More From the Farm Retreat

This article appeared in the weekly paper "The Progress Examiner" from Orleans, Indiana.

The article and picture was by Vicki Gross...We would all like to say a "Big Thank You" for her very creative and descriptive words about our group..We are very pleased..You can read the whole article by clicking on it to enlarge.

Kathy and I were not able to be there for the whole retreat :0( We both attended all day Saturday though...and did each make our own Lizard pin....Someone took this picture (left to right) Rhona, Kathy, Cindy and me...I decided to add it with this postings...seem to fit...The Ol' Blogger

Audrey's Bedroom

This posting will make you want to start life over...Pictured here is a baby picture of Audrey..Jody's ("The Elder") granddaughter...I am going to be sharing pictures of her room when she visits...

*This bed is adorable and very special...as Bill..Jody's husband made it...

...A little girl is sugar and spice and everything nice - especially when she's taking a nap in this room...

He also made this cabinet that sits next to the bed in the corner...

*Bill made this bird house table....the tea sets on the top belonged to Audry's Great Great Grandmother...

Her stroller and dolls in the wicker chair..What little girl wouldn't love this room...We all do....

Retreat at the Old Farmhouse

Last weekend,we SoTA Sisters held our annual retreat. We spent 3 days and nights eating, talking and laughing and in between all that, also managed to get some sewing done. This year we went to the Old Farmhouse - it was like spending the weekend at Grandma's house.

Meet Dimples Dolphin. Every year Kathy starts a new project on New Year's day. This year she challenged the rest of the Sisters to also start a project. Jody not only started her project, she has already finished hers.

Cindy spent the weekend machine quilting this Thimbleberries quilt , and she got it completely quilted!!

Sherry embroidered blocks for her Moulin Rouge. It takes 8 hours of stitching time to do each of these blocks. This is going to be a stunning quilt when she gets it finished.

Judith joined in the fun. Here she's working on a scarf, (purple of course) on her Nifty Knitter loom.

Mary Jane stopped by and we presented her with the Group's 2008 Hoffman Challenge quilt - Serenity. Mary Jane did a major part of the design and we all felt she should have the quilt.

Jody did some quilting on her African rusted quilt. (sorry Jody - I didn't get a picture.)

Kathy and Elaine weren't able to spend the entire weekend, but they were able to spend Saturday with us. We all made Lizard pins - This one is Jacqueline's.

I pieced the Flower Garden top and some medallions for a Mariner's Compass (both are for Tony -but don't tell Harold)

We all love spending time at the Old Farmhouse and especially enjoy spending time together. Only 11 1/2 months till our next retreat!!!

Final: The Elders Studio..

There is a story behind this little cabinet...but as I said my brain is on pause..forgive me, hopefully "The Elder will let us know all about it......yes it is small..but she made perfect use of it...

If you are looking for ideas for your sewing studio...well.. Jody's is a great place for finding them...She wastes no space...as you can see she has baskets hanging from a work area...

Her handcrafted jewelry wrapped around the old bust or could it be storage for buttons...you decided...:0) More shelves below..also even a special place for her rulers and tools.

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In this picture I believe I see what is a cardboard tomatoe basket with craft supplies...Jody finds a use for every thing..waste not, want not...I am sure that is her motto....
Baby Food jars, clear containers vegies come in, you name it and she can give you an idea for it....

One of my favorites is the back of her door becomes a bulletin board..

Chicago Girls

**Oops amendment to the post below ...Cindy and Jody took a class on the fabric book while the girls were in Chicago....This is Jody's Chicago Keepsake with the girls...Cindy's I will have to do a posting on it later....Sorry I didn't have all the facts...but it is darling we all agree....

Each year some of the SoTA Sisters take a trip to Chicago for the quilt show...Jody (The Elder) created this cloth book in honor of the first trip..With the front being representative of Errorless,or Exquisite Elder....I couldn't resist when looking for and E word for beautiful...to let the Errorless word go unused...I am in big trouble...I will get a screeching email...giggles...


I hope I get these right...but if I am wrong forgive me.... my brain does go on pause a lot lately...This page is a character of our own Classy Cindy...

Shapely Sherry, would be this lovely lady..


Ravishing Rhona would be the one with red hair...now she doesn't have red hair but "The Elder" is always trying to turn her into a red head"..

Back page of the book...it seems in the back of my mind or some reason I want to say each of the girls made a book...I will have to check and if they did get pictures of their books...The Ol' Blogger...

Part Two: "The Elders" Studio...

*"The Elders" stash and other neat supplies.... She uses everything for containers...it is really neat to walk around her room and observe all...
As you ascend the stairway to enter her studio in front and just a little to the left sits this glass table...on this night it was covered with makings for an altered book she was working on...Wish you all could see each page...fascinating.

Perched in plain view was "The SoTA Sisters picture, a beautiful vase with lace and trims, and her embroider hearts she had created...All which she loves and is so her....More later....

The Elders Sewing Room..

On Chocolate Night we took pictures of The Elders Sewing Studio...I know it has been awhile since I have posted and since we had CN...a lot has been going on in my life the last few months...But hopefully the Ol' Blogger can get back with everyday living and posting...so to get started I am going to share these pictures with you all...
The shelves in front of her sewing machine hold some of her treasures she has collected over the years. On a back wall are shelves of supplies, tools and books...

When you enlarge these pictures you will see goodies in every little nook and cranny...from ATC cards to UFO projects..containers for supplies..yarn hanging from the ceiling...

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This was a gift given to her by a friend MJ and she added some of her mothers jewelry....she plans on making a special piece from this...we will be looking forward to seeing it when it is finished..
I have more to share from her studio but will let you all absorb these pictures...Later The Ol' Blogger...