Retirement and True Fabric Confessions

Wow, where have I been for the last couple of weeks? I have been closing down my school office for the end of the school year, cleaning out my desk, and preparing to retire among other things. I also fell hard on my right knee the day before school ended so I have been hobbling around for the last few weeks. One of my friends said that I wanted to leave with a bang, and I did!

Since I have been so occupied with school and retirement stuff, I have not been doing any sewing. Well, almost none. I did a little mending, but not much else. As I face retirement, I have been looking at my sewing space (among other things) with a critical eye and trying to decide how to best manage my stash and my sewing space. Since I do not have pictures of any new sewing/quilting projects to show here, I decided to take some pictures of my sewing stuff and let you see just what I am up against. Please remember this is not ALL of my fabric, projects or books and patterns. They are strewn all around the house, literally! I have a large five drawer file cabinet in the dining area full of books, more fabric in a bookshelf in my bedroom, and six drawers in the hallway that should be full of linens instead of fabric. Also, there is no picture of the projects UNDER my sewing table. Also, no picture of the wonderful treasures that are behind the camera in the rest of my small sewing room.

When a local quilt shop announced they were closing last month, I started buying fabric in a frenzy. I do love my fabric. Since I have no more room for storage of any more fabric on shelves or in drawers, stacks of fabric have started appearing on my sewing table next to my sewing machine the last couple of years. I firmly believe these stacks of fabric are reproducing on their own (without my help) while sitting on the table.

I often have stacks of fabric on my table. When I am working on a project and have pulled out lots of fabric to cut, it is always on my sewing table because I do not have anywhere else to place it. It eventually is put away, but sometimes not until the next project comes along. When I have more than one project going (which is often) the stacks become blended. Then I have problems finding a particular fabric when I need it.

A few posts back I admitted to being a fabriholic. I really am as you can see. One of my goals for my first year of retirement is to organize this wonderful collection, and hopefully find my once upon a time clean, usable sewing table. Before that can happen, the garage must be cleaned and organized as I am sure some of my precious treasures will be relegated to garage space in order to make more space in my sewing area.

When our children were home they occupied my current sewing space. I sewed on a little table under the kitchen counter. My fabric stash was contained on a shelf in the linen closet, and a couple of boxes out in the garage. It has taken me 20 years or more to accumulate all this stash, so I do not expect it to disappear overnight. My hubby says I cannot give away any of my fabric, I must sew it all up into quilts. I can honestly say I have enough fabric to last me the rest of my life. I will need things like batting and thread, and a few other things probably.

Okay, I do feel a bit better after my "True Fabric Confession". What about you? Do you have a True Fabric Confession you wish to reveal?

Until next time....Happy Quilting!

A Party and a Quilt Show

Friday evening the staff at my school gave a teacher, and myself, a retirement party. Yes, I finally decided to retire. I had a difficult time deciding to really retire this year. Since I attended the party and accepted the gifts, I guess I am retiring. Either that, or return the gifts. I certainly am not willing to return the quilt that they made and gave me. It is wonderful. It is purple, of course! There are pictures of my favorite Hollywood hunks: Patrick Swayze, Sean Connery, Cary Grant, and many others. There are lots of squares with well wishes and wonderful drawings. It is such a special gift.

I also received another quilt from a retired teacher last week. I helped her pick the colors for her first quilt years ago. I also made a signature quilt for her and two other teachers who retired that year (10 years ago). She brought the quilt last week and told me since I had helped her with her first quilt, and made a signature quilt for her, she felt is was only right that she return the favor. Does that mean that every person I have gifted with a quilt is going to make a quilt for me in return? I can only hope!

Also, today my hubby and I took off to Santa Rosa for their quilt show. It is a nice show. There were quilts displayed from various styles. There were some beautiful applique quilts, pieced quilts, a couple of "art" quilts, and some children's quilts. The vendors were varied as well. I bought a pair of Gingher scissors. I could not resist - they were on SALE! I did not buy any fabric, but I did buy a couple of books.

After we left the quilt show, we went on a drive to find one of my PIF giftee's. We found her home at the end of a very narrow, curvey road up a hill. It is a beautiful place that is quiet and green. She is a very sweet lady with very nice husband. He was home and they were both very gracious to us even though we were surprise visitors.

We then went to Willy Bird's Restaurant in Santa Rosa. It is one of the places we have seen on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive Ins and Dives show. We each had a delicious turkey dinner. My hubby wanted to get to Santa Rosa really early and have breakfast at Hank's Creekside Restaurant, but we did not get up early enough. It is an hour and a half drive to Santa Rosa from were we live. We decided to have a late lunch instead of a late breakfast.

Yesterday I went to In Between Stitches in Livermore for the first meeting of the $5.00 quilt BOM. I was up early, showered and dressed ready to go at 8:00 a.m. but hubby slept in and did not get up and ready early enough. I was 20 minutes late for the class and missed all the rules and instructions. I received my book and the fabric for this month's block, but I am in the dark about the rest. I talked to the teacher before I left the store. I must be on time next meeting (not until August) or I will be charged $5.00 for the next month's BOM if I come in with my finished block from this month. I started off badly. I hope I can redeem myself next meeting.

It has been a busy couple of weeks. This coming week is our last week of school with students. I work another week after school is out, then it is summer break, oh I mean RETIREMENT! I am nervous and excited at the same time!

Have a great week, and .....

Happy Quilting