How's about we...

They all sound like great ideas (but not all at once :-) )

Maybe a themed retreat?

Lizzy

I like the idea of a dedicated week or three, maybe where we all declare what our own challenge is we will be working on. I also like the idea of a central challenge, which could also be worked on (and talked about, of course) throughout a certain time frame.

Karen, Queen of Squishies

I already have challenges. Survival is one. I understand very well that there are those who delight in competition and deadlines but I don't do that. (Maybe I should bring that up when my next Anger Management group meets as soon as they're released from custody.) Trying to see the fun of a challenge - it seems to me that a real challenge would be for everybody to take on a real challenge of something they've never done. No. No bungee-jumping nekkid. I mean: trapunto? Celtic? Miniature? or ! how about doing Big blocks with a print so large your eyes cross just considering it? If you always are drawn to subtle, try lime. Like lime? take on taupe and gray. Love 30's repros? Do something wild with Kaffe. ( Now THAT's wild.) We'll call it the Real Challenge. Do something you've never dared to do. I double-dog-dare you. As a comfort, I keep some cash at an undisclosed location on the ready to bail out any of you who need it. Polly

That is funny. You are a good woman Polly. I'm not so hot at competitions either. When it comes to teams I am usually the secret weapon for the opposing side. : ( The sewing group I sew with did a small challenge for their charity that consisted of using a panel. Now that was easy. I did a fun panel they gave me and it turned out really cute. Some child will get a nice quilt and it was simple. They ended up with 26 small quilts. For the group that part was a success. Maybe you're challenge with NIN as recipients could get us stirred up here? Taria

I already have challenges. Survival is one. I understand very well that there are those who delight in competition and deadlines but I don't do that. (Maybe I should bring that up when my next Anger Management group meets as soon as they're released from custody.) Trying to see the fun of a challenge - it seems to me that a real challenge would be for everybody to take on a real challenge of something they've never done. No. No bungee-jumping nekkid. I mean: trapunto? Celtic? Miniature? or ! how about doing Big blocks with a print so large your eyes cross just considering it? If you always are drawn to subtle, try lime. Like lime? take on taupe and gray. Love 30's repros? Do something wild with Kaffe. ( Now THAT's wild.) We'll call it the Real Challenge. Do something you've never dared to do. I double-dog-dare you. As a comfort, I keep some cash at an undisclosed location on the ready to bail out any of you who need it. Polly

LOL, Taria and thanks for it! being the secret weapon for the opposing side? WaHAha. I love it! Polly

No, I don't do deadlines, either. I can't commit to 'finish' anything in a time, but it would be good for me to say that I would try to commit to some quilting me-time every day for a week, say.

This was not a competition suggestion so much as a Gathering call. A reason to visit with friends and a virtual 'pull up a chair and sit down for a while.' Nothing heavy, I would definitiely have to pass on that one, nor a swap of any sort: far too much like hard work.

Perhaps I will moot the first week in July as RCTQ Retreat Week, and we will all try to do a little something every day and report our progress and talk about 'it'; shoes; ships ans sealing wax; cabbages and kings. We challenge ourselves to something we can succeed at. That willl be different for each of us, but something a little different, or something a little out-of-our-comfort-zone. In my case, it may be setting aside time, without fail, to do something solely for ME, and telling the family to deal with their own stuff for an hour or two each day. OTOH, I might set up to do some piecing, which I haven't done for so long I've probably forgotten how.

Whatever it is, at the end of the Retreat we should be satisfied and mellow: that's the aim.

Who's in?

Nel (Gadget Queen)

Well, I would like to be in that group, Nel, and will make the honest effort to set aside time each day for something quilty related.

G> No, I don't do deadlines, either. =A0I can't commit to 'finish' anything

Sounds good to me. And I have some deadlines looming too.....................

Pati, in Phx

I just tried something I never dared to do. I put a scalloped border on a crib quilt. Not scalloped to the outside; the scallops fall to the inside around the appliquéd kitty sashed with black and white wavy checks. Studied the books. Listened to the experts. Made the scallop "valleys" shallow instead of sharp points. Surprised at how very easy it really is and it does make quite an impact. Since my stitching is more likely to be chewed than viewed there was a concern about the durability where there's nearly nothing turned under at the base of the valleys. When quilting, I've made a special target of tacking those vulnerable places. Got it! Next . . . I've never tried Celtic. Anybody have a thought on how to combine the lovely weaving of Celtic with a dinosaur or bulldozer? Polly

Pati, in Phx

Perhaps make the border with Celtic? There are many designs that can be long, rather than square. . In message , Polly Esther writes

I have a book somewhere with Dinosaurs done in Celtic: I'll find it during to day and get back to you.

I tried Celtic (with bias tape) for the first time about three months back, after a day's course. I did it all by hand. It was a lovely technique, but time consuming. I'm not sure I would do it all by hand, by that method again, but the finished article was more than satisfactory.

I think I'll join after I move into our new place. Apartment hunting, packing, working and the bus 2-3 hours a day is waring enough for now. After August I should be settled enough to pull out a few of the 50 or so WIPs/UFOs I have boxed up to finish!!! Thanks for the invite...I'm just postponing a little!!!

I can start on Sat. that is when the grandkids go home. May have 2 others but I can still do a little quilting. I still don't have much fabric, but I can use what little I have.