Only $1 registration fee…

Just $4.95 will reserve your spot…

Call the shop to register now!

The pictures of the quilts in the online ads make it S-O-O-O tempting to sign up, right? BOM by mail or in-person? Which do you prefer?

Participating in a BOM is one of my goals for 2023. Dedicating half of my quilty budget on a BOM program is not one of my goals. Thank goodness for the wise advice of my Friday Sew Day friends.

I’m currently participating in a virtual BOM sponsored by A Quilting Life. It’s a fun project I can pre-cut to make at Friday Sew Days. The cost to participate is nominal, which fits my budget. Another suggested budget-friendly option is the Saturday Sampler (BOM) that kicks off next month at one of our LQS. For $15, you get a block kit. Bring back your completed block on the designated day the following month to receive your next block kit FREE. Any missed months may be purchased for $15.00 each. A quilt finishing kit is usually available for a modest fee. Some of the ladies in my Friday Sew Group participate in online BOM programs. Costs for those run $40-$50 per month per project. The #1 reason given for online participation is because the project they want to make isn’t available locally – especially the Tula Pink projects.

Curious, I researched online BOM programs I found one that interests me where the total cost to participate in the BOM would be about $350.00. Add batting, backing and longarm quilter’s fees (finished size is too big for me to tackle on my domestic machine) and I might be looking at an investment of $600 to $750 to make this quilt. Totally worth it for the right quilt; but for me, this one just doesn’t fall into that category. I’d rather wait until the pattern becomes available for sale and pull fabrics from my stash. With the money saved, I can go on another quilt retreat or make several baby/lap quilts to donate to my quilt guild’s community service group. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. It’s based solely on your personal preferences, priorities and available budget.

I’ll continue with my virtual BOM and add one from my LQS if I like the project options. I find it ironic that I probably would have signed up for the paid online BOM if I was still working full-time. The block pieces arrive laser cut and ready to sew. This would have been a monthly treat to myself. Getting time off to attend regular in-person quilting events was a challenge.

I thoroughly enjoy the freedom being retired brings. I’m more than happy to be intentional with my spending and projects so I can thrive, live my best life and continue to remain retired.

This young lady is one of my private students. Today, we tackled zippers and had fun creating our own laminated fabric from iron-on vinyl and a cookie bag. My sewing friend also wanted to try her hand at zipper tabs for her bag. Didn’t she do a fantastic job?

If you decide to make an upcycled cookie/snack bag project with your little stitchers, here are some hints:

Family or Party size cookie bags work best. Remove heat sealed side edges first, then press cookie bag flat. Adjust front as necessary so main image is centered. Cut along top and bottom edges to create bag front and back sections. Trim pieces as necessary so they are the same size.

Iron-on vinyl is available at most big box craft stores and some mass merchandisers. Glossy finish is preferred.

Cut iron-on vinyl pieces slightly oversize to make it easier to apply to cookie bag front and bag. Trim to size before ironing vinyl.

Use parchment paper as a pressing sheet.

Use a plastic/nylon zipper. Buy zippers in 12″ or longer length. You will cut away any excess.

If using zipper tabs, zipper should be cut 3/4″ to 1″ shorter than the width of the bag before you add the tabs. Be sure to hold tabs out of the way when stitching the sides of the bag together.

Last but not least, be sure to leave the zipper at least 2/3 of the way open when you go to sew up the bag. Otherwise, you’r not going to be able to turn it inside out!

It’s time to step away from this blog, social media and the news for a while. Our weekend in OBX provided a much needed respite from the constant barrage of stuff coming at us in all directions. Everything hit me full-force as we emerged from the escalator at the ATL airport on Monday morning.

Did you realize protesters set fire to police cars and damaged businesses right near the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel over the weekend? This is the site of the host hotel for QuiltCon next month. It’s not locals who are protesting, either. These folks, bless their hearts, travelled a long way to cause their madness and mayhem. Go home y’all. We don’t need any more of your foolishness.

My extended break does not mean I’ll be completely off-line. The internet is an integral part of our daily lives. It simply means I’ll be much more intentional about how and when I go online. So, send me an email or text if you’re interested in sewing lessons or if your quilt pattern is in need of a technical editor.