It snowed on the first day of spring but it is getting a little warmer for a day or two each week and we have almost no snow on the ground. I am really happy about that and occasionally I see the sun! I keep hoping that I will see grass growing but it is way too cold for that.

I have been feeling my energy return since my last bout with COVID and I have been able to get into my normal routine more. I was able to squeeze in some long arming this week. It is the last customer quilt I am doing. It’s a beautiful quilt and I hope to do it justice with my quilting. It’s a 92×92 in quilt. I am doing a custom job on it. Gonna take me a long time I do believe.

I have been doing an embroidery project every evening and I am almost done! I love BZ creations patterns and I can’t wait to do another one in the future! The instructions are very detailed and have been so helpful for me as I have not done embroidery in a long time.

I have to tell you I went to Lori Holt Club for the entire 2 hours this week. I was so excited I took my sewing machine and sewed the whole time! I was able to pick out the perfect red from Lori’s fabrics in the store and got more background fabric. I am really hoping more people come. I was the only person attending but I did get a lot of help from the shop owner and met a lot of wonderful people while I was there. Here are the results of my class. I was on the struggle bus soooooo much!

That S was so hard! But With the help of the shop owner, Jen, I have the confidence that I can make this quilt. I am really looking for more folks to come and asking all my local friends.

I took a Resin pour paint class and this is the final results! I had so much fun that I decided when they offer another class I would take it again!

I also did a little butterfly and heart. I think I would do the state of Michigan next time to play more with the colors and mica.

I have been watching Fat Quarter Shop’s livestreams and I saw this year’s Make a Wish cross stitch pattern and fell in love with it. I was asked by FQS to stitch along and I couldn’t be more thrilled! Here are the details as it is starting in May. You can order you supplies now so they are here in time!

https://www.fatquartershop.com/block-of-the-months/stardust-charity-quilt-and-stitch-along

And the details are on the Jolly Jabber here: https://blog.fatquartershop.com/announcing-the-stardust-charity-quilt-along-and-stitch-along/

If you want to quilt along there is a quilt pattern and supply list on the blog site also!!

I have been loving the theme for my Silk and Sonder journal for March. It is Vitality. I have really enjoyed finding ways to add vitality to my life. To get the most of my journal I am doing the morning daily ritual which gives you journal prompts and I have been doing the virtual classes to help set up your journal and do some journaling exercises with the month’s theme. I canceled my journal subscription for a day. I was so sad about it and then I realized it is worth the price for me as I looked for cheaper journal alternatives. So I renewed it!!

Winter is always a time of hibernation and introspection. Now that the sun is showing it self more I feel rejuvenated and getting out more. Taking classes, meeting up with friends a little more and in general having more vitality and growth. I love spring.

Today is the day we are going to Costco and then seeing friends near the store. I have been making my list all week, gathered up my rewards coupon, and getting the cooler ready for today’s adventure. I have not been to the store in months and we have a bare freezer. Never did I think that I would look forward to grocery shopping.

This weekend I am prepping for the quilt guilds rope bowl class. I will be on the lookout for white cotton clothes line in my shopping so I can zigzag bright colored thread on it using thread I have that I am not a huge fan of using for sewing or long arming. I realized I have quite a large thread stash. HOW did that happen, lol!

My takeaway is that I realized I am enjoying being part of classes, my local quilt guild and going to a quilt club at the LQS. I never really thought that I was a “joiner”. I didn’t have the time or money. I did try a few things years ago but I didn’t like it and the people were not welcoming.

I tried again. Things have changed so much. People have changed. I have changed, and I have more time these days. I found that the interactions, learning and friendships are found in going, joinging and taking some risks. The risk was worth it and the money spent is worth it. I am having so much fun! I am glad I found my local quilt and craft community, they are great people.

Vicki