Hotel Room Tour of 2014 -- Night #4

After a reasonably uneventful travel day, I am in Ontario, California at the Road to California show.  Yay for everything in that last sentence (uneventful travel, California, quilt show)!

I am in a delightful hotel room with a living room:

and a bedroom:

I am setting up my room and making it my own.  

After a long travel day, I look forward to seeing how comfy that bed is!

On my way

I'm headed to Road to California and really looking forward to it.

Kermit was looking forward to it, too. He wanted to fit into my carryon luggage. Poor Kermit!

Another Gifted Quilt -- for Ruth

My family and my son's wife's family are rather close.  This confuses a lot of people until they realize that we go to church together and that the couple started "dating" in the 6th grade (first real date --  my daughter-in-law's 16th birthday).  We've known each other a long time and our families just blend together.

Last year, I pulled out a bunch of old UFOs and found one that just "looked" like my son's mother-in-law.  It was a block-of-the-month from the Quilt Basket from I don't remember when.  Maybe ten years ago?  My son's mother-in-law repainted her bedroom a little while ago and I knew that this quilt would be a perfect match. 

This was Ruth's Christmas present:

It felt like old times during the holidays when I ordered my two (now grown) children to bundle up, head onto the deck, and hold a quilt for a photo.  They grew up doing this and will never be too old for me to boss around!

I hope that Ruth loves this quilt forever.  I treasure our friendship and look forward to sharing grandchildren with her.

My Hit List

I have fabric.  Lots of fabric.

I have projects.  Lots of projects.

I am focusing on a few projects at a time.  I thought I could keep this list to 3 projects at a time, but I'll be happy to keep it under 10!

1.  Celtic Solstice by Bonnie Hunter.

I am finishing step five.  And yes, I need a new ironing board cover.

2.  My mini Dresden Plate quilt from Pinwheels:

I need to layer and quilt this.  Maybe after Road to California?

3.  I have a leaders-and-enders project in the works:

I am turning these:

into these:

and eventually into this:

4.  I like to keep hand sewing ready for my travels.  I pulled out an old applique project:

This is packed and ready to go.

5.  I already showed you another hand sewing project that is in the works:

6.  I started a new project this year, Pat Sloan's Globetrotting block of the month.  These are the colors I chose:

I wasn't sure about the light green while I was cutting it, but I like how it looks now that I pieced it.

This block is 26 inches square.  I'm thinking of quilting the sections of this quilt separately and then joining them in the end.  Have you done that?   Has it been successful?

7.  There isn't a #7... yet... but I could start another project at any minute!

Love in a Box

Once upon a time, I had a dear high school friend who stood up for me at my wedding.

I entered the married-with-kids track and most of my friends entered the college-and-career-before-marriage-and-kids track.  I lost touch with a lot of those friends.  We never disagreed or disliked each other; life simply got in the way.

This all happened around the time that Mark Zuckerberg was being potty-trained.  My friends and I had to wait until Mark was old enough to found FaceBook so that we could reconnect.

This sweet found-again high school friend knew about my upcoming grandbaby through FaceBook and offered to send the stuffed animals I had made for her all of those years ago.

The box arrived while I was dealing with disrupted travel plans last week.  It remained sealed while I was suffering through artistic insecurity.  Now that the mental decks are clear, I finally (!) opened the box.

I re-met Mr. Brown Bear:

and Mr. Green Turtle:

There was another surprise in the bottom of the box:

Aztec Fire Tea!!!!!  This stuff is gold.  Gold.  GOLD.  G.O.L.D!!!!!

I am so grateful for my thoughtful found-again friend.  I'm now boiling water for tea.  Maybe she can come and join me for a cuppa?

Detritus

A few weeks ago I was asked to work on a project that I knew would stretch me.  I decided that stretching was good and said "Yes."

Saying yes doesn't mean that the project wasn't going to cause me some distress.  It definitely did.

I went through the "I'm not good enough" stage.

I went through the "This is too much pressure" stage.

There were many moments when the inside of my head sounded a lot like this:

 

I worked my way through those stages and dug in and did the work.  I finished the project last night.

This morning I woke up to find the leftovers:

I will soon put all of this away, but other leftovers remain:  It will be easier to say yes to something like this in the future and maybe, just maybe, I won't drive myself to this degree of insanity the next time.

Retired

I am switching out my teaching samples between 2013 and 2014.  I wouldn't want my repeat students to get bored!

