in one of the classes.

Here are some close ups .

The retreat was awesome. I had been anticipating and waiting for this event for a year. If at all possible you should try your best to attend a retreat. You learn so much. And it was so awesome getting to meet Miss Carole, Judith Baker Montano, and Betty Pillsbury and Val. Wonderful ladies indeed. And we can't forget Charlie,,Miss Carole's DH. He and Miss Carole are two of the most wonderful, sweetest human being's on earth. It was a joy and pleasure getting to meet them and talk with them. Charlie, you need to talk Miss Carole into coming to Arkansas,,I know DH would love to take you fishing. He's not a golfer but he loves fishing. I had Barbara snap this pic of Miss Carole , Charlie and myself.

And here's Miss Judith with Carole. There just wasn't enough days in this retreat, I would have loved to been able to take one of Judith's classes too. I would loved to taken her embellishing class.

And here is Miss Betty with Carole. I would have loved taking her motiff and long and short stitch class.

Here's the beauties we got to drool over in class. The beautiful lacing done on the top of these fans. BEAUTIFUL!!!

And here is Daddie's Ties are Momma's Now quilt. Absolutely beautiful!!!

And in class Miss Carole kept us busy. I couldn't stay caught up. lol But I do have everything she taught in my notebook, so it will easily be done on a seam. Here's a pic of what I did get done in class. Below will be close up pics of each stitch. Remember, these stitches are done using the dream a seam templates.

I'm not really satisfied with my butterflys. I used a really thick thread,,wanted those colors to go with my block. These butterflys are nothing but the buttonhole stitch. With the body in bullion and head colonial knots and straight stitch for the antennaes.

Here is one completed stitch with the one above not finished yet. I will get it finished soon,,,I hope.

And here is some more buttonhole stitches. Not finished yet.

This is like the cretan stitch except using straight stitches on it, you do a detached chain. And of course there is the feather stitch. Still have some more to do with that one too. And there's a little fan that I am going to take out and redo,,I didn't even get it centered on the patch and it doesn't look right where it is.

And here is some goodies I bought. From Judith Baker Montano I bough a little collection of her Montano Series threads and ribbons.

And Val had a shop set up in one of the rooms and I bought these beautiful laces and trim from her.

I met so many wonderful ladies at the retreat. It was so awesome meeting them all . Here are some pics of Show and Tell.

And here are just a few of the nametags that were made. And for the life of me I can't remember who won first place. Martha Green,,(don't know if I spelled her last name right) won 2nd, can't remember who got 3rd and Debbie from CQI won honorable mention for her Texas nametag.

This is De,,a wonderful lady whom has collected cig silks and all kinds of silkies. She sells them on cd's .I bought two of them from her.