Photo: “Featherweight” quilt designed by Laura Heine Instructor Robin Reilly. Photo courtesy Robin Reilly
LAKE HAVASU CITY – No sewing machines were required this past weekend at Robin’s Collage Class retreat that gave beginner quilt makers a chance to let their fingers do the magic and create some unique designs.
The quilting retreat was a three-day explosion of creativity that began on Friday, April 4 and ended on Sunday, April 6 at the London Bridge Resort. The weekend retreat was taught by Laura Heine certified instructor Robin Reilly.
Originally from Southern California, Reilly and her husband moved to Portland, Oregon in the early 1980s. The teacher has held jobs in the retail industry for the majority of her adult career, however, Reilly has had an enthusiasm for sewing and fabrics since she was five years old.
At 16, the sewing teacher took a job at a local fabric shop, but it wasn’t until the year 2000, that her fascination with quilting became her true love while during visit to Amish country in Ohio. Sixteen years later, Reilly enrolled in her first Laura Heine course. With two more Heine classes that followed, Reilly decided to become a certified Laura Heine collage instructor in Billings, Montana. Today, Reilly truly enjoys teaching students the Heine technique which is placing a collage on solid backgrounds or rather a pieced backdrop and collaging everything all together.
“Just my Type” quilt designed by Laura Heine Instructor Robin Reilly. Photo courtesy of Robin Reilly
Matched perfectly with the beauty of Lake Havasu, the weekend getaway was at a convenient central location at the Bridgewater Channel alongside the historic London Bridge.
Bundle purchase from Reilly was required for the retreat. Friday’s kick-off day began with an evening dessert social in the King Arthur’s room of the resort.
Saturday, was a seven-hour day class in a room overlooking Havasu’s scenic lake. It was also a day where students got familiar fabrics and prep.
Classes were from 9:30 a.m. that day to 4:30 p.m. however students still were assigned homework that evening, which they could study and create in their rooms.
The following day, another seven hour day class met for a continuation of quilt the works produced by students were beautiful creations unveiling incredible hidden talents and memories that will last a lifetime.
