Ann The Gran Community

Well I knew I was going to miss a great day, I just didn't realize how great !  Unexpected out of town company kept me away but hopefully there will be another one before too many months.

So glad it turned out to be such a success and a big Happy Birthday to Ann.......

Sandy in Tavares

Can't wait to see some of the pictures that were taken.  Can you believe it?  I had my camera with me and I was having so much fun getting to know y'all that I forgot to take pictures.  So I'm depending on the rest of you to show everyone what a great time we had.  I'm sorry I had to cut out before everyone else.  My hubby was expecting me home before he had to go to work.  I would have loved to be able to go to Jo-Ann's with those that went.  Y'all have inspired me to get my sewing room cleaned and organized so that I want to go in there and create.

Here I thought I was the only one who couldn't make it.  I guess from reading the posts we really missed a great day.  I do hope you all will find another date and if I have to crawl I'll make it.

Happy Birthday Ann,  so sorry I missed it.

Yes Christmas is right around the corner, spent yesterday listing what I want to make and didn't get very far.  Will start on an Anita Goodesign 's Snow Globe tree skirt today, at least I have that layed out.

Please upload the pictures for all of us to see.

Marge

IT was such great fun seeing all of everyones treasures and devoted time put in to them. I so enjoyed the day and meeting you all. I kind of came in on a whim and at the last min though I have been a background fan of Ann's for years just never took advantage of the foreground part but glad I did. I learned quite a few new tricks and tips and added a few more projects to this file cabinet brain of mine. I so hope we can do it again I will be anxious to see what I learn next round, and seeing my new found friends again. At least we can all keep in touch :).  I have pictures I took to enjoy will be glad to share with all those who wish to have them.                          

~Norie

Hi Everyone!

Boy is it quiet in here today,LOL! Did we wear you all out yesterday? Oh my goodness Marge and Sandy,I am so sorry you could not make it yesterday,we all had such a wonderful,enjoyable time.Everyone had so many beautiful things I couldn't turn my head fast enough or wrap my brain around it all! Do not worry though as much fun as it was yesterday,there will be more of these informal get togethers. You are all such wonderful Ladies and gents,yes we had some Hubby's there as well.I think they even had a great time,I know mine did and I think I have convinced him he needs to continue his digitizing(Yea!) I saw him checking out software this morning!I will keep my fingers crossed on that one. I guess I will have to give him a project to do for me again,we really had fun with the first one he did.

I wondered how many of you went shopping yesterday,had hubby not been with me I would have gone as well,but he wanted to get home and work on more photo shop stuff.(yes he says he has no imagination,but you all should see his photography,grrrrr)I know you had a great time with that,I am sorry I missed that one ,but will certainly go the next time.

I am excited to hear that Greg is working on something for us so we can all participate and not take over the forum!LOL! Sorry Greg ,I had no idea it would explode like this,(but I love it)!

Norrie,I am so glad you came and very glad you had Fun! That what this is all about is enjoying yourself with your craft,and having others enjoy it with you. How many folks can say that they actually have a group of people that are all interested in the same thing,and give so much to others in the process?

I do want to say also that the Doll was one of the cutest I have seen in a long time and will be busy making one for the new baby,so if you could e-mail me about that I would certainly be grateful to you.Every little girl needs a soft ,cuddly baby doll!

Kath, I wanted to ask you about the fabric warehouse? I think that was it, I really have to know where it is and how far I am from it,LOL. Apparently our Men folk talked and Mine is anxious to go there(Yea!) Please e-mail me about that ,too if you would,Thanks!

Yes I am the one who made the cat hair embroidery,I have one in my dining room! I am working on the other one as well,I can't wait to get that one together and sewn out,LOL.

I also loved the towels that Ann brought that were painted! My Gosh,I am certainly going to be trying that as well,I loved the idea and my mind is just spinning! I still cannot figure out how I had time to work,LOL! I can picture ,Tom trying to pry me out of the sewing room!

