The first thing I needed to to do when I got the invite to join the Heartland Quilters Guild for their Quilt Away retreat was to look at a map to find out where Columbia, Illinois is… In case you don’t know either, it’s about 14 miles this side of St. Louis!
Two hundred and eighty five miles from home, or about the same distance as driving from London to Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK.
So last Thursday I packed my bags and set off for the Toddhall Retreat Center, straight down Weber Road to South I-55 and keep going. The smoke from Canada made the first bit a little hazy but just over four hours later I was pulling up in the parking lot.
I was booked for a lecture on Thursday evening. After a nutritious dinner we all gathered together. Time for a picture!
We enjoyed some Lessons Learned While Quilting and then I was ready for my bed.
Accommodations were basic but I had my own bathroom, a definite plus when away from home. Rested and relaxed I was ready for a full day of Modern Machine Quilting, walking foot in the morning and free motion in the afternoon.
Busy, busy. Those machines were humming all day. Everyone seemed happy with their progress. It’s going to take some practice to get those even stitches and smooth curves down.
There was another large room available for those who just wanted to work on their own projects. It was about half and half I think. Some people had goals to reach!!
It rained all day. Great growing weather for the lush plantings around the buildings 🙂 (I spotted some interesting looking fungi for today’s featured image)
Leila Gardunia was our speaker for an informative lecture on Modern Traditionalism on Friday evening and she was teaching a foundation paper pricing class when I left on Saturday morning for the drive home. Hearts’n’Hands had looked after me well. Thanks are due to all the team who had kept everything running so smoothly.
But first, a stop at the Hearts’n’Hands Quilt Show that was taking place in Shiloh… right on my way! I am actually booked to visit the guild next month, what a happy co-incidence that I could pop in and see their work.
It was well worth the (very slight) detour.
I took a few pictures.
This 3-d piece, Blossoms, by Nancy Munroe caught my eye.
Here’s a close-up view of the interesting construction.
Barbara Dyar’s Wren pillow was entered in the “other” category. I loved the ribbon flowers.
This Illinois cardinal was part of Laura Fagan’s hand stitched State Birds and Flowers of the USA quilt.
Pam Trader made her Best of Summer Snapshots quilt as a memory of a fun summer trip to the beach in Hawaii.
Who hasn’t wondered what the flamingos are talking about among themselves?
And the Best of Show ribbon went to Jean Cline for Memories, another quilt with a story behind it?
The show had all the usual vendors, a members’ boutique and lots of vintage books, patterns and magazines for sale. I might have spent a few of my hard earned dollars before I left?
Back to the car and the drive home. I think I save two miles taking the scenic route across country but who’s counting!
An average speed of just about 60 miles per hour. Not too bad?
Another fun trip on the books. I’m home this week. Errands, catching up and getting ready for the next excursion. Ever onwards!
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