Heart of Ohio Quilters Show

Ok, I'm back. Life has been so hectic I haven't blogged consistently. My apologies to anyone who reads this whoever you are.

The quilt show is 9 days away and my parts of it are basically done. In the last month, I have quilted five tops of my own for the show. I sewed the last sleeve on yesterday afternoon. Two of the quilts: Jeff's Journey, a trip around the world in red and black, and Watching over You, a black and gold wallhanging featuring angel fabric, will be donated to KidsNKamp after they hang in the show. Both are being donated in memory of my nephew, Jeff Buskey, who died this year from colon cancer. The third quilt is a block of the month from the 2008 NQA magazine that was completed with my friends in the BFG's. I should have called it the NQA BOM W/ the BFG's but instead it's the Bright Block of the Month. I do love the bright colors that contrast with the black sashing. Quilt number four is a thirties sampler, done in black and red thirties fabrics, and quilt number five is a mystery quilt called Baubles and Beads that I made two years ago. It's also in black and red. I am sure you see a theme developing here. I made all the binding at once as I just needed black for every one of the five quilts -- it took 1,426 inches of black binding, 36 strips of 2 1/2" fabric. I actually lowered the ironing board and sat to press the fold. But they're done and I can't wait to see them hanging in the show. They won't be the best there but that's not why I like to share my quilts. I like to let people see my view of quilting and hope they find some beauty there.

The other job I had for the quilt show this year was to do the Show Book which has ads, info about the Guild, and lists all the quilts with their makers, quilters, etc. My poor Publisher 2003 program and inexpensive printer practically had meltdowns as many of the ads sent to me for publication were too sophisticated, with embedded graphics and fonts. I was able to save it appropriately for the printer who is greatly appreciated and it will be ready for pick up on the 8th, set up day. Excellent!

I love participating in the Guild and it's activities but am backing off for a bit this next year-- More about that later. But for now, I am focusing on the Quilt Show.

Retirement Again?

Having been fortunate enough to retire from teaching at 52, I thought a bit this year about retiring from quilting as a business since I will be 65 this year.

On the pro side, closing the shop and retiring would give me more time to spend with grandchildren, more time to help out Joe with his appointments and rehab, more time to work on my own quilts and projects. It would keep my longarm machine from needing so much repair as I would just use it for my personal quilting.

On the con side, there would be no extra money to spend on retreats and fabric and other quilting goodies. And, yes, there would be more time to do housework but no excuses for not doing it. And I wouldn't be able to afford my studio so everything would have to go home to our small house.

So the cons win, and I will continue to work at my shop and quilt for other people. I will also continue to spend time with my grandchildren and my husband so my schedule at the shop will probably be less than the 36 hours I have been working.

The great thing about owning my own business, no matter how small, is being able to make my own decisions and my own hours, and to have fun with it. I think I would like to accomplish as much in the next twenty years as I have in the previous. Ergo, no retiring!