Hotel Tour of 2014 -- night 134

I just taught my last class of 2014.  Sniff, sniff.

I'm sad for the classes to be over but am really looking forward to 52 days without having to travel for work reasons.  FIFTY-TWO DAYS!  My poor husband won't know how to handle another person in the house!

This morning, I taught Exploding Out of the Block.  I made a sample using different weights and colors of threads making a sample of designs based on the center fabric square:

This is such a fun class!

And these students from Bits 'N Pieces are fun, too.  They had a little "fun" today at the expense of their Steeler fan teacher (me):

Celeste wasn't the only one wearing Patriots gear.

I got my own in, by quilting gold thread on black fabric.  GO STEELERS!  

Hotel Tour of 2014 -- night 133

I'm having a wild party in my hotel room  I apparently define "wild party" as binding a quilt and watching Netflix.

I can't show the front of the quilt yet, but I'll share a bit of the quilting:

Ribbon candy can look so elegant!

Tomorrow is my last day teaching at Bits 'N Pieces in Pelham, NH.  It is also my last day of teaching for 2014.  I can't think of a better way to end the year!

Hotel Tour of 2014 -- night 132

I am tickled to be teaching at Bits 'N Pieces in Pelham, NH this weekend.  I got to see my dear friend Helen:

Isn't she pretty?

I also got to share the new Handi Quilter Infinity with the class:

Everyone was impressed with the new features, including the on button in the front of the machine!

If you want to check out the new Infinity, stop by Bits 'N Pieces.  I'm here all weekend!

Hotel Tour of 2014 -- night 131

I am on my last teaching trip of 2014.  I love teaching and traveling and quilters, but... I will be happy to spend several weeks at home!

Until then, I'm at a hotel I stay in frequently.  So frequently, in fact, that they greeted me by name when I checked in.  I guess I've made an impression?

I'm in for the night, resting up to teach six classes over the next three days at Bits 'N Pieces in Pelham, NH.

I just had a succulent feast:

I'm ashamed to show this, but it was macaroni 'n cheese pizza:

It was... um... carbohydrate rich?  So rich, in fact, that I'm ready to dive into my nest:

I have a quilt to bind and am in the middle of a "Numb3rs" binge on Netflix.

It's the little things, really.

Going My Way?

I am tickled to show my latest pattern, "Going My Way?"

Here's a better view of the quilt:

And a glamour shot (on my front railing):

I made this out of nautical fabrics, but I think it would be cute in solids or modern prints, too.

The pattern is available at the Quilt Basket in Pawling, NY.  I'll post again when the pattern is available online.

Keeping Score

If you are keeping score, the official tally is:

Goethals bridge: 1
Debby: 0

I was off to spread some Handi Quilter love today and,  after sitting on the Goethals Bridge for nearly two hours, I realized that Staten Island can officially be labeled as "You can't get there from here."

This was my view for endless hours:

The road folks posted some fun jokes on the side of the road.  One read:

"45 MPH STRICTLY ENFORCED"

I would have been tickled to have been driving between 4 and 5 miles per hour!

The other sign read:

"NO IDLING; 3 MINUTE LIMIT"

That struck me as funny since I sat near that same sign, idling, for over an hour.

I am home.  There is cake. All is well.

Commitment Issues

I think I just set a personal record for obsession commitment.  I just watched the entire run of Breakout Kings on Netflix in 4 days, while working and traveling.

What shall my next Netflix binge be, I wonder?

Mail Call

While I am traveling, the mail piles up at home.

I started digging through my mail pile today and found a surprise:

It's a dashboard Hula Dancer!  Cute overload!

Thanks, Tish!  I will think of you every time I hit a pothole and see my Hello Kitty dancing!

Commitment Issues

I have mentioned before that I have commitment issues, but not in the way that you might think,  When I read a book or see a show on Netflix that I enjoy, I am instantly obsessed committed

My latest commmitment was Arrow.

Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Netflix.  Season three is on CW.

What shall my next obsession be?

Hotel Tour of 2014 -- night 130

Today was my last day teaching at Hayes Sewing Machine Company.  I always love teaching at this shop!

As expected, the students rocked.  They say hi!

I taught a feather class this afternoon, and Frank found his feather:

I am packed and ready to head home tomorrow and am excited with some of the treasures in my car.  Namely these:

I recently inherited these two machines from my husband's family.  One is my husband's grandmother's machine and one is his great-grandmother's machine.  I really want to make a quilt on each one and knew that I could trust Hayes Sewing Machine Company to fix them for me (or tell me that they were beyond repair).  Yes, I drove my machines through four states to have them repaired.  I am going home with both machines in good working order, and I couldn't be more excited!

If you find yourself in or near Wilmington, Delaware, I highly recommend a trip to Hayes.  They are some of the best people I know.

Hotel Tour of 2014 -- Night 129

I am boring; I know it.

Tonight's hotel excitement was takeout Bertucci's (chocolate cake!), Netflix (Breakout Kings) and a quilt binding:

The thing is, I like boring.  I like it just fine.

Hotel Tour of 2014 -- night 128

I am in Wilmington, DE tonight, snuggled in my hotel room to avoid the white precipitation that is falling from the sky.

The hotel is pretty:

This room is HUGE.  I was debating bringing my sewing machine, table, and other stuff to work in the evenings.  Now I wish I had!

Check out the upholstery on this chair:

Future quilt alert!

