Tag Archives: Time off

My Week Out of Office

Posted in Besides Quilting, Quilting by

I had an amazing week out of office a few weeks back! It was approximately 97% work-free and it was glorious!

It started with a 4 day/night visit w/my daughter and the grands.

And then it was total “me time”!

I slept in everyday. “Slept in” meaning I woke up whenever my eyes opened w/o an alarm.

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I took down the Christmas Tree and thoroughly cleaned my house for the first time since I moved in. I also caught up on my laundry.

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I took Moe to the park a couple of times.

I made beef and barley soup and had a friend over for dinner.

On another night, I met a different friend for dinner at Margarita’s.

I spent time in the sewing room and finally finished this Legendary quilt top for a friend and sent it and the pillow cover off to the quilter.

Then I did some selfish sewing. I had to make myself a Star Burst Tree Skirt! I saw it all over Instagram during the holidays. I used a modified version of this tutorial.  It’s QAYG (quilt as you go). I was able to finish the top and will soon finish, finish it differently than the tutorial suggests.

And while I did all that sewing, I finished three audio books.

For the last several years I’ve challenged myself to read more books than the year before. Last year my goal was 36 and thanks to me finally taking the time to figure out how to listen to audio-books, I finished the year with 47 reads! Yes, I count audio-books as reads!   My goal this year is 60.

I also got a deep tissue massage and a facial!  It was definitely time well spent and I’m very grateful for all of it!

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time, Happy Stitchin’ and God Bless!

A Thread for Life

Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind. Ecc 4:6

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Visiting Greta

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Last week I finally got the chance to meet Greta of  Material Detachment where she lives in Iowa.  For the past year we’ve been texting, talking and emailing.  I had planned to go to Iowa in August but then saw that AQS would be there in October, so I made plans to visit then instead.  Greta picked me up from the airport, we stopped for a quick bite to eat and then we were off to the show.  Here are a bunch of photos from the show.  Enjoy!

I can’t even begin to think how much time was spent creating some of these amazing quilts!  Here are my 2 faves! Both were blue ribbon winners and rightfully so!

 All of the quilts had me oooing and aaaahing though.

After the quilt show, we went back to Greta’s house in the country.

This is the view from the room I stayed in.

We spent most of our time sewing or quilting. You can read about what we made here.  I practiced FMQ on her longarm.
We went to the Berry Patch Farm and picked apples from the orchard and made homemade apple pie.
Greta picking apples

 Greta and her husband are wonderful cooks. Vegetarian never tasted so good!
It was a lovely and relaxing time.

Greta sent me home w/pounds of fabric…

and a beautiful quilt that she co-created.

I arrived back in AZ to happy mail that I won from 2 different giveaways!

Until next time, happy quilting and God Bless!
A Thread for Life
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matt 11:28

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Still Learning, a Quick Finish and Freebies!

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There are a couple of things from this week that I’m excited about.

First, I learned how to tie a Quilters Knot! The gal who taught it to the kids at sew camp this week was surprised that I didn’t already know how; and honestly, I was a little embarrassed. But there was one other mature quilter who also didn’t know…so I didn’t feel so bad after all. 😉  This is something I could have learned from YouTube, but I wasn’t interested before that day because I’d been using a knotting technique I learned from +Quilting In The Rain‘s tutorial.  Before this tutorial, my knots were also “ghetto”. I’m thankful to have added another technique to my quilters resume.

And the other thing I’m excited about is also something I discovered at sew camp: Chaco Liners by Clover! These chalk pens and liners work wonderfully for marking quilts w/straight or curvy lines, half square triangles and any other fabric markings. There is no mess and the chalk just washes or brushes away.  They come in several colors and are refillable! I bought yellow and white.

Sew Camp
This is the 3rd year my quilt chapter, Quilters Anonymous,  has held kids sew camp. It’s a week long day camp, Mon – Fri. There are 2 sessions, 9a – noon and 1p – 3p.  Last year I volunteered for 1 afternoon. This year, I did 2 full days. Next year, I’m planning on doing the entire week. I really enjoyed it. The kids had the option of making 4 smaller projects or 1 lap quilt.  I brought my youngest son (19) to camp one day and he made a thread catcher/scrap bag and a zippered mesh bag. He was pleased w/his accomplishments and now has a greater appreciation for my craft.

The quilt I just finished was the lap quilt project we taught at camp. It went together so quickly and I whipped it out in no time. I did my first mitered corner on this quilt.

I am slowly but surely getting all the pieces cut out to make the Summer Star Mini Quilt for my sis’ work office.   Next on my quilting/sewing agenda is to get the College Bound quilt quilted for my niece.  I’ve already got the backing pieced. My goal is to have it basted this weekend.

In other news, I bought a 3 mos, Bikram “HOT” Yoga deal on Living Social.  I started it this week. The class time that works best for me and the one I prefer is at 530a, Mon, Weds, Fri.  If you aren’t familiar w/Bikram Yoga, it’s a 90 min yoga class that is done in a room that is 104 degrees Fahrenheit! I can’t believe I paid for such torture. One week down, 11 more to go! Pray for me!!

And for all my Nookers out there in case you don’t already know, Barnes and Noble has Free Fridays  on The Nook Blog. They offer a free book, a free app AND a free video every week! A great way to grow your library w/o spending a penny!

A Thread for Life
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. –Phil 3:12-14