And just like that – a new school year is underway!

August 4, 2026

Publix was quiet this morning as I did my grocery shopping. Seeing the school bus at the traffic light was a reminder to go the back way to my dentist’s office. Only adult patients were in the waiting room when I checked in for my dentist appointment. I returned home, walked Sadie and spoke with C’s mom to see if she would be coming today to sew on her quilt binding. C. doesn’t start school until Wednesday and she’s still quilting her quilt.

Five years ago, I greeted hundreds of elementary school bus riders as they exited the big yellow limousines excited to begin a new school year. Little did I know that year would turn out to be my final year as a public school teacher. I joined my husband in early retirement the following May. The first couple of back-to-school seasons after leaving my job were hard, but now it’s just another day. I always enjoy the first day of school photos posted by friends on social media. It’s an exciting time and I fully understand the enormous amount of work that the school staff does to begin a new school year.

Life is still influenced by the school calendar – only multiple school district and private school calendars nowadays! Therapy dog visits cover 3-4 different school districts and CraftLAB students all attend different private schools. A long-time therapy dog friend reminded me the beauty of volunteering in retirement is that I should plan travel for when it works best for me. Standing weekly visits are important, but it shouldn’t be the reason I pass on a quilt retreat or other trip I really want to take. He’s 100% correct. And I planned two trips for fall semester without looking at the Fulton County Schools calendar! As it turns out, one trip will be before participants in the READ program are fully vetted with all permission slips signed. Election Day falls during the other trip, so our visit wouldn’t happen anyway due to a teacher workday instead of a regular school day. It’s a big election cycle for Georgia, so I’ll make sure to cast my vote during the early voting period.

Photo by Vitaliy Haiduk on Pexels.com

Reflections on Quilt Camp

August 2, 2026

The good:
* Camp project was a good match for campers’ current skill levels.
* Precutting the kits.
* Having students bring their own sewing machines.
* Second pressing station.
* Snacks/lunch.

Room for improvement:
* Start at 9:45 a.m.
* Add another 6ft table for sewing machines.
*Portable design wall.
*Extra table for laying out things.
*Have campers bring a lunch.

Future camps: Tote bag with extra details or ByAnnie bag as focus project with small accessories (zipper pouch, cord keeper, tablet pouch, journal cover/pen, etc.) Upcycled/zero waste camp, Creative Camp – cross stitch, hand embroidery, Cricut projects, fabric baskets, etc.

The unexpected: The biggest surprise for me was not sewing related. Teenage girls can put away some groceries! They were starving by the time we took a snack break. Food I thought would last all week was eaten up by Day 2.

Final Day of Quilt Camp

July 31, 2026

Before: Final day of quilt camp

Flimsy #2 completed!

That’s a wrap for 2026 Quilt Camp!

It’s been a fun, but exhausting week.

Two of the girls completed their quilt tops. The third had a school event today. She needs to add 3 rows and her quilt top will be done.

One spray basted her quilt sandwich and began quilting this afternoon. She’s promised to finish it up this weekend. We’ll add the binding and label on Monday.

The other completed flimsy will go to the longarmer, courtesy of her grandmother. She left with backing and batting in case she changes her mind.

The final camper has said she wants to quilt it herself, but we’ll see once she’s finished her top. 🙂

Quilt Camp was extended by an hour to allow time for completing a top and getting the other one to the point where she could continue machine quilting at home. I had every intention of taking Sadie to Pet Wants for a bath after camp, but I was too tired. A wet wipe rubdown with extra brushing will work for tomorrow’s visit at our elementary school.

I took a 3 hour nap.

I woke up too late to make it in time for the Thursday night guild meeting. Instead, I returned my sewing room back to CraftLAB mode. The dynamic duo will be back in a couple of days to complete a top, reclaim a sewing machine and/or machine bind a quilt.

I will spend the weekend working on my own project.