A Short Break

I'm getting ready for a little get-away with my husband:

I've lived in Florida for many years, but I actually have New England roots--my mom's whole family was from Vermont and Rhode Island.  I spent a lot of time there when I was growing up.   But I've never been to Maine, nor has my husband.  So while our son is at camp for a few weeks, we're taking a trip of our own.  We're going to fly into Portland (stay overnight there), drive up to Bar Harbor for a few days near Acadia National Park, then REALLY get away from it all and stay for a week at a house rental in Roque Bluffs, which is "Downeast" Maine. (In the contrary style of New Englanders, Downeast is actually farther north, along the coast).  Anyway, we're hoping for a fun and relaxing time.

Returning from vacation can sometimes be a little depressing, although I'm always glad to be home.  So I've made sure that I have something to look forward to when I get back.  This will arrive while I'm gone:

I really want to start writing my own patterns on a regular basis.  Maybe even publish them one day!  And my current method of pattern design is not as accurate as it could be.

And honestly, sometimes I feel like The Math Is Going To Kill Me when it comes to figuring out seam allowances, yardage, all that stuff.

I was particularly impressed with quilts like this when I was looking on the EQ website

I mean, there is absolutely NO WAY I could figure out all of the elements of this quilt.  I count 10 different blocks, all different sizes, all fitting on the same quilt. 

EQ also has a fabric database, so not only can you audition a color when you design your quilt, you can actually audition a specific fabric.  And here's the deal-maker (at least for me):  after you complete your quilt design, it gives you yardage estimates for all of the different fabrics that you're going to put into your quilt.  Swoon.  

I'm expecting a significant Learning Curve, as I am not the most computer-savvy person around.  I'm counting on help from my In-House Tech Support, who should have time before beginning 10th grade to give me a little assistance!