For the past couple of months, I’ve been intentional about trying to solve a problem/meet a need using what I already have on hand, instead of buying anything. Occasionally, I do have to buy a new item; however, it’s been a fun, freeing, and creative experiment.

Pending retirement, the current economy and an abundance of fabric & craft supplies made me challenge myself in this manner. Apparently, I’m not the only one. Kristen over at the Simple Handmade Everyday podcast mentioned in a recent show that she would be shopping her stash when it came to quilting. She has plenty of fabric and gas in So Cal is expensive. Has the current economy and/or recent lifestyle changes impacted your quilty spend in any way?

For me:

I no longer purchase quilting magazines. I read them for free through my library’s Libby app.

I no longer buy every product listed for a QAL or class. I plan to do the Lori Holt Farm House Star QAL that starts soon. Fabric will come from the stash. I have the star simple shapes, but I’m not buying any more circle templates. I’ll DIY using my circle cutter and heavy duty template plastic already in my stash (or I’ll see if I can cut on my Cricut Maker). If I already own a 45 degree triangle, 60 degree triangle and Tri-Recs triangle rulers, please explain to me why I need yet another specialty ruler? No, thank you.

I think the biggest impact for me is how high gas prices have curtailed my “recreational” visits to area quilt shops. I used to visit the local shops on a regular basis just to socialize and see what’s new. Now that Stitch N Quilt has closed, it’s a 30-45 minute drive to get to the nearest quilt shop. Before, I was able to stop on my way home from work and buy what I needed. Now, I dig deep into my stash, make a list and call first before heading to one of 3 LQS. I will shop online; however I prefer to support my local brick & mortar LQS when I can.

My quilty socializing will be with sit ‘n sews with friends in my own basement or joining a couple of bee groups on the west side for bimonthly stitching sessions. I do have FW Club and Lori Holt Club offered by a LQS on my wish list. I may sign up for one club this quarter and the other the following quarter to see what they’re all about. You can bet I’ll incorporate as many errands as possible on the days I make the trek to the quilt shop in that part of town!

Otherwise, I’ll be in my studio listening to podcasts or sewing along with the sewlebrities on You Tube.

It’s Sunday evening. I’m sitting on my lower porch enjoying the cool breeze and listening to the birds sing as I work on hubby’s quilt. All is well. Only two more weeks until I make the leap from public school library teacher to early retiree. It’s such a relief to be exiting the firestorm that currently surrounds public education.

Will I miss certain parts of the job? Absolutely! I’ve been told that the first “back-to-school” time after retirement is the hardest. Part of this may be eased by the fact one of my volunteer assignments as a READ team with Sadie will be at an area elementary school. We’ll read with 4-5 students individually on a biweekly basis for about 60-90 minutes total each visit. This may eventually mean letting another team take over for us at the public library, but I’m okay with that.

My focus now shifts to my own health & wellness, quilting, travel and spending time with hubby. He surprised me with last minute Braves tickets for Friday night’s game. Date night was a lot of fun. He’d discovered the wonders of StubHub and scored some really good seats at rock-bottom prices. Now he’s monitoring ticket prices for the upcoming Kenny G. performance (ticket prices way too high for my budget).

Stepping away from my job a year sooner than planned does mean some trade-offs, especially in today’s economy. The biggest impact for us will be felt in the travel category. We’ll go ahead with the trips already booked. We planned to do an epic road trip in late summer to Mackinac Island in Michigan’s U.P., but soaring gas prices (along with everything else) put that on hold. For now, our excursions will be day trips closer to home and be free or low cost where possible. I’ll make full use of the free park passes that I can check-out from my local public library! Reading books and magazines in the free Libby app has saved a ton, as well. Plus, there’s no paper clutter and no having to drive to the library to return items.

Quilty activities are likely to increase with weekly sew-ins with friends and former co-workers. Looking forward to getting those precut kits finished and donated! Biz activities are on the increase, too, with five custom quilts on the books, summer camps and some stitching for the local artisan market.

I’ve very thankful to be able to pull the early retirement lever. So looking forward to a bit of rest, travel and lots of fun in the coming months.

Peace be with you.

It was harder than I thought to tell my boss this morning that I would not be back next year. I actually cried for about 15 minutes afterwards. I will definitely be leaving a piece of my heart behind in that little school library. I accomplished my mission of leaving the library in much better condition than I found it. Time for someone else to come in and put their own spin on it.

Time to bring home only those things I’ll truly use and give away/leave the rest. I have a couple of brand new teachers who will thrilled to have some of my stuff to outfit their classrooms next year. Win-win for both of us!