Expanding our therapy dog visit reach

April 30, 2025

A while back, I posted that some fellow therapy dog teams who live north of me had decided to focus on visits in the far flung NW metro Atlanta suburbs. Sadie & I were invited to join them for events whenever we can. Since my own Tuesday R.E.A.D. kiddos are in the thick of standardized testing through May 6th, I’ve done exactly that.

Yesterday, our group visited with 7 first grade classes at a school in Cherokee County. Sadie & I will help out on another visit with fifth graders next Wednesday. Fortunately, the drive is a reverse commute, so these visits fall within my preferred 30 minute travel window – even if the distance is a bit farther. Distance-wise, it’s similar to other specialty events we attend around the metro area, minus the traffic hassles. I will say it was great to see some folks and dogs we haven’t seen in a while.

Until this year, all of our visits have been done under the umbrella of a local therapy dog group. Sadie has a logoed vest and I have several logoed tops to wear on visits. Now that we make visits independently and with another group, Big Girl and I need to add some generic therapy dog items to our visit wardrobes. My friend suggested a therapy dog harness/vest for Sadie, a therapy dog t-shirt/non-logo polo for me and some trading cards (minus any group logo) to hand out at events. He said this will make things easier, and a lot less expensive, for me. Wise advice.

Stitchy fun available with a library card

April 27, 2025

Do you have a library card? If not, get one! It’s usually free for local residents or for a small annual fee for non-residents. Takes less than 10 minutes to get one. Well worth the investment! Following is a sample of what’s available to patrons via the Cobb County Library System.

Inspiration Awaits
Would you like to visit one of the following places for free? It’s possible with a library card and a pass that you check-out from the library.

  • Alliance Theatre
  • Atlanta History Center
  • Chattahoochee Nature Center
  • Georgia Parks Pass (for ALL parks in the state)
  • Marietta – Cobb Museum of Art
  • Marietta History Center
  • Smith-Gilbert Gardens
  • Zoo Atlanta

Magazines and Craftsy Access
Download the Libby app, add your library card credentials and voila! You have instant access to many popular quilting, sewing and crafts publication. FREE. The library’s research and digital databases include Craftsy access, as well.

Maker Spaces and Creative Studio
Is your sewing machine acting up? Curious about a 3D printer? Want to explore a Cricut Maker? The Switzer and North Cobb Regional Branches offer maker spaces with sewing machines, Cricut products, button makers, 3D printers and a host of other crafty equipment for you to use. Sewell Mill offers a Creative Studio where you can work with audio/video equipment to create videos, record podcasts and transfer old family videos and photos to modern digital equivalents.

Learn Something New
Most branches offer free classes or take home kits in a variety of craft mediums. All you have to do is sign up.

Meet New Stitchy Friends
Want to hang out with like-minded crafters or learn how to crochet, cross-stitch and do macrame? Several branches host groups that meet on a weekly/monthly basis. Some are led by a volunteer instructor who will teach you how to crochet and supplies may actually be furnished for these events. Unless otherwise indicated, assume that any stitchy meet-ups will be limited to handwork only. Do EPP, cross-stitch, embroidery or hand-quilt/sew binding while you visit. Some people even bring small projects to cut out. This seems to be okay as long as there’s enough room for the cutting mat.

Meeting Space
Need a quiet place to plan projects? Reserve a study room. Sign up the same day. First come, first served. Need a place to sew with friends? You can reserve a room for $25.00 per meeting date. Given all the events at the regional libraries, I’d suggest trying to reserve a room at a smaller branch if you can’t be flexible with meeting date and time. The library also limits reservations scheduling to 3 months out. Working with a smaller branch and offering to be open to the public wanting to join in may give you a regular meeting space at no cost. This is how my Friday Sew Squad got their space.

Photo by Antoni Shkraba Studio on Pexels.com

Are subscription boxes worth it?

April 26, 2025

It really depends. I’d ordered a Liberty Box from Fat Quarter Shop and really liked it, so I asked for a Sew Sampler Box subscription for Christmas last year. All the gift cards were redeemed and my 7 month subscription started in late December. For $37.00 each month, a small turquoise box of sewing/quilting goodness magically appears on my doorstep.

Four of the five boxes received so far have offered projects that appeal to me. Snowdrift is almost finished. Hot Cross Buns will be my next EPP project and fabric for Waterfall has already been pulled. This month’s Dahlia pattern will be made in a different colorway. I’m making the tote bag option from Sherri McConnell out of the included dessert roll instead.

There’s also a separate year long BOM program that’s exclusive to the Sew Sampler boxes. Apparently this is a big deal for many subscribers. Each month has a new block pattern. I like the first block in the new BOM.

Additionally, you’ll find 1-2 useful sewing notions in each box – pins, sewing machine needles, EPP needles, thread, rotary cutter, rotary cutter replacement blades, etc. Some of the gimmicky stuff like the clip-on charms, fabric sticker labels and mini-vacuum I could do without. I’d rather have a set of Sarah Hearts labels to sew in my projects instead. Even better – one box a year where ALL the supplies needed to complete the quilt top & binding are included in the box without any of the other knick-knacks.

My Sew Sampler Box subscription has been fun to try. The June box will complete my Christmas gift and I have no plans to continue the monthly subscription. Why? I already have a sizable stash and an abundance of projects in various stages of completion. I do not need to add any more projects, fabric or doo-dads at this time. If I lived in an area with limited access to sewing and quilting supplies, then this subscription box would be absolutely worth it. Same goes if you’re someone who can’t get to a quilt shop due to transportation or health issues. Even new quilters wanting to build their stash and tool collection, will find value and convenience in a subscription.

If you’re curious as to what’s included in a Sew Sampler box, click here to check out the past few monthly boxes or head over to YouTube to see any number of unboxing videos from different quilters.