August Already?

Good morning! It's a beautiful Sunday morning in Lexington, KY! Our family enjoyed another weekend getaway, this time to Lexington with my in-laws in tow so they could enjoy a visit to the Kentucky Horse Park with my daughter. If you are at all interested in horses, this is an amazing place to visit. You will learn about many different breeds and get to see several retired race horses, including Kentucky Derby winners. 

As we head home today, I begin a two week "staycation" from work. I'll be spending the last two weeks of my daughter's summer break with her before she heads back to school.  It is so bittersweet that it is August already. I have been looking forward to having this time off with her all summer, but I also know it means back to school is coming, followed by the end of summer.  But I am also amazed that it is August already because my quilting journey part two, that you have been faithfully following, started in January---seven months ago! It's been an incredible seven months! My online shop, Quilt Store Next Door, just finished a record sales month in July. It's only August 4th, and the shop has already had one large order on Friday that I will be shipping tomorrow morning. 

In my physical home-based shop, I'll also be working on completing four more lunch tote orders. This one below is the first completed order which will be delivered tonight to its very excited owner! 

The next tote is getting personalized. This allowed me to play around with my Accuquilt die cutter making letters and doing some appliqué. 

I'll post a pic next time of the completed lunch tote. This is going to be a cutie! 

As for progress on my home-based quilt and fabric shop, I got an estimate on windows which was a great price and we will be moving forward getting those installed hopefully around the end of this month. I've been checking flea markets for hutches, shelving and decor for the interior of my shabby chic/vintage look shop. More ideas swirling in my head. 

Next Sunday, is the beginning of August class season.  We will start with another throw pillow class, followed by a "Bring your own project" class that will allow students to bring that project that they either have no idea how to get started or, have no idea how to finish, and I will help them through it.  Later this month, my students will get to start their first applique project with some simple applique circles. I have a lot in store for them--now I just have to get started on the class samples!

My little one, upon asking for her sewing machine that reignited this whole thing, wants to learn to make clothes......well, I don't do that and I have no desire, or available time to learn, so tomorrow we head off to the big box craft store so that my daughter and her BFF can take their first sewing class.  They will be making pillow cases followed by a girl's day out lunch with her and her mother.  It'll be a great way for us to kick off our two week girly staycation and we're pretty excited.  I think I see some simple kit ideas coming out of this pillowcase class.  

Lots of work to do and I love it!  I'm not quite where I had hoped to be on some things, such as my catalog, but when I start beating myself up for getting behind, I have to stop and remind myself that this all began because I was following God's plan and still now, I have to leave things up to His timing.  Yes, it's August already....

Traveling to Mecca

Hello form the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, KY!  Well, actually, I'm not there anymore, I'm back home trying to keep up with this summer that seems to be racing by us!  But, my family did make the trip to Paducah--the Quilter's Mecca-- this past weekend.  The museum is absolutely amazing.  These are not your Grandma's quilts; these quilts are art in it's truest sense.  Beautifully imagined by their creators and made with the best of craftsmanship, each one is the creme de la creme of quilts.  I don't know that I'll ever be as skilled as any of the artists.  Even my husband, who had already relegated himself to boredom, was awed by what he saw.  If you get the chance to make it down there in the near future, they are currently displaying a Civil War Quilt Exhibit that is amazing. While in Paducah, we visited several quilt shops, including Eleanor Burns "Quilt in a Day" shop and the famous, and overwhelming, Hancock's of Paducah.  I can't even begin to guess the number of fabric bolts they have in that store.  By the time I'd left, I was in sensory overload!  The next day, we headed over to Louisville, KY where we attended a worship service that left me speechless at Southeast Christian Church.  It was a great weekend.  The best part was that prior to leaving on this trip I had completed my daughter's school lunch tote and once it went public on my Facebook page, I immediately received five orders.  I have to admit, it is SUPER cute!

After returning home from Paducah, we released the Painted Lady butterflies my daughter had been raising and I was able to get this amazing photo. 

Wednesday my little one headed off to church camp for 2 1/2 days.  She had a blast and even though I missed her like crazy, I know experiences like this are helping her grow into a stronger person and stronger Christian. As for me, I fully intended to really sew! sew! sew! while she was gone, but instead, I just hung out with my husband and enjoyed some time alone with him.  While I'm glad I made that investment, I now have A LOT of work on my plate for the next couple of weeks.  

Tomorrow is another class day.  A throw pillow class and a pattern reading basics class with my usual group of ladies who I just adore. 

I truly enjoy writing this blog each week.  I am blessed to be able to express myself this way, I am blessed by all the friends and family who have supported me from day one in prayer, sales, orders, promotion and by word of mouth.  I appreciate all the wonderful comments, compliments and feedback I have received that has kept me encouraged.  As always, you have my gratitude.