Two March Retreats!

Emma and Martha at the Petwood Retreat January 2014

Our March Machine Quilting Retreat at the Petwood Sunday 9th March ~ Tuesday 11th March has been filling up quickly. We still have a couple of places left so let me know if you want to come. Last week we decided to offer a Machine Quilting Retreat in the Salisbury area. We thought two Retreats would be twice as nice!

The Franklins Shop in Salisbury

Our Salisbury Machine Quilting Retreat will run from Sunday 16th March ~ Monday evening March 17th. Our Hotel is the Mercule White Hart. It's central, within walking distance of restaurants and the Franklins Shop.  We'll be using the ample upstairs teaching rooms at Franklins for our machine quilting sessions. We'll post more information as soon as the details are confirmed. We wanted to get the dates up as soon as possible. We already have five participants. So there are still 3 spaces left. There's more details to follow. We wanted to get this up so you can save the dates.  

Machine Quilter Retreat

Jackie holding Sally and Peter's giant log cabin quilt top

 The Petwood Hotel is beautifully situated and full of old world charm. The food is fabulous too. But what makes our Retreats so special is the people. We think that great things happen when a few people gather together around a machine quilting frame. 

Ann, Emma, Brenda, Carol, Maggie and Martha around the NEQ 6 foot frame

 Small is beautiful!  So we limit the numbers to 7 or 8 participants and we have at least 2 teachers.

Sally, Jackie, Maggie, Carol and Brenda with Jackie's quilt

It makes for a friendly atmosphere so it's easy to get to know each other and share ideas.

Peter and Martha chuckling over the 8 foot NEQ frame

There's lots of time one to one interaction as we doodle designs. We go from pen and paper to thread and fabric, gaining confidence on familiar designs and learning lots of new ones.

Sally, Maggie, Carol, Brenda and Martha with Sally's quilt

One of my favourite sessions is when we audition various threads on the unfinished quilt tops that people bring. I make sure that there's a good selection of Machine Quilting threads for people to choose. It's so inspiring to see all the gorgeous quilts as we explore machine quilting options.

Ann and Emma looking at the ripple stipple design on Jackie's quilt

This such a good mix of people.We had so much fun! We're already planning a reunion!

Happy Birthday Anne

Anne Smithies

Happy Birthday Anne! A couple of years ago Anne was our resident art quilter at our spring and summer machine quilting retreats.

detail of Anne's 'mad bird'

 She is quirky and fun and taught us how to machine quilt birds...

Anne showing her beach hut technique

and beach huts

Anne trying out the Art Quilter frame at our summer Retreat

Anne loved our Art Quilter frame because she could set it up like an easel.

a felted scene from one of Anne's workshops

Anne has many talents besides art quilting. She felts and works with glass and paints and draws and nurtures other artists.

Chapel Gallery in Hawes, North Yorkshire

Anne's family stumbled upon this renovated Methodist Chapel in North Yorkshire and realized that it was the perfect platform for all her many interests. It was a great spot for her family too!

Chapel Gallery an artist's haven and more!

 Well Anne emailed the other day. She had a commission for a large quilt and needed an upgrade to extend her existing frame. So we sent her an upgrade and it arrived today, just in time for her birthday! Happy Birthday Anne! You've had quite an exciting year.

Follow the links below to catch up with Anne and 

checkout the neat workshops and exhibitions at Chapel Gallery: 

www.chapelgalleryhawes.co.uk

anne@madbird.co.uk

Mad Bird