Now I seem to be stuck with this Madeline Island Blog and would rather be posting under something titled about quilting.

Quilting is my passion.  Recently since returning home from our summer adventure in the U.P. of Michigan I have been sewing every day.  My spouse calls my sewing space,  the sweat shop, as I only come out to grab a cup of coffee or use the bathroom.   But I am not getting paid for this work, except in the joy and contentment I get from it.

So far since mid summer,  I have finished three large lap sized quilts and one crib / toddler quilt that is waiting to be quilted.  I may hand quilt that one on our way to Florida.   I usually machine quilt my  pieces unless it is bed sized and that is just too much fabric to jostle around on my home machine.  So when I do stitch a bed sized quilt I send it out to my friend who has a long arm and pay to have it professionally quilted.  that sort of takes  the "my piece"  feel out of it... But I really do not like the quilting part of the process.  

I was up early this morning.  Came downstairs to start the coffee at 5 am.  Somehow that is just too soon to turn on the sewing machine.. IMHO.  But now it is nearly 730 and that is an acceptable time to  continue on with my latest scrap quilt.  

I made a vow to myself over a year ago to use up the fabric I already own before I purchase any more yardage.  Well  that isn't going to happen and I knew it when I made that little promise to myself.  but I have done fairly well at this.  I have like I said pieced 3 or 4 quilts using only fabric I own.  

But today my quilting buddy and I are going to go to lunch and then drive to a small quilt shop about 20 miles from my home..... That is actually a short trip for us.  About once a month we will exploire shops in a defined area of state of OH.  And even Eastern Indianna, and Southern MIchigan.  Still have not adequately explored southern OH,  but that will happen.  

Here are two qults I have made to gift to special people in my life. The top one a scrappy is going to my sister in Florida. the bottom one going to a long time friend we met years ago while RVing in Florida.   Now beginning to start one for a special cousin.  I would love to find an outlet to sell some of my quilts,  but so far have not been successful.  Although I have not really tried to hard either.

I do not like to do craft shows,  It is too depressing to sit there all day and look out at the people walking by your booth, and trying to hold back the words.  : "OK tubby come in here and buy one of my quilts."  Gee do you think it may be my attitude.

I admit I do not have the personality for a job in sales.  I am not an outgoing ,  perky pleasant person who draws people in with my bubbling personality I guess that proves out by the way I spend my days.  alone in my sewing studio with my sewing machine.  

Grand Marais MI

Just playing around with this site.
I am sitting in our 5th wheel at Woodland RV Park in Grand Marais MI.
Since Madeline Island is in Lake Superior thought it appropriate to check in, as Grand Marais is a quaint little town that sits on Lake Superior.

Lake Superior is my absolute most favorite place on the planet.  My spouse and I try to get up here at least one a year.  I am so enamored of this little town, that I have suggested to Paul that we find a small  house in town and rent it for a year.  I think it would be an adventure to experience the winter way up here on the shores of Gitchee Gumee.  This suggestion will likely go un-heeded as most of my wishes are.

My vision is to get a small house in the main shopping area of town, and open a small quilt shop.  the shop would really be more for my own gratification than as a money making venture.  I would set up my sewing machine,   And spend the days in my favorite activity.  QUILTING.   I would hope to entice the locals and tourists in to the shop to sit and talk quilting or U.P. lore over a cup of coffee and a muffin.  But the liklihood of this becoming a reality is slim to none.  It does keep me dreaming and imagining though.

WE will be leaving Grand Marais on Monday to travel west to Munising,  A three day stay at the Munising Tourist Park,  also on the shores of the big lake.  At least in Munising we have access to restaurants and a grocery store and other shopping options.  As far as restaurants in the U.P  go,  we have found in our quest for a meal out there are not many options.  I must clarify this,  there are options but so far we have not found the food offered very palatable.  This is what drives us to pull an RV up here. We can prepare our own meals and sleep in our own bed every night.

After a few days at the Munising Tourist Park,  which is run by the city of Munising,  we will travel a few miles West to The little town of Christmas and stay at the National Forrest Campground, Bay Furnace.   WE have stayed in this campground a few times and like the remoteness of it.  It does not offer amenities like water and electricity at the camp site. But for a few days we can rough it.

Then we will head out for Ohio probably leaving on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.  Hoping to avoid the mad rush out of the U.P.  on Monday.  Traffic heading south from the bridge at the end ot a normal weekend is bumper to bumper, and if we plan to make it home in one day which is normally doable,  won't be doable if we get stuck in that traffic.

Today the plan is to hike to the Au Sable point lighthouse.