Now for Elaine  and Bob, Thank you for all of your help yesterday! We have really got to get together again and soon! It is not often I see Tom take such an interest in something like what we did yesterday.I will be e-mailing you about that . It was great to see him and all the guys participate so much!Ken,You and Kath are a hoot! Ann and Bill,Tom adored you both! He even asked me on the way home when the next one will be,that's a good thing! something tells me he will be at the next Community Circle as well!

Again,Thank You All for yesterday,you really have no idea how much it moved me to see everyone and everything in one room,and to actually meet and talk to you all! Thank You Thank You!!I am so looking forward to getting together with all of you again in the near future to work on some charity items.

For now so long,no good bye's here ,just so long until next time! Later..................Happy Stitching everyone!

Happy Birthday Ann!!! Bob and I sure enjoyed seeing your projects too, I loved the towels you did with the paint.  Bob and I liked the way you put everything in the notebook so you could see them later.  We have been making copies of ours and putting the paper in our notebook but the patterns sewn out are in a separate baggie.  You way seems to much easier to see and remember what we have done.  Bob really enjoyed talking to Bill.  He told me all the stories on the way home, he was so impressed by Bill's history.  Bob worked on the logo patch this am and I will get him to post it when he comes in from his hobby shop.  He is working on his latest project a go cart, he is a Shriner and will be riding it in the parades.  He needed to clear his head he said.  He also said we need to work on making this den the sewing room.  We have everything out on the dining room table and have had for months. Hope you enjoy  your day, Elaine

Judy thanks again for organizing everything and getting the cake for Ann.  It was a great afternoon.  I took pics but haven't taken them out yet.  Once again, I have to wait on Bob to do it as I can't remember how.  I think we really needed a video camera to take in everything everyone has done.  Such beautiful things and really good ideas for Christmas.  I told Bob we have to get busy on Christmas gifts.  He was so glad the guys were there, he enjoyed talking to them.  He looked up some stuff for Tom and will email it soon.  Hope you are resting today.  I don't know about everyone else but I ate way too much, we didn't even do dinner.  When we got hungry while we were watching a movie we had popcorn.  Everyone was so friendly and the ideas were so great.  We did go over to Joanne's for a while. We checked out the Viking Diamond, just looking and entered a drawing for the machine.  Bob is still interested in a multiple needle, he will really likes the Baby Lock/Brother 6 needle one.  I could see I have been lazy and I let Bob do all the digitizing and so I am going to have to learn some of it.  Well, thanks again for the whole afternoon, it was just so great.

WOW, what a day, You girls are TERRIFIC. So many ideas and WONDERFUL PROJECTS.  I'm like you Kath, so many things going around was getting confused who made what. 

I did the Bags with window screening.. Judy did the Cats and the sayings.  I missed hearing about Joan's Tyvek project, tell me more.  Norries shirt and box full of projects outsanding as well as yours Kath, fantastic.. Did you get to Fabric Warehouse?? All you girls I must say such exquiste work by EVERYONE.  So much talent in one room. AND Ideas!!!

You know ...we could all do a weekend retreat like my quilters from Jacksonville. They come to the Christian Conference Center in Silver Springs on Wed. and stay till Sun a.m. They have projects to work on, new techniques, even planned excursions IF you want. yada yada yada   Just an idea.. LOL

Diana and I ran into the group from Okeechobee and all watched the new Diamond by Viking.  Don't have too much fun Glenda,  I'll cherish my Designer I for a long while yet. I will admit the 4D software is quite impressive.  I'm thinking of upgrading but have until the end of Dec. to do so.  "Hey Honey... know what I want for Christmas"..

 Hope you have a terrific Birthday Ann, was wonderful to meet the Lady that got all of us together along with Judy's help.  It took a simple website and a desire for sewing companionship to put a group of enthusiastic ME ladies together for a wonderful day.

