CQI RETREAT

Last week I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the CQI annual retreat in Kansas City, MO.  It was held at the Heartland Center just a few miles from the airport.

I had a great time and would encourage any of you who would be able to attend a retreat to do so.  The rooms were comfortable and the 3 meals a day were very good.  After 55 years of cooking for my man it is really nice when I get a chance to have my meals cooked for me.  I will never complain about the cooking.

It started on Wed. and ran thru Sun.  I flew out of Chicago and the flight was only 1 hour 20 mins. long.  It was so good to see some familiar faces and even more so get to put a face to a name I have been seeing on CQ Embellishers and CQI.  I know a lot of the gals from when the retreats were in Omaha.  Carol from Claremont is a good friend and I get to see her in Florida in the winter.  We room together if we are ever at the same retreat.

It is very informal dress wise.  You just bring stitching to work on if you want and informal classes are taught by the gals who can.  Lisa Boni taught 2 very good classes on intermediate embroidery and beading on seams.  Both classes had a large turnout and were thoroughly enjoyed.  Lisa had handouts for all.

Barb Warner was to teach a class on buttons but unfortunately did not come as she ended up in the hospital with blood clots in both lungs.  Poor Barb.  She is home now and recovering nicely with the help of her hubby and daughter who is an RN.  Her class was picked up by Tahlia from Washington State who filled in admirably.

There are a few highlights every year at the retreat but the one enjoyed by all is the gift swap.  The gifts quite often are handmade CQ items but can be anything sewing related.  Gift boxes filled with fabrics, trims, etc. are coveted.  It is a Chinese auction ? where you pick a number and all the boxes, etc. are piled on the tale and #1 gets to pick first.  Now #2 can either take a new item or can steal away the first item.  After being stolen twice it is retired.  One of the most saught after is Laurie B's wonderful black velvet bears embellished to the hilt.  This never lasts with the 1st or second person.

I actually stole my gift after it had been stolen once and therefore got to keep it.  It was a box put together by Connie Kalina.  The interesting thing about this was the colour.  A beautiful soft pink in various shades.  Connie died the fabrics, laces, ribbons, etc. with AVACADO skins and the inside pit.
You would think green but out came this beautiful pink shade.

I am attaching a few picks so you can see the items. She also made the 2 beautiful buttons herself.  What a gal.

Now you can see why I stole this.  I will have to make something special and use it all together.  Maybe a wonderful journal.  Stay tuned for the future.

Starting with the hexagons I had intended to post more often but was hit with a virus in August that went on for about 3 weeks and included a terrible headache that went up and down and awful muscle aches.  At one point I did not think I would make the retreat but cleared up the weekend before.  thank goodness.

I have more hexagons made plus about 30 pieced ready to take to Florida.  They are a lot of fun.  Little works of art in each one.

FredaB