Update 04/26/19

So I had full intentions of posting some customer quilts today…but I can’t get them loaded and I can’t sit here pulling my hair out trying to figure out the issues. Honestly, I have been terrible about taking pictures of quilts and posting them. I have had so many fabulous quilts come across the frame. We have had bad weather and I can only take pictures outside. Due to being a dog parent there is not safe place in my house to lay out quilts. Not to mention I don’t have a huge house with a big enough area to lay out any large quilts. So outside is my only option. When weather doesn’t cooperate….I am stuck. :)

So I have a few to post and so I have a few pictures and then the photos won’t load. GRRR> LOL! what do you do?

Anyway moving on…..

I am excited to share that I had several more designs accepted for publication. :) I am up to 16. I could not have imagined that. I set a goal to make it into every season of 2019. I made it. It’s pretty great. I am still longarm quilting. I have been asked that a few times. I will always be a quilter. It’s my livelihood. Publications don’t pay the bills. :) In fact I am not sure how long these publications will be around. Digital is taking over as we all know. So I am just on the ride for as long as I can. I like the work and it’s good for me because I have always been prolific as far as sewing. Now I have some purpose for the many quilts I make each year. It’s fun for me.

I also posted a few new YouTube videos featuring different stitches. You can find my channel HERE.

I am also hosting an Embroidery Retreat in October. I still have openings if any of you ae interested. I am so excited for this! I have gotten several door prize donations from companies that I work with and fellow pattern designers. I am so excited about the support & response. It’s been great! Let me know if you are interested.

I am also excited that I am going to be quilting some quilts for a designer friend of mine….she is getting her first book published and I will be quilting some of the quilts that will be published in her book. So excited for that! The quilts are so fabulous! I will be sharing that when it’s all ready & published. Maybe she will give us a few copies to share *wink*

Rob and I are also working on a special project. This is really all of his idea and I can’t share it now….but he is taking this to a great extreme level and I am jumping in with him….I hope I don’t regret this? LOL

I recently started jogging & walking again. The weather is better now and I need to get back out there. I have gained a few pounds. There are several reasons for this…..I could label them all for you and make excuses but the underlying truth to everything is that I quit prioritizing myself. I think that I got into a funk. Now I am back to better self talk and taking control of my healthy self again. I already feel better. My scale is broken and I haven’t weighed myself recently….but I think I am on the right track. Time will tell.

The dogs are doing well. Except maybe Red. He weights 131 pounds now. He’s not done growing. Crazy!! He is as tall as our English Mastiff. He is so handsome and gets attention every where we go. He loves it. He has a hurt leg. We don’t know what happened. But he started limping. We have him on meds and Dr says no walks right now. Can I tell you how crazy he is going? REAL CRAZY! poor guy. It’s hard on all of us. But we will get through this. Gracie’s tumors are multiplying & growing. I know they are going to eventually take her and it kills me to think about it. Now I can see them when she lays down as they are so pronounced. It’s a hateful reminder. But she still has good days left in her and we are doing what we can to make these days good for her.

Clarissa is in tennis and drivers ed. So she’s real busy. She has a job interview next week as well. She is looking for summer work. She will be driving soon ..her 16th birthday is only a few weeks away. I am not sure how this is possible. Rob is helping her work on her vintage bug. It’s going to be a blink of an eye before we are truly empty nesters. I can hardly believe it.

Well I think that’s all I have for now. I hope you all have a wonderful day!

XOXOX

Charisma