Learning has never been so much fun!
Quilting in the Hills 2021
October 7 - 10, 2021
at Terra Sancta Retreat Center
Join us in October for our annual retreat. We are back at the Terra Sancta Retreat Center, conveniently located near Rapid City in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. The fun begins Thursday, with three days of classes and SOYO. The weekend promises lots of opportunities to learn new quilting techniques, make new friends, and relax in the pine-scented fresh air of the Hills.
The Terra Sancta Retreat Center has a variety of classrooms, state-of-the-art equipment, and hotel-style lodging rooms. Terra Sancta is owned and managed by the Diocese of Rapid City. Visit their website at http://terrasancta.org/retreat-center
If you are interested in being an instructor for a future retreat, please scroll to the bottom of this page for an application form.
Registration is closed
Note: The brochure has an error for the link to Terra Sancta for lodging reservations. The correct link is listed in the lodging section below.
Open Brochure Pictures of Retreat Projects
Refund Policy: Cancellations before July 31 will receive a 50% refund on workshops. Cancellations between July 31 and August 31 will receive a 25% refund on workshops.There are no refunds after August 31. The registration fee is non-refundable.Meet the Instructor
Cynthia England, England Design Studios
Cynthia, a native Houstonian and graduate of the Art Institute of Houston, is an international fiber artist, pattern designer and author. Experimentation with quilting techniques led her to develop her own unique style and technique called “Picture Piecing.” Many quilters assume it is just another name for paper piecing or foundation piecing, but Cynthia’s approach is much more! While similar to these techniques in that it uses paper and straight seams, Picture Piecing has several differences, allowing quilters to achieve detailed imagery more efficiently, with less frustration and fabric waste.
Picture Piecing looks like paper piecing, but it’s not! What’s different?
- No paper to pick out
- No fabric waste – cut out exactly what you need
- What you see is what you get!
- Can reuse the pattern
- Use a regular stitch length
- You can “chain stitch” in larger sections
- You can CHEAT!
Cynthia’s quilts have been honored with many awards, including three Best of Shows at the prestigious International Quilt Association, as well as Viewer’s Choice at the American Quilter’s Society. Her quilt, Piece and Quiet, was distinguished as one of the Hundred Best Quilts of the 20th Century. Cynthia teaches nationally and internationally, and has shared her techniques at quilting events in South Africa, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Canada, Australia, Spain, and Mexico. In addition, she is the designer and owner of England Design Studios, the publishing / pattern company that specializes in the Picture Piecing technique. She has designed over 70 patterns that use her technique and written two books explaining the process. Visit her website at: www.englanddesign.com
Workshop Descriptions
Thursday, October 7: Dragonflies
This is a great introduction to Picture Piecing. These colorful dragonflies are easy to make! In this class Cynthia will guide you through the process. No tracing, no picking out any paper, just straight line sewing. Cheating is encouraged! Material fee is $26 and includes the pattern and all fabric for the top, complete with borders and binding. This fee is payable in class: cash preferred; check or MasterCard/Visa accepted.
Friday, October 8: Picture Piecing – Creating Realistic Pieced Pictures
Note: The Friday Picture Piecing Workshop is full. You may request to have your name added to the waiting list on the online form or Contact Us.
Howloweenie supply list Smoky Mountains supply list Bluebonnet supply list
This is a great beginner and intermediate class! Choose from Howloweenie (beginner), Smoky Mountains (intermediate), or Bluebonnet (intermediate). All are perfect to learn the Picture Piecing technique. These are not foundation pieced; the technique is sewn with straight seams and is such a fun and forgiving process. No paper to pick out, no fabric waste, uses a regular stitch length, pattern is reusable and you can CHEAT! Material fee is $37 for Howloweenie or Smoky Mountains, and $44 for Bluebonnet. This includes the pattern and all fabric for the top, including borders and binding. This fee is payable in class: cash preferred; check or MasterCard/Visa accepted.
