Victorian Stitchery Retreat - Part 2 of 2

Yesterday I told you about my classes and teachers, as well as showing you some pictures of our top-notch venue.  Today I would like to share with you some pictures of the incredible and creative eye candy which abounded. And of course, it was the sharing of both the teachers, organizers and participants that made it extra special.

I wish I had had the time, resources and necessary talent to capture everyone in a picture, but these will have to suffice. I am hoping that other ladies will share their pictures in their blogs as well.  So, without further ado, here come the pictures.

Show and Share, Tuesday Evening

Mae Vernon and her CQ

Detail of Mae`s clever sheep with hooks and eyes

Barbara Warner’s CQ with Grandmother’s vintage lace

Val Bothell and her CQ

Merrie Kay Roberts and her Boho Purse

Gerry Krueger with her Grandmother to Granddaughter CQ Block

Rhonda Perry with her CQ Teddy Bear 

Marsha Hines with her Fireplace Mantel Cover

Bonnie Hargrove, below, modeled her vest which was not only a hit at Show and Share, but also won First Place in the CQ Contest.  The theme this year was Wearables.  I have included some detail pictures for you. Alert: drool cloths are necessary!!

The Incomparable Bonnie Hargrove

Vest Back

Vest Left Front

Vest Right Front

Jane Teeter’s Kansas Tribute Collage

De Crow’s colorful CQ

Back side of GORGEOUS purse made by Andrea Hainkens

Marci Hainkel showed us a quilt that she made from Blocks of the Month she got from Anne’s Glory Box in Australia.  After completing the blocks, she chose a novel placement for them in the quilt.

Detail

More detail

Victoria Foley of KC shows “Buttons and Bows and Kiddos"

Pam Peugh and her incredible silk ribbon and CQ’ed landscape

Friends from The Old Days in Omaha - Cindy Gibson and Lydia Tolton

I tried hard to get pictures and names of everyone and everything, but fell short. It was particularly difficult to photograph things as they were passed around (sometimes the only way you could see something) and keep up with the action. My apologies to those I missed, for these pictures are only a small sampling of the incredible talent that was displayed.

Allie’s Class - Curved Piecing

Ingrid Gardiol and Pam Peugh work hard 

Marci Hainkel lit the class with her neon colors - and her sense of humor

Not photographed:  Jane Ann Slaine and Jackie Kiernan-Hale, both of KC, MO.  Sorry ladies, the pictures were blurry beyond recognition!

Merri Kay Roberts brought her Featherweight 

Gerry Krueger got lots of piecing done

Toni Jordan from Sacramento was working in reds and greens

Here is Suzanne Moore from Texas, oblivious to the camera!

Two of my favorite ladies, Bonnie Hargrove and Barbara Warner

Pam Woolbright is intent on her piecing

This is sweet Dorothy Densmoor

Lonna Hammond’s shirt is so cute!!

Meet Liz Rudder and her beautiful work. Would you believe she hates to piece? 

Miss Carole’s Class

Showing a template holder made for her

The outer box for the template holder

lovely stitching and an inscription

More lovely stitching

Correction:  The hearts below were DESIGNED by Miss Carole and beautifully stitched by the one and only Marci Hainkel.  My apologies for that missssssssnake!

One of Miss Carole`s hearts 

More of Miss Carole’s and Marci Hainkel`s work

Gerry’s Button Painting Class

Gerry had two button painting classes, one on Monday night and one on Thursday night.  Here are some of the ladies from the Thursday night class, hard at work:

L-R: Nark (Nancy Royer from Arkansas), Jennepher, Cindy and Freema

Gerry helps Barbara, while Susie Jarosz,  ? , Jane and Annie paint

Miss Carole’s Talk on Crazy Quilt Piecing

Candace Kling waves

Allie always has a cute smile!

Miss Carole gave a great talk with lots of visuals

Volunteers held up large boards

Each Block Style was shown and discussed

There was so much to learn!

Miss Carole has certainly done an incredible amount of research

What a fun time!  It was over way too soon.  I hope you enjoyed the pictures.

