I hope 2018 brings all the best to you: good health, prosperity and time with family and to do all of things you enjoy doing.
I started my New Year cleaning and re-organizing my studio and managed to finish one UFO! Pictures will follow once I find where I put the cord for my camera. It’s too tidy here now so I am losing things already!
2017 was a year of ups and downs, high and lows. January started with DH dealing with the normal depression that occurs to anyone with MS. We took a wee break in February and ran away to Las Vegas. It was fun and a much appreciated break! February saw the arrival of my newest Grandson, Fynn. So hard to believe that’s 10 of them now! I had to wait until August to meet this little charmer. He is a snuggler and always has a smile on his face. The summer allowed me to make a few trips to Alberta to see my kids, grandkids and my great grandson. It was a year of static changes for all of the family. My daughter, Stacy and her hubby live in Benalto, Alberta. The downswing in the economy hit them pretty hard with both of them becoming unemployed. Stacy started a wee business and it has almost reached a point now where she will be drawing a wage. Such good news and I can only hope that Greg will find something soon. Greg’s son, Jesse has grown up and moved out and is expecting his first child in June of 2018. They still have Miss Faith at home and she is becoming a beauty. My oldest son, Shawn and his wife wound up moving to Drayton Valley, Alberta when Tish inherited her grandmother’s farm. It has been wonderful to see how Tish has bloomed getting back to her roots and she has been working very hard on getting her certification in the physical health regime she has been enjoying. She was even able to give me some pointers to take the pain away in my legs which I have experienced for 30 years! My granddaughters, Charlotte and Ruby have settled in very well to the farm life. They have chickens and horses and colts and cats! Charlotte started school this year. Kindergarten has been a real learning curve for her. She is too smart and has had to learn to pace herself. It sure brings back memories of her Daddy as a child. He was always in mischief because he finished his work and got bored so quickly! Miss Ruby has become the apple of our eyes! She has the most beautiful eyes, white gold curls and personality without end. My youngest son, Darren and his wife, Colette managed to get some traveling in when Darren was home from Saudi. They are so very busy with Delaney, Isaac and now wee Fynn. Isaac loves his hockey and Delaney has inherited my love of reading. She is a bookworm for sure. My oldest grandson, Ryan and his fiance are in Rimbey now, so they do get to spend quality time with family. My oldest granddaughter Nicole married her love, Michael this summer and on December 27 had a daughter. Nova-Lee was over 8 lbs and her big brother Mason (who is almost 5) is in love with her. He loves to hold her and is checking on her every 2 minutes. So there were plenty of visits and some great events and new arrivals in the family in 2017.
My DH is doing well with recovering from withdrawal of all of the pain medication he was on. His form of MS (Progressive) often is accompanied with chronic pain ad he has suffered with it for years. He decided (with my help) that the medication was detracting from his quality of life. I am pleased to report that his brain fog is gone and he is learning to keep busy when the pain strikes. He even has been shoveling snow and splitting firewood this year. Great for me so I even mange a bit of time in the studio.
I have been busy teaching again this winter. My monthly group meets on the first Saturday of the month at Threads Guild. It has been so much fun to see the students that have been with me for 3 years and how far they have progressed. The best part is getting new students each winter and seeing them develop the crazy addiction to cutting fabric and making something new of it. I am also teaching a raggy quilt class this month. I love how these quilts can be done in a day and you can always have a couple on hand for baby gifts. I am on raggy quilt #4 for samples. The cathedral window has been a favorite of mine and I love the way the fabric can play in the design.
When I got to visit Dee and Kenny last summer, I came home with her longarm frame and machine. She has had it for 3 years and not been able to get it to work. After setting it up and playing with a quilt of the frame (I just happened to have some tops ready for quilting!) I discovered some of the reasons it wasn’t working. It;s in at Allan’s in Trail to get fixed and tuned up. Hopefully it will be ready soon but Allan had over 30 machines ahead of it. I think everyone took advantage of the holidays to get their tuneups/servicing done! I’m just waiting for the call to head out and pick it up. Then Allan and I are discussing having a raggy quilt workshop at his place before January ends. I am looking forward to it and the chance to check out the new machines. He has a longarm that I am saving my pennies for! It will be a few years, but good things come to those who wait. At least, that’s what I am telling myself!
So now it’s off to the studio to get some time in with fabric before I have to head out to do chores in the greenhouse. Take care and if you get a chance, fondle fabric at your leisure! I will any chance I get! Happy 2018!
Quilt Schmilt 