March 2008
Hi Everyone ~
Here it is, the month of March, spring just getting started and summer is on the way and I’m already looking forward to the fall with the glorious weather and color, and of course the retreats I’ll be hosting for you. I hope you’ll sit back and look at what I have to offer, hopefully there’s a date/location that will excite you.
Guess the first thing to start off with is to mention that cute grandson …. Blake is just a love, growing so fast it’s amazing at all the things he’s doing. I won’t bore you, but you know my heart is so full of love, it’s just the best! Christmas with him was really fun …. he was so good about picking all the paper off the presents before you opened them. A little overwhelming, he bounced from present to present and eventually settled down to enjoying them. We were very entertained to say the least.
Ok, now for business …. The fall of 2007 was a busy time. I traveled all over the country teaching, enjoying every quilter and seeing their enthusiasm for my passion which is quilting. You found me at Houston Quilt Festival where my classes were just the best and my shopping seamed to be endless this time. I bounced around a great deal from state to state, driving and flying. Had a marvelous time at my annual teacher gig in Tillamook, and of course the annual retreat in Brookings was a smash. Probably one of the highlights for the fall was the cruise I taught at which started in NY and went to Quebec City and back. We had 5-7 ports, lots of great weather, not as much fall color as you’d think but it was there. We had 89 people in our group and before the 11 day cruise was over, all 2000+ travelers knew all about us quilters! People would stop by and see us, wanted to know ‘why we were doing this on a ship’, and of course there were those who were very envious. We just smiled and said we were enjoying it as well. About 45 of us started early with a tour of NY …. this was our first time there, and Dave and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We will definitely go again. There’s so much more, but I don’t have enough time or space. Here’s a brief idea of events happening through the end of the year ….
· Some of the spring/summer retreats may have openings or might possibly have some cancellations …. always call or check my website for a listing of what’s opened or close.
· June – Retreats on the coast and inland. A new retreat is happening in Windsor, CA at the local quilt shop…. check website for more details. Remember the coast retreats have cooler weather!
· July – first off the grandson is having a birthday, a big 2 years old on the 3rd! Have to go celebrate for a few days …. find me at the 3rd Annual Retreat in Brookings, OR. This is a great 3 day getaway for all. Class, merriment, great weather, all in all just a good time! …. Teaching at BJ’s Quilt Festival before the big Sister’s Quilt Show. Off to Long Beach to view the newest Quilt Festival (playing with my friends).
· August – you’ll find me in Shady Cove, OR for their guild (we love those girls) …. Retreats, classes and a vacation for me.
· September – this month finds me back in Trinidad, CA for a weekend retreat …. Down to southern CA for a series of classes which roll right into the 11th Annual Retreat in Mammoth Lakes, CA. More retreats here and there and always classes.
· October – classes and guilds in and around the western states …. 3 more of my retreats …. Maybe a quilt camp as well?
· November – my last retreat for the year in Ashland, OR (a beautiful area to get away to) …. Down to southern CA and then right to UT.
· December you’ll find me doing paperwork (ick) and hopefully spending time with the family, friends and sewing. Resting for the busy 2009 schedule.
Some quickie items:
· Always check out the website at www.letsquilt.com and see what’s happening. Dave is building me a new one, hopefully before too long you’ll have it to view.
· Don’t forget that the Bits and Pieces folder have free patterns to download. No there are no color pictures, these are early on patterns, wasn’t that savvy then.
· Still offering Project Bags for you (they’re really cute)…. Sizes run 17x17, 13x13, 6x8 … they all have gussets so you can put more items in them. Possibly a new size coming soon.
· New tools …. The hot item is the 30 Something Square Up Ruler which is used in one of my newest quilts (Sweetbrier Patch). This quilt is so great! Looks hard but it isn’t, and it’s so easy to piece when you use the right tool. I still continue to sell the other rulers that I ask for in my patterns …. So check it out!
· I’m now a producer of the ever popular silicon bracelets that are uniting all quilters. Yes, you can proudly wear your white bracelet that says Let’s Quilt! while showing your passion for this wonderful art form.
On a personal note, some family updates:
· Dave is busy with his own company as well as mine. If you call us, more than likely you’ll be talking with him. He loves the cruises and becomes the social director for our group. He’s busy plotting the next cruise with the travel agent for 2009. AND, not to take away his status of grandparent, he’s currently babysitting for a month while both of the kids are working hard. Yes, he’s loving this …. I heard Blake call him ‘papa’ on the phone, it melted my heart.
· Our children are good …. Cheri loves this ‘auntie’ thing, trying to keep her sanity while her work is remolding and is keeping busy with her friends. Blake’s parents are good …. Jim is loving his residency (like’s that surgery thing) is finding that sleep sometimes never comes and life still goes on. He’ll be a great doctor when this is all said and done AND of course he couldn’t do all of this without a wonderful wife …. Courtney has encountered many a situation with Jim’s schedule and with raising an active boy. She’s a keeper!
· Mom is deteriorating unfortunately. She’s dropped a tremendous amount of weight and we’re just biding time we feel. She’s a great person who’s loved by many.
· For myself, I’m really doing well. My health is back and I’m out in the world working like crazy. I love what I do and I tell everyone ‘the more I do the more I want to do’. I have a loving family, great friends and it’s just about the best it can be!
Finally, just to let you start mulling this around in your head …. I’ll be doing 3 cruises next year …. March will be the Mexican Riviera, June will be Alaska (like we did in 2005) and in September I’ll be doing the Baltic Capitals. The first 2 cruises are 7 days, the last one will be 14 days. As soon as I have the particulars, you will be notified via email and my website. I hope you can join me for this, we’ve had some great times and there’s more on the way! If you have questions, let me know and I’ll do my best to answer them. So everyone, start thinking cruises!!!!
Again, look over your calendar and see if there isn’t a retreat you’d like to come to. My retreats are all about you! I want to give you the excuse to get away, pamper yourself, sew to your hearts content and be with other quilters who understand your passion. I know I’m just one of many offering retreats, but you know I’ll always do my best to make it fun and memorable. Thank you for all your support no matter where I travel. You make me love my job and you continue to amaze me at the support you offer. You are always appreciated and never taken for granted …. Thank You!!!
Happy Quilting and Enjoy!!
Linda
Please check out my website at www.letsquilt.com for lots of information