Happy New Years !

What does the New Year mean to you? Some will dread it and some will embrace it.  

I have decided to embrace it, by reflecting on the changes that will bring less stress and more joy into my world. That will require my being more creative.

I have decided that this blog will receive more of my attention than it has in the past. It means that you will be hearing regularly from me. I will be sharing what I am working on through out the year.

I hope that you find happiness and peace in the New Year. 

Enjoy The Walk

Susan

Stitching Again

 I can honestly say if I did not have my belief and faith in God I would not have made it through the last 2 years. 

During this time I have learned I am not; nor do I need to be perfect. This is something I have struggled with this a long time. 

The Father accepts, as well as loves me for who I am. That is enough for me. The opinions of others no longer concern me. I am who I am. 

During this time I have realized that in this go, go, go, world I do not have to be On every minute of the day: on the phone, on Facebook, on Instagram, or on You Tube. 

I am working on being still, so I am able to reflect and understand that God is with me no matter where I am.  

I am thankful for my friends like Bonni who have been with me during this time. I cherish our friendships. 

Things are beginning to get back to normal. I have actually been able to breath long enough to want to stitch. It has been so long, I wondered if I remembered how to do the stitches. LOL 

I will be working on stitching projects that have been put aside to until I was ready and able to work on them. Once I have picked them back up I will make sure to take photos to share with you. 

Enjoy The Walk

Susan

2022 The Year of Challenges and Growth

 In 2022 I have decided the only way to grow is by challenging myself. The first way was by being exposed as well as testing positive for Covid19.  Due to my allergies and asthma I believe it was a mild case due to having both vaccines and the booster. 

The next way I decided to grow was to begin an embroidery project for the year. I have being following Stitching A Round on Facebook and liked some of the concepts. 

I decided I wanted this project to have a special meaning to myself so I chose to use Sunbonnet Sue for each month instead of the icons. I will applique her to each month with the Button Hole Stitch. Kudos to Bonni Feltz for introducing that stitch to me. 

I will learn a new stitch to outline the spoke of each month. I will add other stitches and maybe even some Derwent Inktense Ink Pencils to add some additional texture. I can't wait to see how it turns out! This is what I have done so far:

    

I have been thinking about things I have always wanted to do but never took the time to do them. One is to learn Calligraphy. I chose to start with Modern Calligraphy. I am participating in a course by The Happy Ever Crafter with Becca at #showmeyourdrills_2022 . There is no judgement on where you are when you start or if you have ever picked up a pen to write Calligraphy. I like the atmosphere and the mentors who work with Becca. This is my very 1st assignment, onward and upward:

Boy Becca wasn't kidding when she said the squiggly one would be the hardest. That's okay. I will learn this just like anything else I have chosen to do.  I am not going to judge my practice drills, or be hard on myself. I am going to enjoy the experience and the time spent learning. 

At work we are choosing a word for 2022, mine is Content. In this world you are taught to want more of everything, that you have to have it all. 

I have come to realize that just isn't the case. 

I know, it took me long enough, remember WIP (work in progress) God isn't done with me yet. I am so blessed with my family and friends. I need to learn to be content with who I am and what I have and know that it is perfectly fine.

Well my lovelies I am getting tired and that alarm clock goes off mighty early in the morning. Take care of yourselves, do something kind or special for yourself. Remember you can't take care of others or even be there for them, if you don't take care of you!

Enjoy The Walk

Susan

Are You Ready For This Holiday Season?

This will be a short post. If I offend anyone I apologize in advance, that is not my intention.

Since 2020 we have been painfully reminded that we are not guaranteed tomorrow. Forgive those who have wronged or hurt you to find inner peace. Hug those who are special to you, tell them you Love them. Say I'm sorry and really feel it as well as mean it. Don't be so hard on others or yourself for that matter, realize it is not worth the strife and hurt that it causes.

The holidays have always been something special to our family. We celebrate our Anniversary, Christmas, and being able to spend time together with our loved ones. This  year we will be trying to adapt to the new normal for us, as well as to our losses. I hope you find peace, joy, and happiness now and in the new year. 

Enjoy The Walk
Susan

Getting Old Is Not For Sissy's

Yes, I am still alive. I do not know how but I am. Do ever let anyone tell you getting old is easy or golden. I have come to discover it is not for Sissy's. I am not even that old yet. OMG

Everyone told me to get the Shingles shot because I had Chicken Pox twice, (so did my daughter hmmm) well I did what they said. The first shot was not too bad, but let me tell you I thought I was dying with the second one. One of the side effects was Cluster headaches only we didn't know what was causing the horrific sharp pains in my head. When I went to the doctor she ordered a CT with and without Contrast. Not what I wanted to do but had to be done.  CT turned out well. They believe the Cluster headaches are a side effect from the shot and will lesson in time. I don't think the stress due to my husband's health helped the situation either.

