Badlands Quilters Quilt Retreat

Friday afternoon mom picked me up and we went to the South Fork Hunting Lodge near Philip for a quilt retreat with the Badlands Quilters Guild. It's an absolutely beautiful lodge with lots of large tables and a huge island to work on. This picture was taken outside Friday night. Mom and I along with Subby were the only Friday night attendees, but we made use of the available space to work on our projects.

Mom and Subby were working on the Friday night mystery quilt. Mom was going to cut her fabrics. Notice the zebra hide in the background? It was hanging over the banister. It was so cool!

Subby had a table all to herself. We had the tv on for music in the background.

Subby finished the cutest baby quilt! The center was the mystery part of the night and then with big borders it turned into a baby quilt. I thought it was so adorable. I think the fabric is Spring Fling by Me & My Sisters. We sewed till midnight and Subby was finished, mom had her blocks done, and I had the top and bottom borders left on the quilt I was working on, so overall a very productive evening.

I worked on the brown and teal quilt that has been hiding out in my closet since last August! I had the center done, but had to add all the borders. I ended up forgetting the pattern, so I made it up as I went. I put on the brown border then the small squares border and finally a large border to make it big enough for our bed. I finished the top and bottom borders Sat. morning, so the light was shining in when I took a picture. It's a queen size. I also sewed the backing together, so I can quilt it when I get thread and time to put it on the frame. I have a wool batting I've been saving to use with this quilt.

Mom, Subby, and I spent the night in one of the cabins and it was wonderful! The beds were comfy, internet access, and we could get up when we felt like it. Mom and I were up and back to the lodge by 8. We had breakfast with the rest of the guild members that had arrived. Then we went back to sewing. Mom was finishing her Fri night mystery and Carol was working on a youth comfort quilt. I was at the far end of the table.

Donna was busy cutting out her comfy quilt.

After finishing the teal and brown quilt, I worked on the zoo parade baby quilt. This is the second one I've made and I've had it sitting around waiting to be made. It was so much easier to use the big island to lay it out and then I could put it on the floor if I needed. I loved having so much open, clean work space to spread out my quilts.

The guild showed their raffle quilt they had made and it is ready to be quilted. It will be raffled off and given away at the spring retreat in March. It's from Keepsake Quilting.

In the afternoon I worked on the ripple effects tablerunner I have had cut out for months! I finally was able to get it sewn together. I think it turned out cute, but I wish I had placed the really dark purple and browns a bit differently. I'll get this one quilted and it will make a nice fall tablerunner.

Rita and Veva were busy working on their comfy quilts in the afternoon.

At the end of the afternoon, the guild played a game of left right center for fat quarters. Mom and I packed up our sewing stuff and got ready to leave. We took a picture with all nine of us that were at the retreat. Dora Mae, Carol, Rita, Subby, Veva, Donna, Me, Mom, and Judy. It was a beautiful afternoon and we all enjoyed being outside. Then we loaded up and headed to town for supper at the steakhouse.

It was such a fun and relaxing 2 days and I really enjoyed getting some extra uninterrupted sewing time in. I was able to complete 3 tops that have been sitting around not getting done. Plus I got to spend lots of time with my mom. We laughed and joked and told stories. It was a blast! The rest of the guild spent Sat. night and sewed part of Sunday too, but mom and I had a family reunion to attend, so we cut our time short. We both would love to host a retreat there again, but we'll have to see what will work out.