I took a riverboat cruise up the Mississippi River, from New Orleans to Memphis to Minneapolis!!! Virtually, that is! A riverboat cruise was the theme of Gudrun @ GE Designs virtual quilt retreat this year!!!!
I was onboard session 1, which started at 9 am on Friday, March 24th and continued through 8 pm on Sunday, March 26th! These are the three quilts we worked on!⤴️The retreat excitement started a couple weeks beforehand with the arrival of the retreat goody box!!! Everyone had a choice between 10 different fabric lines! I chose "Random Thoughts" by Marcia Derse. ⤵️ The retreat box is included in the price of the retreat. We each got 15 half yard cuts of our fabric line, 3 yards of background fabric, 2 one yard cuts and a 1/3 yard cut.
Plus, all kinds of goodies and surprises: a retreat booklet, candle, amazing snacks, a GE gift of two half yard cuts, a spool of Aurifil thread, and so much more!!!⤵️We didn't finish the quilt tops during the retreat, but we got a good ways. Gudrun's teaching videos are in our account so we can rewatch any time! Now, here are the details of my three retreat quilts:
Quilt Info #1:
Pattern: Nikki from Gudrun Erla of GE Designs
Fabrics: Random Thoughts by Marcia Derse for Windham Fabrics
Size: 51" x 68"
Batting: Quilters Dream 100% Cotton
Thread: top=Fantastico Sterling Silver variegated; bottom=Glide--cream
Pantograph: Devon ⤵️ from Sew Shabby Quilting
I love this huge figure 8 quilting called "Devon"!!!⤴️⤵️Interesting Info: Gudrun even gave us a pattern for cutting 3 yards into a backing that would fit each quilt, plus she gave us printed labels to sew into the back!!!⤵️
Quilt Info #2
Pattern: Ariel from Gudrun Erla of GE Designs
Fabrics: Random Thoughts by Marcia Derse for Windham Fabrics
Size: 57" x 76"
Batting: Quilters Dream 100% Cotton
Thread: top=Fantastico Sterling Silver variegated; bottom=Glide--cream
Pantograph: Don Quixote ⤵️ from My Creative Stitches
Interesting Info: I flipped 4 of my blocks so my quilt is a little different from the original design.
I'm just showing a corner of the back, as Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation has a book coming out in June--Perfectly Pieced Quilt Backs, and I followed one of the designs in her book. I'll post a photo of the entire back when her book is released in June!⤵️
Pattern: Back Home from Gudrun Erla of GE Designs
Fabrics: Random Thoughts by Marcia Derse for Windham Fabrics
Size: 27" x 27"
Batting: Quilters Dream 100% Cotton
Thread: top=Fantastico Sterling Silver variegated; bottom=Glide--cream
Pantograph: Peacock Feathers ⤵️ from Urban Elementz
Interesting Info: I used one of the two GE gift half yard cuts on the back of this quilt, the fabric on the left in the photo below!!!⤵️
Gudrun had a brilliant method for making flying geese using the Stripology ruler. She is making a resource book that will have info on this method, plus other Stripology ruler tricks!
It was a super fun virtual retreat, held on zoom, with quilt lessons, daily bingo and yoga, and questions and answers from Gudrun! Gudrun plans on holding a virtual retreat every year in March. Watch for news about next year's retreat around the end of December. I highly recommend it!!!
Check out the quilt inspiration at: Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF, Whoop Whoop, Finished Or Not Friday, Peacock Party, Beauties Pageant, Patchwork & Quilts, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Design Wall Monday, Monday This & That.
Your quilts are beautiful! Sounds like a great time!
ReplyDeleteNancy they all turned out beautiful! Love that figure 8 quilting.
ReplyDeleteYour quilts are fabulous! I can tell you had a blast!
ReplyDeleteOh how fun, Nancy and what sweet goodies you got for your virtual retreat. Your quilts are gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you could get away on the cruise!!! Sounds like you really enjoyed it and have wonderful quilts all done to boot!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun concept!! I love that idea of a virtual riverboat cruise! Sounds like you had a blast and got some great goodies. Your quilts look great!
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful quilts, Nancy! I really love the Marcia Derse fabric and the different ways you used it. I'm making a quilt back from Kelly's book for the blog hop, too - that reminds me to get back to work on it!
ReplyDeleteWhat cool looking quilts! I really like the colors and designs (and quilting!).
ReplyDeleteYou definitely enjoy hanging out with Gudrun, and the cruise sounds like fun. That goodie box with Marcia Derse fabric - wowza! Your quilts are all just great with all that lovely color and quilting!
ReplyDeleteIt was a fun virtual quilt retreat with you and Sue. Your quilts turned out great! Looking forward to doing this again with you next year!
ReplyDeleteYou had me at Marcia Derse fabrics…so yummy. I love all the box goodies, too. You are treated well on this stay at home retreat. I love the way Vicki turned out and that Devon panto just is perfect on it. The back came with it? It is perfect. I love DonQuixote on the Arial pattern too. Back home is so much fun too, and I love that Peacock Feathers pantograph. I am curious about the FG method she uses. I will have to watch for it or get that pattern!
ReplyDeleteThat was a virtual retreat worth taking. I am in awe of all Gudrun provided and you managed to complete. Sounds like a fun time.
ReplyDeleteOh, it looks like a fun virtual retreat, and yous 3 quilts are gorgeous! Beautiful patterns, the fabrics are wonderful, and I love your quilting too especially Devon ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your beautiful quilts, and linking up!
What a fabulous retreat! Beautiful quilting patterns and I loved the Marcia Derse fabrics!--TerryK@OnGoingProjects
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a super great cruise!!! it sounds like a fun way to stitch! what amazing quilts!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a clever & fun way to hold a retreat! Your quilts are all delightful.
ReplyDeleteLovely quilts. Thanks for sharing them in my Sew & Tell party!
ReplyDeleteAll of those look so pretty and fun! The virtual retreat sounds like a wonderful thing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun way to do a retreat. Love the goodies box.
ReplyDeleteAll the quilts look great. I can see why you enjoy participating!!!
Well, at first I was looking forward to seeing photos of your riverboat cruise...!!! Sounds like it would have been a fun one! But all your other photos are gorgeous, so I'm not too disappointed, lol! What a lot of lovely goodies you got in that box! And so many pretty projects! I hope you had a great week and thanks for joining in on Monday This and That! xx
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