There’s a new retreat center in town (aka Downsville, WI) and it’s incredible – the Woodland Ridge Retreat Center.  This is the same retreat center that Trish and I are hosting the first Project QUILTING retreat – PQ4Me Luxury Quilt Retreat – in January of 2015.  I jumped at the opportunity to go for a night and see if the center was as amazing as I had heard from many others!

My friend Trish (or Trisha as her mother named her and prefers her to be called…you find out lots on quilt retreat!) picked me up after the big girls got on the bus (Pip was at Grandma’s) and we headed up to Downsville.  We made a stop at a quilt shop and found some amazing sandwiches and pie w
hile we were at it.

We also spotted a chicken and since Trisha is aka ‘Quilt Chicken’ this photo op was a must!Before we knew it – we had arrived!

I had actually met the owner, Chris Daly, at a retreat in 2006 – and it was great to see her again – 8 years and three kids later! 

Chris took us on a tour of the facility when we arrived.  There are two great rooms for sewing and creating.  There are 12 adjustable chairs and tables for working on – comfortably!

She has a plethora of rulers, ironing boards, cutting tables and irons.  This is great for quilters that are traveling from afar – way less to try to pack and tote with you!

The cutting tables are at a great level so you don’t strain your back when cutting – a huge MUST!

Trish and I had to have a ‘selfie’ at the retreat center!

The sleeping accommodations at this retreat center are nothing less than luxurious!  Everyone gets to sleep in their OWN double bed!  And yes – it’s as cozy at it looks!’

Each room sleeps three to four people.

Each room has their own whirlpool tub, shower and toilet facilities.  You will pamper yourself surrounded by beautiful handcrafted tiles.

As you walk through the retreat center you can’t help but be inspired by the beautiful art Chris has on display.  Some are her own art quilts.

Others are by artists she admires and loves.

There is a tranquil dining room for chatting and munching (another must on retreat).

I was so excited to see the quilt that Chris made and is her logo in person!  Stunning!!!

What a lovely welcome area!

And…I found a couple of new friends at Chris’s neighbor’s – Simply Dunn.  I just couldn’t resist these folks to help encourage me while I’ sewing…still working on names!

Chris is a talented fabric-dyer and has her luscious hand-dyes for sale in a little shop area.  Drool!

Even the room numbers are hand made!  I love all the special little details Chris made sure to incorporate into Woodland Ridge Retreat!

Trish and I were at the retreat to ‘quilt for a cause’.  Above is the ‘Zen’ Quilt that Trisha and Chris worked on.

I took orphan blocks donated to me by others and got one quilt put together.  Once I quilt it, my plan is donate it a child in foster care.

I have a hard time focusing on just one project…so…  on the left are the other orphan blocks I’m working on putting together into a quilt.  These weren’t ‘speaking’ to me quite as well as the others.  I got some together but not all of them.

I have a lot of the football fabric you see in the main portion of the block.  I figure that I’ll make up 6 Washington DC blocks from Pat Sloan’s Mystery Globe Trotting Quilt Along and use scraps of other colors on the outside.  I finished one during my night of quilting.

I also worked on some Shoofly blocks from Pat Sloan’s Scrappy Happy Sew Along block tutorial.  My main fabric is a fabulous giraffe print.  I’m making the background of scraps of my own hand-dyed fabrics.  I can’t wait to finish the next 14 blocks and see how it looks all together!

All of the quilts I’m working on above will be donated to children in foster care once they’re finished.

Upcoming Events at Woodland Ridge Retreat:

May 20th-25th

Quilt for a Cause: Bring a project to work on for your favorite charity and stay at a discounted rate of $50.00 per night.

June 20th-22nd

Young Quilters Retreat

Mothers bring your Daughters, Grandmothers bring your Granddaughters for a chance to spend some quality time sewing together.

July 10th – 12th

Wool Dyeing Class: Explore various techniques of wool dyeing with mini classes on pattern design and embroidery stitches.

January 16th – 18th, 2015


PQ4Me Luxury Quilt Retreat

OR – book your own visit to the retreat!  Get some friends together or go yourself and enjoy yourself while you quilt in luxury!

Keep an eye on the Woodland Retreat Blog and Facebook page so you don’t miss a thing!