I was faced with three options tonight:

1.  go into the weather for food
2.  eat alone in the hotel restaurant (I'm biased against them for personal/safety reasons)
3.  order in pizza (I'm in NY pizza snob)

I chose option 4:

Order in pasta and salad instead of pizza.

WIN!

I can't wait to meet my students at Hayes Sewing Machine Company tomorrow morning.  I have taught here before and I already know that the quilters in this area ROCK!

Quilting in the UK

A few months ago, I visited the UK and had an absolutely marvelous time:

Trying to get a photo on Abbey Road was a near-death experience!

I taught quilting classes at The Cotton Patch (which was the real purpose of the trip).  Liz wrote a delightful blog post about one of my classes.

Check it out by clicking here!

Hotel tour of 2014 -- night 127

BYesterday was my last day teaching at Quilters Depot in Pittsburgh PA. The students were fantastic and the shop owners spoiled me. 

They brought me a genuine Primanti Bros sandwich:

It was as big as my head!

This shop was fantastic and I can't wait to visit my new friends again soon:

Hotel Tour of 2014 -- night 126

The folks at the Quilters Depot in Pittsburgh, PA (my hometown) are treating me like royalty!  Last week they thoughtfully emailed asking if I had any dietary restrictions so that they could plan lunches.  How sweet!  I jokingly suggested a menu of Pittsburgh foods, and they served them to me for lunch today!

Homemade pierogies:

and chipped ham:

These are "back home" type foods, and they have another surprise for me tomorrow!

This afternoon's class was a bit exciting.  There was a car accident right in front of the shop.  We saw ambulances and fire trucks and police and tow trucks.  It got more excting when one of the drivers ran away from the accident on foot.  The police were in the shop asking if any of my students knew which way he ran.  The folks in the other car had a small child and they all were in the quilt shop keeping warm until Grandma and Grandpa could come and pick them up.  Like I said, exciting.

I think that no one was seriously injured, so that is the most important thing.  The sound of brakes and cars crashing is always an awful sound, though, isn't it?

After work, I met up with my mother's cousin for dinner.  Her daughter and I are the same age, but only met a few times while I was growing up.  One of the best parts of traveling is connecting with family as an adult.  It's such a sweet time.

It was also a sweet dinner.  You'll never guess what I had for dessert:

I could only eat a few bites, so this just might be breakfast tomorrow.

I'm back in my hotel.  The photographs on the wall are of Pittsburgh landmarks.

I LOVE BEING A PITTSBURGH GIRL!

I have Found My People

Today I am teaching at Quilters Depot in Pittsburgh:

I feel so welcome!

I love being with folks who root for the right football team:

It's gonna be a great day!

Hotel Tour of 2014 -- night 125

I checked out of Casa De Mom today and moved to a different type of hotel.

I was pleased when I opened the door:

I was confused when I saw the chair:

I had the same chair in a Holiday Inn Express in New Hampshire.  A quick internet search un-confused me.  My hotel is owned by the same company as owns Holiday Inn Express.  Phew!  I felt unsettled until I knew.  It's so hard to keep my nights, cities, and hotels straight!

I was comfy once I built my nest:

Quilt from home.  Pillow from home.  Quilt to bind.  Netflix on laptop.  Diet Dr. Pepper on the nightstand.

It's gonna be a great night!

Cleaning House -- with Thanks

Today another quilt of mine found a new home:

There was some "back art" involved:

A very sweet couple from Mom's church has been over-the-top helpful to her since Dad died.  I wanted to thank them in the best way I know... with a quilt.

I can't think of a better place for this quilt to call home.

Hotel Tour of 2014 -- night 124

Complaint:

Last night's hotel made me make my own breakfast:

The nerve!

They redeemed themselves by serving me homemade pumpkin log:

 

They are forgiven. 

I love when work travel brings me to where my family lives. Family rocks!

First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage...

Then comes a baby!  And one less quilt in my sewing room!

A young gal from church is expecting a baby, so naturally, she gets a quilt:

This is a super-simple-throw-it-on-the-floor-use-it-daily-until-it-wears-out type quilt.

I apologize for the photo.  I rely on the sun for light for my photographs, and the sun is now gone until spring.  Be prepared for months of awful photos.

Hotel Tour of 2014 -- night 123

This is my last night in Houston. I'm both happy and sad to go home. I miss my home, but there is nothing in the world like International Quilt Festival!

My luggage was stuffed coming here so I am rather worried about making my baggage limit going home.

It's not that I'm a shopper, because I'm not. I only made one purchase at Quilt Festival:

This panel makes a fabric book for the smartest little boy I know. 

The problem with my suitcases are all of the free samples I got at Quilt Market. Pity me!

Hotel Tour of 2014 -- night 122

If you have never been to the International Quilt Festival in Houston, you don't know that it's not about the quilts as much as it is about the feet.

There is a lot of walking and standing and walking, some more walking, and then some standing interrupted by walking.  A body can only enjoy the quilts as long as the feet hold up.

Today was my 7th day in Houston, and my feet are starting to complain a bit.

This is how my morning started:

I was resting up before my 5th class of the week.  I spent my lunch break the same way.

I am now done teaching all six of my classes here, and this is how my day is ending:

My feet are up again, and I'm reading my new quilt book.  This book makes me want to dig into my scrap bin at home and to start stitching!

Tomorrow, I'm walking some more as I have most of the day to see the quilts and check out the vendors.

These little piggies are going to Quilt Festival!