WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO

 I keep busy all year. Winter has less travel so I am sewing a lot. Thought I would show you a few projects in the making. 

A few weeks ago I took an online class with Ricky Tims. Papaw's Choice is the block his dad used almost exclusively to make many quilts. I enjoyed the online format. The block is simple to make and Ricky's pattern is excellent. It will be ready for sale in the future. I decided this was a great time to use a lot of the hand-dyed fabrics I have, many I got from Ricky, and I am happy with the result.

My TOP, before adding borders, this is 72" square:

To enlarge it and use up more fabric, I added a 5" finished border all around, now it's 82" square:

Another project coming along nicely is PICK A PETAL, the 2024 Block of the Month for The Quilt Show. I only have the outer border of fans to finish piecing for the basic sewing to be done. Then we will spend Months 5-10 on the appliques and embroidery added to the Log Cabin inner border:

Next up is preparation for teaching classes soon. Wednesday February 21, 2024 I teach ON THE LILY POND, at Southern Charm Quilting. There are a few openings left, if you are local, don't miss it.

This is my replica of an antique I own and will bring to class. I am teaching this on a New England/Canada Cruise in September 2025--when registration for that cruise opens, I will make an announcement--that cruise will sell out quickly as  my Alaska cruise did, it's August 9-16, 2024.

ON THE LILY POND:

In less than two weeks I will be teaching at Empty Spools Seminar held at the beautiful Asilomar Conference Center on the Monterey Peninsula in California. FULL CIRCLE will keep almost 25 students busy, entertained and learning for 5 and a half days. I am so excited for this true BUCKET LIST JOB, and am pleased to say I am already under contract there again for 2025, with my wonderful TWO FOR ONE class. My supplies are shipped already and all I have to do is pack and get on 3 airplanes February 29, 2024 to get there:

FULL CIRCLE, pattern by Wendy Williams, quilting by Patty Wilson:

Another class I am very excited to teach is ANTELOPE CANYON DIT DOT EVOLUTION:

This class is March 19 and April 2, 2024 at Southern Charm Quilting. Many people have told me how much they love this quilt and want to make it but only a few have signed up. This is one of those quilts I want to say "Don't try this at home". It requires being very organized and I have that all figured out for you--come and join us--this will most likely not be offered again. The shop has the complete KIT available for purchase--even if you can't take the class because you are not local, buy the KIT while you can. When those two Jelly Roll sets needed for this quilt are gone, they are gone.

We have a new grandbaby due in mid-March to our 45 year old son, Joshua and his love, Cait. We are very excited, of course, and I finally knew it was time to dig out the baby/kid stuff I have been saving for 45 years. All has been washed and will go to their house soon. It was so fun to see these amazing things I am glad I saved for so long:

Marine kids get Marine t-shirts

My son is very eager to get these boots, I made the Tooth Fairy pillow for Joshua

Hand made sweaters I loved and a couple favorite items

A great friend made this circus quilt, her first, and a wonderful neighbor made the incredibly soft baby blanket

Every day I walk, rain or shine, except for the week we had an ice storm that shut everything down. Those days I used the elliptical trainer. When it's really cold, I am bundled up:

Most days a sweatshirt does the trick, with hat and gloves if it's below 45. One and a half to two hours a day keeps me happy in the winter when I am not as busy with lots of travel.  

I am easily maintaining the healthy weight I want to be and feeling great. It is fun to know that everything in my closet fits. Pulling outfits together is a joy, not a struggle, any more:

 Seeing wildlife almost every day is partly why I love walking outdoors. Singing along to my playlists is another reason my walk is so important to me each day. I am sure I am considered the "crazy singing woman" as I walk and sing for 6-8 miles a day:

For more information on my joyful journey to health, see my blog from August 20, 2023: 

HOW I LOST 100 POUNDS  (now 110)

There is the usual daily stuff I do for The Quilt Show, checking and answering FORUM questions, writing the monthly blog for the Block of the Month, and preparing and recording or going LIVE on Facebook and YouTube once a month. The next one is a "not so LIVE" as I will be at Asilomar the first week in March. It is already recorded and ready to air March 1, 2024: 

I was amazed to learn that so far 13,000 people have watched the Month 1 LIVE that aired January 1, 2024 and 7500 people have watched Month 2 so far. Our worldwide community is an awesome thing I am happy to be a part of. 

