Tag: Travel

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.

Handling economic uncertainty

April 1, 2025

One thing is for sure: there will always be economic uncertainty. It’s a part of life. What happens in the stock market is out of your control. All you can do is plan/prepare to the best of your ability, adapt when needed and get on with your life.

How might the current economic uncertainty from tariffs and blowback from other countries impact quilters and sewists? Who knows? I fully expect the price of things from fabric & thread to quilt retreats to increase across all sectors of the marketplace – whether you get your stuff online, Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby or your LQS.

Rest assured, I’ll still continue to quilt, make projects for charity and take classes to hone my skills. This won’t change. What may change is where I buy fabric & notions and where I take classes/attend retreats. Like you, I have a finite amount of money to devote to quilting activities. My goal is to make the money stretch to include the quilty activities that make my heart sing.

New fabric in my area quilt shops averages $14.00/yard. For me, fabric has now achieved the same status as certain items in the grocery store. I’m not paying full price for those items. I can wait for a sale, buy it elsewhere at a cheaper price or substitute something else. Amazing how well this strategy works for fabric, too.

Quilt classes have increased in price. While my guild’s class prices have remained steady at $55 for members, most pattern and supply fees are now paid directly to the instructor, rather than being included in the class fee. I typically take at least 1 guild sponsored class each year. This week’s class with Tara Miller was awesome! The other class I want to take is in late July with Michelle Yeo. She’ll be in the US over the summer and my guild was lucky enough to book her. Her Giant Dahlia quilt is gorgeous. The acrylic templates and 2 patterns with shipping from Australia were just under $100.00 USD. A friend and I split the cost.

Quilt retreat/travel has also gone up. Retreat fees are up about 20% over last year – as are hotel prices. I’m in a quilt retreat group on FB and some organizers are having a hard time filling all their spaces. One organizer even admitted she should have planned for a private room option. Thank you. Some of us prefer private rooms – not 3+ twin beds stuffed in an alcove. As several FB retreat group members have indicated repeatedly, I’ll be happy to pay a reasonable extra amount for a private room.

This is why I tend to stick to events held at conference centers. In a couple of weeks, I’m headed to Idaho for a spring retreat with the JK Quilts girls. This will be my third retreat with them. It’s held at a local hotel & conference center in Boise. Always a great time! I’d like to try their fall retreat – held at a lodge about an hour north of Boise. In June, I’ll be taking 2 classes at Mountain QuiltFest in Pigeon Forge (TN). Points and incentives earned from my Idaho hotel stay will help cover some of the hotel cost of my Pigeon Forge trip. The rest of my summer/fall quilty adventures will be local or within a 3 hour drive.

The economy may be having a hissy fit at the moment, but I’m still living my best retirement life. I can’t do all the things, but I can do all the things I really want to do. Sometimes, it requires a little creativity, but that’s half the fun.