A Productive Weekend

Well, I just returned yesterday evening from a four day weekend at a quilt retreat with seven wonderful women!  I have sore cheeks and amazing tight abs from all the laughing we did.  There were many times during the four days that I had tears streaming down my face because I was laughing so hard.  I am not sure there is a drug that can make you feel as good as you do after a good long belly laugh.  It just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.  It makes my muscles relax all over and I always end with a very deep satisfying sigh.  I love the feeling and it seems as if it has been quite some time since I laughed that much and that often.  That alone was worth the price of admission, not to mention I got a ton of sewing done.  Funny thing though, my jeans were a little tighter this morning?  Must have shrunk in the wash.....or maybe it was all of the amazing food we ate all weekend.  Gina, one of the gals on the retreat, did all of the menu planning, shopping and cooking!  We will be forever indebted to her.  So will the Gap when I have to go buy new jeans!  Okay, I'm only kidding, I don't think I gained that much.

I quilted a baby quilt, finished a pillow for a dear friend, and got the top and backing pieced for a quilt for another dear friend that recently moved away:(.  I'll post pictures of those projects soon, but I'm waiting until I gift the items before posting those.  In order to not be photo-less( is that a word?), I'm posting a couple of shots of some recent fabric acquisitions.  The first is some fabric I picked up on that recent trip to San Francisco,

One is a feed sack reproduction by Darlene Zimmerman for Robert Kaufman.  The other is also a Robert Kaufman print - Monaluna Mingle.  I bought these at a very cool little shop called Urban Burp.  It is great shop specializing in vintage fabrics.  The owner, Electra Skilandat, was there that day and she was a joy to visit with.  If you are ever in the city, stop by and say hi to her.  Tell her I sent you!

These lovelies are my winnings from Quilt Home that I won for being their Blog of the Week awhile back.
Aren't they gorgeous?  I can't wait to make these into something fun.  Not sure yet what I'm going to make with them, but it will be something fun and it will be soon!

What are you all working on these "dog days of summer"?  Cause I know you are all outside enjoying the 107 degree heat!  Man, I don't like this weather, it just wilts me into a puddle.  I am ever so grateful for air conditioning, aren't you?