When I retired last year, I was so happy to finally have time for quilting!

1. My quilting skills have definitely improved thanks to spending 2-3 hours per day working on my craft. I’m also clearing out the UFOs in my stash.
   
2. I miss the social interactions that work provided. Some LQS have designated sew days and clubs, but those are often monthly and require a $10-$20 fee each time you show up. Weekday sewing groups in my area are not advertised. I found my Friday Sew Group via word-of-mouth. It’s a mix of ladies from a now closed LQS and a quilt guild in a neighboring county. From this one group, I’ve learned of at least four other quilting groups I can join if I choose to.
   
3. There are many quality QAL and skill builder tutorials available online. Between Fat Quarter Shop, Missouri Star and Pat Sloan, you never need to stitch alone. Stream videos and podcasts while you quilt.
   
4. Most guild meetings and events are still held at night and on weekends. I did join the guild closest to me that meets during the day. A different group of quilters from my Friday group and the opportunity to take classes has been awesome!
   
5. Having the ability to attend shop hops, quilt shows and other events on a weekday means less traffic and crowds.
   
6. The pandemic really did a number on quilt shops, shows and retreats. Some shops and retreats that were on my list to visit in retirement are no longer in existence. Information on regional events in 2023 has been slow to get out. Once I find out about an event that interests me, it’s often already filled up. There’s a lot of pent up demand for quilty travel, so I’m not surprised.
   
7. My prediction that most 2023 quilty travel would be regional is turning out to be true. Airfare and hotel costs have risen dramatically. You have to research all your options and factor in those costs. There is a retreat in Idaho I’d like to attend. While the $495 retreat fee is totally reasonable for what’s included, the $2000 for airfare, 4 nights of hotel and rental car now bring the price for me to participate in that 3 day/2 night retreat to $2500. Unless I can cover most of the travel costs with airline miles, hotel points and/or free car rental days, I’ll have to pass this time. A similar retreat offered at a resort in North Georgia in July has the same retreat fee, but I won’t have all the travel costs to factor in – only 2 nights of hotel plus any spa services I may utilize. It’s a 90 minute drive from my house, so no airfare, rental car or 2 extra nights of hotel to accommodate flight schedules. This also leaves quilty travel dollars available for other things.
   
8. 2024 quilty travel is already being planned – Myrtle Beach in January and QuiltCon/Raleigh NC in February.
   
9. I thoroughly enjoy having the time to teach private lessons out of my home, teach classes at SQTM, volunteer with craft night at the library and open CraftLAB to my neighborhood kids.
   
10. Investing in a travel sewing machine and assembling a designated travel-only quilting/sewing kit is totally worth it. Mine stays packed and ready to go each week. Yes, it will mean duplicating your existing sewing supplies and most frequently used rulers. My best advice: go ahead and take care of this while you are still working.

Actually, it was four days of quilty fun! 🙂

My weekend started with the Middle Georgia Shop Hop on Thursday, followed by a relaxing Friday sewing with friends. Team Rubicon booked hubby for a week to wind down a project in Alabama. Sadie and I saw him off at 06:00 a.m. on Saturday.

By noon, I’d set-up sewing camp at the kitchen table so I could commandeer the big screen to stream my quilting and crafting channels on YouTube while I stitched. It was a great way to spend a chilly, dreary afternoon. Once we finally had a break in the rain, Sadie and I headed to the park for some exercise. On the way home, we stopped for ice cream at Brusters. This actually turned out to be dinner because the BBQ I’d picked up earlier was so gross I threw it out!

In honor of Super Bowl Sunday, I participated in Super Bolt Sunday at my LQS. I scored a complete BOM kit from a previous year for $25.00. This will make a really nice quilt!

Sadie and I watched the big game while I finished making the HSTs for my shop hop blocks. All that remains is block assembly for 8 of the 10 blocks.

Sadie and I participated in the Middle Georgia Shop Hop today. We visited all 5 shops and made it back home in about 8-1/2 hours with rain. We actually ran into a quilty friend from ATL at Bird House Quilts who was doing the reverse route! Sadie also met some new canine friends at the same shop, as well.

I basically make one big loop when I do the shop hop in a day. Down I-75 to Macon/Warner Robins to visit 3 shops, then cut across to Columbus and Hogansville before returning to ATL via I-85. Next year, I may try doing the shops down I-75 one day and the shops down I-85 the next day. I may save time because all driving will be on the interstate instead of back country roads, but I don’t know if it will necessarily save on mileage.

I did purchase the two shop hop blocks from each shop + a couple of items on my list. I selected a white-on-white print from my stash for the background fabric. I think it’s only fitting since this fabric came from a shop that was once part of the Middle Georgia Shop Hop! 🙂

Here are my notes on each shop:

Magical Stitches – Baby Lock dealer, awesome tool wall and brands of thread I can’t find in the ATL, traditional & batiks

Couture Fabrics – Brother dealer, wonderful selection of fabrics including lots of Riley Blake, Moda and tons of pre-cuts

Bird House Quilts – Bernina dealer, excellent selection of patterns, unique notions, Moda, batiks and wide backs

Sunday Best Quilt Works – No dealer affiliation, but offers machine service, well curated selection of fabric, patterns and notions, shop location is definitely off the beaten path

Hometown Quilt Shop – Juki dealer, vintage machines and notions on display all over the shop, traditional fabrics

All 5 shops offer longarm services.

If you are seriously in need of fabric, Couture Fabrics will be well worth the drive. If they don’t have it, drive 10 minutes to Bird House Quilts to see if they have what you need.

Be sure to support your local retailers!