Ahhhhhhhh

That's exactly how I feel when we cross the bridge onto the Island. I literally feel the tensions and stress lessen.  We got the opportunity to get an even earlier start on our get-away, and after the frustrations I encountered at my one-day retreat, I definitely needed to get away.

Normally at retreat, I take my machine and work on some of the projects on my ever-growing to-do list. I decided to work on the May block of the month for my Facebook hand quilting group. The instructions that I found weren't written as well as they could have been, so I had to rip out - twice. Not a good thing when working with triangles, even when trying to be careful. And sure enough, my triangle tips were lopped off. Not horribly, but I wasn't pleased. I set the block aside, unsure whether I'll go with it or try again (perhaps I can at least salvage the squares). My next project was to finish putting my mini pineapples together. That didn't turn out very well either ... I didn't have any trouble with the corner pieces lining up when I sewed the blocks into rows, but when sewing the rows together? Ugh! Let's just say that several things on that project conspired to make it a nightmare to piece. I'm contemplating whether to try to rip out those tiny stitches (I neglected to increase my stitch length since I was no longer chain piecing) or to call it done (since it will never be perfect ... perfection is never my goal since I quilt for pleasure). I suspect that I'll try again ... after all, while I may not strive for perfection, I do try to do my best, and surely I can do better. After those two "disasters", I was ready to put my machine away and get to some handwork ... alas, I didn't bring anything to work on by hand, so I pulled out those CW blocks I'd been gifted and started sewing on the washing. Thankfully that went better. I'm sorry to say that I didn't take any pictures ... of any of my work or anyone else's. 

So after my day at retreat, I was more than ready to head to the beach. I was more than ready, too, to get back to handwork. I basted bow tie blocks to while away the hours and hours it takes to get here. ;-)  After we unpacked and had our inaugural walk along the beach, I was able to start working on piecing blocks together. 

And that, my friends will be my plan for the next two weeks. Stitch, walk along the beach and then stitch some more. It certainly can't get much better than this ... well, at least not without having my 6 favorite people here with me. 

I know that quite a few bloggers have started to supplement their blogging with Instagram. I, too, have finally bitten the Instagram bullet.  Initially I joined just to follow a few friends, but I will be posting pictures if/when I have something worth sharing. You can find me at nana_quilts ... and if you're on Instagram, maybe you can share your IG moniker so I can follow you?  

I'm not sure how much I'll devote to blogging (posting or reading) ... I'd like to check in periodically, but there may not be much blog-worthy to report, given that my days will all be pretty much the same - stitching, walking the beach, and more stitching.  ;-)

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy! Have a great day!
Kathy