Come Stitch With Me

Do you have a system for sorting and organizing your quilting stuff? If so, do you set aside time for ongoing maintenance? I have a system that serves me well as long as I periodically cull, sort and reorganize things. It’s the record keeping and inventory side of my system that always seems to get put on the back burner. Improving my stash management system is one of my major quilty goals in 2024. I even purchased a Quilting Life Planner and Workbook from Sherri McConnell to help refine my processes.

Over the past week, I’ve been going through my stash for items to donate to the Southeastern Quilt & Textile Museum’s semi-annual yard sale on 10/28. I did a big purge over the summer, so I wasn’t sure how much more I’d find. How about one bag for the trash bin and 3 bags of fabric and notions for the SQTM? I thought I’d also be taking a big roll of batting to donate, but after seeing so many quilt tops in the closet, and the two bins full of yardage for quilt backs, I think I’d best get busy finishing those quilts. Same goes for unfinished UFOs sitting in stacked up ArtBin satchels. This will definitely free up space in my studio.

While I have sold off a small portion of my unneeded stash, the majority is donated or given away. I share generously with my sewing kiddos. If I can help out a sewing friend with a specific need, I do that, too! I put stuff on the free table at quilt guild meetings. I’ve used my stash to make many quilt tops to donate to charity. Books are donated to Better World Books, which supports my therapy dog organization. The few magazines that I do have are shared with friends or passed along to teacher friends for classroom activities. In case you’re wondering, the stuff that no one wants or can’t be donated is thrown away.

I actually do have a vision of my personal “optimal” stash level and it’s not an entire house full of fabric! We’ll see how close I am once the current tops are quilted and the WIPs are out of the ArtBin containers.

The search has officially begun for where we’d like to eventually retire. Living close in to the city for the past ten years has certainly been fun, but we’re both ready for something less congested and crowded. Friends of ours who used to live in ATL proper have settled into communities all over north Georgia and Tennessee. Reynolds Plantation/Lake Oconee, about 75 miles east of Atlanta, is another popular choice. Still others have moved to Savannah or over towards Charleston and Myrtle Beach. So many choices.

Ideally, we’d live near the water again in an area with a population of no more than 350,000 and a regional vibe like Boise, Idaho. Areas so far I’ve liked are Pensacola, SE Georgia from Savannah to St. Mary’s, Charleston, Virginia Beach and Knoxville. A little closer to where we currently live: Canton, Ellijay, Waleska, Greensboro, & Eatonton. One neighbor has already built their retirement home in Beaufort, SC (45 minutes NE of Hilton Head) and another will be doing so soon. I’m thinking road trip to check out the area since I’ve never been there.

What do these locations have in common? Each is near a lake, large river or ocean. The boxes of regional airport nearby and access to quality medical care are also checked. Typical places we like to shop and dine are nearby. Activities we like to engage in are available – dog parks, walking trails, library, quilting, volunteering, antiquing, festivals, theatre. Other than Virginia Beach, they’re all within a half day’s drive of our families.

Any other criteria you have for selecting a potential retirement spot that I’ve overlooked or an area to recommend we check out? Not looking to move right away, but we’d like to settle on the area within the next 12-18 months.

Our neighborhood book club had its usual monthly get together the other night. I almost didn’t go because I’d had one of those days. I was not in the best of moods and definitely wasn’t feeling sociable. Got ready and went anyway. I’m glad I did because I quickly realized after talking to my friends that I wasn’t alone. Thursday had been a difficult day for several in my book club group. We commiserated together over wine, dinner and a great discussion about our monthly book selection. I think we all left in much better moods. Community is so important.

My day started off fine and went downhill fast. All because my SUV wouldn’t start (again). Car troubles forced me to really acknowledge how much one of our trade-offs for early retirement – delaying the purchase of any new vehicles for at least two years – was starting to impact my ability to get around. I’ve had to miss a few events of late due to car issues and subsequent repairs. As aggravated as I am with my SUV, trading vehicles isn’t likely to happen until our health insurance premiums drop from COBRA to retiree rates next summer or I return to full-time employment. After another day with the mechanic and a full analysis of battery, electrical system and alternator – he couldn’t find anything wrong. He did, however, find a TSB and applied that remedy. So far, so good. Hopefully, it sticks. Guess I’ll be adding a portable charging unit to the winter supplies box i keep in my vehicle.