The First Day Home -

Susan's retreat gals were all checked in and waiting for me when I arrived home from the airport on Wednesday evening!

It's great to come home to the hustle and bustle of quilters doing what they love best - quilting!  And eating - and napping - and reading - and laughing- and chatting....

I have been gone for 3 weeks and I'm so happy to be back!

There are a few of the trinkets I brought home from Poland - our time in the beautiful town of 

Łowicz (Pronounced Wove-Itch) was a treat and this little purple velvet heart pincushion will have a special place by my stitching chair.

Fridge magnets are a must, and the two coffee mugs and the little girl bell were purchased at the airport in an effort to use up the last of my Polish zloti before arriving the land of euros in Italy.

I have a ton to share!  And the photos and trinkets aren't the only thing I brought back with me.

I also acquired a nasty round of bronchitis and took care of that with a visit to the doc yesterday.

So while I'm readjusting my body clock, I have absolutely no voice, and coughing fits are miserable so It may be a couple more days before I really begin the trip sharing.

I did post to Instagram and Facebook daily while I was gone - so I hope that you were able to catch my updates there.

But look what I see welcoming me home:

A parade of projects on the design walls!

This stack n' whack reminds me of the sneakers I bought in Łowicz:

How could I not pic up a fun pair of these??

And it was a good thing too - because although tour manager Holly and I arrived in Florence to meet up our Italy group after our Poland leg was over - our luggage - 5 suitcases between us - did not show up for 3 more days.

I always say the two most important things when traveling abroad are your passport and your credit card.

A-shopping-we-did-go for all of the basics (Did you know that Italy has a Euro store just like we have Dollar Tree? Hooray for tooth brushes and tooth paste, sunscreen and underwear, deodorant and socks - all acquired at a most affordable price.

Then there was the sidewalk sales for linen tops, linen pants and skirts and we were well underway to survive until our bags arrived.

More on that to come (And yes, there was gelato every day in Italy as well.)

Brilliant color!

And there are several of these happening in the room - fun!

How about one in stripes?

Check out the super cute 158.1040. This is a Japanese-made 3/4 size portable machine that weights in at about 17 lbs--just slightly heavier than a Featherweight plus its case. 

Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of the machine is its removable accessory case and extension tray. It's almost like a transformer!

It sports a number of  utility stitches including zigzag, blind hem, multi-step zigzag, stretch stitch (straight and zigzag)  as well as a 4 step button hole. The build quality is exceptional. 

The machine is all-metal with the exception of the plastic chrome stitch length and width dial, tension dial, hand wheel, race cover latches and accessory tray.

X's & O's in plaid happening here.

Cool guitars!

And some four-patch/nine-patch action.

I see something patriotic happening here.

All of this was going on in between the time I went to the doc, and then had to go to Jefferson to pick up antibiotics for the bronchitis.

I got there - they said "It will be ready in about an hour."  Okay.  Now what?

Antique mall wander!

Works for me -

Pinwheel stars - 1950s prints on gumby green. Fun!

And this is what came home with me - I wanted an ice bucket for the inn and this one was 40% off.  It is similar to one my Grannie hand - I remember going down to the ice machine in the basement garage of their high rise in Minneapolis when I was a young teen and filling it up before Grandpa got home from work - I loved that little chore.  It made me feel so important.

And I can't resist a pressed glass dish - I have one on nearly every bedside table at the inn as a place to put watches, rings, glasses - whatever so things won't roll off the table and on to the floor and get lost.

Tula has been most affectionate!

She and all of the other fur babies were in good hands while I was gone.  Today - bronchitis or not - Tula has a check up for her osteomyelitis in her left hind leg.  I'm hoping for good news.

She'll likely get another long lasting antibiotic shot and another round of liquid meds - 2 weeks and we'll do the x-ray routine to see where we stand.  I'd love to have her reaching 100%!

This is still good through Sunday 9/24/23!

Must use coupon code DIGITAL25 at purchase!

It's the same coupon code on both Quiltville Store and the Quiltville Etsy Pattern Shop. Don't forget to use your coupon code!

If you are ordering through the Etsy Store, please remember that your patterns need to be downloaded through your computer BROWSER after logging in to your account - not through the mobile app.

Thanks for hanging in with me while I get things a bit more back to normal.  

October is right around the corner - and you know that means Halloween.  And Halloween means.......

It's coming soon!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

It all begins from within. Try to make just ONE aspect of your day a bit more peaceful today.

⁣

That's my goal as I try to get back to normal life around here - whatever that is.

And I'm definitely going to need a nap.

Happy Friday, everyone!