Another quilt idea is swirling in my head. And it is time to start another Feathered Star for that long-running project.

Each day is a new day and I am eager to jump out of bed to get the day started. My motto this year is: BE STRONG, BE PATIENT, and BE HAPPY. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara

I've Been Thinking

 About a lot of things but mostly my knees.

Last May I started a walking program and eating a healthier diet. By June I was regularly power walking an hour a day minimum and losing weight.

Good quality walking shoes make all the difference:

By Thanksgiving I had lost 58 pounds, had gotten rid of lots of old, baggy clothes, and enjoyed shopping in my closet for new clothes, some still with tags, I had bought a few years back for "someday". 

Cookie season hit and though I kept up the long daily walks about 10 pounds crept back on. Just before Christmas we had a super cold spell hit, with temperatures in the single digits, too cold for ME to walk outdoors. 

So, I took 5 days off. When temps were above 40 I hit the road again. I was a little stiff and a little slower but still did the hour at my usual pace. The next day we were in the upper 60's, perfect winter weather. Off I go, at my usual "GO" speed. No problems at all. Felt fine. After I got home and sat for a while, I couldn't get up. And it was all downhill from there. 

Little sleep that night, worst pain I ever had, ever, all day the next day. I got an appointment to see an orthopedic doctor--tomorrow. I had to postpone the Facebook LIVE broadcast I was supposed to do that Friday at noon--I was just too pitiful to be seen. And Fuzzy Brain from no sleep and bad pain.

The GOOD news is each day I have improved, moving from awful pain, to tolerable pain, to sore, to stiff. I'll probably feel fine by the appointment, but I'll be at that appointment. Both knees were replaced, the left 15 years ago, the right 10 years ago. Hopefully, x-rays will show they are still fine. And all I did was sprain/strain the knees after not walking for 5 days then going full-tilt power walk.

I guess I'm not as young as I used to be.

So all this time spent resting, reading, relaxing and recovering, has me deciding to slow down a little bit.  I still want to travel to teach some, but not as much. Teaching on a cruise in March is something I am really looking forward to and hope to do annually. Hopefully, I will have good news to share in a couple months about some new opportunities for later this year. And there is an amazing job coming my way in 2024 I will be able to talk about this Spring.

Local classes have been very lightly attended in the past few years. Some of that is Covid, some is people expecting to learn for free on YouTube, some is "I can take her class another time". There will be a lot fewer local classes after this season. I wrote about current classes here: Local Classes Starting in January

My work for The Quilt Show continues as we work on the current Block of the Month quilt. I reach hundreds, if not thousands, that way. 

There is a trip planned for May 2023 I am calling my "TEXAS TOUR". So far, I will be in Huntsville, Tx May 1-2, The Woodlands May 3-4, and Lufkin May 8. I am hoping to add another stop or two before or after those dates, perhaps in Conroe or LaGrange or Austin or Round Rock. One airfare split between all guilds/stores will lower that cost for each organization. Then we can plan the logistics of getting me from "here" to "there". I used this source to find contacts--any help from my Texas friends will be much appreciated:

I love to work as a Quilt Show Judge so will seriously consider those jobs. Small shows with one judge, or large shows with several, I enjoy that aspect of the Quilt Industry a lot.

Local guilds can hire me, there are several near me that will allow us all to sleep in our own bed after a great all-day workshop. Or at the very least, don't involve an airplane ride.

ZOOMing is not my jam. I don't plan to do any more lectures that way. And I don't want to teach classes that way. I much prefer to be able to see up close what each student needs to get the most out of my class. I want to share what I know in the best way for each student.

I also expect to write this Blog weekly rather than twice a week. There aren't many comments though I know more than 2200 hundred follow me now. One good blog full of content should be better than two a week without a lot of content. Most people don't know about the many TUTORIALS here. The tab at the top takes you to them. 

Now I will have more time to make some of the many quilts that still need to be made. To use some of the stash that still needs to be whittled down. There will probably be an annual "BIRTHDAY SALE", purging that stash more and more each year.

The Design wall stays full now, think how much more productive I can be: 

Tops need quilting. Grandkids need loving, Husband needs attention. Knees need taking care of. I realize I have plenty to keep me busy if I stay home more.

So, if your group wants me to come, now is the time to ask. And if you are in Texas, I am coming your way THIS YEAR and would love to see you and your group while I am there.

Let's quilt.

Barbara