It's a Fantastic Friday!

There are two reasons that today is a Fantastic Friday. First reason.......I am going to Bonny's for a weekend quilting retreat with my friends Sharon, Laura, Stephanie and Marianne. I have been packing for the last couple of days. Gotta be prepared, you know! :-) As I was putting stuff in my car today, I realized I should share a tip with you. See these bags...........

They're those plastic zip bags that you get when you buy sheets, blankets, etc. I love them for storing my STUFF! Notice that you can see exactly what is in each bag. There is one for batting, a big bag of stuffing (in case I make a large pincushion), a bag with rick rack, one that holds my bias tape and another one for zippers and buttons to cover. I love it that I can see exactly what is in each bag!!! When I go to a retreat, I put these in my car so that I have my own little quilt shop to go to if I need a supply item. If I'm making something and I need rick rack, I just go to the car and get the bag. :-) There is no bag for buttons, though. I think we might need to buy some new sheets just so I can get the bag I need for my buttons. LOL! Nice thing about these bags is that when I come home from the retreat, I just pop these back where they belong (I hide my batting and stuffing behind my sewing chair and the other bags go under my sewing table).
Now, I just need to pack some clothes and I will be ready to go. I'll be sure and take photos and have lots to share when I return. If you are new to my blog and want to see retreat photos from last year, just go here and here and here and here . It took me four days last August to tell you about a three day retreat. That's because it was sooooo much fun. Every year is different so I can hardly wait to leave. Kaiser and the husband are staying home alone. There are lots of leftovers in the refrigerator and a new supply of dog biscuits in the doggy jar, so they will be just fine. :-)

Now, the second reason that this is a fantastic Friday is that Quilt Minnesota, the statewide shop hop begins today. I stopped in at FireflyQuiltShop in Mankato earlier this week and here's what customers will see when they walk in the door................

It's a beeeeeautiful wall of blue and white projects! The reason that I stopped by the shop was to drop off the pattern pages for the four little projects that I designed from the Quilt Minnesota fabrics. Janice has made up kits for the project and the pattern will be included free with the kit. I also wanted to drop off a little prize that someone will win at the end of the shop hop. It's not much but everybody who sews can always use another pincushion! I whipped it up from some of the scraps left from the other projects.

The color is just a bit off on this photo, though. Looks more steel blue than it does in real life. So, if you are here in Minnesota and are headed out for the shop hop, be sure to stop into Firefly and check out all the fun projects. There are so many great shops participating that I would love to visit them all. I won't get to any this weekend but I might stop at a few next weekend. This weekend is all about the retreat and making projects with my 30's fabrics. There will be no cooking, no cleaning, no phone, no pool, no pets......you know the song. LOL! I'll be headed out mid-afternoon, then back on Sunday. I'll see you on Monday with another quilt......on the line!

Have a great weekend!

Sandi