As I left home to drive to the quilting retreat last week, it happened to be a rare sunny day and the Comox Glacier on Vancouver Island was looking fine after many fresh coatings of snow during the past weeks. At sea level we were all complaining about the constant rain this winter, but up high, it was building up the snow on the glacier.
My friend and I arrived at the lodge on Quadra Island and unloaded our sewing machines and all the many boxes of fabric and sewing supplies we would need for the next four days.
We unloaded our bedding and personal items in our assigned rooms and then got busy setting up the machines to sew. After that it was a marathon of sewing.
Here is the project my friend was working on. She designed it herself and has done a beautiful job of it. I’m only sorry that my photo doesn’t do it justice.
I worked on small projects like bags,
and a table runner (the one hanging at an odd angle on the end).
Another quilter who sat nearby, had some gorgeous fabric that she was using to build a quilt. Here is the first phase of it.
It drizzled a bit the first two days but then it cleared enough for us to take a short walk. The next day it was like Christmas. Snow!
Even from inside the lodge, you could tell it was snowing heavily outside.
The next day it was all gone again and we were ready to drive home. What a surprise we had when we arrived home to find more snow.
And to think that ten days ago I was having thoughts about gardening. I think this year I might be planting snowballs.
What a great time you must have had! It sounds like so much fun! Great photos too!
Hi Gina! Yes, it was a fun time.
Beautiful Quilts 🙂
Beautiful snowy mountains 🙂
Ugly buildings in front of the mountains 😦
Cheers !
Yes! I thought the same thing as I looked at the glacier photo – too bad I have to have those buildings there. Thanks, Hans.
I think I want to move to your island. I have thought this for awhile now.
what a beautiful experience in so many ways
We always look forward to it. Lots of fun. Lots of laughs. Good production.
Vancouver Island has always been high on my list. Beautiful snowy mountains, Anneli.
Amazing what you all achieved in four days. I’m hopeless, can’t do any sewing apart from mending little bits, but I’d love to do something like this with photography as a topic. It is great fun being in a community only concentrating on this main topic and learn from each other.
I’m sure there are photography groups that go on trips to practice this. You should check it out. It would be so much fun for you.
I’m sure it will be. At the moment I’m enjoying Annie Leibovitz’ Masterclass online. Very nice and comfortable in front of the fire 🔥 🤗
Good for the winter. But in the summer, it’s good to get out and do some photo excursions. I think you already do a lot of that though.
What a wonderful place to be creative. The photos and the quilts are beautiful, Anneli.
Thanks, Jill. It’s also nice to be catered to for four days. We get a bit spoiled but we love it.
You should have a look at some of the photos I publish on Wednesday’s photos to get glimpse of the severe winter conditions we have in the interior of BC (-12 degrees this morning). Your quilts were a delight to look at. Thank you for sharing those loverly images!
I’ll do that, Peter. This cold snap is sure wanting to linger.
You worked hard those few days. The table runners are very beautiful, I love the colours a lot. And those bags! Makes me wanting two of them right now! The black one and the grey one are a dream! Very nice pictures!
I think that is my favourite too. It’s a navy blue (almost black).
Gorgeous- both the quilts and the scenery. Have you been to the quilting convention in Sisters, Oregon? This post reminds me of that.
No, I haven’t, but that would be a fun thing to do. A long way for us, from here though.
I know it is, but had to tell you there is a quilting clone out there!
What a great place to be while winter is still in session!
We were cozy and busy, and luckily it was no problem to drive home when the time came.
That looks like a lot of fun. I love quilting, but usually it’s by myself. I’d love to do it with others. Wonderful photos, Anneli. We got snow too over the weekend and again this morning. Winter’s last hurrah, I hope. 🙂
Why not join a quilting guild? They are always happy to help each other out and it’s amazing the things they can produce. Very inspiring to a beginning quilter like me.
I didn’t even know such things existed! Perhaps, someday I will. 😀
I didn’t either until my friend who does a lot of beautiful quilting suggested I should go with her and join the quilters. I thought you had to be an expert but that isn’t the case. They are very supportive and helpful and it’s so much fun. The local guild puts on demos and there’s always something new and interesting to learn. Also little workshops are available that are fun and inspiring.
