Looks Like We Made It...

 ...to Meadville, PA, that is.

It was a bit of an arduous drive through the mountains of

West Virginia to get here, especially in the rain, but Pennsylvania

proved welcoming. There was a lot of sunshine and the steep ups

and downs slowly transformed into rolling hills and valleys.

 Handsome went over to the college yesterday to pick up his

registration packet, which always includes a college tote bag.

Inside are all his class schedules, meal card and a few other goodies.

 

This year, he came back with a matching packet for me!

Go figure. I only go to one group gathering, the Thursday recitals

and the concert finale on Friday, but here was my own meal card,

schedule (in case I want to sit in), and even my own swanky pen!

 While he was over at the college, I was working on the knitting for my special project. I finished it around 9 last night, and will start my day today doing all the joining and yarn tucking. After that, I'll add the ribbon closure and perhaps a button or two just to trim it out a little more. I'll decide when I get to that point.
I'm also making something for our great-nephew's Christening next month. I brought Sofie along so she'll be helping me out with the machine sewing part of that project. She also has a small embroidery unit, so I'm going to add a little something extra, too.
Tag will be here tomorrow. He's so excited to share his good news! You'll have to come back to read all about it. (He can hardly wait!)

I'd Like You To Meet Sofie...

Miss Ellie (my Babylock Ellisimo) and Prissy (my Espire) are the hardest working employees a seamstress could ever want, but there's just one thing. They refuse to leave the house. They love being in the studio on their respective tables and they prefer to wait for me right there for me.
I found myself needing an employee who was willing to travel, who didn't take up much room and who would happily tackle any project I might want to attempt while on the road.

I reviewed a number of resume's, and yesterday I hired Sofie. Her full name is Babylock Sophia, but like Miss Ellie and Prissy, she likes having a nickname. It's a good thing, too, because I told her that's how we roll at Brynwood.
At a mere fourteen pounds and a petite fifteen inches long (without the embroidery unit attached), she won't add much weight to the coach or need a room to herself when it's time to hit the open road. She can embroider small designs (up to 4" x 4"), and she's sturdy enough to quilt. She also has many of the features of the "big girls". She has an automatic thread cutter, the much used and appreciated needle threader, and built in specialty stitches. I know that our association will be a match made in...Sarasota!

Now, don't think I went out and paid a full contract price to employ Sweet Sofie. Thanks go to my dear friend, Carol of Serendipity (who lives part time in Sarasota). She wasn't using Sofie to her full potential and decided to let someone else hire her. I jumped at the chance! I'm sure that she'll enjoy working with my other two girls...and I know she's going to love the wayfaring life I have planned for her.
If you haven't visited Carol before, be sure to stop over to see her beautiful spot in Blogland. She and I have been friends since meeting a few years ago at a local quilt shop. We've taken classes together, and since her latest trip south, we've met with another blogging friend (who I'll tell you about soon) for lunch, shopping and visiting. She creates truly fabulous quilts, participates in Tablescape Tuesdays, and she's in the process of redecorating her blog these days. Of course, you'll remember to tell her "hello" from me, right?

Sofie is looking forward to sharing some of my creative collaborations with you over the summer and into fall. She'll be back to visit again before you know it.