Home from Retreat

Well got back from Retreat yesterday wore plum out~~~It was such a wonderful time, seeing old friends and meeting new ones. I made a new purse with help from Sue F, who was a wonderful patient teacher to us all. The mystery quilt looked so cool can't wait to make it, and the rag jacket the gals did are so beautiful. We ate great food, the chicken one night was wonderful. We laughed so much our sides were killing. Shopping was awesome I even went for awhile, thanks to my husband giving me some extra cash to spend. I even bought some new bunny patterns. I still have to put all of my sewing stuff back in the right spot, hopefully this week I 'll find some time. Lots going on this week. I can't wait to go back same time, same place and lots of the same friends. The gals there rocked this year~~~~

Leaving Tomorrow~~~

Heading out tomorrow for retreat. I'll be leaving very early in the morning. For the most part I'm all packed. Going to cut out some things to work on for retreat and pack up all of the retreat stuff into the van tonight except my personal stuff. I'll pack all of it tomorrow before I leave out of here. I'm so looking forward in going, nice relaxing place, no cooking, lots of good food, great people, and nothing but doing what I want, LOL. Plus no kids or husband wanting you to do something or get them something. I think more women ought to do a get away more often, makes your family for one appreciate you more plus it is good for the soul. Sometimes we just need a break from everyday life and pamper ourselves. So today I'll be heading to town to finish up some last minute errands and pick up a few things. I wish the weather would be better, I"m kinda tired of rain.

3 more sleeps to go

Well it is 3 more sleeps until I leave for retreat. I still have lots to do. I still need to cut out the mystery quilt and quilt some fabric to make bags. I need to gather some things for the quilters yard sale. I haven't even made my soup yet to take and share. Going to make some taco soup, love that stuff. But I could eat soup any time of the year. Also need to make some type of dessert/snack to share as well. Not sure on what I'll bring them. Cookies are always a good thing.

I won't even pack my clothes until that morning, since I was reminded on my last post I didn't include that. I even bought some new pj's to wear, a pair of hello kitty lounge pants and a pair of new pink slippers. So all set. I need to get a couple more rechargeable batteries for my camera, hate it when they die out while during show and tell.

Things for Retreat

Since I've been getting ready for retreat I thought I would share with you my list of stuff I take with me. I'm such a list maker, always afraid I'm going to forget something.

My list: sewing machine ( that is a given), sewing machine feet, machine cords, extra needles, prewound bobbins, thread, small sissors, large sissors, needle threaders, hand needles, machine sewing oil, makeup eye brush ( i use this to clean the fuzzies out of my machine) , tape measure, small filing board ( great to use for sharpening needle or filing off a burr off of a needle), pattern(s), fabric for project, flannel backed tablecloth ( use it to put my blocks on, design board), tweezers, seam ripper(s), glue stick, pin cushion, extra flower pins, applique pins, rotary cutter with extra blades, masking tape, micro pins, pencils, marking pencils, small screwdriver, extension cord, surge protector, post it notes, pencil sharpener, ott light, small iron and ironing board, a couple of rulers and cutting mat, a foot stool ( great to put my left foot on to keep the pressure off my back), snacks, thread holder, and bandaids.

So what all do you pack that isn't on my list, that i might add???

Retreat almost here

Hard to believe I'll be leaving for the Ohio Quilters retreat in 16 days. It is so much fun. I've got a great group of ladies coming to this year. We do have so much fun. Last year was one of the best I've every hosted. It was so relaxing, no drama for once, no complaints. I love doing this but at times it becomes so emotional probable due to the fact I take too many things personal. I just want everyone to have a good time. For the past few years I've had some women I just couldn't have made them happy no matter how hard I tried. I guess they finally decided that I couldn't so they decided not to come anymore. But I didn't realize at the time until the following year, after a quite a few gals came up to me & said they were considering not coming any more because of the drama they created. Some of things I didn't even know was going on, talk about being in the dark. Which I thought was so sad to let others take away something that you enjoy. I mean to create drama that others don't even want to sit near you, how sad is that. So this year should be just as fun as last year since everyone is coming back except 4 gals who couldn't make it but are planning for 2010. We've got a rag jacket class, vera bradley style purse and a mystery quilt planned for the weekend. Not including fat quarter bingo which becomes so funny at times. If you've never been to a quilt retreat consider it, only bad thing is once you've been to a good one, you'll want to go to more. Nothing like it, I mean your food is catered in, you have endless sewing time, no time restrictions and sharing the passion that connects you to other women. Plus if you can do some shopping that is topping on the cake, LOL. How could you not like it, well I guess you could if your sitting next to a drama queen(s) that almost demand your attention constantly or whines/complains about everything. If that is the case move quick if you can, or put in some ear buds to zone them out.
ONe of the other hardest things about going to a retreat is figuring out what to bring to work on. I know I overpack too many projects, but oh well never know what tickles my fancy to work on. I haven't even started packing any projects yet!!!! Pray for me, LOL I did however get the goodie bags for the gals all ready, working later today on packing up the door prizes. Maybe once that gets done I'll start packing my own things, I hope.

