Pieceful Gathering Quilt Shop located in Fox Grove, IL, sponsored a Courage and Valor retreat in Techny, IL last weekend. Here is a picture of the Techny Towers Conference and Retreat Center.
The sanctuary.
Remember the cover quilt from A Country’s Call? It is called Courage and Valor.
During Connie’s workshop each quilter worked on one 18″ block – the cover quilt is made up of only 9 blocks. Here is a picture of a single block – I want only one block for my table. Here is Connie’s class model – on my table!
Pictures from the retreat.
I’ll post the rest of the class photos tomorrow.
Thanks for all your support for Gloria and Angel today. To give you an idea of the seriousness of this surgery, here is the bladder stone compared to a dime. Angel weighs only 9.4 pounds so this stone was literally filling her bladder.
Unbelievable, isn’t it?
What a beautiful place for a retreat!! Looks like a lot of quilting got done too. I love your table topper.
Poor Angel. She will be a different baby when she gets all healed up. I’ll bet she is a cuddler. So happy for both of them.
We got snow tonight! The yard was nearly clear when it got dark. I looked out about 9 and the ground was white!! I have an idea it will melt fast as it is to be near 40 or so tomorrow. The grass will be green soon! Tulips are coming up as well as the iris. Exciting!! I love all of the new life in the spring.
Rest well tonight hoping your back is doing much better.
Beryl in Owatonna – well, that’s the problem – I can’t get to sleep. How come you’re still up?
I am a night owl, I guess! I a;ways check my email before I turn my computer off, it is usually midnight or after. I try to get to bed earlier, it just doesn’t work!! I have been this way as long as I can remember. One job I had I worked 3-11…it was perfect. When I worked 9-5 even noon to close (I managed a fabric store,) I would come home and find some project to do so it was at least midnight when I finally went to bed. I get up anywhere from 7:30 to 8:30. I do hope you went to bed shortly after you wrote here!!
My goodness that retreat looks wonderful. I crave that kind of setting and community right now!!
I’m so glad Angel is doing so well after her surgery! Bet Gloria is so much calmer tonight, knowing she is recovering from that ordeal.
Hope all are doing well. We live in crazy times. Stay safe and healthy!!
Diane Bauer – did you ever re-send your last Dirty Dozen finish? Remember I didn’t post it?
This is kind of like a pajama party where no one can sleep. We have a leather couch with a recliner at each end so Gaylen is laying at one end, me on the other and Angel laying between us. She needs to go outside every hour or two so we’re taking turns. She can’t have another pain pill until 1:30 so I’m passing the night watching Murder She Wrote.
Love the idea of just making one block of Courage and Valor – might be my next project.
Angel is such a lucky pup to have Gloria as her mum,best wishes for the future, Sandy xx
Bobby in Maryland
What a relief for Angel and Gloria! So happy it all turned out well. Gloria has literally rescued Angel twice now.
It looks like everyone had a great time at retreat. I’m envious of all the space each sewer had to themselves. A nice set up indeed.
Though I have lived in Illinois all my life, I had never heard of Techny Towers. How beautiful! Here is a link to the history of this fascinating structure:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2007-08-01-0707310810-story.html
Happy Angel is on the road to recovery! Poor puppy! The retreat looks awes9me!
I wish I could piece a block with that number of pieces with precision. I’m amazed at that perfect stack of blocks! Precious Angel with that horrid stone in her bladder. My goodness she is a fortunate little dog. I have a feeling she will get plenty of TLC to heal and a BFF forever!
The block is spectacular I really like it. The Venue is as spectacular as the block is. Hope you have a good day today. Paula in KY
The retreat had such a serene feeling to it. It’s a space I would love to sew in.
Thanks to Connie for enlightening us with it and her block with that splash of green really adds to spring time.
I think it’s great when our soul sisters can’t sleep that they have a means to talk together like Gloria sharing about Angel sleeping on and off between trips outside. Vets say animals tolerate a lot and poor Angel sure did. She has been given a new life to enjoy with her mom who gave her the chance. It’s something we need to hear more of. Hope you all get naps today!
So glad Angel is doing well. My mom had a shitzu that had these stones all the time. Several surgeries on the poor little thing,
Connie’s retreat looked like fun!
Enjoy the warm weather today, looks like more snow is coming
So happy about little Angel!
I received your latest beautiful book for Christmas and after seeing the beautiful blocks made at Connie’s class, I’m making the quilt. It’s lovely! Thanks for the inspiration!
I missed the pajama party by a few hours. My little Louie woke us up around 4ish when he jumped off the bed and up chucked his dinner. Neither of us could get back to sleep after that. So happy that Angel is over the surgery. Will keep her in my prayers. What a fun retreat! Love your table topper. I could handle one block I think! Jan in MA
It’s hard to believe such a sweet little dog could have such a big bladder stone. She must feel sooo much better and with Gloria there to look after her I pray she’ll be feeling good.
I cannot believe the size of that stone! What causes them? Do they know? I am so happy for that pup that it has been removed.
The photos of the retreat are great and remind me of the one I go to and am missing at this very moment. We have lots of space too except that we have ironing stations set up around the room. I use my roller so much now that I don’t press until I finish a block.
Love your cat grass. It is supposed to be very healthy for the cats to nibble on. Also good for humans isn’t it? Thanks for the great post, Mary.
Sue in Oregon – I remember that you had to miss your retreat but there will be more retreats in your future, I’m sure. How are you feeling?
What a beautiful post today.
That stone looks painful for a person, much less how awful for a little, itty bitty dog!
She is so lucky to have G+G by her side.
Your pajama party made me laugh, especially taking Angel out every hour. What we don’t do for our critters. It is great to see the same pattern in so many different colorways. Especially like the brown and cream block. Can’t wait to see more retreat results.
I’m working on “goose in the pond” and it has 77 pieces in a block. Very interesting…….
Is that book A Country’s Call available fir purchase – or that pattern at least? Would love make a table topper like you showed.
Elaine – the book is available through Martingale, Amazon, your local quilt shop. We do not have any more to sell and it has not been offered as a pattern.
Thanks for asking!
Mary
I saw ‘A Country’s Call’ in a quilt store in Cameron MO on Monday – it was in a great Civil War display!
Love that block! That is a huge stone! Poor little thing, I hope that Angel will recover quickly. Sending good thoughts and prayers. Didn’t know anything until yesterday and I couldn’t leave a message. Have a nice day.
Poor pup!! That thing is massive! So glad Gloria came into her life at just the right time!! The block is beautiful with lots going on in that 18″!!