Design Wall Monday

It's been months since I've taken a photo of what's on my design wall. I've worked on these White Chocolate blocks off and on for months. Now that school is out for the summer, I'll have time to sew. Yahoo! Yesterday, I began putting some of the blocks on the design wall. I wasn't sure how my choice of neutrals would work, but I'm pleased. I'm experimenting with a different log cabin layout from the pattern. I'm hoping to make this one king sized to put on the bed in our master bedroom. 

I have a small design wall across from my cutting table. It usually functions as a bulletin board to hold notes and patterns. I've been working on the blocks for the Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along. It seemed to be a good idea to put the blocks already made on the wall to help me choose the fabrics for the next blocks. I'm liking this quilt made with Portobello Market fabric by 3 Sisters.  I don't like my choice of fabric for the sashing. It was something I already had in my stash.  May have to audition other fabrics. To see more quilt projects on design walls visit Judy's blog for Design Wall Monday.

Endless Summer Vacation

"School's out for summer
School's out forever" ...   Alice Cooper


Today was the last day of post planning for teachers in our school district. Not only was it the last day of school before our summer break, but it was my last official day of work. Today, I begin my "never-ending summer vacation" or RETIREMENT!!!!!  I have worked in public school education for 33 straight years. It's the only work I've ever done. I don't think I've ever felt such freedom. I feel a bit like a kid with a trust fund. I can do whatever I want and the bills will still be paid:)


 Yesterday when I was cleaning out my office and files. I kept filling the large black garbage bags. I don't have to worry about any of those topics or items again. Don't worry. I did save all my electronic files on a flash drive, but did I ever clean out. There is little room at home for the school stuff that has moved from one school to the other with me. I kept just those books, stuffed animals, photos, items that meant the most to me. 

I was truly blessed to work with an awesome principal and staff. I'll miss everyone, but I'll go visit when I want and leave when I want :)

Thanks for celebrating with me!!!!!!!

Bloggers Quilt Festival

Today is the beginning of one of my favorite online events. Amy from Amy's Creative Side is hosting an online quilt show. If I remember correctly, this is the third Bloggers Quilt Festival. It is fascinating to visit each of the blogs and view the different quilts and quilting styles. 

This has not been a very productive sewing year for me. I have finished very few projects. I blog about most of my projects and didn't want to bore you my friends with photos of projects you've  seen many times. This is also my third time to participate in the Bloggers Quilt Festival. I thought about my finished quilts and  looked through digital photos for inspiration.

This quilt is called Parkview Friendship Crossing. The pattern, Friendship Crossing is one of my favorites designed by Pat Wys of Silver Thimble Quilt Company. This was a raffle quilt. Several years ago, I was asked to make a quilt for my son's high school marching band to raffle for a fundraiser. The school colors are Orange, Blue and White. Blue and white are two of my favorite colors to use in quilts, but not ORANGE. This is Not a color in my color palette. I wanted to make it as scrappy as I could. It was one of the first quilt that I choose ALL the fabrics. My friend Brenda went with me on our personal field trip to select the fabrics. I love how the colors sparkle in this top. This quilt has gone off to live with another family. Wish I would have purchased more raffle tickets so that it still lived with my family of quilts:)

Blogger Online Quilt Show

Tomorrow (Friday, April 21st)  is the first day of the Bloggers Quilt Festival hosted by Amy's Creative Side. Select one of your quilts, compose a blog about the quilt then link it from Amy's blog.The Quilt Show is fabulous! Inspirational and fun! Visit the blogs and view the Quilt Show. Join in the fun!

Dropping Off the Blogosphere

I'm  a blogging drop-out:) Since mid-April, it seems that it has been non-stop here in Georgia. I'm taking lots of photos and making lists of things to blog about, but no actual blogging is taking place, but you knew that. Life is good and very full. There have been birthday celebrations, college student returning home for the Summer, end-of-school activities, sewing get-togethers, surgery for a friend, retirement parties and a mini-vacation.

 Yes, that's right. My DH has some wonderful business trips with his work. He has wanted me to join him for several years. There has always been one conflict after the other. This year we decided that no matter how busy it has been that I would use my personal leave time from school and travel with him to Florida for a conference. We left Saturday morning to visit first with my brother, sister-in-law and their twin 18 year old sons. We had not visited them in their home for several years. We try to visit our Dad in Louisiana at separate time to give him more family visits. My brother was recently in the hospital. I needed to see him to decide for myself that he was mending.

We had a fabulous visit. My SIL took this photo of all of us after Sunday mass (she insisted she wouldn't be in the photo with "this hair")  Here is my DH, Jared who looks like our side of the family, my brother Bud, Jonathan who looks like his mother's side of the family and me. 


We then headed to hubby's conference in San Destin Florida. Wow! That's all I can say. It was a wonderful three days in a luxury hotel on the beach. I love looking at the water and hearing the surf. DH tolerates the sun and sand. I walked on the beach while he "had to work". 

I absolutely loved sitting on our balcony watching the waves and listening to the surf. I ate breakfast on the patio, read during the early evening and just sat to soak in the peace.

Retirement is looking better each day!