Have a good day~~~

Retreat Donations

I'm getting ready for the May Ohioquilters email group retreat. We've been getting some wonderful donations to use for door prizes, goodie bags and the raffle that will be benefiting the James cancer center and Ohio diabetic association. It is just like Christmas opening up what the ups or usps drops off. Once they all get here then in a couple of weeks I'll start going through to decide what goes where, get all of the goodie bags stuffed with items, name tags made and the rest of the endless tasks to be completed before I pack my van full of goodies to the retreat. I love going up there to Amish county in beautiful Ohio, so relaxing, great shopping and lots of fun with wonderful group of ladies. I've got a couple of openings if someone is interested in coming, just email me or check out www.ohioquilter.net for the information. We are doing a mystery quilt, a rag jacket, a vera bradley style purse, fat quarter bingo, show & tell, plus a few surprises. Everything is all optional to participate or not. Not to mention the wonderful food prepared by a great Mennonite family. Well heading out to the sewing room to work on a surprise for the retreaters. Hard to go out there when it is soooo beautiful outside, tulips are coming up, crocuses are blooming, maybe I'll spend a couple hours in the flower beds.

My new Bag

Well this is the bag I did the other weekend. I just love it. Done with 5" charms. It is sooooo large and roomie. It has become my carry all bag. You see I always have a bag with me to take from house to van, to carry stuff. Since I got my arm damaged 11 years ago, I have a hard time carry things with that arm, sometime it just lets go & I don't when that will happen. So I started carrying a longaberger basket with me or a tote of some kind. I really love those environmental reusable shopping bags from sams club, because they hold a lot of stuff. Well a friend made this bag, I fell in love with it, so I had to make one. I use it all the time now. I can carry my library books, my stuff I have to drop off somewhere and then on the way home from town. i put all of my little bags of things I purchased in it, so I'm not carrying a bunch of stuff at one time. I'm planning on making me a couple more. I thought this would be a great bag to take on trips or on a quilt retreat ( which I have one coming up in May, Yipee!!). It measures almost 20" long and around 9" wide. The only thing I don't like, the pattern calls to make it with fusible fleece, well to me it don't have enough stand up on your own structure. So I'm planning on making my others with some peltex to give it a little more humph!!! Since it is quilted out would hold together so much nicer. I used all kansas troubles fabric. The other ones I'll also use Kt but have some fabric in pinks/browns I'm going to use too.

Finally Done something

Well I did got my antique roses quilt done!!!! Yea~~~ I just need to add another border but not sure what yet. But so glad it is more or less done. I also got the rag quilt done all except the clipping. I'm so not looking forward to doing all of the clipping. I did up 2 pillowcases plus a purse/tote. Finally got some major sewing done. Gosh it felt so good to get somethings done. It has been a long time since I was sewing, way to long. Now I just need to put my sewing room back together. I'm collecting a laundry basket of things to get rid of so hopefully I can add to that today. clutter drives me nuts sometimes, just feels like you can't breathe. It becomes overwhelming to me when it piles up, feels like you don't know where to begin at times. So I try to keep it under control. I feel if you keep it under control you use less time keeping things organized, i have more time to do what I love or want to do. I guess it is a control thing with me, LOL. I hope you all are having a good week & doing some sewing~~~~

Cool Looking Purses

I came across this ladies blog thru my grace machine quilters group. She has some awesome purses & bags for sale. Very pretty indeed. Here is a link to her blog http://www.bagsnrags.blogspot.com/ Here is a link to her etsy shop where you can buy them. www.gin1906.etsy.com A little bit of eye candy this morning, since it is 6:30 am here is windy ohio.