Here is another talent of yours I am just getting to know about. And my goodness, it’s impressive! And what a nice place to get creative.
Thanks, Uzo. I have a lot of mentors all around me at these retreats and I learn a lot.
Lots of gorgeous talent at the retreat Anneli. We could use a quilt or ten right now in Lacey. Much snow with forecast for all day .
The bags you were able to make, while doing so many other things, are perfect. Thanks for sharing so many photos.
It sure is quilt weather here too. More snow is coming down – as if we didn’t have enough already!
It must have been a joy to work in that room with the large tables and window — so much natural light. The quilts are true works of art.
Yes, it’s a great place to work. Lots of help handy too, if needed.
What a perfect location for watching the snow fall gently onto the mighty boughs of the evergreens. Talk about inspiration to create beautiful things. Love your photos of the surrounding nature and also of the beautiful creations made by the quilters.
It’s a beautiful area. Very natural, and with a slower pace.
I do love the lighting in the first photo. And the retreat produced a lot of lovely results.
That’s an early morning picture. I find that the light is great at that time and again in the evening just as the sun is setting – that warm glow.
I love those earthy-brown quilts. Those are my colors.
Oh the snow! Yes, we had a lot of it here too. But, today we got rain, rain and more rain. Unusual for February here. It’s melting off the snow.
So glad it snowed and went away before you had to drive back home. Is it very far from where you live? How often do you do these retreats now? Glad you get to do these things you enjoy.
It’s about 40 miles with a ferry ride between to go to the retreat which happens twice a year. I can usually only go once because we go to Montana at the same time as the fall retreat. Send us some of that rain please. I’ve had enough snow now.
Quilts are cool but your landscape shots are breathtaking. Wow.
Vancouver Island is a great place to live. Some of the smaller islands near it are really pretty too.
I love the table runners. Very cool idea–doing them in a quilted form. Very pretty.
Thanks, Cathi. This pattern is very simple to make. Just my speed.
These are beautiful, Anneli! So much patience required for quilting! I don’t have it for that craft. 😉
It’s easier to have patience when you have time without interruptions and having to do mundane household chores.
That is for sure!! Uninterrupted time is wonderful!
Thank you Anneli for sharing your quilting project and the heavy snow at the same time. Your pictures are beautiful. I am keen quilter and I love quilting, when I start I don’t want the day to end, I just keep going on with the pieces of fabric until time dies out on me haha. I love working with fabrics, isn’t it fantastic? Keep sharing your sewing and crafts, I would like to see more of them. Have a wonderful week!
Wonderful to meet another quilter. I love quilting but I still have so much to learn. This is another benefit of the quilting retreats. The ladies are so willing to help each other and share their expertise. Thanks for visiting my blog, Juli.
It is true, it is a good thing to join groups of women and learn from each other. It becomes an experience of a lifetime!
Beautiful photographs, lovely location, and I love those bags (esp the black one on the far right)!
Thank you so much. The “black one” is actually a dark navy blue, but it doesn’t show that in the photo.
Ya, colors can be pretty tricky on computer monitors. 🙂
Exactly. But in real life, I like the colours.
What a wonderful venue for your quilting! I’m in awe of this remarkable talent!
It’s always a lot of fun there, Patricia.
I was in Heaven looking at the beauty in the handmade quilts, Anneli. I am out of visiting “order” but last time I visited I had three grandies overnight so many interruptions!
Your table runner is both stunning and moving. I like the wild animals and how you used other rectangular “squares,” to create a bold design.
I am not really sharing on my blog but sadly, my son’s wife has had an increase of child support for my two oldest (step) grandchildren (her first husband’s $) and has decided to divorce my son after ten years of marriage. He is the only bread winner, he is distraught and depressed. So, he is living with me in my one bedroom apartment! Lots of personal information but we are friends. I know this will sort of explain my absences as this is so upsetting and distracting. Thank you and will continue backwards. 🙂
So sorry to hear that, Robin. I wish you all the best. Things will work out in time.
It looks like a great place for a quilt retreat, I enjoyed you photos and your post. I am a quilter as well. It is a one of my passions.
Quilting is a bit of an addiction, isn’t it? And so rewarding!