Planning for a staycation quilty summer? Me, too! Let’s make the best of it.

Just for fun:
(1) Visit Shop Hop, Inc. to see if there’s a shop hop for your region or state. Buy a copy of the magazine and join the fun. You can visit participating shops virtually to make a list of the ones you’d really like to visit. Plan a daytrip or a weekend away to knock out your list and collect your shop hop stamps and free gifts.

(2) Paint a Barn Quilt Block for your sewing space. Search YouTube and online for a tutorial or order a ready-made kit from Covert Creations. Check with local craft/paint studios to see if an in-person class is scheduled near you.

(3) Search for summer quilt shows within a 2-3 hour drive. Research nearby quilt shops that you can visit as part of your trip.

Virtual QAL possibilties:
(1) American Quilter’s Society is kicking off a FREE, 7 week QAL that starts this Wednesday, April 8th. The quilt design features triangle in a square units to make spiky stars. Get all the details here. I really like the quilt design. The materials list specifically mentions the V block ruler from Studio 180 Designs. There are tools avalable from Bloc-Loc and Creative Grids that will also allow you to make these same units. I tried a set of Tri-Recs rulers found in my ruler stash. Tri-Recs rulers will work, but you have to be exact with your cutting, sewing and pressing. I opted to purchase the V block ruler because the ruler is way easier for me to hold in position while cutting versus using the Tri-Recs rulers. I’m also a member of team oversize and cut down. I have three other Studio 180 Designs rulers that I frequently use.

(2) 4th & Main Designs is offering a FREE, 12 week QAL that starts May 25th. Get all the details here. It’s a monthly sampler quilt where the blocks could easily become a door hanger, pillow cover, table runner or other seasonal decor in your home.

(3) Looking for something to celebrate our country’s 250th birthday? Check out the offerings from Fat Quarter Shop and Riley Blake Designs, especially the Firecracker Quilt, if you’re looking for a free patriotic quilt pattern.

(4) Need other options? Be sure to visit Moda Fabrics or visit your favorite designer’s blog to create your own QAL from a previous project that catches your eye.

One of my CraftLAB students gifted me the candle at Christmas. I waited until I completed my first quilt in 2026 to light it. Totally worth the wait. It has a lavender and spicy vanilla scent. Smells REALLY good.

The pattern is Clippings from Thimbles and Needles out of Australia. It’s the first project quilted on my new Elna 782 using the stitch regulator. I’m still learning how to tweak the settings to best fit my hand movements. I’ll try a spiral variation on my next quilt.

Life is happening. My instincts told me not to plan any major travel for 2026. I’m glad I listened. I’ve had my medical drama for this year. Sadie currently has an indolent eye ulcer and we have a visit with the specialist tomorrow. My father-in-law recently lost his battle with Alzheimer’s and I’m helping with some of the more complicated estate stuff. My husband has his big appointment at MD Anderson at the end of April. Surgery is a very real possibility. His last surgery meant two weeks in Houston followed by a 2-3 month recovery period. We *might* be able to go somewhere in the fall. I have several itineraries on standby.

Meanwhile, I didn’t enter a quilt in the June show and I’m okay with that. However, my CraftLAB students have completed their blocks for the show. That’s even better! I’ll be working at the kid’s exhibit booth during the quilt show, plus I get to spend one day working the jurying side of things before the show. Looking forward to it.

The next two months will be spent winding down the school year with regard to therapy dog visits, gearing up for the quilt show and doing what we need to do to make sure all three of us (Sadie, hubby and me) are healthy and engaged in doing what we like to do best.

About five weeks ago, I helped clean out the sewing studio house of someone who needed to move into assisted living. (Her entire 2 bedroom cottage was her sewing space. I kid you not.) Two SUVs crammed full of stuff came to my house for sorting. You can read about that escapade here.

Over the past month, I have shared the largesse with my Friday sewing group, library teen sewing programs, a quilts for veterans group, my bee group, and the community service arm of my own guild. Anything left went on the guild free tables this morning. It didn’t last long. I have finally reclaimed the basement. My husband will be so happy.

This quilter’s generosity has touched so many different folks – from the teens learning to sew at the library, to patients at the local children’s hospitals sleeping on a special pillowcases, to quilts for foster children, adults in recovery and women healing from domestic violence.

Community is what made this happen. The donor’s son put out a request for help in his neighborhood FB group. A member of my book club happens to live in his neighborhood and saw the post. She shared his contact info with me. It went from there. We helped keep useful items out of the landfill and the projects sewn from the re-homed fabric will go back into the local community. There was no need to hire a junk removal company, either.

Over the weekend, I’ll be quilting a 60″ x 80″ top made by my bee group. Backing fabric and batting came from the donated supplies, too. FYI, five yards of quilt-shop fabric and a twin size package of Warm & Natural batting normally run about $100.

Community and connections are an often overlooked type of wealth discussed in this post. In fact, safety and security wealth (e.g. money and health) only account for 20% of all wealth categories described in the graphic. A sense of purpose, autonomy, personal relationships/connections and moments of joy account for the other 80%. Hmmmm. I honestly say that I experienced all 5 types of wealth during this project. I’ll save money by not having to buy backing fabric and batting for a few quilts. I had a purpose in sorting, organizing and delivering the items. I also got a workout lifting, sorting and carrying the bins! I had time to devote to the project and set my own schedule for completion. I interacted with community groups and other sewists & quilters to distribute the donated items. Moments of joy came with seeing the excitement on guild members’ faces at the donated fabrics on the free table and returning home after said guild meeting to a cleared out basement.

I realize we’re in challenging times. You’re grinding it at the day job with minimal raises and healthcare costs that keep going up. The cost of everyday essentials is ever increasing. Our country is politically polarized. Carefully curated social media makes you think you’re behind.

STOP. Put down your phone. Turn off the TV. BREATHE.

Go outside. Take a walk. Listen to the birds. Look up at the night sky.

Find your library card. Go check out a book or DVD to read/watch later.

Talk with a neighbor. Strike up a conversation with a complete stranger you meet on your walk.

Spend 10 minutes doing something with your hands – crossword puzzle, word search, solitaire (with real playing cards), knit, crochet, EPP or other needlework, etc.

Do you feel better? You’ve just experienced the five types of wealth (walking – health, free activities – money, conversations/library visit – community/connections, choice of activity and time for activity – significance & freedom, plus small pleasures like listening to the birds sing or getting lost in a good book – joy).

Remember, you always have options. Life is a series of choices. Work is not inherently bad. It provides income, benefits (hopefully) and at least one partner-in-crime for a social connection. Bonus if your job provides a sense of purpose and a bit of autonomy. Taking time to develop interests and activities outside of work can shore up the types of wealth missing from the day job, too.