Needless to say I have not done much in my sewing room except set up my new sewing machine. I will update photos at another time. I just wanted to check in with everyone. I am blessed to have friend who kept in touch to see how I was doing. I think they were almost as worried as we were. 

If I am not able to catch up with y'all later have a Very Merry Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, or  Holiday Season however you celebrate this time of year. If you do not celebrate enjoy time with your family. You are not promised tomorrow. 

Enjoy The Walk

Susan

September Cooler Weather On The Way

Well it is September already that means cooler weather is on its way. Today is September 4th that means there are only 112 days until Christmas. For those of you who have projects that need to be completed and shipped by USPS this holiday season you may want to check this link out:

https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2021/0810-usps-announces-proposed-temporary-rate-adjustments-for-2021-peak-holiday-season.htm

This is what it states: The planned peak-season pricing, which was approved by the Governors of the Postal Service on Aug. 5, would affect prices on commercial and retail domestic competitive parcels – Priority Mail Express (PME), Priority Mail (PM), First-Class Package Service (FCPS), Parcel Select, USPS Retail Ground, and Parcel Return Service. International products would be unaffected. Pending favorable review by the PRC, the temporary rates would go into effect at 12:00 a.m., Central Time, on Oct. 3, 2021, and remain in place until 12:00 a.m., Central Time, Dec. 26, 2021.

I do have items that need to ship in this time frame so I will be paying attention and will update if this is approved by the PRC (Postal Rate Commission).

Okay now that I have got that out of the way on to something fun. 

I have not shared some of the test quilts that I have been working on. Mind you these are only the tops and have not been quilted. Today I did order backing fabric so I can complete some of my UFO's some of these will be included:

Dad's Plaid

Boxed Dutchman

One Is Like The Other

I have 2 more test patterns that comes out in November. I can't wait to share them with you. I am working on another that comes out in January of 2022. 

I am continuing to write in my planners and will try to update my blog at least once a month. I hope those in the storms paths are safe and being taken care of. I hope those who have been ill are on their way to recovery. I wish blessings and peace for all. 

Enjoy The Walk

Susan

AUGUST ALREADY?

 So it looks like I update my Blog every 2 months. I am working on trying to make it monthly by writing in my Happy Planner so I keep track of all that I am doing. 

Work has been going gangbusters. We had our Open House at Edward Jones on July 12th. We were the 1st to use the New Big Scissors for the Jackson Chamber of Commerce during our Ribbon Cutting. I am truly blessed to work for such an amazing and caring company. The support and friendships are priceless. 

   

 

We made our first payment on our land, felt good to get that process rolling. Now if the prices of materials would become realistic again we might be able to purchase our new home to put out there. Those 8 acres are just waiting for us to develop them into our dream come true.

I was working on another Test Quilt for The Quilt Pattern Magazine, the deadline was July 30th. I was able to submit the top with the report on July 26th. It felt good to get that one done. They has it listed as a beginner I let them know I totally disagreed with that. 

We are now doing our JITSI Sit N Stitch the 2nd and 3rd Saturdays of each month. We started our with 4 who would show up and now we have at 7 joining us. It is good to be able to talk with women who understand what you are doing and might even be able to answer a few questions you might have. Let's not forget the inspiration we all are blessed with when viewing the work each of us have completed or are working on. Our Time To Quilt continues to grow with women from all over the world. It is good to see that Quilting is still Alive and Well. I hope that it continues to grow and is passed on to the next generation. 

Last but not least I had my Annual Review, I don't know why but these always stress me out. I will tell you it started out that way and then I realized we are all Human and that no one including myself is perfect. I come to work everyday, I go above and beyond to meet our clients needs as well as the 2 Financial Advisors I work with. Once that sank in I was in a better place. It turns out I had nothing to worry about. I received Exceeds Expectations, with one area that I can choose to develop or not. So all in all it was a very good review. 

So to make sure I end on a positive note I will continue to keep writing in my planner so I am able to share more with you next time. Take care until then. 

Enjoy The Walk

Susan

"Do You Realize What You've Done?"

During a conversation I had recently with a good friend, she asked me "Do you realize what you have done in the last 6 months?" Not thinking I said "No, what" she started to remind me of all the things I have accomplished in the last 6 months. Wow, I have been productive! 

