Back from Mackinaw City

We're all back home after having spent a wonderful week with a great group of Girlfriends!  Lynne Hagmeier (Kansas Troubles Quilters) and I hosted another of our Great Girlfriend Getaways, this time to Mackinaw City, Michigan.  

We took over a large conference room for the week, and got those sewing machines humming.

We worked on four different projects.  Three different quilts....

....and one hand pieced project, learning English Paper Piecing.

Some ladies came with their BFF.....(like me!)

The Jerome sisters and me

Some brought their sisters....All five of them!

Some came with their sister-in-law.  Way cool.  

And all of us made new friends.  I think that is one of the most special happenings at a retreat. We automatically have something in common in our love of quilting, and it doesn't take long before we're chatting with the quilters near us, sharing email addresses and friend-ing each other on Facebook.   

We all shared great piecing hints and tricks, learning so much from one another.  It's so fun to see all the quilting paraphernalia everyone has, too.  

What a great group of women.  We had a wonderful time together and I sure hope we will all meet again!

After our retreat, many of us spent a day or two visiting the area and seeing what there is to see.  Mackinaw City has a lot to offer, like this wonderful light house dating from the 1800's as well as Fort Mackinaw which dates to 1751.

Lynne and her hubby, Robert, and me and my hubby, Ed, took the ferry over to Mackinac Island for a couple of days.  We stayed at the Grand Hotel, which I can now cross off my Bucket List.  It was indeed grand.  

If you're not familiar, Mackinac Island has no motorized vehicles.  Once on the Island, it's horse and buggy or bicycles!  

Mackinaw Island also has a Fort and loads of houses and hotels on the Historical Register dating from the 1800's.  While these buildings may be 200 years old, they are impeccably maintained.  Charming is the word....everywhere, everything is so darn charming!  

me and Lynne

If you ever get the chance to visit the Mackinaw area, don't miss it.  It's really wonderful. 

Lynne and I would love to have you join us on a future Great Girlfriend Getaway!  We're planning our next adventure now, so stay tuned for news of our next retreat coming in September, 2015.  

Our thanks to all of the ladies who joined us in Mackinaw City.  We thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and spending the week together.  We will always have very fond memories of our time in Michigan!!   

A Spa for my Soul

Lynne Hagmeier ~ Kansas Troubles Quilters

There's nothing quite like a visit to the home of a best friend.  Well, that was what I did for a couple of days after leaving Quilter's Station and Primitives of the Midwest.  I went to visit my BFF, Lynne Hagmeier, the designer extraordinaire that is the creative force of Kansas Troubles Quilters!!  

We stayed at Lynne's Kansas Troubles Retreat....had this enormous place all to ourselves!  

The sewing room has 10 individual work stations complete with swivel chairs and lamps.  There are three ironing stations and a roomy cutting station, too.  All decorated with Lynne's quilts, antiques and folk art.  

Adjacent to the sewing area is this comfy sitting area where you can stitch, read, watch TV or post on social media!  

The sleeping area is one of my favorite places ever!  You truly feel like Goldilocks.  Having to choose one bed is a hard decision!  Ten people can sleep in the "dorm".  Kansas Troubles quilt or vintage quilt?  Hard choices!!  This room is also filled with lovely antiques, quilts, and fun stuff everywhere.  

Within the last year, Lynne's husband, Robert, opened a quilt shop on the first floor of the Kansas Troubles building.  Robert also became a Bernina dealer.  

The shop has all of Lynne's KT Quilt patterns and an ever-changing variety of her fabric, too.  

You'll also find some great gift items tucked here and there as well.

Every corner has one tempting quilt or project after another!  Believe me!  You'll be inspired!!

There are a few patterns from other designers such as this quilt, which is my pattern called Endless Summer, made from Lynne's Kansas Troubles fabrics!  Love it!!  Call the shop and they may be able to pull a kit together using similar KTQ fabrics!  

There are a couple of new things you've got to know about!!! 

Lynne has a brand new book coming out any day now called Layers of Love.  It's her second book that showcases her unique and super popular "layered patchwork" technique.  Click here to read more about Layers of Love.  Call the shop to order yours today!!  (785) 488-2120 and tell them Pam sent ya!

The other thing you've got to know is Lynne, the retreat, the shop, and even her home will be featured in the next issue (Sept,  2014) of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine!!    You don't want to miss picking up that issue, I promise.  

