You know it's getting close

Well, you know the time here in Florida is winding down when you are getting to the bottom of your King Cole Tea box.  I have just enough to do me the next couple of weeks.  

Everywhere we go, you now hear conversations, "When are you leaving?"  In our community, I think 75% of the residents head north in late March, April or early May at the latest.

At the sewing group the other day, we were all engaged in these conversations.  One gal, has a 10 day RV trip home to Canada.  She was planning her small crafts to do on the way home to PEI.    It's a Japanese braiding technique called Kumihimo.  I thought it was a great idea to pass the long drive home.    Lots of people do this braiding technique, and it's particularly popular here and there's lots of help to get started.

So I've bought some kumihimo supplies.   I will need to do a practice braid or two before leaving.   My friend Betty T. is helping me to do a simple necklace with beads project so I can learn the technique.  Then I'll be all set to do a couple of kits for my travel home.  

Last week, I had people in for supper, and one couple brought us a small box of Godiva Chocolates.  The chocolates were smooth and creamy, and utterly divine.   But not only that, but the left over gold box is perfect to keep my travel beading all in one place.

The countdown is on.  We leave in three weeks

A Gift for Me!

I've taught a couple of wallet classes at a local quilt shop lately.   During the last part of the wallet class, we do some small measurements and markings that don't require a great big ruler.   Well, one of the students had this little ruler.   It's a creative Grids ruler that is 6" x 2.5".   It's the nicest little ruler.  Well, at the worktable, we all used her sweet little ruler during our final measuring and marking.    

At the end of the class, and everyone had completed their wallets, we were packing up.   Ann, the owner of this ruler, came to me and thanked me for the great day.  With the ruler in both hands, she presented it to me for my teaching kit!    I was so touched with her gift.    

It wasn't until I got home that I noticed that this ruler has the name of the quilt shop on it.  Heartfelt Quilting and Sewing.   Oh, my, that makes extra special and probably pretty rare!!   

Thanks Ann!   This gift was so thoughtful, and I can't tell you how much I, and others will enjoy using it as we finish up the final steps of our wallets.  It's a perfect addition to my teaching kit.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

It's a beautiful day here in sunny Florida.    It's St. Patrick's day and it happens to be my turn to bring the afternoon snack to the Sew What group this afternoon.    They are more of a Knit What group, but that doesn't matter.   They are a fun bunch of ladies and I get all the community news when I go there.    

Since it's a nice day, hubby and I spent most of our late morning at the pool.    Anyway, there's no time to bake.   These store bought St. Patrick day cookies are perfectly acceptable to this laid back group of gals.  

Enjoy your St. Patrick's Day!!

Fancy Forest - Shopping trip # 2

Whew, choosing fabrics is tiring.   I'm over half way there on choosing fabrics for my Fancy Forest summer project.  Only picked out a dozen today.  After choosing these, I was tired and couldn't look any more.  I knew it was time to quit when I made two full circles of the store, and didn't add any to my pile. 

Now that I'm home and had a nice glass of lemonade I got my energy back.  I spent a bit of time swatching up the color card.   I have 22 of the 40 needed.  I'm already looking forward to my next shopping trip.   My plan is to go again next week for round 3!!

Fancy Forest - My Summer Project

I bought this fabulous Fancy Forest pattern yesterday.   I just love Elizabeth Hartman's patterns.  This is the first one for me.   I've seen individual fox quilts, individual rabbit quilts and even individual owl quilts, but this pattern has them all.

It's a big undertaking.   I wonder if any of my friends would like to play along with me.   I am thinking of starting a Wednesday morning group at the Ville just to do this over the summer.   We'll work together... not sure how, but it would be fun to have a little motivation to get it done.

Besides the background neutral fabric, the pattern calls for 40 fabrics.   Both plain and printed.  

A not-so-quick trip to the quilt shop and I came out with 13 of the 40 fabrics needed.  These are mostly plain fabrics.  The printed fabric will take a little more time.  I'll pick away at it, and my goal is to have all 40 fabrics before heading north next month.   I was too tired to look any more, so I can see that this will take a few trips to shops to get the fabrics.

If you think you'd like to join me on Wednesdays starting in mid-May in the Sewing Room at the Ville.  Drop me a comment or email.  We'll see if we can organize a fun group.