Really Really Really Retired

Retirement has been elusive for me.  I retired as a teacher in 2000 and started work as a counselor, retired as a counselor in 2011 and almost immediately started as a substitute counselor.  I applied for a 2/5 position as a counselor and got it last year at 68 years of age but the district reshuffled kids and another counselor already on the books, so although I got the position-I never had to report for duty and i continued to sub.  In three days, I am officially retiring from public education for EVER!

A brand new chapter has opened up and I am writing it as fast as i can.  I am currently teaching Three quilt classes, a beginning that meets 2x a month, a Bonnie Hunter Un-mystery class that meets monthly, and a Calendar Club  that meets monthly as well.  On Sunday I officially became ministry leader of The Comforter's which is our church's prayer quilt ministry which will meet 2x a month. We had a lunce reunion with several of the members of the Comforter's over the years on Saturday.  So good to see a couple of these ladies that I haven't seen in a while.

Reunion with the ladies who have quilted with The Comforters-forever friends!

My quilt glass is full and I feel so incredibly blessed.  Life is full of ebbs and flows and I am in the flow and am going to enjoy it while it lasts.  God is amazing whether I am ebbing or flowing and life is amazingly good. I will have more time to study God's word, work on personal goals and do less piecing and more arting❤

Sloanie is Done!!!

I started "I Can Dress Myself"  last year in Susan Carlson's class at Asilomar in Pacific Grove, CA.   I took it to the Patt Blair Retreat I just went to this past March and finished the highlights in her hair, glued down some pieces and took the dog hair off that had collected on the bottom.  I brought it home and sandwiched it and then Gloria Mauno volunteered to quilt it for me.  She did an amazing job and I would have never done such a nice even squiggle.  She even changed the thread on top so it would not be obvious.  I couldn't wait to get it to Marilyn Hersey to do the binding.  I love it!  This one will be entered in the SD Quilt Show.

I Can Dress Myself

Face detail

There are about 1 million tiny pieces of fabric glued down first then a little paint but not much, topped with a very fine orange tulle, then quilted.  It was done from a photograph.

Patt Blair

I haven't taken a class at our guild all year.  They have had wonderful speakers and great classes, but I didn't want to start another project and I have been pretty busy with the class samples I have had to do.  however, i am going on a 4 day retreat with artist, Patt Blair, so thought it would be a good idea to take her class at our guild.  What a great day!  I had a blast. A totally right brain day.  We used paper napkins and paint medium, stamps, stencils and pens. What fun!

My mom passed 17 years ago this month.  This is a tribute to her memory.  The first time I have done a facing on a quilt.

 I also had a couple of UFO finishes-a baby quilt and a St Patrick's Day wall hanging:

New Paint and Carpet!

I thought it would take a week but it ended up taking a month to take everything out of my 13x13 foot room, paint it, install new carpet and put things back in place-refolding all the fabric took awhile😧  I love my room and can tend to lock myself away in there.  The happiest place on earth.  My sweet husband was amazing and even though it is hard for him to do, he did the carpet installation himself and installed all new baseboards and the new blinds.  He also helped haul the multiple boxes of material and "stuff" out and then back in when we were done.  I love that man!

Fat quarters, strips,  Kaffe Fassett, B&W and kits

Right side of closet-Bonnie Hunter's scrap user system, bead s and tools.  The closet used to house all my crafting stuff and scrapbooking stamps, paper etc etc.  I saved some stamps for fabric and 1 shelf of scrapbooking stuff but everything else went.  Love that I can find everything.

Cutting station, work table, yardage, pattern books and my new favorite green Singer made in the 50's

My husband used to have all his stuff above the computer and stuffed under the table but now it is all Mine!  I used my Babylock for embroidery and quilting and keep it stored away in our old TV armoire.

A shoe holder repurposed for thread etc.  Everything is easy to find

There is a lot in the room but it is completely organized and I can find everything!  Love it!  Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!

Class Full

I was hoping for 5 or 6 ladies to join the Calendar Club Class but day before yesterday number 16 and 17 joined which added 2 additional kits.  Yikes.  So I only have a few more green border pieces to cut and I am done kitting.  I was hoping to have my sample quilted in time for class but making the kits has taken quite a bit of time.  I am pretty excited about the turnout and a couple of ladies have dropped by the house for extra help.  Our Lizzy loves the extra company.

12 kits almost ready

May Flowers

Have been loving the rain here in Ramona.  The hills are bright green and everything smells so clean except for our dog who still has a faint odor of the skunk she chased out of the yard.  Her first experience getting slightly sprayed. 

Calendar Club

A lot has changed in the last year.  Cant believe it has been a year since posting last.

My friend that was almost killed in the accident last January is almost restored to good health.  Praise God!

Our house in Medford had a major hemmorage and the sewer line from house to street gave up the ghost after nearly 100 years.  Of course the insurance didn't cover it because it was outside the house, nor did it cover the hotel we had to house the renters for two weeks.

We are putting the Medford house on the market as soon as possible.

We took a long camping trip from Ramona to Washington and back last September-loved it!  Needed it!

Had our neighbor, Neal as a boarder for 9 mos. until he could move to Oregon to rejoin his family after his retirement.

Friend,  ken, moved in as a renter for 5 mos until he could feel comfortable in his new job.  He moved out into his own place in January.  We will remain empty nesters.

Started a monthly class called "The Calendar Club"  with several brand new quilters.  We have a new quilting space in Ramona called Sew Easy Studio.  Teachers rent the space for the day and hold classes.  We love it!

One thing hasn't changed:  God is good and His mercies endure forever!!

March Flimsey-working on hand sewing Freezer paper applique

April Flimsey is now quilted and crystal butterflies were sewed to points. This version is fused.

I realized my last post talked about Asilomar and the class with Susan Carlson.  Both were amazing.  Best time ever!  And this is the almost finished product of that class: