What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

A road trip! Imagine that! I didn't really need to make the road trip, but what the heck - it was pouring rain and why not!

Actually, I wanted to get that sewing machine to Karen and I had an order to pick up at Thimbles and Things. Both are in the same town and I had been holding off until our retreat at the end of this month. That retreat got canceled and well - I just wanted to cross those two tasks off my list.

Karen is like me - when you get an idea - you want to make it ...

First I have to tell you all, dear friends, that I really appreciate all the wonderful conversations that resulted from my last post.  It is very encouraging to know that so many of you feel like I do, reluctant to complain as I am so fortunate, but also coming up against challenges to keeping my spirits up.  Your comments were so helpful, thank you.  If you haven’t already, go back and read the comments (Carrying On).  There are over 60 comments that will make you feel better, and let you know that there are many out there who understand ...

Are you watching the free BluPrint videos? I got hooked. I went through the list of quilting ones and there are loads that I'd like to watch. I may just have to get a subscription for a year and then watch them all. I have a quilt on the long arm that I wanted to custom quilt. It's my own and it's small. I've been meaning to get it quilted for years. I've not been inspired or perhaps afraid to do anything with it.

I did some stitch in the ditch the other day and ...

I felt like a shut-in yesterday. I didn't leave the house. No that's not true - I took the girls for a walk a couple of times. I just didn't drive the car anywhere. That happens frequently at my house these days. I do drive to the gym - it's 4 KM away. I could walk, but then I'd just turn around and walk back so what's the point?

Yes - we had snow, but nothing like was reported. I wonder - when people go to school to learn how to report the weather, are they told to ...

Because of my affiliation with a certain sewing machine company which I mention often, but I don't try to appear pushy and insist that everyone upgrade to a new machine. I sure hope I don't do that - I'm just excited about what the new features are. So bear with me if I do go overboard sometimes. You know I'm obsessive.

This year, I tried something different for my classes at Oh Look Fabric. Some people want a private class on something and I've now got one day a month scheduled at the shop. This makes ...

My head is just spinning! There's so much inspiration here - from my colleagues, from the new stuff we got to see and hear about yesterday and what we did. I'm just beyond excited. I'd love to sequester myself in my studio for two weeks with no other commitments and see what I can do. I don't have that time so I'm going to have to prioritize.

Unfortunately, I can't share a thing about what we learned in the morning. That's top-secret until it happens.

We did spend the afternoon working on the machines ...

I LOVE Elle's comment from yesterday. How excited she is to see where I walked my 10,000 steps. Well, you're going to love this story.

First off - here are my WHITE shoes. They're actually not that bad once I started walking with them. They're comfy. And now they're mine!! Actually, they were pretty comfy - just the tongue of one shoe needs to be adjusted a wee bit.

My white shoes

It's the last morning! How the heck did that happen?? Although at the same time, it feels like we've been here for a long time. The Fireside Retreat house is so comfortable and so convenient and so full of laughter and friends that it feels like home. We had a little trip down memory lane last night in reading the guest book. Oops - I said that we've been here 16 times. I lied. It's been 15. It would appear that I can't count.

While I managed to get more accomplished yesterday, it still seems like ...

It's a tad chilly outside, but thanks to not sleeping well and a few dying embers in the wood stove, I've got a nice fire going and we're toasty warm. While I wouldn't want to deal with a wood stove at home, I like having it here and I'm pretty darn good at keeping it going (roots from when I was a child), but Paula is our main firestarter here and I'm perfectly fine with that.

So it's technically day three this morning and I'm still using the serger. Can you believe ...

We're here - we're at Fireside Retreat - my favorite retreat spot in the whole world. After I managed to squeeze everything into my car. The Scan n Cut stayed at home as well as one embroidery unit. Don't ask. It was a tad difficult to see out the back window and should checking was a wee bit sketchy, but it was all good.

The car was a tad full!

I have NOTHING to do and NOWHERE to go today! OK - so there's technically nothing on the calendar although I have slated this as a CLEANUP day. There's a TO-DO list, but nothing is due today and no official places to go. I LOVE IT and the weather is supposed to be glorious. I'm pumped - I'm super excited. I've got loads that I want to do.

Another fun day at the Monday Sewing group. I've been spending the last couple of Mondays doing hand applique all day. I just couldn't take another day ...