Quilt Retreat Day 4

 This was our last full day of retreat and we really made the most of it.

Breakfast was: eggs, bacon, REAL oatmeal, fruit, yogurt, avocado toast points, and juice.

Brandi was here for massage today for those that wanted it. Her schedule was packed from 9:00 until 5:30. She has been doing massage for One Loose Thread for over 10 years. Don't think we could get through retreat without her.

Lots of sewing was done today. Several 'Frayed Knots' have actually completed everything they brought to work on and are now just hanging around and talking.

The last night of retreat we always have a very special dinner provided by the Gravatt kitchen staff. Tonight was Short Ribs, creamed potatoes, asparagus, tossed salad, and for dessert Churros Cheese Cake. I don't know which part was my favorite. 😋

Tomorrow we will all pack up and head for home. First is Brunch, which is always outstanding. The imaginary banner will be signed and packed away. My truck will be loaded with all of the retreat equipment and all of my sewing stuff and we will, again, say good-bye to our friends and Gravatt Camp and Conference Center UNTIL February of 2025. When once again, we will gather for Fun, Fellowship, Fabric, Food, and Frolic!!

For tonight, we make the most of our left over time together.

Joyce One Loose Thread

REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR FEBRUARY 2025 RETREAT WITH ONE LOOSE THREAD

 REGISTRATION INFORMATION: CLICK THE LINK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE THAT SAYS RETREAT REGISTRATION

                     FEBRUARY 2025 QUILT RETREAT

3 or 4 nights!! Your Choice

Gravatt Conference Center, Aiken, S. C. 

Wednesday, February 19 – Sunday, February 23, 2025

YES, THERE WILL BE A MYSTERY!!!

Everyone gets the clues whether they sew along or not.

This retreat is open to ALL QUILTERS!!

 This is a UFO event. You work on your own projects and just have a relaxing good time. Quilters of all levels from beginner to professional.
All meals are provided by the fantastic Gravatt kitchen!  No dishes to wash!!! 
Walking paths all over the camp so that you can get your daily exercise. Walk by the lake and just lose yourself in your surroundings.
Nothing is structured except meal times.
Your fee includes
Neat and clean lodging in either Cole Lodge or Our quaint cottages.
The rooms in Cole Lodge sleep 2 and have their own bathrooms.
The cottage rooms have adjoining rooms, each sleeping 2, with a shared bathroom.
Meals begin with dinner the day of your arrival and end with lunch/brunch the day of your departure.

A 6-foot table all to yourself as your work area
Raised ironing and cutting surfaces furnished by One Loose Thread
Snack Area

Massage available

Lots of Laughter
Of course, a few surprises will be thrown into the mix. 
Any Questions should be directed to:

One Loose Thread Quilting

https://oneloosethread.blogspot.com/

oneloosethreadsc@gmail.com

Questions? Call 803-776-5801---the Studio

Quilt Retreat- Day 3

 This day dawned bright and with the promise of more rain this afternoon. Sounds like a great reason to settle in and stitch all day with a chance of a nap. 

Breakfast was delicious! Eggs, Bacon, pan fried potatoes, REAL oatmeal, sliced avocado, and a coffee cake, with juice and coffee.

I'm working on 'Ring Cycle'/ 'Jacks Chain' for today. I started this quilt in a class with Cindy Page at Myrtle Beach Quilt Party in 2022. I have taken a class on this quilt TWICE, so it's time to really concentrate on getting this top together. I only have 7 rings pieced, so I have a long, long way to go. With the exception of making a ton of 9 patch blocks, everything has set in seams. I should get really good at that technique by the end of this quilt. 

As I sit in this room stitching, I am surrounded by seasoned quilters. I don't have any beginners in this group this trip. However, I am constantly amazed at the sharing aspect of my retreats. They share ideas, techniques, fabric suggestions and totally constructive criticism with each other. They are all in 'teacher' mode, even though most have never taught a class. There are no 'newbies' with me this trip, so there is  more  teasing/harassment going on between a few of us. We try to keep that to a minimum when there are new 'Frayed Knots' in the group until they get to know everyone and realize that it's all in fun and not malicious.

Lunch today was Ruben Sandwiches, potato salad, sweet potato fries, Chips and red velvet cookies for dessert. 

Now back to sewing!!!

I did spend my afternoon working on some side rings. Once I finished all of them for the left side of the quilt I had to stop and do more cutting and marking of the background fabric. That's what I'll do all evening too. 

The rain has really arrived!! but now we are off for supper.

On the menu tonight was chicken pot pie with puff pastry, a beautiful salad and Mango sorbet for dessert. FABULOUS!!

Now we are back in the Ireland Room with the music on and the machines humming for the evening. Looks like the rain will hang around for a while. 

I have decided to just cut and mark for the rest of the evening. Then I'll take down my machine and my sew-ezy table and work only on my project with English Paper Piecing (Tumbling Cosmos) tomorrow.

That's it for tonight from Retreat with One Loose Thread. Tomorrow will be our last full day of sewing and I'm sure that we will make the most of it. 

Joyce--One Loose Thread

Quilt Retreat Day 2

It has been a fun filled day here at the One Loose Thread November retreat. We are all sewing in the Ireland Room of Cole Lodge. There has been lots of laughter. Many, many topics have been discussed and none having to do with politics. 

It was Taco Tuesday for lunch. (I ate too much) Dinner tonight was roast beef with gravy, potato wedges, fresh corn on the cob, tossed salad, and dessert. I did much better with portion control. 😉 

Show and tell was wonderful. All of the quilts can be viewed on the One Loose Thread Group facebook page. Stories were told and quilts were shown. That is always a highlight of retreat.

We did have rain today that was a surprise to all of us, but, we just kept sewing. 

That's it for tonight. 

Joyce--- One Loose Thread

Quilt Retreat with One Loose Thread

 It's November 4, 2024 and I am currently hosting a retreat at Gravatt Camp and Conference Center outside of Aiken, S. C. Yes, we are in the woods. The weather is beautiful!! We can actually wear shorts and be comfortable. The trees still have a little of the yellows and oranges of fall. 

Dinner tonight was wonderful. Chicken Parm, spinach ravioli, marinara sauce, broccolini, artisan bread and tossed salad with pumpkin pie for dessert. It was enjoyed by all. Top it off with not having to cook or wash dishes for the win!

I have a small group this trip since this is a 'during the week' retreat. Monday to Friday isn't so great for those that are still working outside of the home. That said, we are all sewing in the Ireland Room of Cole Lodge. Gravatt has been doing some renovations to this room with new flooring and paint. It's not done yet but they have some other things they will be doing in this room that I am excited about. 

I'm going to add pictures of the sewing space we all have. Everyone has a full 6 foot table to themselves. Many of us have Sew-Ezy tables for our machines and and extra ironing surface. I have furnished 2 large ironing tables with nice 'hot' irons along with 2, 6 foot cutting stations for everyone to use. Also in the room is an 8 foot table for sharable snacks and 2, 6 foot tables side by side for measuring/pinning borders or just for laying out blocks. 

It's a great set up for us and everyone is just working away. 

I do love being here at Gravatt and away from the world for 5 days. We have great internet connections and good cell service if we want to contact 'the outside world'. 

I did get the border on my Esher Christmas this morning. I have spent the rest of the day just stitching away on a 2015 project of 'Wild and Goosey' blocks. Tomorrow my project will be to work on an 2019 Bonnie Hunter mystery, Frolic'.

Well, let's see if I can get these photos to load.

That's it for tonight. Hope to have more for you tomorrow when we start 'Show and Tell'. 

Joyce-One Loose Thread