Sewing Organization - FABRIC part one

Okay first thing we are going to do, you got a whole week to dive into it and try to get it done!!start with your stash, clean them out GF's. keep those fabrics that make your heart sing, bring a tear to your eyes, you just want to pet them, you love the look of them together, and so on. The ones you could do with out, this is the hard part. you can do a few things with them.

1) sew them together and use them for backings of quilts. I've seen some just as pretty as the front. Just put them in a certain spot just for your backing fabrics.

2) measure them out and sell them in yardages, fat quarters, 1/2 yards etc. Use this money from the sell to buy new fabric, storage items, or put it back for an upcomigng retreat you want to attend.

3) donate it to a place that make charity quilts or to your own guild if they do that. Knowing that someone will fall in love with that fabric you no longer love is a great feeling.

4) make some rag quilts or rugs from them. The rag quilts could be kept in your ( or a family members car) to be used if you get stuck in your car, take to a game to keep warm or maybe someone might need one you can give it to as well.

5) make some "blankets" for your local animal shelter, check with them for the requirements.

6) Do a barter system with your quilty friends, make a party out of it, do some trading, never know what your friends might want to barter for to have that fabric.

Anyone else have more ideas. Next week we will talk about storing that gorgeous fabric in various ways, this way it will give you some time to go thru it all, sort it. keep in mind, just because you bought it and no longer love it there is nothing wrong with us women changing our minds or preferences. Think of the sheer pleasure of unloading all of the stress it has on you. Have fun. Have some gals over to help you out. Remember once it is in the " don't love" anymore don't bring it back out UNLESS you put in the backing only pile!!!

Sewing organization part 3

okay ladies we are going to hit up fat quarters ( 18x22" fabric) and 1/2 yardsThese are such yummy little pieces of fabrics that are so hard to resist. So lets start by going thru them. Get rid of the ones that don't appeal to you put them in a seperate pile. Now your Keeper pile, made sure they are all folded up nice and neat. you can seperate them by color or style or whatever suites your taste/needs.

Here are several options to store them babies.

cd towers/holders. These are great to use to store them in, stack them, heck you can hang them on the wall also.

Canvas Shoe Bag that goes into closets. great to use.

Sweater boxes/bags great to store under the bed or stack them.

Shoe Rack holder, cubby holder. aka grid cubes

Fat quarters and 1/2 yards can be folded into 1/4th's then 1/4th's again, which fit nicely into the Sterlite CD boxes on end, so you can see all the fabric in the box

Fat Quilter tote http://store. quilting- warehouse. com/083423. html

Fat Quarter organizer http://store. quilting- warehouse. com/084472. html

cabinet with drawers, placing them upright, way to fit a bunch in one drawer.

baskets you can roll them up secure with yarn or rubber bands

photo boxes, label the outside the colors/style inside

rolling plastic cart with wheels Look in your office supply store for a rolling cabinet. Often, the drawers are the perfect size for these cuts, plus you can pull it over to your sewing area when you're selecting your fabrics.

look for orphan drawers when you're shopping. You can stack your fabric in them and then stand them on a shelf or table. old sewing drawers are cool. make sure to label on the outside what is in the inside as in color, type ( nature, plaids etc)

This eliminates your time searching for that perfect piece. Give you more sewing time.Keep them organized

Avoid really large, deep bins as they are harder to sort through and can get heavy if overloaded

Think outside of the box, get creative and fun with it.Take your pile of i don't love anymore, sell them to buy your storage organizers, take them to your next quilt retreat to play fat quarter bingo ( cause someone might just love your i don't love anymore fabric), give them to someone who makes charity quilts, used them to line the inside of a purse or tote, or at your next quilt guild meeting do a fabric swap. Just don't let them mix with your keeper fabric.

anyone have any other ideas?? Pictures???

Sewing organization part 2

Sorry for the delay but been without power for 4 days due to ice storm here in southern ohio.

Okay you ladies lets start on another part of your sewing room. Hopefully you all are finished with the magazines or atleast near the end.

Books and Patterns~~~Lets's start with patterns. I go thru my patterns every 3-6 months and dish out the ones that no longer "wow" me or inspire me. I've got mine in a square basket so when it get's filled up I go and get rid of the ones that i no long have an interest in. As women you all know our taste change along with our mind, which is what is so great about us. I also have some patterns that I keep in a hanging folder(s) in a file box that is labeled quilt patterns, doll patterns, rug hooking, purse patterns, and so on. You label them to what suites your taste. another idea for those patterns that has those applique pieces that you need to use over and over. I put those in a manilla envelope with the pattern taped on the front so I know what is inside. .

