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.

I'm baaa-aaaack! Quilt Camp was a delight in every way. Lots more about that later. Today I am focused on unpacking, laundry, grocery shopping and most importantly - playing with Daisy. I promise to return with all the delicious details and a few pictures from camp.
For now I'll just leave you with this image from the end of our trip. A most unusual ladies room.
We stopped for lunch at Subway in the desert town of Ridgecrest, California. I guess, when you gotta go . . . . you gotta go. But even after four days of sharing accommodations with five Quilt Pals, this was a little bit more intimate than any of us cared to be.
Just makes you wonder, 'What were they thinking?'

I'm busy getting ready to go to quilt camp. A high priority is to gather necessary supplies for the projects (which are all mystery projects) being offered and I started doing just that a few days ago. Then I got together with some of the Quilt Pals that are also going and a conversation about the projects came up. Suddenly I realized that somewhere along the line there had been a breakdown in communications when it came to fabric requirements.
After reading the supply list, here is what I put together -
25 - 1" strips of fabric at least 9" in length.
After confirmation from the camp instructor, this is what I am now taking -
25 fabrics that are each 1/4 yard (9") Thank goodness for friends. I would have been over in a far, dark corner trying to put together a micro-mini quilt with my little dabs of fabric.
Today's lesson: Interpretation is everything.

The new day brings the start of a new quilt.
*wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*

It's official.
I have moved into my quilting space. Still a bit on the unorganized side, but functional. Almost more exciting than that is the space outside to take photos. I'm baa-aack!

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Life is a series of struggles great and small with liberal doses of joy thrown in for good measure. So it is with a heavy, heavy yet hopeful heart that I tell you we have made the VERY difficult decision to return Opie to the animal rescue center.
Actually difficult doesn't even begin to scratch the surface. It was gut-retching to face the truth that it was not a good fit for us as a family but even more so for Opie. We came to a point late last week where it was clear that no matter what type of positive spin I put on it the truth of the matter is that Opie deserves more than a good, loving home, he needs a home where there is a man home the majority of the time.
The volunteers at the rescue center were great with Opie and me, too. They greeted him happily and let him know he had been missed. In turn they listened to me and I'm sure they will use our input in finding the perfect, forever home for him. He wasn't with us long but we did our very best for him from veterinary care to grooming to all the tennis balls he could possibly handle and most of all love and compassion. His paw print will remain on my heart forever.