Yet Another Learning Experience

On Tuesday, I took a beginning piecing class.  Going into the class, I thought it might be a little too basic for me as I had already made four quilts.  OMG, was I ever wrong, wrong, wrong!  I learned so many tips that will not only improve the quality of my end product, but will make the entire process of creating the quilt top much easier.  The instructor at Cabin Fever Quilt Shoppe in Auburn, CA (east of Sacramento) is great and has extensive experience in quilting.  I finally was able to figure out that my alleged 1/4" foot does not produce a 1/4" seam.  This explains why my blocks are always smaller than the patterns indicate they should be.  Now I know and have corrected this problem.  Yesterday, I actually sewed a section that turned out to be EXACTLY the right size.  I nearly fell off my chair when I measured it and it was right on the money.  What a high!  Alright, it isn't like doing a change-edge spiral in ice skating, but it was just a great feeling to solve one of my major challenges.  So, while I am not able to quilt today, I am looking forward to some serious quilting this weekend.  

Speaking of ice skating, this is my other great passion and hobby. I had a great experience this weekend seeing three of my dear skating buddies pass tests they were taking in ice dancing and Moves In the Field (used to be called "Figures").  Each did a fabulous job and I was so proud of them for all their hard work and accomplishing their goals.  It's an honor and privilege knowing them and sharing the ice with them.  I was supposed to test an ice dance with them last Sunday, but our skating club was not able to find 3 ice dance test judges, so I was a spectator only. Hope to test this dance (called the Ten Fox) in March!  

As I retired in September from a lengthy career as a marketing and account management executive in a variety of companies, I now have the luxury of doing new things (like quilting and taking voice lessons) and spending more time ice skating, which I began about 10 years ago (I cannot believe I've been skating this long and still consider myself just beyond the "beginner" phase).  But ice skating has been a wonderful sport for me and I feel so blessed to have the time and resources to pursue this dream.

Discovery - whatever it means to you - is dynamic. I believe once you stop learning, you are ready to put one foot in the grave.  And even in the "third phase of my life," I am certainly not ready to pack it up.  Keep moving, keep learning, and cherish the gift of discovery every day.  I certainly do.