1) I started this Blog. 

2) I became Moderator for the Groups IO for Our Time To Quilt site as well as on the Live Streams on Sundays.

3) I helped Co-Create our Jitsi Sit N Stitch on the 3rd Saturday. That was such a hit with the ladies we are now have it on the 2nd & 3rd Saturday's of each month.

4) I began to Cross Stitch.

5) I began to work on applique with the button hole stitch.

6) I started Journaling in a Big Happy Planner.

7) I created a Project Happy Planner to keep track of my current  projects.

8) I became a Tester for The Quilt Pattern Magazine. Who would of guessed I would enjoy testing quilt patterns. Not Me!

9) I organized my sewing room, then decided it needed to be re-arranged to be more functional. 

10) Another good friend let me know that she started listening to Brené Brown. I let her know I remember hearing the name before but never listened to her. She told me to look up her podcast or on You Tube. I am glad I did. I realized I am my own worse enemy, in turn I found my Self-Worth again. Have I told you how lucky I am to have such great friends! 

Well I am going to sign off for now. I hope you are surrounded by people you love and who love you. 

Enjoy The Walk

Susan

Ok So I Totally Missed Posting In April

 I thought I would catch up with everyone seeing how I totally missed posting in April. I can tell Summer is around the corner life is getting to be busy again. We recently purchased 8 acres, what a ride that has been.

I just finished Rows 5 & 6 of the 9 Patch Row quilt, you guessed it Row 7 is already out. Row 8 is just around the corner. With all that is going on I am doing alright with keeping up with it. 

I also started working on Ladies Aid New York Sampler. These blocks are fun to stitch. I have block 1 done and will get block 2 started this week. So this block will be cut down to 15 1/2" an finish at 15". I haven't trimmed it yet. Row 2 has a Cow I can't wait to choose the fabric for it!

In between working on these lovely projects I am also working on a few 12 Days of Christmas gifts. I am not able to share those with you though as the person receiving them reads my blog. 

Well I know the post was a short one but I have a million things going right now and have to run. 

Enjoy The Walk

Susan

Where Did February Go?

I swear I don't know what happened. I was working on a Test quilt pattern from The Quilt Pattern Magazine, I looked up and it was March already. Where did February go? Did something like this happen to you as well?

I must admit the Test pattern did have my full attention it is so cute! I can't wait to be able to share it with you. I have the top completed. Do you call it a quilt top or a flimsy? I never did understand when or why calling them flimsy's started. 

I find myself sitting in my sewing room looking at it wondering "How should I quilt you?" Sometimes I can have tops for years and they don't speak to me on how they want to be quilted. However, that is not an option with a Test quilt, now is it? LOL It will come to me. 

I remember working on "Owl You Need Is Love" an Accu Quilt pattern in February. I have it fused together but I have not began the button hole stitching around the applique pieces yet. My dear friend Bonni came to my rescue once again. She seen that I was struggling to find just the right DMC floss for one of the main colors so of course she had just the perfect color and sent it out in the mail. Believe it or not snail mail took it's sweet time to make sure it arrived. OMG I swear it was over 3 weeks for it to arrive. Thank goodness it wasn't a Test quilt. This is what it looks like so far:

I am also working on a few BOM's (Block Of The Month) for those who are wondering what a BOM is. One is Civil War Quilts:2021 Hands All Around: Alcotts At War by Barbara Brackman. You can check it out by going to the following link. I know it seems quite long but it will take you right there.

https://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/2020/12/2021-pieced-bom-hands-all-around.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CivilWarQuilts+%28Civil+War+Quilts

After speaking with Bonni it was decided that EQ8 and Block Base would be of great use to be able to make these blocks. I decided the recent bonuses from work would come in handy at this point. So I ordered the both as well as the EQ8 Instruction book for beginners. I see a lot of fun ahead. 

2nd BOM is "The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt" Letter from 1920s Farm Wives and the 111 blocks they inspired by Laurie Aaron Hird. Our Time To Quilt Members are doing this together on Jitsi the 3rd Saturday's of the month. Here are some of those yummy blocks:

 

3rd BOM is on Facebook from World Wide BOM these are the ones I have completed so far: 

I am still working on Simple Yet Elegant, there is a lot of button hole stitching to do with those blocks. I think this will take me all year. 

There are other projects I will be working on with Pattern Pastiche, once I have them started I will share those photos as well. I hope you are all doing well and that your stitching either by hand or machine brings you as much peace and enjoyment as mine does. Until next time. 

Enjoy The Walk

Susan