Labor Day Weekend Cyber Retreat Time is here!

(See Guests in Attendance below)

I can’t hardly believe it’s already September! I have serious goals to reach for this weekend, as I have 5 days free this weekend, and the following week only 1 day (Thursday) I can’t be sewing/organizing.

Following the July 4th Retreat, I decided then that my next holiday cyber retreat would be for me to prepare for hibernation for the winter. That means getting my sewing area(s) cleaned up, organized and ready for my next round of projects. Since then, I’ve been going through fabric and scraps, either condensing down, giving or throwing away. It was my intention to start all this fall clearing during the Labor Day Weekend when I would have all of you with me for support. THEN, once my area was tidy and ready to mess up again, I could sew.

Playing this mental game with myself I’ve been getting a “headstart” almost as if I’m cheating and starting the test early. Wouldn’t it be so great if BY Labor Day my organization was complete and the room ready for me just to sit down and create?

I hope many of my cyber retreat friends will be able to join me for this year’s Labor Day cyber retreat. It makes my goals so much more fun when I have company–especially with you kindred spirits!

Just click on the number to the right of this post and leave me a hello, tell me what you’re plans are for the holiday weekend. And yes, I DID take before photos of my current mess–just so I would truly be accountable for the “after” pictures!!

Blessings to all,
Susan

Guests in Attendance:

Barb W,MN             Anne, MN                     Cynthia H, CA     Stacey Z
Beth McDonald        Bobbi, AL                     Ellen                    Kerry
Kathy, WI                Jane                             Katherine          Betty, WI
Sheila, DC               Darlene, ME                 Liz                     Becky I.
Nikki, VA                Dawn R                        Lorene               Darlene
Freda, CA                Joan, WA                     Ginny
Sharon                     Barbara                      Kathy
Lynn D                     Margy                         Sarah B
Karen L, MI/TN         Melonie, IA                  Jan T.

Tags: retreat

Crumby Scrap Bags

I made a crumb lined pocket and used fabric glue to adhere the sides and bottom. This makes a handy place to put scraps and crumbs in and keep them sorted by color!

Making Cookies from Crumbs

Too much pink space

Pink & Green Crumbs

Pink/green crumb flimsy

Tags: crumbs

Accomplished Big Goals

Sigh. I’ve recently reached a couple of very important goals for myself. Now it’s time to acknowledge their completion and move on to new projects.

I’ve been taking care of my little man since he was born, and now he’s 4 1/2 going on 5. I knew that when he was in school all day for all week I would have some free time. The time has come. Mom is looking for a daycare for 5 days a week for him. My Mondays and Thursdays spent taking care of him are nearing an end. I wanted to find a little baby to love and take care of since losing both my sons and never going to be a grandma. My little baby has grown and besides keeping him when Mom goes out of town or school is closed, he won’t be staying here 2 days each week.

The other goal is writing to Soldiers. Several years ago I joined the Letter Writing Team of Soldier’s Angels. To this date I’ve written to over 150 soldiers. As a few of them were able to reply to my letters, I now have several soldiers to write back and forth to on a “regular” basis. I also have found a unit in Afghanistan with about 30 soldiers I am going to make Thanksgiving care packages and hopefully for Christmas, too. I notified the organization that I will not be accepting new names each week. The best part is that they will keep my info, not close out my membership, and whenever I’m ready to start taking names each week I just contact them.

I’ve unsubscribed to several small online groups and now only belong to two: Stashbusters and HeartStrings Quilt Project. I’ve also changed my email delivery to Digest form so I won’t be getting over 100 emails each day (and wanting to jump in every topic of conversation!! I DO still have the groups that I started: Aprons for Afghanistan, and Haiti Sewing Ministry. Both of those groups are small and not too time sensitive.

Now, I’m starting to breathe more slowly and relax a bit. Not to mention my pleasure of completing 2 major goals I set years ago.

