In this hilariously chaotic quilting retreat, the Inappropriate Quilters gathered with special guests Lina Owens from Bluebell Designs and Dee Bushrod from Pixel Quilts for a spicy, laughter-filled conversation spanning cultural traditions, quilting projects, and plenty of inappropriate tangents! The group shared stories about their multicultural backgrounds, with Lina discussing her recently launched bilingual quilting book (the first in the industry) and Dee revealing how her pixel quilt of the Queen actually received a response from Buckingham Palace. Between fits of laughter, they discussed upcoming collaborations, including a joint retreat at Hamilton Quilt Retreats where Dee and Rochelle will be teaching pixel quilts and pet portraits featuring Winky, Dee's one-eyed rescue pug who apparently "rules the house."

The conversation took numerous wild turns as the quilters shared Colombian New Year's traditions like running around the neighborhood with luggage at midnight, eating twelve grapes while making wishes, and wearing specific colored underwear for love or money in the coming year. Amidst all the quilting talk, the group couldn't help but veer into hilarious tangents about flat feet, googly eyes mysteriously appearing in underwear, and the dream of getting Dee's pixel quilts to celebrities like Post Malone and Jelly Roll. The meeting wrapped up with a heartfelt moment acknowledging the importance of friendship and collaboration in the quilting industry, ending with a Bob Ross-inspired quote: "The secret to doing anything is believing you can do it."

Enjoy!

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Follow Leslie on Instagram at @leslie_quilts and Rochelle at @doughnutwarrior

The Inappropriate Quilters met at Cherry Springs Retreat Center in Texas, where they discussed their journey there, including Leslie's stop at Moda warehouse and Dee's experience with traffic in Waco. They shared stories about their current quilting projects, including Rochelle's pixel quilt of a Nutcracker and Dee's Elizabeth Hartman Show and Tell pattern featuring animals holding miniature quilts. They talked about Rochelle's handmade "Cowgirl Chic" outfit for an upcoming event, complete with needle-felted cats in cowboy hats, red fringe, and rhinestone-decorated boots. A highlight of their retreat was when Deb pranked Rochelle by placing over 200 googly eyes on her belongings, from her earbuds to her sewing supplies, which everyone found hilarious.

The quilters enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere at the retreat, noting how everyone worked quietly on their projects for eight hours straight, which they attributed to the lack of noise distractions that typically plague other retreats. They appreciated Sarah Nichols' hospitality at Cherry Springs Retreat, mentioning amenities like instant hot water and comfortable accommodations for up to nine people. Before concluding, Rochelle shared an insightful thought about the "invisible guest phenomenon," reminding everyone that at social gatherings, most people are too concerned with their own appearance and behavior to judge others, which can be freeing when attending holiday parties. BIG Texas THANK YOU to Sarah and the local quilters who came to meet Leslie and Rochelle during their stay. What a great treat! Enjoy!

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Follow Leslie on Instagram at @leslie_quilts and Rochelle at @doughnutwarrior

In this episode, Rochelle and Leslie stitched together conversations as colorful as their fabric stashes! They shared exciting personal projects, with Rochelle completing a wedding quilt and diving into her label-making obsession, while both exchanged travel wisdom about the Mobile Passport Control app and Viking cruise adjustments. The crafty duo discussed upcoming retreats, Halloween plans with grandchildren, and fitness journeys, before unraveling conversations about shipping costs, quilt-making techniques, and the surprising history of ranch dressing. Their needle-sharp wit shone through discussions of buffalo wings, tomato soup preparations for Thanksgiving retreats, and the practical wisdom that UPS might beat USPS for heavier packages.

The conversation took a heartfelt turn as Rochelle shared her involvement with suicide prevention initiatives and her touching experience giving quilts to unhoused individuals, emphasizing the importance of remembering loved ones for their positive qualities. Creative energy flowed through discussions of zipper bag projects, with Rochelle hunting for the perfect colored zippers and planning to bring her creations to an upcoming retreat. These quilting companions wrapped up their chat with sewing projects featuring directional chicken fabric, a Nutcracker-themed quilt class, matching family pajamas, and heartwarming stories of community support—including how Patty helped an unhoused woman named Barbara secure Social Security benefits, leading to Barbara's touching plan to donate underwear and socks for the holidays.

This is a jam-packed episode filled with heart. Enjoy!

*Please note: We are aware of the audio issues with Rochelle's microphone being too low. We will continue to work to improve this!

For your ultimate quilting experience, check out our sponsor, Osage Hills Retreat Center for upcoming retreats, classes and so much more! It is Oklahoma's premier craft destination. Relaxation and

Send us a text

Follow Leslie on Instagram at @leslie_quilts and Rochelle at @doughnutwarrior