Saturday, October 9: Picture Piecing Design
Picture Piecing Design supply list
This class teaches how to break up a design so it can be sewn using the Picture Piecing technique. You will work with designs that start out simple and gradually become more difficult. The goal is to make you more comfortable designing your own wall hanging. Later in the day you may work on your own drawing if you choose. Information on how to choose a design is included in the supply list. The material fee is $15, and includes all design supplies needed to work on the provided designs. This fee is payable in class: cash preferred; check or MasterCard/Visa accepted. There is a list of supplies to bring if you choose to work on your own line drawing in the afternoon.
*Please note: You must register for Thursday’s or Friday’s Picture Piecing workshop in order to register for the design workshop. In the piecing workshop, you will learn the technique, which will allow you to be able to use that information to design your own Picture Piecing project.
SOYO (Sew On Your Own) will be offered on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Evening Programs
Friday will be a Game Night which will begin shortly after dinner. There is no charge to participate if you are registered for a workshop or SOYO; otherwise, there is a $5.00 fee.
Saturday will be Show and Tell which will begin shortly after dinner. This will be the time to show off the projects you have worked on during the retreat.
Retreat Schedule
| Thursday, Oct 7 | 10:30 am | Check-in begins and SOYO room opens |
| 1:30 pm | Class room opens for set up | |
| 2:00 pm | Dragonflies Workshop | |
| 5:30 pm | Dinner | |
| 6:15 pm | Workshop resumes | |
| 8:00 pm | Class and SOYO rooms closed for the day | |
| Friday, Oct 8 & Saturday, Oct 9 | 8:00 am | Breakfast |
| 8:30 am | Classrooms open for set up | |
| 9:00 am | Workshop begins, Picture Piecing on Friday and Design on Saturday | |
| Noon | Lunch | |
| 1:30 pm | Workshop resumes | |
| 5:45 pm | Classroom closes | |
| 6:00 pm | Dinner | |
| 7:00 pm | Game Night on Friday, Show and Tell on Saturday | |
| Sunday, Oct 10 | 8:00 am | Breakfast |
Lodging and Meals
All room reservations will be made directly through Terra Sancta Retreat Center. They can be reached by phone at (605) 716-0925 or online at http://terrasancta.org/BHQG
Sleeping accommodations are Family Style rooms. Each Family Style room has two queen-size beds and a private bath (similar to a hotel room) and can accommodate up to four guests. Linens and towels are provided in all rooms. If you need an ADA-accessible room, please let Terra Sancta know when you contact them.
Family Style rooms are available for a three-night stay at $270.76, or $100.28 per room per night.
PLEASE NOTE: Alcohol and other controlled substances are prohibited at the retreat center.
Select your meals on the registration form.
- Thursday Dinner: Pizza, Mandarin Orange Salad, Dessert, $15.95
- Friday Breakfast: Benedict Scrambler, Toast, Oatmeal Bar, Juice, $11.95
- Friday Lunch: Sliders, Mandarin Cherry Salad, Tater Tots, $13.95
- Friday Dinner: Parmesan Chicken, Roasted Potatoes, Broccoli, Dessert, $15.95
- Saturday Breakfast: Breakfast Sliders, Fruit Medley, Juice, $11.95
- Saturday Lunch: Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad, Chicken Salad Croissant, Chips, $13.95
- Saturday Dinner: Pork Tenderloin, Apple Sausage Stuffing, Iceberg Wedge, Dessert, $15.95
- Sunday Breakfast: French Toast, Sausage Links, Yogurt Bar, Juice, $11.95
Calling All Teachers
We are always looking for new instructors offering techniques that provide a variety of interest for our guild. If you would like to teach a class, please submit your application online OR download and print the form, fill it out and mail it to us. Please provide as much information as possible. We will try to contact you within a few weeks but if you don't hear from us, submit your application again or Contact Us. Thank you!
Click here to open the ONLINE Instructor Application Form
Click here to Download and Print Instructor Application Form
Planning Ahead
Future Quilting in the Hills Retreat Dates
October 6 - 9, 2022
September 21 - 24, 2023
October 10 - 13, 2024
