The retreat was not in Vegas but in Bennigton, KS at Lynne Hagmeier's. No pictures can do the place justice. It should be on the National Museum register. It should also be featured in all decorating and collecting magazines. INCREDIBLE! (we all said, "How does she dust?")
Some information does stay at the retreat..............
How much food we ate....
Any of our new boyfriends..............................
Any discussions of politics or religion..............
So some of the stuff I can talk about.
Why does it take 14 hours for an 8 hour road trip?
Well, first stop and first credit card swipe was Oklahoma City Quiltworks. Love this shop! I can always find something different here. (thank goodness the many antique shops did not open until 10:30 or else we would have turned it into an 18 hour road trip.)
Another "A-word" Antiquing. In Wichita, KS at Paramount Antique Antique Mall, there were only 3 of us, but it is still a race to get inside to the treasures. We pushed on to arrive in Bennington in the dark. I live in Dallas so driving dark country roads with no signs was an adventure also. The retreat officially began. Lots of laughing and visiting by all.
Day 1: Imagine shopping with Sandy Gervais of Pieces from my Heart, Alma Allen of Blackbird Designs, Amy Bradley of Amy Bradley Designs, Sandy Klop of American Jane, Barb and Mary of Me & My Sister, Terry Thompson of Peace Creek, Laurie Simpson of Minick & Simpson, Jan Patek of Jan Patek Quilts, Barbara Brackman (check out her new blog-post a comment and tell her I sent you) and of course our hostess, Lynne Hagmeier. Yes it was heaven. Sandy Klop was shopping for props for her booth at market with scads of suggestions by all of us. (secret!?) By the last day we were all shopping for each other. Through the power of technology, we actually did some shopping for some of the designers that were not there. Take a picture, send it to them...you want it or not? This group is just that kind of crew, always looking out for each other and willing to help spend each others $$.
DAY 2: More shopping. Oh, did you think retreat meant we would be sewing?
We also hit any quilt shop in our tracks. The Quilting Bee in Salina, KS had a display of Lynne's fabrics so I couldn't resist making Lynne strike a pose. (you know they all hate me taking pictures-Thank you, Lynne) 
We played games. Read all about it on Laurie's blog. 
We ate lunch in Abilene, KS at Mr. K's Farmhouse Restaurant. Ed and June Kuntz
welcomed us. (June is a quilter and Ed could talk quilt.) Ed took our picture and asked us to say "muslin" instead of cheese. He won us over! Alma is holding a jar of their homemade salad dressing. All the pie boxes are hidden. Go to their site to read the history, salivate over the menu and learn more about President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Abilene.
Material Girls Quilt Shop was closed by the time we got there, boo hiss. Maybe next time. 
I even found an outfit to wear to Market. What do you think? Flats or heels?
I am so energized by all the talent, creativity and knowledge that was shared. I could go on and on about my 3 days in Kansas but that is it for now. Oh ya, road trip home, 9 hours, only 1 detour and 1 speeding ticket scare. Whew! He got someone else. We were already trying to figure if we could talk him out of a ticket with moda fabrics.
Some information does stay at the retreat..............
How much food we ate....Any of our new boyfriends..............................Any discussions of politics or religion.............. So some of the stuff I can talk about.
Why does it take 14 hours for an 8 hour road trip?
Well, first stop and first credit card swipe was Oklahoma City Quiltworks. Love this shop! I can always find something different here. (thank goodness the many antique shops did not open until 10:30 or else we would have turned it into an 18 hour road trip.)
Another "A-word" Antiquing. In Wichita, KS at Paramount Antique Antique Mall, there were only 3 of us, but it is still a race to get inside to the treasures. We pushed on to arrive in Bennington in the dark. I live in Dallas so driving dark country roads with no signs was an adventure also. The retreat officially began. Lots of laughing and visiting by all. Day 1: Imagine shopping with Sandy Gervais of Pieces from my Heart, Alma Allen of Blackbird Designs, Amy Bradley of Amy Bradley Designs, Sandy Klop of American Jane, Barb and Mary of Me & My Sister, Terry Thompson of Peace Creek, Laurie Simpson of Minick & Simpson, Jan Patek of Jan Patek Quilts, Barbara Brackman (check out her new blog-post a comment and tell her I sent you) and of course our hostess, Lynne Hagmeier. Yes it was heaven. Sandy Klop was shopping for props for her booth at market with scads of suggestions by all of us. (secret!?) By the last day we were all shopping for each other. Through the power of technology, we actually did some shopping for some of the designers that were not there. Take a picture, send it to them...you want it or not? This group is just that kind of crew, always looking out for each other and willing to help spend each others $$.
DAY 2: More shopping. Oh, did you think retreat meant we would be sewing? 
We also hit any quilt shop in our tracks. The Quilting Bee in Salina, KS had a display of Lynne's fabrics so I couldn't resist making Lynne strike a pose. (you know they all hate me taking pictures-Thank you, Lynne) 
We played games. Read all about it on Laurie's blog. We ate lunch in Abilene, KS at Mr. K's Farmhouse Restaurant. Ed and June Kuntz welcomed us. (June is a quilter and Ed could talk quilt.) Ed took our picture and asked us to say "muslin" instead of cheese. He won us over! Alma is holding a jar of their homemade salad dressing. All the pie boxes are hidden. Go to their site to read the history, salivate over the menu and learn more about President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Abilene.
Material Girls Quilt Shop was closed by the time we got there, boo hiss. Maybe next time. I even found an outfit to wear to Market. What do you think? Flats or heels? I am so energized by all the talent, creativity and knowledge that was shared. I could go on and on about my 3 days in Kansas but that is it for now. Oh ya, road trip home, 9 hours, only 1 detour and 1 speeding ticket scare. Whew! He got someone else. We were already trying to figure if we could talk him out of a ticket with moda fabrics.
I do not do the "A- word" but I always seem to take pictures of applique quilts. I guess that is Susan Stiff's influence on me. I love using a ticking as a background. (remember this for an after market posting)
This quilt is incredible. Carol Morrissey made it. She has a pattern company, 
Another incredible artist that I am mesmerized by is 
One of the things that Karen does is the tiniest piping that is added along with the binding. I tried to get a close-up of the small gold piping. I admire that she takes the time to do the piping. By the time I get to the binding I am ready to be done.
I believe 
Then I came to this quilt. Yes .....applique. It was vibrant and cheery and brightened the entire area. Just the perfect quilt to brighten up the day. The most incredible part of the quilt is the binding. It is covered cording (several colors and sizes) made into little semi circles sections. WOWSER!
A Beautiful book by 
A small part of the special people that bring 
