i'm outta here!

I'm packing my bags and leaving the family behind! woo hoo! A good friend of mine (Katie) and I are going out of town for a little retreat. relaxing, napping, watching girl movies, playing scrabble and cribbage, and going to the springs. ahh. oh, and we're going to hit the quilt shop. It's not the best quilt shop, but it's not the worst either.

Katie and I have been friends since our first born children were three or so. That's almost 8 years. She's very crafty and extremely generous. She invites me to dinner almost every monday night, and after dinner we usually make a few cards, play scrabble or go shopping at Michael's and Joann's. And.....she's starting to quilt. yay! a real life, in the flesh, quilting friend. The only other real life quilting friend is my mom. Which is great, don't get me wrong. But it's good to have a girlfriend that quilts. I also have another friend here in town who sews, and i'm trying to get her quilting too.

Let me just say here that I am so grateful for my online quilting friends. Friends that I have met on flickr. Friends that encourage and inspire me. Thank you!!!

Now back to Katie. It was her birthday earlier in the month. And I finally finished working on the gnome for her. I've been working on it here and there for a couple of weeks now. And since we are going out of town, I thought today would be the perfect time to give it to her. For Katie, my friend:



And a big wave for Stephanie, another good friend who can appreciate a good quilt!