Places to store your patterns:file cabinet or file box ( the plastic kind that holds hanging folders)an accordian type file box,basket, plastic container, cardboard box just the size for those patterns, Mailing boxes , Binders with the sleeves

You can put your items for sale ( here on fridays), ebay, etsy, and so on, give to a fellow quilter or do an exchange with other quilters ( trade patterns) , put on local freecycle, give to senior citizen place where they have recreation director, or give to your guild as a giveaway. The main thing is purging, asking your self how many is a good number to keep on hand & stick to it. Are you really going to make it? Do I like it that much? How long have i had this? (i mean if you haven't made it 5-10 yrs since you bought it most likely you won't)Keep it simple and fun.

Books: This is going to be the hard one. That is why I'm starting it now and you all until this coming sunday to get them done. I really don't keep a lot of books I have maybe around 50 books. The reason is because I don't buy a book unless It has 2-3 quilts or items I want to make out of it, I just can't justify the price. Go thru your books, get three piles going, one that you are definely keeping ( prying it out of your cold dead hands keeping), ones why did I spend my money on this pile, and not sure of pile. After you go thru them all, place the keeping ones back on a shelf. the ones not sure of, go thru them, figure out why do you like them, is it worth keeping, can I do without them. If there is only one project or two in there, make copies of them and put in with your binders/sleeves. No sense of keeping them and taking up space you need. I keep a few reference books, I have 4 total. I don't keep that many because most have the same information in them.

You can make a spreadsheet if you'd like on certain things you want to beable to find quickly as in a reference to making 1/2 square triangles, flying geese or something like that. books you can resale, trade, giveaway, and so on. Just get them out and make some room for new things.

Okay girls lets get to purging. Show us some before & after pictures. Love seeing them

Sewing organization Part One

Well lets get this party started on organizing your sewing/quilting room. Going to Start with magazines. 1st go around and gather up all of your quilting/sewing related magazines. Start thumbing thru them and tear out all of the patterns/quilts you want to make or articles you want to keep. Or make copies of them if you choose that route. The leftover magazines put in a recycling bin, give to senior citizen place, or give to your fellow quilters at your next guild meeting. Make sure you get rid of them no longer then one week. They have recycling bins all over you can throw them into, DON'T keep them any longer then a week. Or if all of the magazines is intact sell them & pay for your next subscription. Then take a regular 3 ring binders and some plastic sleeves (aka binder pockets), place all of the article/patterns you want to keep in those. Make sure the plastic sleeves have 3 holes to match the 3 ring binders. Now to save space use a plastic sleeve to hold 2 patterns, just put them back to back with the picture of the quilt on part facing out. If you have applique pieces or pattern parts, & they go to two different quilts, make copies for one of them. Then put them in the binders for safe keeping. My binders are sorted by, applique quilts, how to ( techniques), machine quilting, and so on. So when I need something I can find it quicker then trying to remember what magazine I saw it in, saves a ton of time. You can purchase your binders, plastic sleeves at walmart, office supply place, dollar stores, ebay or just about anywhere. They come in such fun colors now.

Now if you can't just part with those magazines, you need to get some type of storage system going on to keep it all nice and tidy. I recommend either making your own or buying Magazine files. Now I'm all for recycling if you can so here are a couple links to make your own, heck you can paint them, wallpaper them, contact paper them or glue fabric on them. http://craft-therapy.blogspot.com/2008/08/thrifty-magazine-file-tutorial.html , here is another one http://www.instructables.com/id/S4I65QLFBSYW7Z5/ or try this one http://www.ehow.com/how_4456046_magazine-file.html. none of those fit your fancy, just google making your own magazine file. After you get those ready or bought then put your magazines together by the type example: Quick quilting, mccalls patchwork, fons and porter etc. The find a spot to put them on a shelf. When organizing and not having a lot of space always look up along your walls with shelves, great way to keep stuff off the floor, looks nicer and you can always see what you have. Now the key here is limiting yourself to a certain amount of binders or magazine files. Seriously think of a number and stick to it. In our lifetime are we really going to make them all, nope didn't think so but you can always go back pull the ones that don't work for you and replace them with new ones from time to time. You need to keep it manageable size otherwise you will so overwhelmed & that is when the you get piles of stuff laying around.

