The
end of 2019 is here and I can't believe how the years just fly right
on by. I can't be this old when I feel young at heart. My body tells
me every day that I may feel young at heart, the body just laughs and
laughs. LOL!
I
started out the year with a daily 'diary' type book. I'm not sure
exactly when I stopped writing in it, but one day I realized I hadn't
written in it for some time. I'd have to get up off the couch to go
find the silly thing just to check and that's not happening right
now.
I did
have wrist and elbow surgery in April to repair my carpal tunnel. I
planned on getting a few things done between surgeries and I managed
to accomplish most of them the 9 weeks I had off work. I was also
blessed with a new midarm quilter about the same time (which hasn't
given me a hint on what his name is, yet). Poor Mr. Stretch was
replaced with a Nolting Fun Quilter. I sure hope Mr. Stretch found a
new home and he can continue to make beautiful quilts. Boy, it was
hard not to play with my new machine when one hand was wrapped up in
gauze and tape. I have since quilted several quilts on it and LOVE my
equalizer stitch regulator! The next new thing I want to master is
pantographs. I also have stencils that I bought at the Paducah show
that I want to get good enough to use. I have a lot of things on my 'to do' list when
it comes to my new machine.
At
work I also moved from the retail side of the store to the cafe just
before my surgery. For a person that never flipped burgers as a kid I
did ok, but it is not my cup of tea. When Carl & I got together
he agreed to be the cook in the family and 'I quit'! was my motto.
So my last day for cooking all the customers that came into the store
was the 23rd. I'm sure I won't be missing the rat race.
In
July Kaye Wood passed away suddenly. It still doesn't seem real at
times. I just had a Facebook chat with her not long before this
happened. I cherish the memories I have of her while learning her
quilting techniques during classes and trunk shows. She was always
laughing and doing something. She loved to travel and she once told
me she loved to go on cruises. She did 2 cruises a year, one with
family and one a quilting cruise. It would have been fun to go on a
quilting cruise, but this gal does not like water that much! I wish I
had half her energy and to be able to accomplish half of what she
accomplished in her later years. I tell people she never let any
grass grow under her feet! She is missed by many and I am one of the
many.
I
opened 2 spots in 2 consignment shops and closed 1 spot a few months
later. The shop I closed was an hour away and didn't do as well as I
had hoped. My second spot at Leola's Cottage is right in White House,
TN and is set up for me to have quilt and sewing classes. I started
out just doing classes and when they offered me a spot of my own I
snatched it up real quick. Not only do I do sewing and quilt classes,
but I have products up and am making some consigned quilts. It seems
that Kaye's 'Trees with Ease' is a very popular pattern. I am going
to sew up a couple in different fabrics to put in the shop.
In
August Carl and I went to Atlanta, GA so I could take Marti Michell's
'Grand Ruler' quilt class. So now I am a 'Grand Ruler' instructor.
She has several different ideas on quilting that I have had to wrap
my mind around. Her quilts are beautiful and her rulers and templates
really do make lots of quilt piecing easier with less guessing. I can
see using her templates on other patterns to make them go together
easier. Now to just find the time. LOL!
Lots
of things planned for 2020. I want to get more classes going, of
course, make more quilts, master new quilting techniques (to me) on my
Nolting, organize sewing 'stuff', straighten up the home front, and
most of all enjoy life with Carl. We never know when life is going to
change and it can in a blink of an eye.
Until next time,
Happy Quilting, Sharon
Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way"
Certified Instructor since 2013
Marti Michell "Grand Ruler" Instructor since August 2019
