Day 18: 2018 Review J-F-M

Time to look back a bit to where my year went. Here is a pic review and then some other posts to look back on.

Top row represents January into February.
I did so much appraisal shadowing these 2 months that I was very thankful to have time to go to St. Louis for a quilting retreat with friends from when I lived there.
This Blog Post discusses the retreat from a few years back when we were younger:)
Pics on top row are 1. View on the way to the airport to fly to St. Louis, 2. an aerial view of STL, and 3. my St. Valentine's Day Décor at home.

Second row: 1. My very first appraisal booth all on my own. What a fantastic day!  
2. My baby girl finishing nursing clinicals!! I am a very proud mom and she shines at whatever she puts her mind to and she has worked so hard for this!
3. We had a bit of a warm up late in February and so my husband and I took a rare moment to go sit by the water and have a beer together:)

Bottom row: 1. I finally met Kay:)  You have heard me talk of her in my Heritage Architect stories and it was great to meet her and go see her ice dye exhibit.
2. We lost a dear friend to cancer this year.  When we lived in NC, Paula and Sharon lived down the island a bit from us.  I met them through a business meeting and they owned the Wood Gallery that I exhibited in for awhile.  We spent many weekends at their place for oyster roasts which I had never heard of before them:)
We  moved and they moved but we were able to visit them in New Hampshire-WOW!  Their new gallery was even more amazing!!
Being with them was a joy with lots of laughter and love.  Our hearts break for Paula and are thankful she has family near to help her.  We love and miss you Sharon!!
3. I finally got to take a Brazilian Embroidery class. That pic is the class sample and it is gorgeous!!  Good to keep learning even when you think there isn't anything else.

In March we also had the annual COC charity auction. Click on COC to read about my donations. 

I do keep very busy. I wonder what my bullet journal would have looked like that first quarter??  Maybe we will see this upcoming year:)

Pop over to see who else is blogging...

http://muppin.com/wordpress/index.php/the-2018-31-day-blog-writing-challenge/

Happy 2018 and BOOM, September already!

Why do we always say that we don't know where the year went already?  HAPPY NEW YEAR......Boom.....March...Boom
SEPTEMBER???!!!!

We do know, we just can't believe that time goes so fast!  I have been SUPER busy this year and no signs of slowing until December.
Here is a quick run down of the year so far.....

We were given tickets to see Jim Gaffigan on New Year's Eve at Amelie Arena here in Tampa.  His opening act was hilarious!  It is great to see so many people come out to see a comedian vs. watching free online.  Live is always better for the shared community experience.

January was quite chilly down here in Florida.  We were way below average temps and although we weren't as cold as the rest of the country, for Florida is was brutal!  We have tile floors that little dog usually sleeps on so we let her up a few nights.  Doesn't she look like she is never leaving?!
I had a quilt to finish hand quilting so I was very cozy:)

Took a trip to St. Louis for a quilt retreat with friends from when I lived there.  We stay in a lovely quilt shop, ROSEMARY'S, in Highland, ILL. There was also time for antique shopping:)

 Plus 2 appraisal events with Brenda!

FEBRUARY

"Robin's Wreaths" had been finished and sent off for photography

Our trees started getting some leaves back after IRMA last September and we had a brief warm up where we could go sit for a beer by the water...I know, Boo Hoo:)  I needed the break after 2 more appraisal events (First one on my own this time) and being chained to my computer to finish writing, "Robin's Wreaths" for AQ magazine. 

MARCH

More commission quilting, another pattern written, another appraisal event, and then my guild's annual charity event for the COC!  

 ALL the quilts up for Auction

 New postcard for guild Advertising

One of my donations to the effort:)  This is a block from one of Sue Garman's patterns.  Hope I get to make the whole quilt someday:)

There was also some time for necessary Spring Cleaning!

You can read how a blog hop helped me get a move on! 

APRIL

April blew in the same way March went out with more work:) 

I was starting to do some appraisals on my own, which is exactly what I needed.  The hand quilting commission was coming along and I finally was able to meet the great lady who had been entrusting her family heirlooms to my hands!  We had a lovely day.

I was also trying to get as much done on my part of the guild Opportunity quilt as I could so I could get back to my work.  It is going to be a beauty!

BABIES!  I look so forward to our April lunch meeting at a guild member's house every year and this year did not disappoint...SO Stinkin' Cute!!

I volunteered to help with the applique for the center portion of the OPP quilt. This is P3 Designs, "Baltimore Autumn".

