Tax time as an early retiree

March 7, 2026

I finalized our federal and state tax returns today. I like to let them marinate for a few days and then review everything once more before filing. This year marked the most streamlined tax return prep I’ve had since retirement. Why? I stepped away from all 1099 gig work at the end of 2024 once my teacher pension began. No more multiple 1099s with expenses to track! The bonus? More time to spend on activities I enjoy.

We’re approaching our fourth year in retirement. The preceding three years of taxable income has been all over the map. Our 2024 and 2025 numbers are nearly identical, so I think we have a realistic baseline to estimate tax liabilities moving forward.

Keep in mind that local, state and federal governments tax income differently, according to type and amount of income. (Not many cities levy an income tax, but St. Louis does!) 2026 will mark the final year we’ll pay Georgia state income taxes on all income, plus full property taxes. Next year, limited income exemptions begin ($35,000) for income taxes and we’ll receive an exemption for the school tax portion of our property taxes. Eventually, up to $130,000 of income (married filing jointly) will be exempted from Georgia income tax. Georgia doesn’t tax Social Security income either.

Just for grins, I went back and compared this year’s numbers against those from our last full year of employment. Yes, our current income is less than it was when we were both working, but it’s the tax treatment of the types of income that makes the biggest difference. Just saying, we paid an obscene amount of taxes when we were employed full-time!

English Paper Piecing Workshop

March 5, 2026
Fussy cut EPP block using diamond paper shapes to create a kaleidoscope effect

Last week, I took an English Paper Piecing workshop with Amanda Bauer. This all-day class was sponsored by my quilt guild (meaning an affordable $55.00 class fee + a $15 kit fee). Prior to this class, I’d never taken a formal class on EPP and my experience has been limited to hexagon shapes only. Yep, I can definitely make a hexie flower with no problem!

I’ve definitely upped my EPP game by taking this class. I fine-tuned my glue-basting process, learned how to “marry” the needle and thread, plus got a little bit better at whipstitching my pieces together. I normally use a flatback stitch for EPP, but her method for the whipstitch is faster and results in less hand fatigue.

Like any instructor, she has her favorite products to use for EPP and shared her reasons as to why. Honestly, they weren’t that much different from the other instructor product offerings I found online. Students were provided kits and access to recommended tools to try during the class. I may very well switch to using her style of whipstitch in the future. However, I’ll keep using my 80 wt Wonderfil polyester thread in a coordinating color to lessen stitch visibility. That’s my personal preference.

Basic tool recommendations for EPP:

Needles: Milliners/Straw sizes 9, 10 or 11. (Bohin, John James, Sue Daley) OR Sharp sizes 7 – 9
Thread: Polyester 50 wt, 60 wt or 80 wt in matching color, if possible.
Paper shapes: Purchased shapes offer consistency. Paper Pieces is a good source of EPP paper templates.
Glue pen: Sew Line glue pen and refills
Scissors: Serrated edge (Karen K. Buckley or Kai Scissors)
Rotary cutter: Olfa 28mm
Automatic needle threader: Bohin or Clover
Recommended: Small rotating cutting mat, Magic Seam ruler for fussy cutting, Sew Tites and Wonder Clips.
Optional: Needle keeper, thimble and thread conditioner

Videos I think you might find helpful:
Fat Quarter Shop Tula Pink EPP series
Wonder Window technique for fussy cutting

EPP is very portable. Word to the wise: When traveling by plane, Amanda recommends that you cut (and glue baste if possible) all shapes ahead of time, take a small pair of snips you don’t mind losing and a small usb light. Definitely leave the rotary cutter and mat at home or pack it in your checked luggage.

March is National Quilting Month!

March 1, 2026

The official National Quilting Day is Saturday, March 21, but you can incorporate a bit of quilting into any day this month!

Read an E-book Week (first week of March) – See what’s available via the Libby app (from the public library) or check your e-reader for any quilting books you may have overlooked.

National Button Week (third week of March) – Sort your buttons by color or size, sew on missing buttons or do button crafts with the littles.

March is also Women’s History Month. Read or watch a biography about your favorite Sewlebrity. Read a novel by Jennifer Chiaverini, Marie Bostwick. or any other quilt fiction writer that strikes your fancy.

Try out a new technique – 8 at a time HSTs, 4 at a time FG, EPP, foundation paper piecing, applique, flanged quilt binding.

Have a play date with your sewing machine – play with the fancy stitches and fancy feet that are gathering dust because you use a 1/4″ foot most of the time. If you have a vintage machine with mechanical attachments, spent time learning how to attach and use them properly. There are plenty of YouTube video tutorials on using various zigzag attachments, buttonhole attachments and the like.

As for me, I have all the attachments out for my Singer 301A. We have a play date this afternoon.