Kelleigh's Retreat Packing List

Hopefully you have had time to view the slide show from my recent retreat. Hopefully you are trying to get one together for your group ! If so, here is a list to help you pack. My friend Kelleigh, yes, the one in the slide show, came up with this and I have found it very helpful. Thanks, Kell!

• Pins
• Needles (hand work)
• Sewing machine needles
• Spray Starch
• Archival pen
• Canned Air
• Pencil
• Lint Roller
• Calculator
• Thread Stand
• Rotary Cutter(s)
• Wrist Pin Cushion
• Rotary Blades
• Notepad
• Document Stand (for patterns)
• Container for Gadgets
• Thread
• Scissors
• Bobbins
• Retractable Measuring Tape
• Travel Mat
• Portable Folding Table
• Travel Iron
• Sewing Machine
• Kits and/or Fabric
• Sewing Machine Extension Table
• Patterns
• Ott Lite
• Rulers

Music CD's/IPOD, pillow, cell phone charger, camera, drinks, food, magazines, gum, house shoes.

Slideshow

I hope you guys enjoy the slide show of our retreat. Two of the attendees managed to escape my camera lens so I don't have a photo of everyone. We had a wonderful time and I hope that you will take any opportunity you have to get away with those who share your passion.

What's For Dinner?

Meatballs with Orzo and Zucchini, that's what! I got this wonderful recipe from my friend Jenny, who puts June Cleaver, Donna Reed and Martha Stewart to shame! This is a great after work, one pan meal and it is pretty healthy,too.

You will need:
1 package frozen meatballs, I use the turkey ones
1 14.5 oz. can beef broth
1 cup uncooked Orzo pasta
1 14.5 oz. can chunky tomatoes with olive oil, garlic and spices, undrained
1 medium zucchini, cut into bite size pieces

Place the frozen meatballs and the beef broth in a skillet and bring to a boil. Stir in pasta and reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for about 12 minutes, until orzo is tender. Stir in tomatoes and zucchini and cook about 5 minutes until zucchini is tender. Makes 4 servings.

Returning from Retreat

Hello, again! I arrived home this afternoon from 5 days of quilting and other fun things in Rockport, Texas. I am beat, but I wanted to at least share the info about the local quilt shop and the place that we stay. The shop is called Golden Needles and their website is http://quiltscapes.com. We stay at The Retreat House and it is , by far, the best retreat facility that I have been to. Check it out for yourself! http://theretreathouse.com/
Stay tuned for a slide show of all our projects!

A Wonderful Thing...

They are finally here! These are the kits that I received from the "Quilts for Kids" program. Downy fabric softener is working to raise funds for this project with their "Touch of Comfort" program. If you buy Downy with the "Touch of Comfort" label, they will make a donation to support the program. "Quilts for Kids" provides free quilt kits to anyone who wants one (or 5, in my case!). They send them to you, you complete them and return them and they will be distributed to children in hospitals across the nation. Here's the link: http://www.quiltsforkids.org/volunteer/. Stay tuned for a pic of the pieced tops!

Quote of the Week

"I still find each day too short for all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read and all the friends I want to see."
-John Burroughs

Thompsons on the River Walk

Here we are last evening on the River Walk in San Antonio. My sweet hubby suggested this getaway a couple of weeks ago so I immediately got on Hotwire.com and found a great rate on a hotel. It was not on the river, but across the street from the Rivercenter Mall. We paid $67 for a $99 room, breakfast included-this pleased hubby tremendously! We had a delicious dinner at Casa Rio, dessert at Marble Slab and strolled in perfect weather.

We even went to the Alamo where I got teary while reading the letter from William B. Travis asking for reinforcements. What courage!

It was a perfect getaway-thanks, honey!

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Just as the Cranberry Salad is my Christmas "must have", this is the requirement for Easter. I love it! I hope you do, too! http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=554785

For all of you Non-Southerners: yes, in the South we refer to dishes made out of Jello as "Salads"! Like groom's cakes shaped like animals and football as a religion, the Jello Salad is a tradition!

Migrating Into Johnson City Today...

I am calling these, "Papillon Potholders", papillon being the French word for butterfly. Madame Railsback would be proud that I remember that after 20+ years! Anyway, they are yet another of my "Scrapbuster" projects. These are made out of wildflower fabrics using the good old "Stitch & Flip" technique. The hardest part of these is the bias tape. I have LOTS of experience with bias tape, but the thickness of the potholder makes it especially challenging. I think that I will make a pair out selvages for my kitchen.

By the way, my brother in law is the one who came up with this idea. He works for Macy's and found a potholder in this shape and sent it to me. Thanks, Derrel!

Hoppy Easter!

I got this done just in time to put it away! Or, I guess I have a head start for next year! Ellen and I bought these darling kits on our Colorado trip last summer. A friend told us about a shop in Grand Lake called Cabin Quilts and Stitches so, of course, we had to check it out! It is a great shop, quilting, knitting and gifts all in one place in a wonderful little town.

New Blog To Check Out!

As some of you already know, Ellen, my SIL and I will be traveling to the quilt show in Sisters, Oregon this summer. I just found the Stitchin' Post's blog and I got excited all over again! What an amazing place! http://stitchinpostinsisters.typepad.com/ I see a "Gum Drop Footstool" in my future!

Lone Star Dishcloth

This is the Lone Star Dishcloth that I mentioned in an earlier post. I used the "Baby Star" pattern from Sew Funky and the self striping yarn, which I found on clearance ;)

Finally Quilted!

Yes, I know, it has been hanging in the longarm queue for 2 years. I guess I finally got a "roundtuit"! This is a variation on the classic "Turning Twenty" pattern. You make 10 light and 10 dark blocks, cut them diagonally and resew a light and a dark triangle together. The quilting can't be seen, but it is a swirly leaf pattern that compliments a lot of the fabrics. I'll get the binding finished and then it is off to Johnson City.