Author: Teresa

Quilts, good books and dogs. Plus a cup of tea. Life is good.

Quilty travel planning

April 9, 2024

In case you missed it, the 2024 Riley Blake Designs Garden of Quilts class/event schedule has dropped. Sign-ups open April 15th. There are many, many classes I’d LOVE to take, but I must pass this time. We have some other things going on in September that take priority. Perhaps next year.

I did, however, make a list of the projects/designers that interest me. Of the five projects, I’ll only need to buy two patterns. I found online tutorials and did a little quilty math to figure out the other three. Now, I’ll have plenty of projects for upcoming sew days and any fall Koosa quilt retreats with my Friday Sew Squad I might be able to attend.

QuiltCon was fun and I’m eagerly anticipating my JK Quilts retreat in Idaho at the end of April. After this, I plan to keep the quilty fun close to home for a while. It’s kind of strange. Hubs and I love to travel. This spring & summer, we’ve opted to pass on events we’ve attended in recent years in favor of volunteer opportunities or similar local events. I think it’s a combination of wanting to do something different, all the crazy people travelling now and the increased cost of travel.

For me, does the value received for attending an event justify the cost to attend? I realize it’s a highly subjective and very personal decision. For example, Stitchin Heaven is currently advertising a mid-November retreat in Asheville, North Carolina. It’s within reasonable driving distance from me and the projects look fun, but I did a double take when I saw the price for a single attendee – $2549.00 – and then a second one when I realized what wasn’t included in the cost of the event. For that kind of money, I want to stay at the Grove Park Inn – not the Embassy Suites. You may have a different opinion, and that’s totally fine.

Most of my local sewing/quilting group retreats are held at a state park lodge, scout camp, FFA facility, church retreat center or a quilt retreat center. The total cost runs $300-$400 for 4-5 days. Occasionally, a local shop offers a “sleep in your own bed retreat” where the shop hosts a long weekend of quilty fun. These are a blast! Personally, I prefer retreats where I bring my own projects, sew with friends and have my own room/share with one person I know. I want to attend a Koosa retreat with my Friday Sew Squad, but I’m not sure about the dormitory style accommodations. Hubs is encouraging me to get outside my comfort zone on this one. His solution: drive up by myself and come home if it gets to be too much. He has a point.

Here’s to quilt retreats how ever you like them!

Spring Stories & Crafts

April 7, 2024

Spring Break is almost over. This means we’re on the homestretch to the end of the school year. Our classes end the week of May 6th; however, I think the last day for Monday enrichment is April 29th. I’ve planned lessons to cover the next four weeks:

Week 1 – Bees
Book titles: Give Bees a Chance, Please Please the Bees and Don’t Eat Bees.
Craft: Paper Plate Bee from Simple Everyday Mom

Week 2 – Flowers
Book titles: The Gardener, Chrysanthemum and another title available from the public library.
Craft: Paper plate suncatchers using cellophane and sequins.
(adapted from several online tutorials – no single one in particular)

Week 3 – Pinwheels
Book titles: Kate, Who Tamed the Wind and Pinwheel Days
Craft: Pinwheels made from 6″ square paper, with pipe cleaner and faceted pony bead center and straw holder
(adapted from several YouTube videos)

Week 4 – Knuffle Bunny (Sadie visits)
Book Title: Any Knuffle Bunny titles available from the public library
Craft: Bunny Book Craft from Simple EveryDay Mom

The goal here is to keep things simple and use supplies I already have on hand. My self-imposed limit is to spend no more than $10 on supplies for our remaining craft activities.

Tips:
Many cute crafts with paper plates call for painting a white paper plate a certain color. Save yourself time, money and mess by picking up a pack of 24 colored paper plates at Dollar Tree for $1.25. Many colors are available.

Solid color paper napkins work as well as traditional gift tissue for torn tissue crafts.

Solid color paper cups are available from Party City in a variety of sizes for a reasonable cost.

12″ x 18″ black construction paper comes in handy.

Stock up on assorted color construction paper. Trim some to 8-1/2″ x 11″ so you can print templates directly on them. Students can cut out and craft without the need for paint and/or markers.

Spring has arrived

April 4, 2024

The leaves are out. A thick coat of yellow pollen is on EVERYTHING. My eyes are red and itchy. I sneeze frequently. Yep, it’s springtime in the ATL. Apparently this year we’ve set some records for daily pollen counts. No wonder my anti-allergy medicine is having a hard time keeping up!

The photo above is from Laurel Park in Marietta, Georgia. I discovered it while out wandering around today. Pretty, well-landscaped park. Quiet with nice walking paths centered around a pond feature. Big Girl is enjoying a spa day, so we’ll definitely be back to check things out in greater detail.