Jennifer, school starts really early here, like August 12th. So, that part shouldn't be a problem for me. Being a holiday week, it will be hard to get any work done :-) Robbi

Valerie, I've gotten myself a few times with the rotary cutter too, so I know how you feel (though the ruler usually gets the brunt of my clumsiness!) Hope it heals soon! This quilting thing is dangerous... I burned myself with the vintage travel iron yesterday! Glad everyone is staying busy... I've been piecing like a mad man until the wee hours of the morning. I'm still working on the puff quilt... I'm watching Law and Order SVU while I cut and pin and that helps the time go faster. It's really quite pleasant and makes the fun part (sewing) seem to come more quickly. Tonight, for the first time, I decided to listen to music while sewing... I sewed about 20 squares with no bobbin thread! When I don't have headphones in, I can hear when the bobbin runs out because the machine sounds different, but when I've got music going I'm stitching in ignorant bliss. I've noticed that the faster the song is that comes on, the faster I sew! I caught myself flooring the pedal without even realizing it! I also accidentally left the vintage travel iron plugged in all day and went merrily off to work... I could have burned down an entire apartment complex because the vintage travel iron doesn't have auto off... and it's vintage! But, I did turn it off, so all is well for now. I need to stop using it! Of course we all know the fastest way to call a cat is to lay out unsewn quilt squares... it works better than a can of tuna!

Hold your hats!!!! And grab your erasers. The date for retreat is likely changing. Just don't know what it will be yet! So, please don't go buying your plane tickets just yet! I will keep you all posted as I figure things out! Jennifer

In 2003 builder brass was already on the way out. Nothing wrong with quality brass hardware, but it was all the cheap builder brass stuff, some of which was plastic coated with a shiny brass finish. I just built a house and the style is clean lines, but Spanish inspired. All my door hardware is Emtek Sandcast Medium Bronze. The kitchen cabinet hardware is Honey Bronze (champagne gold) from Top Knobs. Secondary bathrooms have chrome. Master and Powder have light Bronze from Rocky Mountain Hardware on cabinets and Brizo Luxe Gold (champagne) fixtures. My light fixtures range from champagne gold to antique brass to a brown-bronze. So all in the warmer colors, except for the chrome bathrooms, but that is a neutral and classic choice for bathrooms. You can do brushed nickel throughout the house and use chrome in the bathrooms. There is no right or wrong, but you do want to make sure they all complement each other.