Now, it’s time for me to focus on getting patterns drafted and printed out. My ultimate life-long goal: to make one or two items with my own designs, take a photo, write the directions and sell them. Not to make a fortune, but just to keep me supplied with postage money for my soldiers, and thread and batting for my charity projects.

I’m on my way to new ventures–and thank you for sharing this with me. Oh, and see you for the Labor Day Weekend Retreat in 7 weeks!

Retreat Time Again! July 4th Holiday Weekend

UPDATE: I have drawn the names for Friday and Saturday’s token of appreciation:

Barb Cain and Cheri, please send me your mailing address privately and I’ll mail your little gift Tuesday! Thanks so very much for taking the time to chat with me this holiday. I will be drawing the other 2 names on Monday evening. Please let me know if you’re currently collecting a specific fabric for your projects. It will make it a lot easier to choose which one to send!!

Special Note: Karen in MI/TN unexpectedly lost her dog today. Let’s alll send her a prayer for strength and positive thoughts to get her through the next few days…or weeks.

[Original Post]
Some of you may be wondering if I’ll be having another 4th of July cyber retreat and the answer is YES! I plan to start on Friday, July 2nd and sew/organize/cut until Tuesday evening, July 6th. Just click on the number to the right and get signed up for a fellowship of fun sewing and getting things done.

I have 4 little gifts for a name drawing each day. When you check in here, I will add your name to the drawing hat that will be selected one each day for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Hope you can join me in making another holiday fun and productive!

Now, I MUST get some new photos downloaded here! I have been busy!!

2010 Memorial Day Weekend Cyber Sewing Retreat and Slumber Party!

I’m hosting my 3rd Memorial Day weekend cyber sewing retreat, and YOU are invited to attend! Just click on the number at the top right of this post and leave me a message and you’re in!

I will be starting another Quilt of Valor, writing to soldiers, and hopefully finishing up some UFOs (unfinished projects). Saturday night we’ll have a cyber slumber party for those who want some company staying up late to sew. I have made a personal promise to get some Abstract Challenges done since I’m the one who issues the topic each month but I have finished and posted only a few.  It’s truly a creative group and that’s going to be my fun for the slumber party! I’m gathering a plastic bin for all the ideas I want to make for the 8″ square quiltlet various monthly challenges.

I have a prize ready for a drawing on Saturday night, and plan to have 2 more little gifts in line for a drawing all 3 days. Hope you join in–there IS strength in numbers, right?

Update (Tuesday, May 25th, 6:45pm):  There are already 8 of us planning on “gathering”.      I think it will be a productive retreat!

Update (Saturday, May 29th, 7:03pm)  We have 16 in this retreat group so far–I’m drawing the first name for a gift tonight at midnight! Tonight is slumber party, so put on your jammies, grab the chocolate and pull the next project out.

CHRISTINA is the winner of the first (of 3) drawings for a little thank you gift! Please contact me privately with your mailing address and I’ll get yours wrapped up! Thanks for sewing/organizing with me this weekend.

Tags: Memorial Day, retreat

Haiti Sewing Ministry

I’ve just set up an online group for those of us who want to make quilts, coverlets, and other sewn items for the children and women in Haiti. This is NOT a place for monetary donations, but a share and support group for seamstresses and quilters to give to Haitians in the way we do best!

All I want to do in this group is to start a place where those who want to sew for Haiti long after the cameras are gone, and the people are somewhat settled.  It’s one of my goals for 2010. I’d truly appreciate it if you would consider joining me. If I only get 3 other members, that’s considered a group!

I am cutting out aprons like crazy for my first shipment to Afghanistan this year. I even cleared a messy spot in “my studio,” (small bedroom).   I still write to our soldiers every week, and plan at least 1 Quilt of Valor in 2010. With this new project, my major handcrafting goals for the year are set!

For this startup of the Haiti projects, I don’t have anything planned, organized or an agenda of any type. Just the desire and energy to start making what I can to send to later. I’m sure the perfect address to mail these to will present itself when th time is right!

Please check out this new group at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HaitiSewingMinistry

Thanks, and blessings,

Susan

Tags: Haiti