A Day in Richmond ---

I spent the first leg of my drive spending time in Richmond! Wednesday was such a beautiful day for a drive, and there were places that I’ve always wanted to explore.

When I travel by car, I try to add a bit of extra time in the itinerary to make room for beautiful “must wander” days like this!

I knew I was going to try to make it a bit past DC the first night, splitting my drive to CT in half---and I also knew that I didn’t want to get to DC between 3pm and 8pm because traffic is just a real unpleasant bugger! So I hung around Richmond and filled my afternoon full, heading for DC after dinner time.

Where did I go?

How about the Civil War Center!

If you ever have a chance to go----GO! It is found right along the James RIver, and there are walking trails, lots of information sights, overlooks over the river…Just such a wonderful place to spend an afternoon.

I walked out to the river to get some pics:

There are several rapid areas…and suspension bridges…and detailed information about just WHAT happened here during the civil war.

Here are some more buildings:

You can spend quite a bit of time here at the Civil War center….the musuem part is awesome as well.

Lots of area to walk and explore…even just seeing the “remains” of buildings that used to stand here is just an awe striking feeling.

Can you imagine the hustle and bustle that was here in those days? If these walls could talk!

There are wonderful paved walking paths that go down along the canal for MILES…and I mean MILES!…By my calculations, I hoofed it about 4 miles that day, seeing and exploring! The way is plainly marked with signs like this that point the direction. Which way do you want to go?

More cool old buildings down along the canal! Look at that lovely blue sky! It got up to about 70 degrees! I love old buildings like this, and ALMOST being able to read what the advertising sign on the side used to say….

Just keep walking…..I never knew Richmond had this canal system before, I’d always bypassed this area of town on my way north. There are really nice downtown areas built around the canal system, and from the hooks and things in the sidewalk, I can bet people have boated in, tied up, and enjoyed a meal at a nice restaurant, and then floated down some more. NICE!

My walk took me through tunnels with historical markers, like this one! It reads:

The canal trails took be out all the way down “Tobacco Row” Where all the tobacco factories were. Most of them hold loft apartments and condos now….but the buildings are still awesome.

The path goes along this old train trestle as you work your way down to Tobacco Row…I loved the pattern these crossed girders made ad-infinitum down the track….It just looked like they crossed on into forever!

At the end of my journey in Richmond, I treated myself to a yummy Pho dinner at a Vietnamese place…..upon using the rest room, look what was on the wall?!?? LOL Those Quilted Northern Quilters are still at it! Good thing they aren’t still being advertised as quilting with knitting needles anymore! LOL!

Yesterday completed the second leg of my drive up to Connecticut! I tell you what….Crossing the George Washington Bridge at night time in crazy traffic is not for the faint of heart either!! I white knuckled it through NYC, breathing a sigh of relief when I-95 thinned out as we made our way into Connecticut and away from the Big Apple.

A good night’s sleep, and here I am ready to meet with the Heritage Quilters of Wallingford CT! I’m being met in the lobby in a few, so I better get a move on! It’s going to be a busy busy full day!

Bonus Mail Day!!

*disclaimer* This post is written a couple days ahead to post while I am on the road to Connecticut! I just couldn’t let these lovelies go unmentioned until I got home in 2 weeks

Dear Postman--

Today I met you at the top of my driveway! I was going out, you were coming in….

There you were, two big boxes in hand……BOTH FOR ME!! How fortuitous! Of course, I couldn’t imagine what was in these big boxes. Had I ordered anything? Not that I could recall! Was it my birthday? Nope..that passed in January ((Besides, we are not counting them anymore! I’ll forever be 49.95 + shipping and handling! ))

Which to open first? Big Box? Little Box? Big Box? Little Box? EENIE MEENIE MINEY MOE----

A VERY big box!! Whatever could it be?!?

Oh My! oh MY! OH MY!!!! Look at this drunkard’s path variation! I think it’s called “Steeple Chase” or something close to that. But the colors! And the fabrics…what a hoot!

Isn’t this just a Wild Child?! It makes me SO happy!! It’s like laugh-in collided with the partridge family bus! :cD

And THIS beauty!

What is not there NOT to love about a bears paw? This one would be from around 1910-1920 by the print in the sashings…and I am still pinching myself that this box showed up on MY doorstep!

I swear, I’ve never met a gingham that I didn’t like….look at these sweet stripes and the print of the sashing too. I love how the stripes go every-which-direction in the half square triangles…FUN! I also love how the whole quilt is just simply quilted on the diagonal….

There is ONE indigo block amongst all the ginghams and solids….isn’t this one a sweetie?!

