I know that I have been MIA from the forum.  I went to a quilting retreat in mid Oct., then on a 2 1/2 week road trip to Nashville, Southern IL, Kansas, and finally Texas, then home.  Had a busy schedule with doctors etc since home.  To top it off, my computer has not been behaving.  Would not connect to internet anywhere while I was gone.  MY computer expert DDSIL says to hook it up at home and buy a new one if I want to travel with it.  I am trying to catch up.

First the retreat, I got 3 UFO tops completed.

This is from one of the retreat block lottos.  The block is the Kitchen wood box from Quilter's Cache.  It's not quilted yet.  Have to make a back.

This is Buggy Barn Stars.  It is quilted and bound.  Just waiting for a label.

This one was made from crumbs, inspired by Sharon Epperson(the queen of crumbs).  I had made the blocks and finally put them together.  Still needs a surrounding sashing strip and a border.

All in all a productive retreat.  Still working on UFOs.

These are terrific quilts.   That Buggy Barn quilt would make a terrific Quilt of Valor.

quilted in time for show & tell tonight.  I am officially comfortable with ribbon candy.  Still not perfectly consistent but not too wobbly.  Next I really want to work on feathers.

I wish I had used a navy blue thread instead of the dark gray.  It looked ok in the regular areas, but it kind of turned brown in the pebble areas.  But not that noticeable in person.

OH! It took awhile to get my mouth shut!!! That is simply gorgeous!! I truly see so much work, it makes me tired. Wonderful work!

Wow you got a lot done!!! They look great.

Looking really good!!!

thanks.  I'm looking back at the quilt you did for me, I think I'm going to try mctavishing next.  I am definitely getting more comfortable with my machine.  I did several I spy quilts over the weekend and it felt more like we were a team than ever before.  Kind of silly that it's taken me this long after owning it for 5+ years.

aw thanks.  you are very sweet.

I would venture to guess that " your being more comfortable....working as a team" with your machine has a lot to do with the fact that you have stepped back from the overload of accounting work.  Hope the team continues to work together so you can perfect feathers.

Jo

well, you are probably correct.  I definitely feel less in a rush than I used to - no deadlines now, just ones I set for myself.  They have coined a term for all of us who decided we were tired of the "rat race" during covid - the Great Resignation.  And I'm old enough and close enough to retirement, it just isn't worth it.  I feel sorry for my co-workers who are 10 years younger.