The Lost Week

Good morning! I am up early and writing in real time today. I have had nothing about which to write, as I have done next to nothing in the quilting room. I came down with what I thought was a bad cold, but ended up going to urgent care - twice - to treat a sinus infection. My brain has been fogged up all week, and now that my second round of antibiotics seems to be kicking in, I am feeling human again.

I did spend an afternoon in the sewing room, though, during which time I fixed two items in my mending pile - a kitchen towel (loose applique needing reattached) and a bench pad made for a long bench on our screened porch.

I show you my work space for the bench pad - it was too long for the bench, so I removed a block, and then I could tell that the batting was not staying together, so I opened it up, put things right, and then restitched it all, adding more quilting. I should have done it in the first place, but I took shortcuts. I know, I shoulda' known better.

The more fun thing from this lost week was doing some online fabric shopping. That great little shop I discovered in Sarasota, FL, earlier this month was having a sale and naturally I took advantage. Those ladies at The Modern Sewist have been so fun to work with! Both in the store and now online, I can safely say that shopping with them has been super-easy with friendly service every step of the way. A-Plus all the way!

I found two coordinating fabrics to go with the yardage I bought while on vacation. Since I still have absolutely no idea what I will finally make with this fabric, I will now have a bit more to work with when that decision is made.

Here are the two new fabrics laid atop the existing collection, and I am really liking how this looks. I have spent hours skimming through Pinterest, Instagram, and blogs for an inspiration of what these fabrics would like to become. I have zeroed in on a couple of loose ideas, but will continue my quest.

So, this upcoming week will be a busy one. The quilt guild in Ashland, OH, meets on Tuesday, and this will be the meeting at which I am their speaker! Geesh! That date seemed so far off and now it's here! I have my plans and will pull my quilts today and tomorrow. All will be packed and ready for travel by Monday evening.

Yes, I will report fully after the event. And, yes, I think these meds are going to have me well enough to do a good job. Thirty years of teaching gives one more than a little practice at speaking to a group whether I'm at 100% or not.

Hope you have a beautiful Sunday!
Happy Quilting, Friends!

The Modern Sewist

In yesterday's post I mentioned a quilt shop located in Siesta Key/Sarasota, FL, where we vacationed last week - The Modern Sewist. A check of its location on the map app showed that it was practically within walking distance of us.

Thankfully, my DH is one who doesn't mind (too much, anyway) hauling me around to find quilt shops. I know he has a limit, though, so I keep 'em short and sweet. He really is supportive.

But I digress...

I enter a "modern" quilt shop with a bit of trepidation; my tastes typically lean to the traditional standard or classic styles. However, I have been salivating over some of the fabrics coming out by some of the new designers - I wanted to see them! And, more importantly, touch them! I hoped this shop would carry those fabrics.

They did!! Yay!

The shop is bright and cheery, decorated quite full-to-brimming with all manner of samples and inspiring projects. I met the incredibly hospitable store manager Jenni who made me feel quite welcome. We talked about fabrics and blogging and Instagramming and all the fun stuff that makes this hobby of quilting increasingly accessible to people of all ages. These are the very things forcing this old traditional gal to break out of her "comfort zone" and experiment with some of these trendier, modern designs.

Jenni was excited to learn that I am a Bernina-owning gal, as she will travel with the shop owner and another employee to Chicago to become Bernina dealers. I am catching their IG posts about all their adventures and learning. Exciting stuff, indeed.

I found lots of fabrics that wanted desperately to come home with me, but just three won out. I had to exercise restraint, for sure. Jenni was so helpful; I quickly chose my two florals, and needed a nice solid-type to accentuate them - she knew just the options to show me. I decided on the perfect dark blue shown in the photo and I can't wait to dream up a terrific project for these sweet fabrics.

My exciting fabric purchase consists of that navy by Rae Ritchie of Dear Stella Design. This is a pretty tame piece by some standards, but to each her own, right? I still have that foot firmly planted in traditional-quilt-land, you know. *wink*

The florals are both by Art Gallery Fabrics - AGF - called Ethereal Fusions, and aptly so, I must say. Have you ever seen such loveliness?? The minute I saw these, I was enamored by them. They are so delicate and dreamy.

Once I got back home and in the sewing room, I opened these fabrics out a bit and shot a fuller picture of those florals. Aaahhhh! I'm swooning!

After a bit of study, I noticed a hint of gray in both florals which prompted me to recall a gray piece tucked away in my stash - maybe?? Yes! I think the gray (Weave by Moda) will work with these perfectly! Oh my, serendipity is at work here, people!

Now, tell me, what will I make with these???

So that sums up my quilting adventure in Sarasota, FL, and my trip to The Modern Sewist. I highly recommend! I am now following the shop on IG as well as Jenni (her handle is @jenglebelle). She told me about their on-line shop, which I will definitely keep in mind.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

I've Been Away

And I hope you hadn't even noticed!

So here's the story. Two weeks ago, while having dinner with my sister and brother-in-law, they tell us about a trip to Siesta Key they are taking and why don't we drop everything and come along, too? Ooooh, great idea! However, we had obligations and just couldn't see how we could swing it. But the more we thought about it, the more we decided to figure out a way to make it work. And we did!

I changed my finals to online finals as opposed to in-class. Submitting online meant that I could begin grading from Florida. (I didn't, but I could have.) Kevin arranged a substitute for his Mennonite school bus route and we hired a young college grad, one of Kevin's former runners at MHS, to house-sit and dog-sit. We canceled a couple of engagements, and then we bought our tickets!

And that's how you do retirement, ladies and gentlemen!!

I had enough time during the week before we left to write a full week's worth of blog posts, scheduling them to appear daily while we were away. I fully expected to get home Saturday and write up something for the weekend, but that required a bit too much brainwork; my brain was still on the beach! Ha!

We had a fantastic week, and I have to recommend vacationing to beach resorts like this before the summer tourist season begins. We had absolutely no crowds to deal with anywhere - airports, highways, restaurants or beach. Conditions were perfect.

Our condo was situated on what is known as Crescent Beach on Siesta Key in the Sarasota area of Florida. Not only did we enjoy gorgeous, uncrowded beaches by day, but the sunsets were magnificent each evening. And - really cool - someone who lives there full time plays taps just as the sun sets each evening. That added such a solemnity to the experience. One never typically thinks deeply as the sun is setting each day, but the playing of taps really makes one pause, reflect and appreciate.

I very rarely take selfies, but I just had to try it with the sunset reflecting on my glasses. Not too bad, if I do say so myself. (A selfie with no pouty lips. Ha!)

As any self-respecting quilter would do on vacation, I looked for quilt shops in the area. I found The Modern Sewist just 2 miles from our condo! It was a wonderful little shop that I will write about soon. Two other shops were in the area, as well, but this was so close we HAD to check it out.

So, Monday morning is here and I am beginning my summer break. I finalized and submitted grades yesterday. Today, I am wondering what all I can accomplish in the months ahead. You can be sure I am list-making and project-planning. And through it all I will keep you all updated along the way.

Have a great Monday, y'all!

Happy Quilting, Friends!