I am pulling up some memories today to share with you on the blog.
In July 2011 my friend Peggy and I headed to Montana to get certified for the Judy Niemeyer, aka Quiltworx “Technique of the Month” designs. I had been teaching for Peggy at her shop, Pinwheels and Posies for a while. I was teaching Quiltworx patterns but was not able to teach the elusive “Glacier Star” because she was not a certified shop and/or I was not a certified instructor. So we decided to correct that and hopped on a plane!
Now when you live in SE Texas in the summer it really is a “chore” to have to go to Montana in the summer! Let’s see it is warm in the daytime, but not humid. And the nights are cool – in fact we slept with the windows open because our room did not have a/c. Yes – it was a tough gig – but we coped.
Here are a few memories I thought I would share today!
First of all where we stay is a beautiful house. It belongs to Judel, Judy’s daughter. Judel and her family move out of the house during the summer and turn it over to the very fortunate retreaters. Here are a few of the details that make her house a home!
I loved this frame. It hangs in the stairwell at the landing on the way to top floor.
Even the rafters had special accents
I loved the front door!
Our room while we were there – can you believe the quilts on our beds?
We were able to fit in a trip to Quiltworx HQ – it was a quonset hut and they used every available space. In 2014 they opened a fabulous new training facility and moved HQ at the same time.
Adding a front porch to the hut!
The sewing room is a converted garage area – with lots of light, design walls and when you fill it with happy stitchers it becomes a very happy place indeed!
Mary’s shoes! Aren’t they happy!
On the outside looking in….
The sites from the home are AWESOME too!
Different kinds of flowers grow all around the retreat center.
The sun is coming up…..
And it’s up!
Sunset
It was probably close to 3 am when we were heading to bed. Peggy said “look at that moon!” I of course had to grab my camera – then I had to grab Connie. We used her tripod and expertise but luckily we were using my camera so I have the photo! You can see the stars and reflections in the lake – Thanks Connie!
We did manage to get a little sewing done, I had a goal in mind and needed to sew!
The wee hours of the morning or late hours of the night – not sure which!
The goal…..
To have my Glacier Star quilt photographed in Glacier National Park
That’s the shot! Yes I could’ve cropped Roger out – but this memory is more fun!
A few more photos from Glacier National Park
USA bear made the trip too!
Connie taught me a lot about my camera and how to use it!
I love nature!
It was a drizzly day and we teased Peggy that she was trying to keep her hair dry!
Awwwwww…..
The hearty Canadian, Roger and the not so tough Texan, Peggy!
Our fearless leader!
And as I have said before – all good things must come to an end……
As we arrived at the airport to fly home!
And we have arrived back in SE Texas
I hope you enjoyed my trip down memory lane…..
Dee
loved the pictures and sharing your memory
Your photo memory blog is wonderful. I just returned from my first Quiltworx retreat in Somers, MT that began on Sept. 9, 2014 and am bubbling with enthusiasm after the experience. Judy Niemeyer is a very unpretentious person, and she made us all feel comfortable as she lead us through our pattern projects. Shila and the other young ladies at the retreat house who saw to our every need were efficient and personable. Everyone made us feel like part of the Quiltworx family. The house is perfect for retreats, and it is amazing that Judel and her children pick up lock, stock, and barrel and move out for several months to accommodate the retreat operations.
I didn’t know the business used to operate out of a “hut,” and the new facility is AMAZING. It was hard to leave without purchasing every Quiltworx pattern in the warehouse! The training center next door is ideal for those wishing to become certified instructors.
P. S. Will you come to my home and teach me how to do the Glacier Star pattern I bought from a certified shop we visited in Kallispell? LOL I know I’m going to need a lot of help when I get brave enough to start that quilt. (I’m in PA and our weather is fairly cool in the summer compared to TX.)
Patty I am glad you enjoyed my blog. The hut was very impressive, the had an upstairs and that is where they stored pallets and pallets of newsprint patterns. They also had all the cover sheets and patterns and the assembly line for putting together the patterns. Judy and Del even had an “apartment” upstairs because they would work into the wee hours of the morning!