Building Friendships - Brazos House Retreat

 It's the retreat I look the most forward to all year.  Our anniversary - and this year we are celebrating our 8th November together.  Crazy right?  The theme is Building Friendships and what could be better than that?  I've taken a construction approach, but we'll see what others come up with.  For now -- the committee came in last night to prepare the place for today.  Take a peek at our decor.

Stephannie has been a huge help to me and created door signs for all the rooms as well as many of the decorations around the house.  I tackled the outside a wee bit.

All In Stitches Spotlight - Polson, MT

 We are out and about today, giving me the chance to stop at a new-to-me quilt shop.  All in Stitches located in Polson, Montana is the lucky recipient of our attention.

Theme for 2022 --- Color Your World

 COLOR YOUR WORLD

We all spend a large part of our day with color.  We are either using color in a project or happily enjoying it with our eyes.  It can determine our mood.  Did you know that?  Do you understand colors?  In preparing for this theme, my eyes have been opened wider.  I LOVE color and the ways to implement it in my life will even have me out of bed before light just to enjoy the sky's magnificent display.  That's devotion.

With that in mind, for 2022, I think Our Quilt World Facebook group will focus on color and I will most certainly do all I can to bring it into my own life as well.

We'll take a good look at how nature provides both beauty and inspiration for us along with how colors work with our emotions and why we respond to certain ones the way we do.  

I'm also going to do a table runner each month that will allow me to work with the color of the month and also try out new techniques and have a finished project each month.  Some will be free patterns on the internet, others I've come up with on my own and will be happy to share if you wish to sew along with me.  We'll tackle traditional piecing, foundation piecing, paper piecing, modern, low volume, QAYG, and applique.  There will even be BINGO cards occasionally - focusing on the color of the month.  Please play along --- and let's brighten our world together.

October 2021 Monthly Quilt Update

 

Another month has come to an end.  Do you know what that means?  It means October begins tomorrow and October is the bestest month of the year.  The world is changing around us -- yes, I mean nature and not the craziness of people -- and we need to stop and embrace it.  It's a wonderful time to be part of this beautiful world ---- I AM going to enjoy each and every moment outside and bring the joy into my heart.  Coming along?

If you are new to the blog, you may be asking, "just what is a monthly update?"  I decided long ago that I just can't keep up with blogging daily.  I just can't.  Sooooo, what happens is I document a day in my life within one post and if something special happens, a separate post takes place.  See, you can stay caught up with a once a month check and then, if you're interested, see the other posts too.  It's a great system for me.

In years past, I have set goals for each month and I will continue to do that simply to keep myself on track.  I AM still in an ongoing UFO mode around here and trying oh so hard to use or clean out the stash.  It will be an continuing project this year.  If I want something to come in -- something has to go out.  That is one goal.  The balances change each month (hopefully) and will always show up at the bottom of the update if you read that far - and they are joined by links to the previous monthly updates for the year.

Now, grab a cuppa and sit back for a fun read and perhaps a new idea or two.   (P.S. I format on a computer, so if you are reading on a phone, well sometimes the pictures will be before or after the story.  It is what it is.)

Not Your Mama's Quilt Shop Spotlight - Plano, TX

 An opportunity to meet up with a treasured friend put me at Not Your Mama's Quilt Store and since I haven't been to the new store before, I thought I'd bring all y'all along with me.

We are greeted instantly upon our entry (which I LOVE) and after asking about taking pictures, Christina gives the go ahead and I'm soon clicking away.  There are the greatest displays all over the shop and my eyes are darting instantly.

Lone Star Quiltworks Spotlight - Bryan, TX

 I honestly think I saved the BEST for last on this trip.  I won't make it to the other ones further north before 5 so this is it.  And THIS is so it!!!  Lone Star Quiltworks in College Station has got it going on.  It is pure heaven in this shop and my eyes are on sugar overload with all the wonderful candy available.  Looking left as I enter is the least filled area of the store.  Seriously, just hold on for a minute while I share.  Next, I looked right ---- do you see that display of neutrals.  They are divine and so many that I haven't seen before.  If I hadn't just filled up my neutrals again, well . . .  I did get information on their online store so I'm sure some will still find their way to me.

Creative Threads Spotlight - Sealy, TX

 We are in Sealy, TX and just finished lunch so I decide to walk around the downtown area and see if I can find Creative Threads Quilt Shop.  I'm successful and the shop has just opened.