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Chicago is a fantastic Midwestern city, so it has all the advantages of the big city, but still friendly and welcoming to all. In Chicago you get to experience all 4 seasons, so bundle up and dig your car out of the snow in Winter, then grab your bathing suit and head to the beach at Lake Michigan in the Summer. There are loads of Museums to visit, restaurants to try, parks to play in Sports or Theater to watch. There is a great local art and music scene too, it pretty much has everything you could want

The best things about living in Franklin are the beauty and the history. On November 30, 1864, the Battle of Franklin was fought here. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War, and saw some of most severe hand to hand fighting of the war. There are several historic cites within the city to visit and learn about the war including Carnton Plantation, Lotz House, & the Carter House. Now Franklin is once again a jewel of the South, featuring beautiful rolling green hills, a mix of old and new homes, and a thriving downtown full of independent businesses and boutiques.

Come behind the scenes at A Happy Stitch for a #CraftRoomTour and see Melissa's sewing room in New Jersey.
My sewing space is just about my favorite space in the whole world. It is a cutting table, a sewing table, a bookcase and a chest of drawers filled with luscious fabric. Under the cutting table is a rolling organizer and an old toy chest. All of that is tucked into a corner of my bedroom. Thankfully, the room has windows on three sides so it is bright and filled with natural light. I love sunny, warm days when I can play my mellow music and sew, sew, sew. I'm endlessly grateful for that time.
One of the other things I love about my space is that all of the furniture in my sewing studio, except for the two white tables, is up-cycled. The chest of drawers was given to me by a neighbor while the bookcase and organizer under my cutting table is old furniture the kids outgrew. I love that I can hobble together my creative space out of these pieces. I think it's good juju.

The beautiful Garden City, and largest city in the South Island, ?tautahi (in Te Reo M?ori), also known as Christchurch, is a vibrant and thriving place, with old English charm. Though the City was affected by earthquakes from 2010, until more recently, there are M?ori and Kiwi culture, art, and inspirations everywhere, from Pegasus Bay, to the Avon River, the vastness of the Pacific Ocean is only a short drive away.