Come Stitch With Me

Masks are optional in my classes.

I’m now fully vaccinated. I’ll admit I was leery of taking the vaccine. Two things changed my mind: (1) family physician insisting I get vaccinated due to my day job and my husband’s status as a cancer patient and (2) meeting fellow therapy dog volunteers who’d participated in the local Pfizer vaccine trials at Emory. They were fine. The 2nd Moderna shot did kick my butt, though.

It’s time to get back to living. The CDC has lifted most mask restrictions for folks like me. People have had plenty of opportunity to roll up their sleeves and get the shot(s), too. I am not anti-mask. I will don a mask if a business requires it, but I’m definitely looking to shop businesses where masks are no longer required. Of course, I will gladly mask-up on official therapy dog visits with Sadie if a facility or ATD guidelines mandate such.

That said, you do you. Wear a double mask, gloves and goggles to class, if you must. Chances are, your classmates and instructor will not be similarly attired. For those in high risk groups, stay home and explore virtual classes until the virus risk is at a level with which you are comfortable.

Use common sense and get back out there. It’s way past time!

In summers past, I hosted a series of week-long sewing camps at Stitch N Quilt in Mableton. We had a great run, but business has changed due to COVID and Miss Pat recently informed me there would be no more kid’s sewing classes and camps ~ only classes and workshops for adults.

When one door closes…another one usually opens.

I’ve been invited to teach kid’s classes at a shop on the north side of Atlanta. I’ll post details here once everything has been sorted out. One important change for students interested in following me to the new location: you’ll need to provide your own sewing machine for classes. The shop has a limited number of machines available for rent should you need one.

If you live on the west side of ATL (think I-20 and going toward Alabama), the Southeast Quilt & Textile Museum is hosting quilt camps for rising 3rd graders through high school students. Cost is very reasonable and you get your own mentor for the entire week. Camps are in June and July. Visit their website (linked above) for complete details.

Friends, neighbors and coworkers (and their kids) are welcome to come stitch with me in my Smyrna studio this summer. We can sew/craft al fresco or in studio, supervised by Sadie, of course. Sessions will last 1.5-2 hours. We will probably meet in the afternoon, exact time TBD. Text, call or email if you’d like more information.

Only 9 more sleeps (and 600+ student device returns to process) until the school year ends and summer sewing season officially begins! We can do this!

You were so EXCITED when you learned that your favorite designer was coming out with a new fabric line, books, project, sew-a-long or [Fill in the Blank]. You dutifully bought all the supplies, printed out the pattern/sewing guide and waited in happy anticipation for the next project to start. Then, you lost your enthusiasm once it began.

What to do? Honestly, it’s okay to change your mind.

I felt this way about the Flea Market Flowers big quilt by Lori Holt. I was stoked after completing two online quilt-along projects last year. I’m still working on the last few appliqué blocks for the Granny’s Flower Garden quilt and planned to use those leftover fabrics (plus some others) for the Flea Market Flowers project. I ordered the pie and seed rulers. Then, while reading through the sew-along guide, I realized how large the flower blocks would actually be. Not my style for a big quilt. Instead, I opted to convert the flower blocks I love into pillows , a small wall hanging and a table runner. I merely made the project suit my preferences.

I’ll admit that I’ve actually tossed half-completed projects that I know I’ll never finish. They’re usually from a class I took at an AQS show or Quiltcon to try out a new technique and there was no way to convert the parts I’d completed into a smaller project that I’d actually like. The intention to finish was there, but after 3 years in the back of the closet…it’s time to rescue any usable fabrics and toss the rest.

Nowadays, I’m also a bit more selective when it comes to the projects that I choose to make. It’s no secret that I’m a big Lori Holt fan. You can find a number of online sew-a-longs featuring her work at Fat Quarter Shop, The Featherweight Shop and JK Quilts, plus Lori’s own blog and YouTube channel. Today, I learned she has a new fabric line/project coming out in January 2022 called Chicken Salad. The quilt is adorable, but it’s not a project I’m inspired to make. That’s perfectly okay. Some of the fabrics will likely find their way into my stash and I’ll enjoy checking out her blog/YouTube channel while the sew-a-long is underway.

I tell my students it’s okay to return a library book they don’t like. I merely gave myself permission to do the same when it comes to quilting/sewing projects.