Rarely in a life, there can be a place that you feel as home as you do in your own home. Comfortable, happy, delighted to take it all in and soak it up.  This is how I feel about being there....from the first time I visited Lynne and the stayed at the Kansas Troubles retreat, and even more so now.  It certainly has a lot to do with Lynne being there as well!  It was, as the title said.... a spa for my soul.  A very special place, indeed!  Do yourself a favor and book a stay at the retreat!  It's quite wonderful!

And...please consider joining both Lynne and me on a Great Girlfriend Get-Away!  Our next Get-away is coming September 8th in Mackinaw City, MI!!  Click here for all the info!!

Reminder!!

How are your Market Day Sew-along quilts coming?  Pictures are beginning to arrive in my email in-box from around the world!!  Lovely, lovely quilts!  You know how much you enjoy seeing everyone's quilt, and we want to see yours, too!!!

Please email and attach a jpg picture of your quilt(s) along with your first name and the state or country where you live before September 15th for the......

Airing of the Quilts!

Remember, your quilt(s) do not have to be quilted!  

Our Great Girlfriend Get~Away to St. Augustine!

As you may know, I live in a suburb of Chicago, presently known as Chi-Artica.  Today, the high temperature will be -9 degrees.  A shock after coming home from a week in sunny, warm St. Augustine, FL!!  

The weather was wonderful.  It was 70 degrees the first couple of days, and then dropped to the 50's.  No complaints from the visitors to the city, although it was comical to see the Floridians shivering and wrapped in heavy coats with gloves and scarves.  I guess it's all relative to what you're used to....we were walking about in our sweaters, loving every minute of it!  

At night, nearly every building in St. Augustine's historic district is illuminated in little twinkle lights (where I come from, they're known as Italian lights!).  Tons and tons of them, causing Rachel Ray to comment that it's the "twinkliest city in America!"  Charming to say the least.
All the ladies attending our retreat agreed with Lynne and me that we enjoyed really good food and awesome Southern hospitality from everyone.  

This bee hive of activity is the reason we all came together....for three full days of sewing to our hearts content.

Many girlfriends make the trip together to enjoy four projects over three days.

There were several pairs of mothers and daughters, and even daughters-in-law, who took time from their busy lives to spend some quality time doing what they love.

We shared new skills and techniques in class.....

....and some sewed into the wee hours of the night enjoying the hum of their sewing machine and the chatter among friends.   

There were several ladies who came alone.... without a girlfriend accompanying them, and we were delighted (and not at all surprised!) to see them making friends with all the others.  In fact, it was very touching for Lynne and I to witness the exchange of emails and telephone numbers.....evidence that new friendships had formed.  That is what is the best part of a Girlfriend Get-Away!  Meeting wonderful women and making new friends.

Lynne and I are blessed to have made over 40 new friendships over those 5 days together.  We enjoyed the company of these lovely women, and had the pleasure of getting to know them better.  The last morning was spent in lively conversation about possible destinations for future Great Girlfriend Get~Aways!!  Our thanks to all the wonderful women who traveling to St. Augustine to enjoy a get-away and spend time doing what we all love.....quilting!!  

We had THE BEST TIME!!!

If this sounds like fun to you, please consider joining us in September for our next Great Girlfriend Get~Away to Mackinaw City, Michigan.    Click here to see the brochure with info about our destination and the four projects we'll be teaching.  

Good times await you!!

You're Invited to Mackinaw City, MI!!!

At this very moment, Lynne Hagmeier (Kansas Troubles Quilters) and I are en route to spend 5 days with new-found Girlfriends in St. Augustine, FL for another Great Girlfriend Get-Away!!  We're SO looking forward to this as it's always a fun event.  Another opportunity to spend quality time with quilters!!  In case you missed out on this event, you're in luck!!

We're headed to Mackinaw City, MI 

in September!!

Here's all the particulars about our Mackinaw City event.  Look at all the stuff included in the price!!  Our travel planner, Bunny, did a great job of working her magic for the best price possible.  The cost includes your room, four breakfasts, three lunches, and dinner pizza party, and a round trip ticket on the ferry to Mackinaw Island for the day!  If you didn't know, Mackinaw Island is a charming island where they don't allow any motorized vehicles.  It's full of charming restaurants and shops, not to mention the famous Grand Hotel!

The price also includes all of your teaching fees, and FOUR KITS!!  

I've had many requests to once again offer my new quilt pattern, Settler's Puzzle, so that will be my full day class.  Going along with that is my new Tin Pinkeep pincushion project for my half day class.  

Lynne has two new quilts for you to choose from!!  Chose the one you'd like to make, either The Bee's Knees or Sweet As Honey for her full day class!  Choose one of her ever popular Table Treats for your half day class with Lynne.  All terrific projects with loads of new skills to perfect.

