Hi! Can I play too?

I went to McEvoy when it was a female-only high school (I graduated in

1965). My brother and sister-in-law taught in Macon for awhile also; but, for the life of me, I cannot remember the name of the schools. My sister-in-law taught P.E. at what was then a brand new middle school sort of behind McEvoy (not the boys' high school, Willingham, but another school) and my brother taught biology somewhere.

The Heights is a really neat area; the houses can be small but the neighborhood has so much personality. We moved into the Spring area back in the early 80's for the school district and the trees and moved back into the same area from Venezuela in the late 90's for the exact same reasons. Now that the kids are all grown, we are still here because our grandkids are just around the corner from us (and my school is just a couple of blocks away; my husband travels internationally a lot, so he can live just about anywhere and the commute is not a big problem).

We are all headed to St. Simons Island for vacation the first week of August -- I am so excited.

Maybe the Houston group can get together for a meet and greet the next time you come west.

Elspeth

Hi BJ - from Downunder in OZ!

It's late on a cold wet winter night here and I have just finished teaching a class so I am about to go to bed, but welcome wave from here!

I took a quick peak at your quilts - nice!!!

Hi BJ and welcome! Your red plaid quilt is lovely. You can keep my share of the chocolate, but I'll be looking over Frood's shoulder at the stash info......... Come by often!

Patti in Seattle

I taught at the male-only Mark Smith from 69- @75 and stayed there when they integrated the boys and girls until 1980 when I moved to Jones County - Gray.

You are so right about the Heights. They really love it and so do I. They go back and forth about whether to try and build on some room or move. Personally, I think the best solution would be to just move to Georgia!!!

I know you'll have fun at St. Simon's. I haven't been there in a few years, but I know it's still a wonderful place to relax. Wonder if there are any quilt shops nearby.....

I'm in Houston a lot. I'd like to know more about the big quilt show they have there. Isn't it every year? It seems like it was going on the during the birthing of the last grandson, but hopefully I can get away for a little time this year. Is there one this year??? It would be great to meet and visit. I'm going out in 2 weeks - just after the thumb surgery - and bring the 2 year old back for a visit with his GA relatives. He's becoming quite the little traveler too. Luckily, we both enjoy airports. It must be wonderful to have the grands around the corner. What do you teach?

Hi!! I love that there are people all over the world here. It means there is always someone around when I am wondering around the house at all hours of the night...not much of a sleeper. We have cousins who moved to OZ about

20 years ago. They come back for a visit every few years. We love to hear them talk - a lot like people not from the southern US are always asking us to 'just say something'. where do you live in OZ and what do you teach?

You are in!!!

Linda in Tx

WOW! Welcome and WOW!!! Ya know, I knew somethin' was up -- I smelled chocolate when I logged into this group this morning. So BJ, to honor your membership, I ate 6 Hershey's Kisses dipped in peanut butter (JIF, reduced fat). I'll share my peanut butter, but I don't think I have enough spoons to go around.

That red and black quilt is magnificent. Is there a pattern? I could stand some quarter inch seam practice that results is something so grand!

Kay Ahr in Reno/Sparks, Nevada

- - - - - - - -

BJ wrote:

them at:

. . . .Since I had never even readanything about quilting, I jumped in with a very ambitious queen-sized project(the red/black one) that required me to make my own striped material - yards ofit. It did make me a pro at sewing quarter inch seams!!

Welcome, BJ. What sort of quilting are you doing? I mostly piece and quilt on the machine. Sometimes I do a bit of appliqué. Now, about that chocolate: Don't forget to send a pound or two of chocolate to my Palace here in Virginia, to be tasted and vetted. I'll report back by email. No charge ... it is my volunteer job in RCTQ Land!

PAT, Official Chocolate Taster of RCTQ

BJ wrote:

I like that black and red "plaid" quilt you made. I would have never thought that would happen just by combining those three fabrics. What a lovely black kitty on that beautiful falling leaves quilt. What is his/her name? My black one is named Samson.