Looking forward to the next meeting already.. until tomorrow..

Judy and gang!

We should have listened to Lynn when she said that it wasn't such a wonderful place to go to!!! When we pulled in, we thought...Hmmmmm...a warehouse?? I envisioned a warehouse as large w/ lots of space for goodies...well, Norie said a mouthful when she said, "This isn't a fabric warehouse, it's a fabric garage!!!". She was soooooooooooo correct. I was unbelieveably sorry we had gone 52 miles out of our way to go there.

The fabric isn't a bargain at all. The 100% cotton starts at $13.99 per yard for you quilters...some discarded fabric is $8.99 per yard. They told me they had entradeaux (sc?), heirloom lace, etc...and they didn't have any at all. They had a bargain area w/ fabric that was dirty from falling on the floor...and a bin w/ chunks of fabric that also started at around $6.99 per yard. I didn't see anything I would have wanted to use...none of us purchased even one thing. The entire store covered maybe 900 sq feet of space...except for the classroom in the rear of the building. I usually try to find something nice about whatever place we go to, however; Ladies...I would be hard presses to voice any thing positive about this place. Unless you just want to see for yourself, please don't waste your time going here. I could have cried. :o( 

On a happier note, Ken enjoyed himself almost as much as I did at our gathering...seeing everyone's projects...talking to the guys about their digitizing...eating...cake...more eating!! We are both ready for another trip to visit everyone...hope it is real soon!!! For some reason I feel like I have "jet lag" today and just can't get going. We got home from Mass and breakfast out w/ friends...and it took me almost an hour to cut out a size one dress!!! Then deciding on my embroidery on it took another one...then I decided I should have taken a nap instead!! LOL

When you get the design for the second kitty done...let me know and please post it to our site for all to see...those were just too cute!!!

Hugs...Kath :o)

what a disappointment that must have been about the fabric warehouse.  I know what you mean about jet lag, we were bad we slept in and our Lutheran church only has one service in the summer and we missed it.  We usually go to church and then brunch afterwards.  We all overloaded our brain I guess.  It sure was a great day

Glad to hear y'all had such a wonderful time! I've created a special photo gallery in our Media section where you can upload photos of the get together:

http://www.annthegran.com/cs/media/g/florida-gals/default.aspx

If you're looking for the gallery and can't find this link, just click on 'Media' in the top menu from anywhere on our site and click on 'Project Galleries' on the left. You'll see a list of the different photo albums, including this new one for the Central Florida group.

BB

I had such a fantastic time yesterday! I was so in awe of everything that was there! It was like being a kid in a candy shop!

I definitely need the design with the saying about the cat hair in the food. No doubt about it, my cats rule here, and my husband is outnumbered. (His sanctuary is the bedroom, and the cats aren't allowed in there, so don't anyone feel bad for him!)

Now, if everyone would just post a short message about the things they brought, it would help my overwhelmed brain sort out who had what! I want to know more about the Tyvek project, and how to do smocking like Kath does...and how beautiful the quilts all were! I was enthralled with how enchanting ALL the things were that were made for children! From the blocks, to the dresses, and the little outfits for little boys, All were amazing!

I want to know the hows and wheres and whatevers of ALL of it! The bibs and burp cloths were so cute! The dresses, and clothing that were embroidered were stunning! Ladies, we really did have a great day, and I agree- we need to do it again!!!

I made the doll, so if anyone wants to know particulars, just email me!

I had a great time getting to know as many of you as I could, and I am looking forward to getting together with Roseanne, and Cathy from Deltona again, as they live pretty close to Deland, where I am!

Ann, you are fantastic! You were so gracious, and kind! I love your enthusiasm for this craft, and I was inspired by many of the things I saw there, at the luncheon. We do owe it all to your accomplishments, with the vision you have for yourself, and the joy you share with everyone else who is into ME! Thank you for that, and for being there with us, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I'll be seeing all of you again, soon! Until then, happy stitching!!!

