Sew South

Oh boy - how to capture what happened last weekend??  A group of 50 women coming together from all over to sew and create - exactly what this girl was needing.  Sew South was the perfect combination of retreat and making - beautiful things and beautiful friendships.  What a visionary Jennifer is - her hard work to bring this kind of event to life was incredible!  What a joy it was to walk into the reception Thursday night and be hugged by friends I haven't seen in a while, as well as make new friends, matching faces with blogs.  The whole weekend was all about the people and connecting- the belly laughing that went on long into the night as we huddled around our machines.  So it's weird that I don't have pictures of my friends to share with you today - I know!  I didn't take that many and the few I have are not downloaded yet.  I was so in the moment!  A nice place to be, for sure.
I'll have to share more later, but I just wanted to pop in and share a few things.  Here is what we made:

 This clutch pattern was created by Diane  (and available for free on Craftsy!), who also taught the class.  I love how they turned out!  It was so easy to do and looks so polished - I see lots of these in my future.  Great gift idea!

 Oh, The Duffle.  This deserves it's own post!  Lindsey was a calm, encouraging, fearless leader in helping us all make this.  50 duffle bags!!  This thing was a beast that I never would have tried to tackle on my own.  But together, as each person finished, a wild, LOUD cheer would erupt from the room.  Oh, the community!  And yes, that's a pleated zippered pocket you see there.  Major props to all the people who helped me - you know who you are!  I'm in your debt.  I don't know what the official tally was, but many of us broke many needles on this one.

 Jennifer taught our paper pieced star pattern. Never mind my points don't match up!  I still love it, and have plans to put it in a special quilt.

 And there was the pajama pants - in the first picture, it's the turquoise print with the pink circle cuffs.  I've been wearing them every night to bed, feeling a small beam of pride that I made something I can actually. wear.  I didn't think I had it in me.

Not to rub it in, but there was some serious swag.  A giant thank you to the super generous Sew South sponsors!

 And this is a shot of everything I came home with that I did not have before the retreat.  Some was swag, some were gifts, some I made, some I bought, and some were swaps.  All is appreciated!

 

And lastly, this was on the design wall when I came home.  Don't you know my hubby was just waiting for me to clear out of here so he could have his time with the design wall?!  

I am blessed indeed.