Sally Vollmer was growing a little frustrated with the fabric for the “pink ribbon” jacket she was making Oct. 24, 2017, at the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center. But she knew the cancer survivor she was making it for would like it.

“I’m a cancer survivor,” she said. “I’m making it for me.”

Vollmer, of Cadiz, Ky., was one of 22 members of the Trigg County (Ky.) Quilters Guild who returned for their sixth year to spend a week at the Retreat Center. The women bring projects to work on throughout the week.

Mary Schaaf was making her third trip to Maple Mount. When she moved to Cadiz – in far western Kentucky – 12 years ago, three of her neighbors were in the guild, so that’s how she got started.

“I love coming here for the camaraderie,” she said. “This is a great facility too.” Schaaf was working a quilt for her 19-year-old grandson, featuring an eagle in the middle and bear paws around the edges.

Robin Vidrick was taking a break from her quilting to work a word search puzzle on Oct. 24. “I’m searching for quilt words, so it still counts,” she said. Vidrick was making 18 flying geese blocks for her “Circling Geese” quilt.

“It will go on the back of the couch during patriotic holidays,” she said.

She said she has 20 to 30 projects ongoing and manages to complete a few each year. Her great grandmother quilted, but she’s only been quilting since 2000.

Janet Vance sought the expertise of Laura Merz and Rosa Hickerson to help her square the fabric featuring a large airplane. After a breakthrough on how best to repair her trimming, Vance told Merz, “I may have you come back in an hour.”

Vance was making the quilt for her brother, who flies radio-controlled airplanes.