Debra in VA See my quilts at

Yes, I found a lap size quilt pattern in a craft book from the local library. I'll see if I wrote it down somewhere and email it to you later. My quilty friends spent a lot of time figuring out how to enlarge it and several of us made one. Mine is in red and black because my daughter is a grad and huge fan of UGA. Another friend made it in navy/gold for Ga Tech. I'm pretty sure I have the stuff they figured out for me somewhere too. I can scan it and mail it too - if - when - I find it. I start out being so organized and then........

You are really need to join AAA ... you keep asking for maps!! ;)

PAT

frood wrote:

Welcome busy person! Your QIs are doing a great job as your quilts are lovely! I'm in love with your scrappy stripes and squares quilts. The little bears are really cute, too! I think those denim rag quilts are the quintessential quilt for little guys. I bet they become quite attached to them. Sorry to hear that you have the same chocolate 'allergy' as I do. sigh. Between Polly waving her banana bread under our noses, and the frequent chocolate tributes here, though, I fear we don't stand a chance of avoiding future reactions. My "quilting as an exercise video" is still in the planning stages, so no help there! (g) But! the good news is that I'm also planning a second in the series called "stash building as an exercise", as I think it will have a more willing following... Yes, I will reserve a copy of each for you, but have you ever considered walking backwards on a treadmill while doing your hand piecing and quilting??? According to my calculations, you should then be able to indulge in a fair amount of chocolate without such a severe allergic reaction. (just a thought...)

Good luck on that 'quilter's thumb', BTW!

I've been married 32 years to my favorite person, and have 2 kids, (29 and

17!!), and 2 kitty-type QIs, who are inspecting a quilt layout on the living room floor as I type :/ (bless their hearts...). Don't let the wild women in this group lead you into too much temptation, (lots is ok, but you have to draw the line somewhere or folks start to notice). And never leave your stash unguarded!

chipper in NC ;)

snip

Welcome busy person! Your QIs are doing a great job as your quilts are lovely! I'm in love with your scrappy stripes and squares quilts. The little bears are really cute, too! I think those denim rag quilts are the quintessential quilt for little guys. I bet they become quite attached to them. Sorry to hear that you have the same chocolate 'allergy' as I do. sigh. Between Polly's waving her banana bread under our noses, and the frequent chocolate tributes here, though, I fear we don't stand a chance of avoiding future reactions. My "quilting as an exercise video" is still in the planning stages, so no help there! (g) But! the good news is that I'm also planning a second in the series called "stash building as an exercise", as I think it will have a more willing following... Yes, I will reserve a copy of each for you, but have you ever considered walking backwards on a treadmill while doing your hand piecing and quilting??? According to my calculations, you should then be able to indulge in a fair amount of chocolate without such a severe allergic reaction. (just a thought...)

Good luck on that 'quilter's thumb', BTW!

I've been married 32 years to my favorite person, and have 2 kids. DS is 29 and DD is 17 and ready to start college this fall. Don't let the wild women in this group lead you into too much temptation, (lots is ok, but you have to draw the line somewhere or folks start to notice). And never leave your stash unguarded!

chipper in NC ;)

snip

don't forget:

stalking the perfect stash to raid

how to enter a chocolate factory without anyone noticing and making off with the recipe of you favourite chocolate.

You've done a lot in a short time! I was a teacher, too (elementary) and didn't get much quilting done until I retired. I had a son who graduated from UGA but all I ever made him was a stuffed bulldog! (Daughter graduated from GA TECH and she got a stuffed rabbit, which was a sorority mascot. Quilts didn't come until much later!) I can't imagine how long it must have taken you to make that striped fabric but it certainly is effective!

Carole in Northwest GA - Retired and loving it! Homepage -

I've just had time to take a look at your quilt photos. They're lovely, BJ. I specially love the falling leaves one (does the black kitty come with it?). That is such a clever use of plaids (I'm not one for plaids myself, because of line alignment!). I am seeing more and more possible uses for plaids in my own work. That is, of course, if I can still get them after about 2012, which is the soonest I can see me having time to do one - my list of 'must-dos' is now *very* long, and I'm a slow worker; but I am inspired!! Keep up the good work. . In message , BJ writes

Welcome to the greatest newsgroup online! Pull up a chair! ME-Judy (waving "hi!" from up in Maine)