Hugs,

Victorian Stitchery Retreat in Wichita

This was the first, but hopefully not the last, Victorian Stitchery Retreat that I attended.  Hosted by Val Bothell of The Pink Bunny.  We had a super lineup of teachers and a fantastic venue at The Hotel at Old Town. Gerry K and I shared a suite, and it was to die for!

The Atrium area where we had breakfast every morning

View from our suite looking south through Old Town

Oh my, where to start?

Our class for the first day was Candace Kling’s Ribbon Flowers.  She is so awesome!  You will see pictures of some of her flowers scattered throughout the backgrounds of some of the pictures I post.  You can also see many on Candace’s website. Naturally, I won’t post all the pictures of her work that I took for my own personal use. But if you every have the opportunity to take a class from Candace, take it!

Some of my near-completed flowers

Candace explained everything thoroughly, clearly, and was so organized. She kept the class moving along and yet had time for everyone and their questions. I want to be like her when I grow up! Truly, I have had her book for over ten years, and learned my first ribbon flower from it. I used to pour over it while I took candlelight bubblebaths (soft music, white wine). That seemed to really tickle Candace!   I could’ve kicked myself for not bringing the book for her to sign, but I do intend to take more of her classes.

By the way, next May Candace is teaching a “miniature” ribbon class, which are smaller-sized forms, perfect for CQ. It will be held at at Nancy’s Sewing Basket in Seattle (there is, however, a pre-requisite of having taken one of her classes previously).

Allie’s Class Sample

The next day was Tuesday, and we had Allie’s Curved Piecing Class, which was so much fun! The eye candy was almost overwhelming. Allie’s simple method of piecing was a delight to me, because I had used the same technique to piece my “I Love Paris” purse. Naturally, Allie had some helpful hints (like leaving a wider margin, which is ALWAYS my downfall).  And she uses a knit interfacing, which I tried for the first time and loved. Now I am a believer, and will try anything Allie suggests (short of jumping off a cliff, LOL!)  She also showed us curved flip-and-sew, and was a kind, patient teacher.

Allie working with Rhonda Perry.  At left:  Toni J

Below is my center block, completely pieced.  The surrounding darker border is about 2/3 complete. I can’t wait to finish piecing this future wallhanging.   Hopefully during the next week.  And then I have to get back to my Seascape Valance (more in a coming post).

The third and fourth days of the Retreat were our long-awaited 2-day stitching class with the one and only Miss Carole Samples.   Oh my!  I wish I could just record her lovely soft voice and play it as background “music” when I work!  She must be about the sweetest, most gentle soul I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Gerry K gave Miss Carole one of her paisley Victorian Pin Cushions. Paisleys are her favorites, and Miss Carole was brought nearly to tears, but was definitely speechless and overwhelmed.  Then Ingrid gave her a crystal-headed pin to put in it!

Miss Carole and me

Over the two days, we learned how to use her templates to not only “decipher” complicated stitches, but to design our own.  Miss Carole also taught some varied and more unusual stitches, and generously shared her work and time with everyone.

Miss Carole with Ingrid and Freema

In July my friend Wilma from The Netherlands had gifted me with lots of pieces of gorgeous fabric from Austria (a country we both love).  You might remember my post here.  Anyway, I used it to piece a 17x12” cover for the notebook in which I will keep my stitch designs.  This was my working piece for Miss Carole’s class.

Above and below:  Some of the seams I stitched as class exercises. They are not complete.

I have lots more to show you tomorrow, like candid photos of old and new friends, some gorgeous eye candy from the Show and Share, pictures from Miss Carole’s talk on Wednesday evening, and from Gerry’s button class on Thursday evening.

But for now, nighty-night.  I snapped this picture of the building next door from out the window by my hotel bed. I think it could pass for 1938 (or whatever).  I kept expecting to see Dick Tracey or Humphrey Bogart or some other character strike a pose under the street lamp!

The street lamp illuminated the stark, cold evening . . .

Until tomorrow,