This sample has been retired and will now live permanently on my living room wall:

This sample is special to me -- it is the first blended-thread free-motion embroidery piece I did.  I have made many since and have many more planned.

Stay tuned!

Race to the Bottom

I have a problem.  I have too much fabric and it is out of control.  I toss all of my leftover fabric into a basket so I can cut it into useable pieces later.  Well, later never came and I ended up with three large (huge!) crates of scrappy fabric like this:

I use a modified version of Bonnie Hunter's scrap user's system.  I only save six sizes:

1. 10-1/2 inch squares
2. 5 inch squares
3. 2-1/2 x 4-1/2 inch rectangles
4. 2 1/2 inch strips
5. 1 1/2 inch strips
6. Leftovers to use with Victoria's made-fabric techique.

All of those sizes are still hidden in those three large crates.

Help came from a strange place -- this McCall's Quilting Magazine:

The day it arrived, this one pattern jumped out at me:

It uses hand-applique and machine piecing, but I am altering it to use English paper-piecing instead of machine piecing.  This is a great hand-sewing project for my travels!

I am committed to making this quilt from the contents of my scrap fabric crates:

I am committed to having fewer things in my sewing room this year.  I found stacks of old Christmas cards.  I am enjoying years-old greetings again as I cut them into foundations for my English paper-piecing:

While I am cutting these pieces from each chunk of fabric, I am also cutting that fabric into my scrap user's bits.  Win-win!

So, which will I find first -- this finished quilt or the bottom of my scrap bins?

A Late/Early FInish

My mom's birthday is in March.  I intended to make her a tablerunner for her birthday last year, but I didn't finish it in time. 

I saw Mom when she came to my daughter-in-law's baby shower in late December.  I had only recently finished her belated birthday present and gave it to her then, nine months late:

The fabric is Easter Peeps.  I love this pattern because lets everyone around the table see the Peeps right-side up.  Most table runner patterns don't allow for directional fabric like this one.

So, I was late for Mom's birthday and Easter 2013, but I was quite early for Mom's birthday and Easter 2014.  I choose to view this as a positive achievement.

Unpacking

After I finished hauling a truckload of boxes to ship them to Road to California, I continued unpacking from my trip to Utah last week.

Today I unpacked my travel purse.

When I am flying, I try to travel as efficiently as possible.  I wear a small purse to carry what I absolutely must have at hand in the airport and during the flight:

This is a Potato Chip Bag.  They were right, I couldn't make just one!  This pattern is very quick and easy to make.  This little purse has four pockets, perfect for stashing all of my necessary items for flight:

From top to bottom, left to right:

1. Receipts and boarding passes -- The boarding passes own the back pocket for easy access.  The receipts are filed in an inside pocket for future expense reports and tax filings.
2. Hampton Inn pen -- It's the only type of pen that I use.  I think I have a dozen of them.
3. Eye drops -- My eyes always get so dry on an airplane!
4. Hand cream -- So do my hands.
5. Hand sanitizer -- Germs.  Ewwwwww.
6. Lip balm -- I am a lip balm addict.
7. iPhone charger -- When I am waiting for a flight and my phone battery is getting low, someone else can occupy the only available plug while I am rummaging through my backpack for the charger.  Now I can grab my cord in seconds and charge up my phone at the gate.
8. Skull Candy earphones --  The only earbuds I use.  These are blue and white pinstripe.  I am not a NY Yankee fan (Go Pirates!), but these were on clearance and my last pair died.
9. Wonder Wallet (matches the purse, of course) -- TSA agents have surprise rechecks at the gate.  My driver's license is now easily accessible rather than packed in my backpack.  I get through the line quickly.  I can also buy food without taking off my backpack.
10. iPhone (not shown since I was taking the photo with it) -- My iPhone turns me into Gollum.  My Precious!

Now that I am home for a few days, I will use my new Hello Kitty handbag than my husband bought me for Christmas:

Polka dots!  Even though it isn't practical for travel days, isn't this the Best.  Bag.  Ever?!?!?!?!?

Getting READY for Road!

Next week I will teach at Road to California.  This will be my first time at this event and I am thrilled!  I have heard many wonderful things about this show and am excited to finally get to experience it myself!

I love teaching at quilt shows.  It has to be one of the best jobs in the world.  Other people notice how much fun it is and also think it is the most fun job in the world.

I taught nearly every week from March through Thanksgiving of 2013.  I got home and immediately welcomed houseguests for Thanksgiving, houseguests for a baby shower for my soon-expected grandson, and houseguests for Christmas through the New Year.  My kitchen and dining room were busy places.