This would be my favorite block of all, in all it’s humble way! Run out of dark brown gingham? No problem! Let’s just throw in some lighter brown gingham! Triangles too big?? No problem! Let’s just whack them off to make them fit!

It’s a sweet sweet quilt, and Julie K, you are even sweeter to think of me and to gift me these treasures! Treasure them I WILL!

And as if ONE gift box wasn’t enough today:

Karen over at Quilted-Lizard experienced a moment of conscience and decided that she’d rather send me the box of scraps instead of letting them go to the land fill! WHOOT! I tell you, one person’s trash IS another person’s treasure---Just how much fabric CAN you cram into one box?!? Let’s see---

This pile is HUGE!! And there are lots of good things in here to discover! I’ll sort out all the big pieces and usable strips, and anything that I can’t use can go to Karen’s dog bed project! It WILL be put to good use! There are some lovely batiks in here too…and see that bit of cheddar orange peeking out toward the upper left…AWESOME! It’s a fairly large piece! I already snagged it

All in all I feel like a very blessed Quilter! Thanks girls, you are both treasures in my book!

And One For The Road!

I swear, I can’t resist these!

As I was downloading yesterday’s free book to my kindle, the little ad thing at the bottom showed me “other titles I might like” And this one came up as free as well!

I know I’ve posted a lot of foo foo light stuff lately, but occasionally I do like to get into more intrigue and who-done-it kind of books!

DH has taken to reading books on his iphone, and I thought this would be one he would also like!

A World I Never Made, by James Lepore, is free on Kindle and from Sony.

Book Description

Pat Nolan, an American man, is summoned to Paris to claim the body of his estranged daughter Megan, who has committed suicide. The body, however, is not Megan's and it becomes instantly clear to Pat that Megan staged this, that she is in serious trouble, and that she is calling to him for help.

This sends Pat on an odyssey that stretches across France and into the Czech Republic and that makes him the target of both the French police and a band of international terrorists. Joining Pat on his search is Catherine Laurence, a beautiful but tormented Paris detective who sees in Pat something she never thought she'd find--genuine passion and desperate need. As they look for Megan, they come closer to each other's souls and discover love when both had long given up on it.

Juxtaposed against this story is Megan's story. A freelance journalist, Megan is in Morocco to do research when she meets Abdel Lahani, a Saudi businessman. They begin a torrid affair, a game Megan has played often and well in her adult life. But what she discovers about Lahani puts her in the center of a different kind of game, one with rules she can barely comprehend. Because of her relationship with Lahani, Megan has made some considerable enemies. And she has put the lives of many--maybe even millions--at risk.

A World I Never Made is an atmospheric novel of suspense with brilliantly drawn characters and back-stories as compelling as the plot itself. It is the kind of novel that resonates deeply and leaves its traces long after you turn the final page.
Click HERE to get the free book from Sony.

As you read this….I’m well out the door and on my way up to Connecticut! I could use your thoughts and prayers for safe travel and fair weather!

Free Book Tuesday!

Cottage by the Sea, by Ciji Ware, is free on Kindle and from B&N, Kobo and Sony.

This looks to be a good one, and I’m on my way to go download it right now!

Book Description
One woman, one man, one shared fate…A remote cottage on the wild coast of Cornwall sounded to Blythe Barton Stowe like the perfect escape from the pain and humiliation of recent events in her Hollywood life. But soon she seems to be reliving a centuries-old tragedy, and the handsome owner of the shabby manor house on the hill appears vitally entwined in her destiny.

As they unearth one shocking family secret after another, Blythe is forced to conclude that her intriguing neighbor is more than just an impecunious British gentleman bent on saving his ancestral home. And the impeccably honorable Lucas Teague begins to see Blythe as a lifeline in an otherwise bleak existence.

But is the unbridled attraction they’re experiencing a dangerous distraction, or could it be strong enough to transcend the insurmountable complexities of time and place…?

Click HERE to get the free book from B&N.
Click HERE to get the free book from Kobo.
Click HERE to get the free book from Sony

It’s been a run around Tuesday! I had my workout with Charlee this morning….sheeesh! She had me on this balancing thing, standing there, trying to keep myself from falling over…and at the same time, using weights with my arms and doing all this other stuff! I truly felt like I was rubbing my head with one hand and circling my tummy with the other hand….remember that game? It LOOKED so easy, but it was VERY HARD!

She explained to me that as we age, our sense of balance decreases…and I knew this from my years in massage therapy too….but it is amazing when you THINK you’ve got it all together and made in the shade---just how DIFFICULT it is to simply stand on one foot and lift one leg to the side without falling over. It takes core strength….and then you throw in the arms and the free weights while doing this leg thing…Let’s just say that I’m really glad there were NO webcams present! It wasn’t a pretty picture. But I learned a lot..and it is all stuff that I can do in hotel rooms while on the road.

On my drive….I just HAD to pull over and take pics of these dogwoods!

Just look at this color!! And yes, my friends, that IS a “CAROLINA BLUE” sky in the background! It was just breath taking this morning!

Here is a close up of one of the branches…the wind was pretty gusty….I wasn’t sure this phone would catch it without blur, but happily it did. Isn’t that color just WONDERFUL!??

The white dogwoods are in bloom everywhere as well. I took this shot while walking through my neighborhood yesterday afternoon. I know by the time I am back from CT & NY…..this will all be OVER and everything will be leafed out. I just had to capture it to remind myself that spring really DID happen in NC, even if I was only around for a small part of it!

And Yes, I know….I KNOW it is a bit premature, but the beautiful blue sky, and the blooming trees all told me that it is time for a bit of pampering….to slow down and enjoy this last day home before I hit the road tomorrow…so I treated myself to the first pedicure of the year---and because I’m feeling rather sassy, I went with the cranberry red metallic! Take THIS winter blahs! We are all so DONE with you!

Of course, I’m driving north, which means gorgeous pedicure will be covered up by socks and tennis shoes….but at least *I* will still know it is there!

I’m spending the day catching up on the last bit of mail order, packing, washing, puttering…and I’m hitting the road early, so you’ll probably not hear from me til possibilty tomorrow night….will I hit some antique malls for some antique quilt eye candy? Maybe! There is a place in Richmond, Virginia calling my name, and if all goes well….it’s the perfect stop for a rest and a walkabout!

Over At Moda-Lissa….

I just love keeping up with what my friends are doing out in Blogland…so much inspiration, so much GOODNESS for a cause, so much living and loving!

I had a great time meeting Lissa when I was in Texas in February ((Was that only 6 weeks ago?! It seems like forever already!!)) The funny part is, the first time we met face to face it was like looking in a mirror! First off, we are about the same build, same height, same age. Finding someone I can stand eye to eye with doesn’t happen very often, I’m a tall girl at 5’9” so I’ve always towered just a bit!

But that isn’t where the similarities stop --- We have the same hair! Color and style!Our complexions are the same..If you sat us next to each other and viewed us from behind, you wouldn’t know who’s shoulder to tap first! In fact, at one of the Lectures, Lissa was asked if SHE was ME! Isn’t this fun?

I don’t know about you, but I loved the thought of being a twin and pulling off such shenanigans as I watched “The Parent Trap” when I was a kid.

So what is Lissa up to?

She’s been posting about the JUST ONE STAR project. She had the privilege of sewing some of the stars together. You need to check out her BLOG for pics!

((Yeah, Lissa, I lifted this one just to entice readers to click through!))

And on the blog post about the Just One Star project….you’ll find Lissa talking about re-learning, and a very sweet shout out about learning to incorporate the theory of Leaders & Enders in your quilt making. Yes! Even well experienced old dogs QUILTERS Can learn new tricks! She is using Dresden Plate pieces as her leaders & enders and her plates will be sewn in no time and ready to be appliqued down on the go!

AND! If you hurry over to Moda-Lissa and leave a comment on this post, SHE is giving away two signed copies of my books! One Adventures With Leaders & Enders, and One Scraps & Shirttails II! The winners will be drawn for April 7th, So you have until Thursday to get your comments in---She simply wants to know a sewing TIP or something you have RE-LEARNED that you would like to share!

SO! It’s Monday! What is up for your week? I didn’t get any bindings hand sewn after all yesterday, the day got away from me! However, after one last “blue screen of death” or “Crash Dump” or “checking drive for errors” that happens EVERY TIME I TURN MY LAPTOP ON, it was decided that a trip to Best Buy was in order. This is of course after DH had spent hours on taxes on his laptop that is years and years old and isn’t doing what it should either. And then when it gets to figuring my business expenses….we both came to the conclusion that with business and taxes we NEED to spend the money on things we CAN write off…or it just all goes away in a check to the government anyway.

Do I need to explain this to you? Well, evidently it needs to be explained to ME again and again and again….because I am frugal to a fault and try to get by on as little as possible. Getting by on as little as possible means I don’t have ENOUGH legit expenses and the tax due is too big. Two new laptops are now living at my house, one for my personal-accountant-DH and one for me--and I’m busy transferring everything over from the old laptop before it crash dumps one last time.

