Iron River, Michigan Quilt Retreat

Last week I had the opportunity to meet up with five friends from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan,
at Iron River for a quilt retreat.
Because it is at least a 7 hour drive for me, I have to go up the day before and stay over night in a motel in the town of Iron River.  The retreat starts at 11:00 on Thursday and goes through to Sunday.
I don't mind the drive, and who knows which quilt stores are along the way.
We always can use a fabric fix.

These are a couple of the scenes along the way.  The weather was gorgeous, and the scenery colorful. 

Fall has arrived in the UP.

There is a lot of yellow leaves on the trees in that area, and a lot of pine
forests.  In the upper part of Wisconsin and Michigan there are
huge national and state forests.

My friend Gail had just finished this quilt to show us.

Friday morning, we woke up to a dusting of snow.
As soon as the sun came out and started warming up the day, it all disappeared.

Pat finished up a table topper that will be a Christmas gift for one of  her daughters.

Gail, was showing off one of the fabric baskets she was making.

Dinner is served.
It is so nice to not have to cook.
We don't get very good cell service up there, so all phones are pretty quiet!

As you can tell, I love the views up there.

I had shown the fabric baskets I made at the last retreat I had gone to.
All of a sudden I was teaching a class on how to make them.  The instructions are
from Seaside Stitches. Look at what was accomplished in about an hour.
Everyone was going through bags and project boxes to come up with spare fabric and batting.
We all had a lot of fun making them.
I guess I will need to come up with another idea for next year!

Pat got another table topper flimsy completed.

Gail showed another quilt she had completed.
This one she had started at this same retreat last year.

I just realized I had not taken any pictures of what I worked on.
Actually, it was the solid color fabric quilt I worked on at the Racine retreat last month.

Sunday, was the drive home.
The weather was still so nice and sunny.  Made the journey home so nice.

This was the last quilt retreat for this year.
I have several penciled in for next year.  More fun times with friends coming up in the new year.

Hope you are having a great week sewing.
Mary

Quilt Retreat.Iron River, Michigan

Here are a couple more of the spectacular sunset we witnessed our first night on Hargerman Lake.

It was so beautiful. One of the workers told us the next day, that she lives across the lake, and that you looked west the sky was gorgeous, all pink and blue as the sun was setting.

We all had to get out and walk in the sun. It felt so warm on my skin.

Love how this picture turned out with the sun reflecting on the water.

Fran was working hard on her projects.  She got a lot of blocks done.  The three of them are all going on another retreat this week, at the Marygrove Retreat Center in Garden, Michigan.   Two in two weeks.  Imagine how much more you could get done.

This was the morning sun on Sunday.  We all had to scrap frost off our windows.
We all went to a service then had a great brunch to fuel us for our journey home.
I do have to say "Garman"  (my gps) had me heading toward Iowa.    Good thing I had a map.  I may be still driving.

I got another Row by Row Experience, row done.

Here are the four marathon quilters.
Fran, Gail, Pat and myself.

And didn't I find a barn quilt on the way home.

We had a wonderful time.  It is great to quilt with friends.
Hope you are having a quilty week.
Mary

Quilt Retreat in Iron River, Michigan

Sunset across the lake.

Gail is working on a pattern that I think is call Blue Baltimore.

Pat was working on this great pattern with batiks.

Here is my Buck a Block from November from November 2007.  It had only 6 of the inside blocks done when I started working on this at the retreat on Thursday.  Now I need 2.5 thangles to finish it. Bummer.

This is Fran, Pats sister, from the Cadillac, Michigan area.

Pat, my friend that I visit with from the Upper Peninsula.

Gail is from the Upper Peninsula as well.

Our mornings started like this.  We even had snow flakes on Friday.

There was only one day of Sun, Saturday.  We all took advantage of it.  Everyone was out for walks some time during the day.

There was only one area, right by Gail's and my machines, that some of the ladies could get cell service.  Most of us could not connect.  The ones that did, Gail thought about charging a fee (fabric) for the use of our phone booth.  Honestly, they had to stand in just the right spot. 

I did a little birding on Saturday.  Got my first Hooded Merganser.

In the sunshine, the trees were beautiful.  A lot of the leaves fell from the trees with all the rain we had.

I got another row done in my Row by Row Experience quilt.

Pat started on another batik quilt.

Gail brought her "Civil War Love Letters" quilt that she had started at a previous quilt retreat at this location.
Gail pieced and machine quilted this one on her home machine.  It turned out gorgeous.  She was using it for her bed in our cabin.

Pat did get this top done.  Now for the embroidery of all the wool flowers.

Gail was working on these log cabin blocks for this wall hanging. WOW  those strips are 1 inch.  This will not be a fast project for her, but one she is liking to work on.
I have a few more pictures to post.
I hope you are having a great week.

Mary