As soon as the houseguests left, the dining room had a different purpose -- a staging area for class supplies for Road to California:

I pre-quilted all of the class kits so my students won't have to baste or mark their projects.  I photocopied all of the class handouts.  I counted and stacked and packed all of the other necessary supplies.

Today, finally, everything was ready.  I packed several huge boxes, taped them, labeled them, loaded them all into my car, and they are now winging their way to the quilt show.

I HAVE A DINING ROOM AGAIN!!!!  See for yourself:

Lest you think that means I get the rest of the week off, you are mistaken.  I have many other projects and upcoming teaching jobs demanding my attention.

But at least I have a dining room...

Who will I see in California?  Let's make plans!

Unpacking

I am enjoying a slow day at home after my eventful trip. I am unpacking and started with my hand-sewing project. I finished all of the English paper piecing and appliqué on the airplane so I stole some time today to piece the blocks together.

I am in love with this little quilt and dreaming about how I will quilt it. Would I be crazy if I were to quilt it in several contrasting colors?

I Wasn't READY

I mentioned that READY is my word of the year .  Only 11 days in, and I proved myself unworthy of the word.  I was caught un-ready in a major and serious way.

Today I flew from Utah to New York City.  Here was my timetable:

6am  Leave hotel

7am  Eat breakfast at airport

8:30am Flight departs Salt Lake City

3pm  Flight lands in New York City

4pm  Get to car after getting luggage and catching shuttle.  Start to drive home with heavy traffic in bad weather.  Think about stopping for food, but change my mind due to bad weather, heavy traffic, and being unfamiliar with the area.

5:20 pm Tell Mom I am nearly home from the airport (big mistake!)

5:24 pm Get stuck 30 cars behind a really bad accident (jack-knifed tractor-trailer -- no fatalities) that closed a major NY highway while less than 20 miles from home.  Be grateful that I have a half tank of gas and that the temperatures are very mild, unlike the last ten days.

6pm  Realize that I haven't eaten in 9 hours and that I don't have so much as a TicTac in the car.  Remember that I have a history of hypoglycemia and feel dumb, dumb, dumb.

7pm  Start shaking and ask other stranded motorists if they have anything with sugar in their car.  They don't.

7:15pm Write this note for the dashboard of my car in case I pass out.

7:30pm Consider calling 9-1-1 for medical assistance.  Realize that I'm having trouble talking.

7:35pm  Suddenly, the road is clear and I drive home.

8:00pm  My husband meets me in the driveway.  I make it upstairs and eat the offered Clementines:

After 15 minutes, I was able to speak clearly and the shaking stopped.  Within an hour I was back to 100%.

That's when I realized that I was an idiot for continuing to drive home.  Low blood sugar makes me stupid, apparently.

"I, Debby Brown, hereby promise to never drive in that condition again!"

To prove my contrition, I added something new to the glove box in my car:

Now, I'm READY!

Home Again

Tonight's bed is even comfier than last night's bed:  I AM HOME!

I haven't been gone very long, but isn't home just the greatest place ever?  No matter how long you've been away?

I left my hotel in Salt Lake City this morning at 6am.  

Good-bye, Utah!

I was second in line for an upgrade to first class, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.

I suffered in economy class, but consoled myself with my little project from Pinwheels:

I listened to some of A Game of Thrones on my Audible app and read a little House of the Seven Gables on my Kindle.  The 4 1/2 hour flight went quickly.

My flight was bumpy but we landed safely.  I negotiated my way through Queens, the Bronx, and Westchester in bad weather and heavy traffic.

To remind me that I'm really a woodsy-type gal, my friend met me in the front yard when I finally got home tonight:

My husband, knowing about my admirer Doug, decided to up his game.  He decided that the best way to my heart was through my (newly lactose-intolerant) stomach.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..... ice cream.

Hotel Room Tour of 2014, night #3

I am still in Salt Lake City and still in the hotel room with the super-comfy bed.  Before I dive into that super-comfy bed, I wanted to show you another stellar aspect of this hotel.

I am a very boring person.  After work, I like to watch movies on my laptop and handsew. This hotel room makes it very easy.  I have a comfy desk chair, a large table/desk, adequate light, and can you count how many outlets are available?

I count eight, and there are six more outlets within reach of my laptop cord.

Outlets make me happy.

I am sad to leave Handi Quilter, my friends, and this great hotel, but I will hopefully sleep in my own bed tomorrow night.

