When Body Clocks and Thoughts Collide -

Basting in the wee small hours....dang jet lag. I fell asleep just past 7 PM, have been awake since 2- something.

Doing my best to keep quiet while family sleeps around me, I'm set up in the living room at the front of the house with barely any light while a movie on Netflix and my Bluetooth earbuds keep me company. 

Even with bad light I can baste so I am amassing quite a stock pile for joining later.

Words are also hard to find while staying with my brother and his family through the starting of his in home hospice care.

And then when I start to write, like the proverbial flood gates opening, I can't seem to stop the words.

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Where to Begin to Start ---

This was the view from my 6th floor suite window in the Canary Warf/ India Quay region of London – just shortly after my 2:45am wake up call jolted me out of peaceful deep slumber and started me moving.

The London skyline in the wee small hours – sleep on, London people, sleep on! 

But as for US, we had a bus to catch within the hour, and it was time to get a move on.

The Marriott was awesome – brown bag breakfasts were handed out, and consumed – some in the lobby, some on the bus, some remnants snuck into backpacks and travel bags for long hours of airport waiting.

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Quiltmaker Sept/Winner–Last Hours of London!

As I type this, 186 photos from today are backing up to my google photos!

I'm enjoying the last of the gorgeous view from my suite on the 6 floor as I pack my bags -

Our wake up call comes at 2:45 am - a mere 5 hours from now, so I'm headed for some shut eye.

But before I do – I wanted to take a moment and draw for our winner of the Quiltmaker Bundle I put up for giveaway when we left on this adventure. 

 We had 3605 entries – and I’m going to draw ONE WINNER!

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From Bath to London!

One more Hexie Star as we drive down the English Countryside, across the Salisbury plain on our way from Bath, past Stonehenge, and on to London!

Even our guide, Agnes mentioned that she is finding herself readdicted after our hexie workshop in the bar at our hotel the other evening!

One hexie at a time – we’ll convert them all!

There have been several pairs of busy hands on our bus as we make our way from place to place.  Some knitting, some crocheting, some applique or embroidery – wool applique is another great carry-along project.

You just never know when the opportunity to be one with needle and thread will arise!

But all needles down as we approached closer to Stonehenge:

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An Evening in South Stoke

How about a little jaunt into the country, not far from the city center of Bath?

My friend Julia lives in this area, and she had contacted me about getting me out and away, perhaps for a meal –and we did!

This lovely old mansion house you see here has been many things in its day, and the story is fascinating.  The Packhorse store can be found HERE and is worth a read!

Who wouldn’t want a lovely meal on a golden evening in a place built in the 1600s?

Before we headed in to dinner, Julia took Irene and I on a nice little hike to get some beautiful long range views of the area.

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Beautiful Bourton-on-the-Water!

Yesterday was our drive through the Cotswolds, past farmhouses and fields – stopping in Bourton-on-the-Water (Oh, how I love the names of these places!) for some exploring and lunch on our way to Bath from Stratford-upon-Avon.

Charming, charming, charming!

As this is my second time here, I was happy to explore corners I didn’t see last time, and also watch those who are with me see it for their first time – so fun to see.

When you spend 10 days in close proximity with a group of people (especially quilters!) you do get to know them!  And each person brings something wonderful to the group adding to the dynamic.

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A Day in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Tudor buildings, old roads, canals, the land of William Shakespeare!

We arrived yesterday morning, a short bus jaunt from Solihull near Birminghum to enjoy our “stepping back in time” day.

SO many things to choose from -

Some went to the butterfly farm, others to ride the narrow boat tour, and some just wanting to walk through the park, enjoying the swans along the river Avon, taking in the sights and sounds of a Saturday with sunshine.

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Festival of Quilts, Day 2!

I had one destination – a MUST DO, MUST SEE quilt that has taken the historic quilt loving world by storm -

The 1718 coverlet!

Disclaimer disclaimer – my photos can never do this quilt justice.

In order to prevent strain on the fragile fibers (THERE IS NO HANGING SLEEVE, FOLKS! – This is 300 years old!) the quilt was displayed flat with protective plastic on top to keep it from air, and curious fingers.

You can read more about the 1718 coverlet in the book of the same name by Susan Briscoe HERE.

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Festival of Quilts–Friends, Fabric and Fun!

This is a section of the array of 1716 Silk Coverlet interpretations.

Each one so unique – I could spend hours here just looking at the block variations and subtle changes that makes each quilt as individual as its maker - A bit different than its neighbor.

And the truth is, I only had 4 hours at the festival yesterday and my quilt viewing time was cut short – but no worries – today I am back for the whole duration and will catch it all!

Irene had never been to the festival before, or to England for that matter, so seeing things through her eyes is really fun.

We hit the vendor’s mall hard and heavy, each looking for things that NEEDED to come home -

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