Margot🇫🇷 + Mayo Clinic

Gudrun recently did a one day virtual Stripology Retreat, with 2 sessions to choose from. I did the first session, on Saturday, October 18th!

The virtual retreat was held on zoom. Quilters from 48 US states and 8 countries around the world participated. There were 250+ quilters signed in at each of the two sessions, making a total of more than 500 quilters for both sessions combined, plus some quilters participated as a group from quilt shops.

There were 12 different fabric bundles to choose from. My sister, our cousin, and my friend also did the retreat. Three of the 4 of us chose the same bundle, Simply Cozy by Zen Chic!!! ⤵️ We have similar tastes in fabrics!!!

Here's the cute box everything came in.⤵️

Besides 12 fat quarters, background fabric, two border fabrics and binding fabric, totaling more than 7 yards, we had the following goodies in our retreat box!!!⤵️ We virtually traveled to three cities in France during the retreat, therefore the Madeleine cake, beret and France sticker, as well as GE giant malted milk balls, fabric clips, ruler stickers, a bingo card and a retreat booklet with schedule, recipes and info on France.

I was able to finish 16 blocks on the day of the retreat, ⤵️ and got quite a ways along on the rest of the 32 blocks. Below is the original layout of the two different blocks. 

I went with an alternative layout, separating the 2 blocks.⤵️

My Quilt Info:

Pattern: Margot from GE Designs

Fabrics: Simply Cozy by Zen Chic for Moda Fabrics

Size: 59" x 74"

Batting: Quilters Dream 80/20

Thread: Glide--Mango

Pantograph: Dreaming ⤵️ from OESD

MollyLovelyThreads on Instagram recently had a reel on where she said, "Do you want your quilt to look modern and unique? Then choose a quilting design that is hard to describe, with a shape you don't quite have the words for." I think this quilting design, called "Dreaming",⤵️ fits that bill!

The binding that came with the kit was more of the navy Grunge from the border. I like switching up kits a bit so my quilt doesn't look 100% like everyone else's, so I changed to this Tula Pink stripe for the binding.

Oh my, this backing! It's half of a duvet cover from IKEA, queen size. Don't you love their large graphic designs?!!

The big picture of the backing! ⤴️

Now, here's where Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, comes in. My DH has been in and out of the hospital 6 times since May, due to heart failure. He just finished going through heart transplant evaluation at Mayo, which included 35 appointments! 

We brought my Margot quilt along and took some photos. This first one is taken on the 19th floor of the Gonda Building. You can see the Plummer Building off to the right. It was the tallest building in Rochester until they built the Gonda Building.

The next photo is also taken from the 19th floor of the Gonda Building, which is 21 floors tall. In the background is the Broadway Plaza,⤵️ which is 29 stories tall and is the current tallest building in Rochester.

Mayo planned to add 11 floors to the Gonda building, making it 32 floors and once again the tallest building in Rochester, but that was put on hold indefinitely due to the pandemic!

When we were down to the last 2 appointments, Mr G&P's defibrillator shocked him 3x in short order and we ended up with a trip to the ER, ICU and then one of the cardiac floors, where they finished up the appointments.

We are back home now. Mr. G&P is accepted into the heart transplant program. He is a Level 4, which means he's stable enough to wait at home. The wait could easily be up to a year, during which time we can't travel more than 4 hours from Mayo Clinic in case a heart becomes available. BTW, we live 80 minutes from Mayo. While we wait, I'll be quilting. And praying.

Grace and peace!!! ~Nancy

You'll find more quilt inspiration at Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF, Off the Wall Friday, Finished Or Not Friday, From Bolt To Beauty, Patchwork & Quilts, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings.