West Union, Iowa & Kiss in the Corner!

Little pieces, precious patches, swapping strips and squares with new found friends and having a wonderful time down in West Union, Iowa!  That is what retreat is all about!

This adorable little town was founded in the 1840s.  Many of the buildings in the downtown area around the courthouse square boast the year of their building right there on their fascades.  It was a booming time in America’s heartland when immigrants were finding their way to the central states in America, willing to work and farm and earn their own piece of the promised land.

As quilters, this little retreat center holds a lot of promise for us as well!

Approximately 20 miles from where I was previously in Oelwein –we are set up here at Moonlight Stitching Studio and Sisters Retreat Center!

Kiss in the Corner came back out to play for the second time this week.

Read More»

A Sneak Peek at Lou Ann’s Quilt Garden!

Have you ever had a dream of owning your own retreat center?

There are ALL KINDS of different retreat situations out there, and this week I have come across not only one, but TWO places that have brought life back to small quaint towns, turning older neglected buildings ((But still with oodles of character!)) into gems, bringing folks into town ---you know how commerce works?  Bring people in and they need a place to stay!  They have to buy gas, food, lodging, and of course, they shop!

These small sweet towns are PERFECT retreat getaways..

And I absolutely loved my time at Lou Ann’s Quilt Garden and retreat in Oelwein, Iowa.

Favorite thing right off the bat?  Originial wood floors and rustic old brick walls.  The feeling of HISTORY updated.

Read More»

Midnight Flight in Oelwein, IA!

Retreat day #2 was an absolute blast!

What’s not to love?  A fabulous retreat center, friends from all over the planet ((Yes, we are international, we’ve got CANADIANS! HA!)) and time to sew and sew and sew!

Not only that, the weather here has been absolute perfection ---After Tuesday’s continual storms, the humidity broke and it has been just lovely --

Yesterday’s workshop in Oelwein at Lou Ann’s Quilt Garden and Retreat Center was Midnight Flight – an absolute favorite workshop.

There are so many things we can do to make our quilts come out “just that much” better – and we go over them all.

Of course, THAT SEAM ALLOWANCE ---but once that is down and we can visualize WHY things have to be a certain way, and we do it – things just start falling into place better than ever before.

Read More»

Kiss in the Corner in Oelwein, IA!

Iowa Retreat Day 1!!

We’ve got this retreat going in two different nearby towns, Oelwein, and West Union –with fabulous retreat centers housed above shops –nearly 60 women (And one hubby that I know of!) participating!

It’s a roaring good time, and we had a wonderful start yesterday morning.

Yesterday and today you will find me in Oelwein at Lou Ann’s Quilt Garden and Retreat center, while Jo & Kelli of Jo’s Country Junction are with the other group at Moonlight Stitching Studio and Sisters Retreat over in West Union!  Both of these cute little Iowa towns are a haven for quilters…and they are each getting four days of workshops, as Jo, Kelli and I will swap locations on Saturday morning!  I’ll be in West Union, and they will take my place over in Oelwein to continue the fun.

Read More»