Hotel Room Tour of 2014, room #2

I am in Salt Lake City visiting my Handi Quilter friends this week.  I love being here.  I love the company, I love the people, and I love the hotel.

This hotel is warm and safe and friendly.  I stay here often and know all of the hotel employees; they all know me, too. I feel I can relax a little here and not be on constant lookout for weirdos.

The rooms are really nice, too.

I have a living room:

And a bedroom with a very comfy bed.

I am looking forward to sleeping in that bed tonight.  It's been a long time since 3:41am on the east coast.

I am making progress on my Daiwabo Mini Dresden Plate quilt:

I will make myself take a few stitches, but then I will jump into that lovely bed.

At Long Last!

I was supposed to fly to Utah on Tuesday.  Instead, I stayed at a totally "meh" airport hotel last night for an early departure this morning.

This is way too early to wake up:

I checked out of my hotel room and found something interesting on my car.  Ewwwww.

I parked in the off-site lot and eventually made it to the airport.  It's New York City, so of course I waited in line to drop off my bag, and then waited in line to go through TSA screening.  After that, I walked to Michigan to find my gate (really, it was that far).  I had just enough time to pick up a quick breakfast but not enough time to pick up a treat here:

Sigh.

I was excited to find out that I was first in line for an upgrade to first class.  I was less excited when there were no more first class seats available.  I suffered in economy class (shudder!).  I did some hand sewing on the airplane.  I did some sleeping on the plane.

I was very excited to find a few friends waiting for me at the airport here in Salt Lake City:

I was even more excited to get to the happiest place on earth:

Yes, it's snowing here but it is so much warmer than back home.

I was at work by noon.  YAY!  After work I finally checked into my hotel.  Several of my crazy friends are staying here.  Seven prime examples are below:

I was two days late, but I have found my people.  All is right with the world.

Dear Doug

I received your note on my car this morning. I have a few things to say in reply:

1. Ewwwww
2. It is f-f-f-f-freezing outside. I was wearing 46 layers of clothing. How could you see enough of me to think I'm pretty?
3. Ewwwww
4. Do you do this often? Has it ever worked out for you?
5. Ewwwww
6. You left me your phone number. I didn't call you, but I can do so at any time in the future. Be afraid.
7. Ewwwww

Sincerely,
Mrs. Very Happily Married and There Was Never A Chance Debby

Dear blog readers, please remind me to have my car washed and detailed when I return home.

Hotel Room tour of 2014, Room #1

The life of a traveling quilt teacher is a glamorous one.  (If you believe that, I have some swampland to sell you...)

The life of a traveling quilt teacher is fun and exciting and rewarding and full of lovely students, but it is not glamorous.  Travel can be a nuisance, headache, or a full-blown nightmare, depending upon the day.

Today is Wednesday, January 8.  I am supposed to be in Salt Lake City, Utah with my Handi Quilter family, but I am not.  My flight was cancelled yesterday due to the extreme cold gripping most of the United States.  There were no flights today from JFK (NY), LaGuardia (NY), Newark (NJ), White Plains (NY), Newburgh (NY), Albany (NY), or Hartford (CT).  There was only one flight Thursday from the above airports that would get me to Utah by noon Thursday.  I have a ticket for that flight and my fingers are crossed.

I live about two hours away from JFK (without traffic) and my flight is first thing in the morning.  I would have to set my alarm for 1am to leave by 2am to arrive at the airport in time to park my car, check my luggage, and catch my flight.  Since waking up at 1am is not on my list of "fun things to do (well) after 40," I am at a hotel near JFK, hoping to fall asleep early and catch a few hours of sleep before heading out in this bitter cold to hopefully catch my flight in the morning.

Hotels in New York are expensive.  I tried to find an affordable room that was reasonably safe and clean.  I think I achieved that, but little else.

My home for tonight:

That is all there is to this room.  A bed and 2 feet of floor all around it.

It felt a little warm in this room.  I think I figured out why:

It's set for nearly 100*F more than the outside temperature.  I turned it down to a balmy 70*F so I can maybe breathe in here?

I am in for the night and plan to do some hand sewing.  I am working on a miniature Dresden Plate quilt using Daiwabo fabrics.  I bought this kit from Pinwheels a few years ago:

If you haven't checked out Pinwheels, definitely do!

The internet isn't very good in this hotel, so I can't stream a movie.  I am a seasoned traveler and have prepared for this.  I have a copy of Shrek in my bag, so he and I will spend some quality time together this evening while I do some hand sewing and hopefully drift off to sleep early.

Happy Quilting!