I think I have caught up with myself and now I can sit down and share some of the highlights from last week's quilt camp. It was such fun and I'm already looking forward to next year! Camp is held in the
June Lake and it put on by Barri of
Bareroots and
Sierra Cottons & Wools Quilt Shop. This was the fifth year she has hosted this camp and my first experience thanks to the Quilt Pals who signed me up and booked accommodations while I was still living in Massachusetts. *Quilt Pals ROCK!!!*
This is June Lake one of several lakes found on the
June Lake Loop
Since everyone else had previous camp experience, it was decided that we could drive up a day early to do some exploring with Yosemite high on the list. Sadly, weather conditions kept us from that plan (next year) but we did visit
Silver Lake.

And also
Mammoth Mountain Resort (where they are still skiing)

Good news for snow lovers and Californians alike - it was a good, wet winter!
Check out this waterfall -

We could hear it all the way down at the highway. It is sure to grow as the melt continues.
This is
Gull Lake.

The lake that we overlooked from our sewing machines.
The view from my seat -

We kept reminding ourselves to look up from our stitching and enjoy the view!
When we settled in our spots, we each had a darling little dish filled with chocolates.

Situated on my sewing table at home, it will be perfect to catch pins and remind me of the fun we had.
Now down to business - quilting! The camp was two days and offered multiple projects. Barri took small groups of campers over the two days and shared
a new method of English paper piecing with no thread basting.
In the meantime, the rest of us were working on projects by
Cheri - yes,
that Cheri! Remember
those strips? Well, I took them with me (along with the 1/4 yard cuts) and put them to good use. Sitting at the table with the Quilt Pals, we decided to pool our fabrics and mounded up all of our 1" strips to give us the greatest variety possible.

I worked on two of the three patterns that Cheri offered. All I lack at this point is the applique and a good pressing. I promise they weren't this wrinkly when I packed them to bring home.
Not wanting to take on the third (and largest project) toward the end of the day, one of the Pals and I instead worked on this little ditty from a pattern that was available for purchase.

Small block, big border, great impact, destined to be a pillow (after ironing, of course.)
Day 2 brought us to a new project and new teachers, who may not be quite so famous around blog land but quite near and dear to our hearts - one is the fearless leader of our weekly class at
Fat Quarters. There is just NO way we could quilt without her!
I stopped stitching after assembling the blocks.

I have to assemble and attach some borders to complete the top. You might be thinking that this is not my usual fabric palette, but I intend to coffee dye the quilt when done. Stay tuned.
I can't say enough good things about my experience - sewing from 8:30 in the morning until 9 at night; delicious, homemade breakfasts and dinners both days, homemade bread and cinnamon rolls along with the free flow of chocolates, water and soft drinks. Not to mention all the laughter with the Pals and some new friends in the mix. Makes you almost wish you could be there all the time . . . except you start to miss home, Hubby and . . .

I'll just hold the good memories until next year when it will be time to make more.