Tag: Travel

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

Packing for a quilt retreat that requires air travel

April 14, 2025

Do you ever fly with your sewing machine? I have on five occasions – twice with my Featherweight and three times with my Elna STAR edition (3/4 size machine similar to the Janome Jem Platinum 720). I prefer to take the computerized Elna because it has features the FW lacks. For me, the Elna also goes through TSA security without the need for additional screening.

With Delta’s new boarding rules and a main cabin ticket for my recent quilt retreat in Idaho, overhead bin space for my carry-on sewing machine was a concern. Here’s the thing: in ATL, more than half the plane will be boarding before me because I’m a general Skymiles member without a co-branded credit card. I anticipated overhead bin space but packed my 3/4 size Elna STAR edition sewing machine in an underseat rolling tote in case she had to ride under the seat in front of me. At no time do I want my sewing machine to ride as checked luggage! I actually had no issue getting overhead bin space on either flight.

Packing for a retreat where I’m driving is definitely easier. I can take whatever I want in my SUV. Flying requires a more minimalist approach. I took small projects to work on – Mini Brightly in spring colors and 4 blocks from the Middle GA Shop Hop. Everything was precut and bagged. Projects in baggies, batting and FQs are packed along with the sewing machine, foot pedal, power cord, machine accessories and manual. Everything else goes in my checked luggage.

Post retreat update: Retreat swag and other souvenirs had to be shipped home or I would’ve exceeded the weight limit for my suitcase. I definitely plan to return for future retreats. I’ll bring the same machine, but with fewer feet (all-purpose, 1/4″, open toe, zipper and a walking foot with guides). Sewing supplies will be kept to a minimum: thin heat resistant pins, magnetic pin cushion, wonder clips, purple thang, seam ripper, glue stick, small scissors, 8″ scissors, pencil, frixon pen, thimble, hand sewing needles, rotary cutter, 12X18 folding cutting mat, 8-1/2″ x 12-1/2″ ruler, 10″ square, 5″ square, 2-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ ruler, mini-iron, press mat, mini clapper, small extension cord and travel Ott light. Of course, I’ll bring extra thread, needles and bobbins plus my extension table. I’ll also include any specialty rulers or notions my projects may require. Anything else, I can borrow or buy at the retreat.

The retreat organizers taught a new project each day. Skill building and fun, but they didn’t think the logistics on the train case all the way through. If they had, we would’ve been told to bring a 9-1/2″ square ruler and a larger cutting mat. I took my 8-1/2″ square and my 9″x12″ cutting mat. Not good when 30+ retreat attendees are trying to use the 2 cutting stations.