While going thru your magazines keep these things in mind to help sort them: Is this something I'm really going to make? why do I like this? Do I have a duplicate pattern or article? Do i have the room to keep it all? This is cute but will I really use or make it within the next 3 years?

One gal told me she after the magazines come she keeps them less then a month, then rips out the things she wants to keep and recycles the magazine. She said the stress of all of the magazines laying around gets her stressed out, unproductive and lazy.

Okay will post another part come Monday. You have 4 days to get this part completed. After you done that sit back and relax. Remember just have fun with it~~ don't forget to post a link on your blog so you can be put in a drawing for something.

Organizing your sewing room

We started talking on ohioquilters yahoo group about our sewing rooms, which really got me to thinking a lot about mine plus organizing them. I love to go in and organize things, for some people it is overwhelming to get rid of things, organize them, fun to see what you find, plus emotional. One gal is having a hard time getting motivated to get started, which I can so understand. So I decided to have a little fun here too. I'm going to post what we are to work on for the next two days into organizing your sewing room no matter the size. If you post me a comment with a before/after picture if you can on your blog, a link to where it is at. I'll put you in a drawing for some charms, fat quarters or pattern. I'll do this weekly on here. I'm also in need of doing some straightening up myself. I'll start this tomorrow. Some things you can do in a day or some may take a couple of days. Just remember to have fun with it~~

What a life~~~ I want it!!

Don't I wish I had her life. I laid out some rows of my rag quilt I'm working on well went off to fold some laundry, put some more in the washer, came back , look what I saw~~

I guess after Miz Night Vision after messing up my layout, she decided to take a nap. What a life, just all fun & games to her. I want it, no more laundry, dishes, vacuuming, dusting, or mopping the floors. Hopefully once I get a few more things done I'll cut out some more 6" squares and do some more rows completed. I was hoping to get it done this past weekend but I got some books in the mail, so I made a pot of soup, baked a pie & yeast rolls, then laid around the living room reading a whole book. I hadn't done that for a long time, felt kinda good. So today I thought I better get caught up laundry, mopped the kitchen floor, did some dishes, and some cleaning on the bathroom. I still haven't figured out how a house with 3 guys ( two boys & one man) can't seem to keep a tolet clean, I mean it isn't like the hole is only a couple inches round to pee in, geesh. I think I'll go back to put the cleaner in the bowl so next time they have to go they can clean the darn thing, LOL.

Back to Sewing

Well I started on the blue rag quilt, I sewed 3 strips of 13. Each square is 6" wide, doing 13 squares across to get one strip. Not sure on how long just yet, going to play it by ear so to speak. I cut out 100 batting squares so far, but should go thru them pretty quickly. The weather man is calling for freezing rain, rain all this weekend so hopefully will get it completed to take to the laundry mat to wash & dry on Monday. I don't think I want to deal with all strings with my washer/dryer here at home. I don't know if I like sewing flannel yet, pretty slippery stuff. Having to pin it to keep in place is a pain in the butt. I believe I'll do a checker board style pattern. the dark blue playing off the white is pretty contrast, using variegated blue thread to sew the X in the middle. The light blue is pretty as the backing. I forgot I had that light blue paisley, found it looking in my stash of flannels. Wonder what else I've got in my stash, LOL.

Here is a picture of the fabric I'm using. I tried to find some other blue to use but couldn't find the right shade so settled on white, which does make it pop in blue color.

The Winner is~~~

Well the winner is........................Shasta!!! Congrats and thanks for the answers.

The kids are finally back in school, husband back to work after being on vacation, I've got the whole house to myself again. Yea!!! Could almost do cartwheels in celebration but hadn't done that in 20 years, if I tried I might hurt myself or someone in the process.

Had a wonderful lunch today, went to a cool Mexican place, got together with a couple girlfriends to discuss the upcoming OhioQuilters Sit & Sew Retreat. They have been wonderful helpers to me with this great quilt retreat. I know it will be here before I know it. So many things to do. We picked out a simple yet all level skill mystery quilt, a rag jacket, fat quarter bingo, and waiting on one gal to get back to me about doing a purse. These are all optional which is nice, you can do what you want there.

Got about 100 pieces of warm & natural batting cut out for my rag quilt, hah finally in the mood I think. Tomorrow while doing laundry ( i still wonder where all it comes from) I'll cut out the blue paisley & white, hopefully will get the back done as well. Then let the sewing begin!!! Watch out it is going to very cold in Ohio if you know what I mean, :o) I'll be sewing. I thought about using some decorative stitching in the X part of the square but once that thought came in my lil head, then it screamed are you nuts do you know how much thread that would use, let alone the time, LOL. I guess when I start you'll find out what I decided. I think it would be a pretty added touch hhhmmmmmm.................... I do have a lot of blue thread, just sitting there on my shelf.