Dawn from Deland

What a guy!! Thanks BB...I appreciate that info. I'm on my way there now to post the pix I took yesterday!!

Kath :o)

Help!! I have a lot of pictures of Saturday to post and I can't figure out how I did the first ones! Can one of you ladies assist me??

Kath :o)

Holy smokes you guys are fast,I just went into Media and looked at the photo's you all posted! Great job everyone! I am still spinning from yesterday,but I have one small favor to ask of you all, I know you all are anxious to find out about everything but please hold off for just a day or two,I have an idea,but first need to run it by some folks first.O K, I can hear you all out there! LOL Please just be patient with me for a couple of days ,please? I will fill you all in when I can.

Kath,I am so sorry about the fabric warehouse,too bad. The concept of it is great,too bad they didn't follow through with it . Next time. we will have to go out there and find some really great places to go to. Maybe even take some day trips and all meet at some place and "shop"!

Yes the next one,I think we will take turns and show everyone what we have done,it was so overwhelming with it all,so many wonderful things to look at,my neck is sore from turning my head so much yesterday! I hope you all don't mind too much that I took a day off,LOL(yeah right!,lol) Well, at least a couple of hours. You will all be happy to know ,the dust bunnies no longer reside here,I scooted them out today!

Again,you are all so Welcome! I very much enjoyed meeting you all and seeing everything you have done! the pleasure was defiantly all mine! I am so looking forward to doing this again very soon! I am so happy you could all be there,and so sorry that a few due to unforeseen circumstances could not be there. There will be more that I am sure you can attend.Thank You all for being there so I could meet you and get to know you!

I am done for the day ! the energy level just burned out,so .......................so long for now,Happy Stitching!

Sheesh! I haven't even taken my pictures off the camera yet! You gals are too fast. Of course, I'm a senior citizen now, so I'm cutting myself some slack. 

I agree that we need a sleep-over. I attended an Ocala ASG event last year at a church retreat in the middle of a forest somewhere up there. The facilities were okay and air conditioned, the cafeteria was okay and we had a huge room to sew and share. It wasn't fancy but it filled the bill. I think it was 3 days and I know the cost was very reasonable. It was a lot of fun. Maybe one of you from that area knows the place I'm talking about.

I feel like we didn't finish and I'm ready to do it again SOON.

sounds like a good idea to me, it would be great to see how some of these designs are done, especially the smocking and lace things

I absolutely must have/make one of those dolls on no it isn't for any of my grandsons... it's for ME all about me.  I sew for them all the time this is something I want for ME ME ME!  Just can't get over knowing so may with the same love of the same thing as me just different ideas and more projects.  What a great day.

I'm even starting to like Fl a little   oops you got to understand all my babies are further up north in God's country and I do mean country where the Hills are hills and the trees still turn colors.  Till then... will just keep on sewing, learning, & sewing.

~Norie

Norie,

I feel your pain. I miss the mountains for Virginia even tho I have been in FL for 11 years.  I don't think I will ever be a hot weather gal and will always miss the Fall and Spring and Winter and lots of colored flowers and raking leaves and fires in the fireplace.  I just keep telling myself I like Joe better than the changing seasons.  I must say that lunch with you all Saturday made me feel a little less alone.  Came home and Me'd passport covers and luggage straps.  I too have started thinking about Christmas and several other projects I have looming over me.  I need to take my machine in for a good cleaning but hate to part with it for a week

Was thinking maybe we needed an Oct 18 meeting so share/prepare for Christmas.  I am not very knowledgeable about locations out side of Melbourne but if someone gave me an area I would be glad to try to set something up.  I wouldn't want to step on Judy's toes since this group is really her baby but do want to get together again.

Feeling a little less lonely in Florida

Marsha

I know what you mean Ann,I feel the same way! I also think we need a sleep over as well. I am certainly up for it.what does everyone else out there think about that idea?