QUAP 2026

Each year in the spring, I take a trip to Tennessee for our QUAP (Quilt-aholics And Pat) retreat.  Janice comes to my house the day before, and this year we took off early on Saturday, April 18^th.  We drove several hours, then stopped at the Moose Café in Asheville for a fabulous breakfast: 

This year we arrived at PLACE OF GRACE in Clarkrange, TN around 1 PM and set up our machines and excitedly greeted everyone else who showed up:

Nancy (co-leader who hails from Chicago)

Abby (Nancy's sister, also from Chicago)

Pat (co-leader who lives right here in SCCL)

Andi (Pat's daughter, flying in from New Mexico)

Raeann (Pat's granddaughter, flying in from Colorado)

Janice (currently living in North Carolina, but hopefully soon to be back living in Connecticut!)

BG (currently residing in Connecticut, but arriving at QUAP from Arkansas)

Barb (new this year, living right here in SCCL)

We were only missing Arizona Mary, who will also miss the retreat in 2027, but will be back in 2028!!!!

Everyone got set up and dived into sewing, talking, laughing, sharing stories and patterns and fabric and in general having a fabulous time! We had incredible meals, including lots of snacks....desserts....and BOOZE!!!!

When anyone finished a project, they would yell out ''I'm on the board'' and everyone else would grab their phones for a photo-op....and there were plenty of chances (we're a very productive group!):

-there were multiple sets of blocks being completed, to subsequently go home to be put up and re-arranged on design walls

-recognize these? Janice is also doing a CONNECTIONS quilt....

-a sample of how these will look at home....

-2 chandeliers looking wildly different

-this is a wanna-be disappearing 4 patch (retreat joke!)

For anyone who has not been on a retreat...it is very hard to describe what it is like....no matter how early you get up, or how late you stay up, there is always someone to talk quilting with and share your excitement over things you hope to make in the future. The bonding you experience is something everyone should experience at one time or another.

I am very grateful to be a part of this wonderful group :~).