We're starting to take reservations now!!  Add your name to our list right away.  There has been a lot of interest in this particular retreat, so don't delay!!  

Click here to print our Great Girlfriend Get-Away brochure!!  We're crossing our fingers and sure hoping to see you there!!

Calling All Retreaters!

As many of you know by now, Lynne Hagmeier (Kansas Troubles Quilters) and I host our Great Girlfriend Get~Away retreats from time to time.  Next year, we'll be hosting two retreats...the first being held in historic St. Augustine, FL this coming January 20-24th.  

If you've been thinking about joining us....and you know we're gonna have a blast....this is your

LAST CALL!!

Our travel and retreat promoter, Bunny, told us today that we have only 8 openings left!!  

We have a wonderful group of ladies who are making this trip with us and plans are already underway.  Fabric is being ordered and cut, supply lists printed, we're scouting boutique shops and restaurants, and dreaming of the fun times we're gonna have!

We know there are at least a dozen of you that have talked with Bunny and said you want to come....and we want you to!  So, please....call Bunny today to make your reservation.  

We will close this trip to reservations as soon as it's sold out or by December 1st, which ever comes first!!

We're staying at the lovely Hilton St. Augustine's Historic Bay Front Hotel!

We're located right on the ocean where there are tons of quaint shops and yummy restaurants accessible from the free trolly!

Your retreat package includes your double occupancy room, four breakfasts, three lunches and a pizza party!  Oh...and how about FOUR classes AND the kits to go with them!!  All for $725 per person.  Heck....check out the Hilton's website...the room alone is over $900!!  What a deal!!

Click here for all the info on our St. Augustine Get~Away.  You can contact Bunny Nelson at (815) 715-8483.  We'd sure love for you join the fun.

As reported in my previous post, I'll be away from home all next week, so I'll won't post again until I return.  Until the....hope you find time to relax and doing some sewing!

Pin Money & Prairie Woven Bundles

There's a lot going on for me here, but nothing significant to really talk about.  You know....writing Journey 5 patterns, generating graphics for the patterns,  answering emails, filling orders, change the laundry when the buzzer goes off (for which I reply "yes, master" while swinging my arm, back hunched over like Quazimodo.  Ok.... not quite that bad!)  Anyway....doing stuff.....lots of stuff keeping me busy.  I'm a list maker, and apparently I'm quite good at them 'cause I have lots of lists floating around.  Hhmmm....perhaps I should make a list of ideas on how to better manage all those lists?

Once in awhile, I get to cross something off the list, a truly satisfying exercise, right?  Well, today, Deb finished cutting and folding Fat Quarter and Fat Eighth bundles, and I added them to my website, then promptly crossed "Add Fat Qtrs & Fat 8ths to website" off my list!  Hooray!

If you've been wanting to own a little bundle of fabric J.O.Y., may I first suggest you motor over to your local quilt shop.  (Been watching Downton Abbey, hence the "motor over" phrase.)   Please check with them first as I'm a big-time supporter of patronizing your LQS.  I just don't know where we'd be without them.  If by chance they don't have Pin Money or the Prairie Wovens (gasp!), then by all means order them from my website.  

Click here to see all the fabric bundle choices.

The other thing keeping me occupied is this little sew~along I've been planning.  Have you heard about it?  Haha.  The quilt top is being sewn now, then off to Ronda for quilting.  Did you hear?

It starts on Friday!!

Click here for all the info....please join the fun starting this Friday!!

The other day, I announced my next retreat with 

Lynne Hagmeier (Kansas Troubles).  

Our destination is St. Augustine, FL coming January 20-25!!

Sign-ups have already begun....we're thrilled!!  This is going to be a really fun time, no doubt about it.  I talked with our dear friend, Gloria Parsons (Olde Green Cupboard) this morning about the retreat (she thinks she'll be coming....and we're really hoping!), and she told me that our retreat was very reasonably priced, seeing as how the Hilton Hotel advertised rate for a room that week is $229 per night!  That totals $916 just for the hotel!!! Our entire retreat price, at the exact same hotel, exact same room is $725 AND INCLUDES FOUR KITS AND CLASSES, along with eight meals, trolley rides around town, and lots of goodies!  Our wonderful retreat promoter, Bunny, got us this great price.  Thanks, Gloria, for bringing all this to my attention.

We'd love for YOU to JOIN US in St. Augustine!!  Click here to see all the details!!

See you bright and early Friday morning.....