I headed out of town to western New York for a stitching retreat with friends. Of course, some of the usual mascots came along. The happy monkey stood guard all weekend long over the trimmings pile. The weekend theme was "The Day of the Dead" and Monkey got a new hat! The retreat organizer is wildly creative and the themed goodies kept coming all weekend long. . .
Ducky and Spud hang out on my travel sewing machine. Ducky was acquired at the retreat in the spring, and Spud (my Energy Potato) arrived early one morning this time. In the background Janet (my table mate) is busy actually sewing stuff!
I have decided that three (maybe four) is the right number for retreat projects. This is a personal preference, and is not intended to be a universal rule. Let me explain . . .
I like to focus on one main project from the surplus project shelves in the work room. I'm trying very hard to clear out that space to use for other storage, but that means the partially-finished quilts that currently reside there need to get done and get out.
This one, a variation of the "Everything Nice" pattern from Cut The Scraps was my number one objective for the weekend.
I also brought along two more major projects, but I only brought them in case of 'emergency' - like I forgot some essential parts for number one. Or what if I actually *finished* the number one project? Gotta have a back-up plan!
And if essential parts are missing on priority 2, then I have #3 as a back-up to the back-up! That makes three projects! I don't expect to finish all three.
Of course, the weekend isn't all sweatshop and sewing frenzy. One must take time to smell (and taste) the apples! A Saturday afternoon trip to Three Falls Cider Mill . . .and tasting room for locally brewed hard cider. Yum!
Back at the retreat center a competition was 'brewing.' To keep with the theme, everyone was provided with a cardboard cut-out of a human shape (like a gingerbread man).
The assignment was to create a 'Day of the Dead' Catrina doll with provided fabrics and other materials.
Wild creativeness ensued!
It's not all fun-and-games! Betsy brought her box of ScrapTherapy fabrics and got herself into a real sewing jag making blocks exclusively from 2", 3-1/2" and 5" squares. She started with a box full of cut-up scraps mid-weekend and ended up with this scrappy beauty! Pretty amazing!
You might ask how my magic 'three' worked out. Starting with only a small handful of blocks from the 'Everything Nice' project on 'that shelf'; I ended up with about 80 blocks assembled into this top by the end of the weekend. Success!
Project #2 also came out at the tail end of the weekend, mostly to organize it to be the #1 at the next retreat. The shelf is looking one project better, and the scrap bin has also taken a hit. The plan, at least this time, worked.
It's really easy to get all caught up and crunched into a sewing ball for the duration of the time at the retreat, but it's oh-so-important to stand up, walk out into the fresh air and take in the scenery.
This rule applies for focused retreats and for the day-to-day routine.
Happy Stitching!
Head Hummingbird
Hummingbird-Highway.com
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