End of the Year

Well it is finally the last day of the year. I couldn't believe I didn't post anything since I left for the beach back in October, shame on me. Well no sewing here, did quilt out 3 quilts on miz gracie and that is it!! So sad here. No motivations what so ever, sad, sad.

I did visit a couple of quilt shops in Wilmington, NC & was so disappointed. Heck one of them I felt I had more fabric in my sewing room then they carried, but they had enough Bernina sewing machines to hook up a small country. Once they figured out I wasn't there to buy a machine, needless to say, I was left completely left alone to look around. The second was the gals were very nice but not a whole lot sung to me, I did manage to buy a yard of batik that was too pretty to pass up. The rest of the trip was a bust on quilt shops. Planned on stopping on some on the way home but when you have a 11 yr old with stomach virus, nope not happening, just wanted to get home at that point.

I did manage to get to a joann fabric this past Monday with Friends. Which was so needed. We shopped, which I bought some pretty blue flannel in paisley print to do a rag quilt in. Which I've never done one before but thought my son's girlfriend would like, plus I get to use up 2 totes that are crammed full of left over scrap batting. We went to lunch at Olive Garden, which is one of my favorite spots to spend time with friends. I had the chicken parm, oh yummy, let alone the salad which I could just eat till I get sick, LOL. So now I have a project to work on, like I don't have enough to keep me busy for the next 5 years. Which I know all of us have right??????

So what quilty item(s) did you all get for Christmas?? I made out with an ott light, and a $100.00 check to buy a quilt kit of my choice, a neat cross stitch picture, kt fabric, a small vacuum and a $25.00 gift card from Joann's. Now I did make out with a new 10 piece set of rachel ray cookware, a new hand mixer with dough hooks, and I get to pick out a new kitchen aid mixer when I get around to it. Most of my stuff except cookware is sooo old i believe around 20 yrs old now, LOL. My hubby loves to buy kitchen stuff & I don't mind he is darn good at it.

Any quilty New Years Resolution??? I plan on blogging more often and with pictures. I plan to quilt up my 11 tops before March and no buying until the May Quilt Retreat in Amish Country. I want to use up my some of my stash. anyone who post their new years resolutions by January 5, I'll pick a winner and send some fat quarters to~~~~ Let see them ladies~~~~

down to the wire

We are getting down to the wire to leaving for the beach, Yea!! I've already have some quilt shops lined up while I'm down there to check out & maybe get some "memory" fabric. Bet your wondering what memory fabric is well it is fabric you get on vacation to remember the memories with. LOL. I cut out a bunch of chocolate/tan/brown fabric to make some cathedral windows lap quilt out of along with pink prints of various shades. I'm hoping this will look good plus it will keep me busy with some handwork too. hopefully I can find some fabric to go in with it. I'm also doing an "adult" i spy so I'll be on the look out for some good things too. I found some with a little playing a flute ( I played it in the band), volleyball, a sexy outdoor man one, one gal gave me a sexy fire man, plus some other awesome ones that brings up some cool childhood memories. This should be a neat looking quilt once I get completed LOL hopefully by the time I retire from life.

My goal by the end of november is to atleast complete 4 quilt tops all quilted out. hopefully i can stick with that goal. what is all you wonderful quilters goals????

Getting ready for the beach

Will be heading down to the beach before long can't wait. We are going to be staying at holden beach. Hopefully i can find some quilt shops along the way. No too far off the beaten path. I'm planning on taking some type of hand work, not sure if it will be cathedral windows i'm wanting to make a pink/ brown scrappy one, lap size. Or maybe do some redwork. Anyone else have anyother handwork that is portable??

So looking forward to a break, the boys are going with me but hubby is staying home because it is hunting season. So it will be my mom/stepdad, my sister maria, her son tommy & boyfriend, my sister lisa, my brother jimmy & his wife kelly. we are hoping my neice Brenda will go, my other niece will drop in for an overnighter & maybe my nephew will drop in as well.

I'm going to take the laptop so hopefully i'll post some pictures and updates. well off to sewing room & put some dinner in the crock pot. I'm thinking some chicken parma tonight, better get the sauce in the pot to cook all day.