Author: Teresa

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

Retirement conversations

March 4, 2024

Today, hubs and I had lunch with some long-time friends. They wanted to pick our brains about excursions offered by the Rocky Mountaineer. We’ve taken trips aboard the Rocky Mountaineer in both the USA and Canada. If they are only going to take one trip, our recommendation is to do the Canadian Rockies excursion from Banff/Lake Louise to Vancouver. They were planning to go in 2025. Now, my friend texted to say they’re going this year instead! Enjoy!

Photo by Ali Kazal on Pexels.com

Another conversation ensued regarding what we both do all day since we’re now retired. In our friends’ situation, the husband is retired and the wife is still working. Apparently, he’s bored and trying to figure out what to do. Al shared about volunteering with Team Rubicon. Our friend’s face lit up. His wife was happy to see him get excited about something. A mutual friend who retired at 54 advised my husband to always have at least one thing scheduled on the calendar each week, so he’d have something to look forward to. The rest of the week would fill in. Very wise advice.

I work part-time on Mondays and sew with friends on Fridays. Each week, there’s usually something Sadie related (therapy dog visit, groom, play date, hike with friends), quilt guild related and my sewing biz related. I try to keep at least one weekday completely clear for whatever I want to do. Sundays are usually reserved for family. The funny thing is no two weeks are ever the same.

Over the past month, I’ve spent a fair amount of time following up on my retirement application and health insurance matters. We’ve made the final hurdle into the “retiree” category on our health insurance. (Yay!) What no one tells you is that each transition (active employee – COBRA – retiree) requires a “new account” with the health insurance provider and there is a 7-10 day delay while everyone’s system updates. From what I understand, it’s due to COBRA rules and there’s absolutely nothing I can do to speed up the process. Hopefully, Anthem will show us with active coverage again by Friday. What if something happens before then? It’s a hassle, but we’ll have to pay out-of-pocket and get reimbursed or ask the provider to delay billing for a few days.

There’s a teacher retirement/health insurance FB group I follow. More than a few folks mentioned having to resort to getting an attorney involved to resolve issues with situations outside the norm (like mine). Hmmm. I looked into renewing my lapsed PAGE membership as their legal team are experts on dealing with SHBP and TRS issues. Turns out, my part-time employer is a participating “school system” in PAGE. You bet I renewed ASAP! To me, the $175.00 is money well spent as I navigate the next six months or so.

Then, I asked myself, “How did I ever handle all the crazy stuff like this when I worked full-time?”

Upcoming class I’m teaching at the SQTM

February 28, 2024

Sewing Machine Maintenance – Saturday, April 20th 1:30-3:00 p.m. Cost: $35 + $5 supply fee
Let’s do a little spring cleaning on our sewing machines! Just like your car, your sewing machine requires regular maintenance to keep it performing in top shape. Do you know what type of maintenance to do and how often to perform it? We’ll start with our machine manuals and work from there. We’ll also share resources for learning more about your vintage and modern machines, plus provide a list of area sewing machine repair shops.

I’m really excited about the sewing machine maintenance class. A basic machine service runs $125.00 – $140.00 in my area – more if you have a machine with an automatic thread cutter or an embroidery module. Most sewing machine companies recommend an annual service. If you have the super high end TOL computerized machine that costs as much as a new car, then yes, you should absolutely plan to take it in to the shop for service on an annual basis, in addition to the routine maintenance you perform yourself.

For other machines – if you keep it cleaned and oiled, use quality needles & thread, protect it with a dust cover and your machine is running fine, there’s really no need to take it into the shop for an “annual” service. (BTW, I service and maintain my vintage machines myself.) Save your money! Furthermore, you CAN learn how to replace the bits that tend to break – spool pins, needle threaders and thread cutters. Parts are available to DIY. This is how I keep my classroom machines running. I know I can always take it to the repair shop if it’s something I can’t fix. Today, I picked up the Baby Lock Jubilant from the repair shop because I couldn’t figure out how to replace the blasted needle threader. This is the first time it’s ever been in for service and I’ve had it four years. Cost: $160.00. Believe me, I’ll be learning how to work on Brother/Baby Lock machines as well as I do my Janome machines! Don’t want to DIY simple repairs? That’s fine. Even with basic maintenance, you can probably stretch the service interval to once every 2-3 years assuming your machine is running fine. You’ll still save $$.

When does it make sense to replace rather than repair? (1) Your sewing machine is the $99 special from the big box store and you can’t fix it yourself. To me, it makes more sense to replace it rather than repair it (unless the machine holds some sort of sentimental value for you). (2) You have a computerized machine that’s out of warranty and the cost of a new motherboard is half the cost of a used, similar machine. Put it this way, should my 8900 need a new motherboard, I’ll be getting a new machine.

Janome machine disassembled to replace broken plastic spool pins with metal ones.

QuiltCon 2024 Recap

February 28, 2024

That’s a wrap! Raleigh marked my fourth Quiltcon and the farthest I’ve ever driven to attend one. It’s also the very first time I received one of the coveted swag bags at registration. You don’t know that you’ve been selected to win one until your registration badge prints out. The little shopping bag icon in the lower left corner of your badge identifies you as a swag bag winner. The bag of goodies definitely did not disappoint!

Honestly, the real reason I went to this particular QuiltCon was to see people and shop. I was able to catch up with former ATL quilty peeps, check-in with the very few ATL peeps who’d made the L-O-N-G trek to Raleigh and finally meet a virtual quilty peep – Sharon – in person. It was great! Yes, I did spend a few minutes admiring quilts and took the obligatory photo of my guild’s entry into the group category, which is pictured to the left.

I didn’t take any classes, but opted to do a Friday lecture pass and attend the key note address on Saturday. All lectures were livestreamed this year. Since QuiltCon is in Phoenix next year, it’s doubtful I’ll attend, but viewing lectures at home is certainly an option (depending on the speakers).

While crowded, I think the Raleigh show was well-executed. There were plenty of staff and volunteers on hand to direct folks. Parking was easy to find, reasonably priced and I felt safe in the downtown area. Having the vendor area and quilts on one level instead (of the multiple levels that made up the Atlanta show) was so convenient. There’s one thing I would like to see at future QuiltCon events: more seating in the exhibit hall/concession areas. While the MQG has a decidedly younger audience, about half the attendees I saw sported gray hair. Perhaps an affinity group just for them? Or better yet, chairs or benches in the vendor booth area, tables and chairs in the concession area and more seating in the quilt viewing area? No one should have to sit on the hard concrete floor to eat or simply rest.

If you plan to attend QuiltCon and your intention is to shop until you drop, be there when it opens on Thursday. The booths were packed! I was interested in the new M3 Oliso mini-iron. They were sold out by the time I made it to the booth at lunchtime on Friday. Fortunately, I was able to hold and try out the new iron in the booth. I discovered I didn’t really like the way it felt in my hand, so it wasn’t a big deal that they were sold out. FYI, many of the vendors had sold out of merchandise by Saturday afternoon. Cary Quilting Company and Bernina World of Sewing (the two local quilt shops I visited) were also running low on inventory, as well. I did manage to get stickers and other freebies for my CraftLAB kiddos, a rope bowl book & kit for me, plus a weighted mini-clapper for my travel sewing bag (for a reasonable $15 instead of the fancy $145 one I saw in another booth). The fabric I purchased from the local quilt shops will go for two “boy” quilts I plan to donate to my guild’s community service.

Next year’s QuiltCon will be in Phoenix. The 2026 show location will be announced in April. Hopefully, it’ll be back in the SE again – Charleston, Knoxville, Tampa or Jacksonville perhaps? We shall see.