Different fibres in your diet....

During the past three days, I was fortunate to be part of a group of thirty women who were wonderfully encouraging, like-minded fibre enthusiasts.... this time however, the fibre was fabric, and the occasion was a twice-a-year quilting weekend held at a resort-like camp in Muskoka.

Many of these women either were friends or acquantances, or have become so in the past many years I have taken part in this retreat.  We may not see each other outside of these two occasions, but when we do get together, it's like time hasn't passed. Within the larger group, there is a smaller collection of dear friends -- the folks who inspire you, are enthusiastic with their praise, and gentle with their critques, and are ready to share a hearty laugh on the spur of the moment -- and for me that's Connie and Gail (...and yes, including me, there are FOUR Gails at this retreat!!). They have been consistent table-mates for the past number of years and continue to be my most trusted advisors and my unconditional fans!

Take for instance one of my "to finish" projects this weekend.... it started at last November's retreat with a jelly-roll of 2.5" batik strips in jewel-tone colours, some black fabric, and a spark of an idea from this pattern. Gail wasn't quite sure what I was up to, and Connie just figured it was another one of my wacky "over-achiever" ideas! But they were both encouraging and incredibly helpful at seeing my idea come to fruition and making suggestions regarding colour blending. Other ladies at the retreat also helped with block placement once I had all the components completed, and this is the outcome.......

I'm pleased with how it turned out.... the picture doesn't do justice to the vibrant colours of the batik fabrics against the black. An outside border has yet to be added (black) and then an appropriate backing fabric before it's quilted. Measuring about 64" square, it'll make another quilt for the rotation on my office wall.

What gave me the "warm and fuzzies" was Connie's constant encouragement.... from a scrunched up nose when I showed her one colour combination, to her teasing "overachiever" comments!! And also Gail's sharing of my finished project.... she'd comment to the other quilters "Look at this... would you guess it's this pattern" (and point to the book). That kind of praise from fellow quilters is invaluable, and let me tell you, both Connie and Gail are just a few of the accomplished quilters at this retreat!!

So my fibre diet wasn't entirely fabric this weekend.  I did get a few rounds knit on a sweater sleeve, during our quilt show-and-tell session. Another table-mate (Pat) is a long-time devoted knitter and we enjoyed several conversations as well as our own "knitting show'n tell".... all in all, it was a delightful weekend with a nice dietary mix of fibre!