Here I am with Brenda, my AMAZING Appraiser Mentor, in front of my quilt in Paducah.  We had quite a road trip but that is a story for another day:)

MAY

The month of Snake Lovin'....EEEWWWWW!

The LIGHTNING were in the play offs-Very Exciting for this hockey fan!

My husband and I went to a concert...outside...after dark:)))

My parents went on a trip to celebrate their 50th Anniversary and I went to pup sit.  I think she likes me:)

Before getting to my parent's, I stopped to see this cutie.  We went to a comedy night and got DRENCHED on that way back to the car!! I LOVE her!!!

While in VA, I was able to visit the Williamsburg museum and do a little antique shopping where I found another lovely to add to my Red and Green lecture: "AN EVENING WITH WELL LOVED LADIES".

JUNE

This month was lots of catch up after being gone and lots of company:0  My BIL came down to help his daughter with a project so he and Jim spent some time together.  Then my brother and nephew came for a visit.  I had the honor of riding with my nephew on his first Roller coaster...Fun.  I hadn't been on one in ages.

This is becoming an annual tradition for him as well.

Lastly, our niece got married so we had a lovely family visit in Georgia at the end of the month.  I had never been to St. Simon's Island and it was lovely. Great margaritas and another outdoor concert:)

JULY

We were back on the road in July with a trip to Chicago to visit my other baby girl! The pups travel relatively well. And this trip brought a Momentous Occasion....My First EVER trip to Wrigley Field, the home of my husband's lifelong favorite team, The Cubs!
When asked, he said I was the first girl he had ever brought there:)
Another "first" after so many years together is endearing!

AUGUST

All the usual work has been getting done with one quilting commission finished this summer and another one into the hoop!

In case you have missed one or two along the way, here is one to read about.....

SEPTEMBER

This month started with a Fabulous trip to San Antonio to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary.  A bit frustrating that this is the only pic I have of us from that trip. Oh Well, we know what we look like:)

Thanks for following along and see you again soon!

WHEW!

                                    
The year is off and running and I feel I am already playing catch up!
Whilst preparing for my upcoming BOM 2016 launch and my participation in BLOCK STOCK 2016, I took a break and went for a trip:)
Because that is what you do........

This is Rosemary's Quilt Shop in Highland, Illinois.  I used to live about 10 miles from here and her shop is just lovely!  She has rooms she will rent out to quilters so you can eat and quilt here for days...oh, and sleep if you need to :)

The house is full of beautiful antiques and walking through at night petting the fabric feels decadent.

There was a group of us that did it just before I was transferring to NC in 2007 and I really missed it.  I was able to fly out once again in 2011.

HERE is the post from 2011....

We had SEW much fun quilting and eating:)  There is a fantastic Chinese restaurant a couple of blocks away and I do miss it!

Looks like my friend Suzn Quilts was working on Dresdens even then!

The crew is a bit smaller now but just as much fun was had by all.

 

I was able to fly out a few days early and spend time junking and antiquing with my sweet friend.  Those treasures are for another post! 

Time spent with friends is so precious and rejuvenating so think about booking a retreat today!

RETREAT Spells.....

Relax, Enjoy Time with friends, Reflect on ideas, and EAT.

L-R: Susan, Beth, Me, Kathy, Susan, Chris, Lorraine

Right after my last post, I flew to St. Louis to meet up with friends in Illinois where I used to live. The year I moved away was the 1st Annual Quilt Retreat and they have had one every year since that I have not been able to attend. There is a wonderful little quilt shop in Highland, Ill. named Rosemary's where you can sew and live amongst the bolts:) and this was my Christmas present from my husband. It is so relaxing and sort of lets you feel like you are getting away with something...
Susan and I kept the secret from the others for over 2 months which is quite the feat when you consider all the ways we could have let it slip...Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, etc.We all had projects we wanted to work on. Here you can see Kathy and our other Susan and the table is still relatively neat:) There was plenty of fabric and conversation to keep us busy late into the nights.
The table is starting to get a bit more creative looking as more fabric and ideas get tossed about. Now let's talk about the food....Italian, Chinese, and Mexican- ALL OUR FAVORITES and the restaurants are all within a 2 block walking distance when the weather allows.

Above is a sneak peek at one of the 2 designs I started working on while in Ill. This particular one is very abstract and so different from how I normally work. I chose familiar colors though to help me work through this and I find I am enjoying this new piece. Stay tuned for the finished wall quilt.

Retreats don't have to cost a lot of money with a little imagination and what you receive in return is priceless!

Thank you Friends.