Friday news

I'm close to being ready to head out for retreat. Haven't even started packing clothes yet - that shouldn't take more than 10 minutes - but the sewing stuff is in the CRV. It's a good thing there is no one here that needs to ride with me - we'd be in big trouble! I always take my good sewing chair whenever possible - sitting for five days on a folding chair is not a good thing for this aging back! I still need to pack the laptop also - so far I can't find the case my daughter gave me to carry it in. Must be in a closet here somewhere!

Those of you who have been reading my blog for some time are familiar with the classes I'm taking with Eileen Trestain, and AQS certified quilt appraiser and fabric dating expert. Last night was our last mid-century Album class, which covered the period from 1830 to 1859. We received our last packet and the fabric for the final border of the quilt. There were several print pieces to choose from but none of them really thrilled me, so I choose to take 4 yards of the natural background and will do an appliqué border on my quilt. Eventually - this is going to be a very long term project.

We also had an introduction to the class that starts next month, which covers the Civil War and Centennial period of 1860-1879. Like the class that just finished, we will receive patterns for a sampler quilt, including twelve different layouts! Both appliqué and pieced blocks will be included. Eileen brought one of her antique quilts from the period from which she drew many of the designs. I just went nuts over this quilt - I have a feeling I will be doing something like this!

Notice the first of my 2008 goals listed on my sidebar? I've been doing great so far - but this week I took a huge nosedive into negative territory. I may not be able to recover this year - oh well. Why should this year be any different from the years before LOL! I've ordered a twenty yard bolt of Kona Cotton for my Dear Jane background, and I came home from Eileen's Tuesday class with a large sack full of fat quarters representing the 1880-1910 period. It wasn't until I washed them all, pressed them, and put them in a basket for retreat - along with a bunch of stuff from my stash - that I realized that I'd no idea how many yards I bought. So I just now dug out the sales slip. 38 fat quarters, which equals 9 1/2 yards. That's 29 1/2 yards bought this week, and now I'm going to be spending five days in the basement of my most favorite of all quilt shops. I already know there is going to be no hope of decreasing my stash this year - not unless I sew like a mad woman and don't stop to eat or sleep.

It is March 28th - where did March go? The weirdest thing is this - it is snowing outside! And it's actually sticking a bit! This is western Washington - where it rarely snows even in the winter! Weirder yet is that it's snowing at the ocean, with accumulations of 3-5 inches expected by evening. Talk out strange, mixed up weather!

OK - need to pack clothes and finish getting ready. Everybody have a great weekend. I'm going to try to post from the hotel using my laptop - if I can figure out how to do that.

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Gratitudes:

1. Quilt retreats

2. Safe travel home for my kids

3. Fascinating quilt classes

4. Marvelous quilt shops

5. Retreat snack foods!