I’m thinking this is the year that we re-do the quilting studio too so I can write that off. Do I need it? No….but if the money is going to GO anyway, I’d rather it be on something I enjoy that inspires me to spend my time designing and quilting than just a big check to the IRS when I could be writing things off legitimately. How do you find balance with that? I don’t want a gold plated toilet in my executive wash room….some things are ridiculous…but I need a lesson in what is legit and what is worth it. It is NOT EASY for me to LEARN THIS!

Tonight is a lecture/trunkshow in Kernersville, NC! It’s my last local gig before I head out to CT and NY! I’ll be arriving in CT on Thursday night. I’m planning on driving it in 2 days, a 12 hour car drive is just not something I want to do.

AND!! Exciting dates are being added to the Calendar! I know it’s not until 2014, but I’ve been asked to teach at the Grande Hotel on Mackinac Island Michigan in May, And I just booked a return trip to Germany for October 2014, visiting Dortmund, Essen and Köln ((Cologne)) Germany!

Better get a move on!

Slow Down, Sunday! ((And A Give-Away!))

This weekend is moving TOO fast!

It brings to mind that old Simon & Garfunkel song:

Slow down, you move too fast.
You got to make the morning last.
Just kicking down the cobble stones.
Looking for fun and feelin' groovy.
Ba da, Ba da, Ba da, Ba da...Feelin' Groovy.

Hello lamp-post,
What cha knowin'?
I've come to watch your flowers growin'.
Ain't cha got no rhymes for me?
Doot-in' doo-doo, Feelin’ Groovy!

I've got no deeds to do,
No promises to keep.
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me.
Life, I love you,
All is groovy.

There is nothing on schedule today but just to “BE”. And that’s a good feeling! After my workshop yesterday ((Which was great, it was so fun to spend time with the local girls!)) I was able to come home and take a NAP! Awesome! There might be one of those in my future for today too.

My evening consisted of sitting on the couch, reclined with feet up, stitching on a binding while I watched some sappy movies on the Hallmark channel! This was also much needed!

I’ve finished the quilting on the sampler quilt for Japan….the binding is going on IT today, and there should be more handstitching of binding going on around here through the evening.

SO! That Magazine cover you see in the upper corner? That is the May issue of Quiltmaker Magazine just hitting the news stands and subscribers! I’ve got a QUILT in there, not just a column this time, but an actual quilt!

This is my Lady of the Lake variation, called Lady of Lake Erie! I cleared out a lot of blue fat quarters that had been languishing, and a lot of neutral shirtings and other prints for the white/cream/beige areas. This one fits my KING sized bed….and that triangle border is so easy and looks so fabulous to show off BIG pieces of fabric!

This is the May issue, and it features a GIVE-AWAY! I’ve sent Quiltmaker 5 signed copies of my latest book, Scraps & Shirttails II! Go HERE to the QUILTY PLEASURES blog and find out how you can win one of the copies!

Leave a comment THERE on the Quilty Pleasures blog by June 6th and you will be in the drawing!

Have a wonderful Sunday Everyone…..slow down and enjoy it!

Someone Pinch Me!!

I came home last night after running some evening errands to find a message that I had been voted in as the Golden Quilter Awards “Teacher Of The Year” ((!!!!!))

At first I thought it was an April Fools joke….Hahahahhaa, wouldn’t that be a funny fast one to pull on me! I had to go searching!

And then, wonder of wonders, there was this email from Sew Cal Gal herself!

I wanted to let you know that you are a winner in the 2011 Golden Quilter Awards. Quilters from around the world submitted nominations and all the votes have been counted, making it official. Everyone agrees you are the best of the best and we all appreciate what you have done to make our world of quilting so wonderful.
For more info on all the winners: http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2011/04/winners-of-2011-golden-quilter-awards.html
Best Regards,
Darlene
aka SewCalGal

It’s True! It’s really True!! I ran right over to the link….and this is what I saw!

Drum roll..........
The envelopes are opened and I'm happy to announce the official winners of the 2011 Golden Quilter Awards.
Best DesignerAnne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs
Best Teacher/Instructor Bonnie Hunter, Quiltville
Best AuthorEleanor Burns, of Quilt In A Day
Best Quilt Store (Physical) Mary Jo's in Gastonia NC
Best Quilt Store (online)Fat Quarter Shop
Best Long Arm QuilterJudi Madsen - Green Fairy Quilts
Most Innovative product (physical item)AccuQuilt Go! Fabric Cutter
Most Innovated product (software item)EQ7, by The Electric Quilt Company
Most influential person in the world of quilting to-date, aka "Lifetime Achievement"Eleanor Burns, Quilt in a Day
10) Best Quilt RetreatTwo Wacky Woman (Southern California)

I can’t tell you how honored and humbled I am to be included in this long list! It also made me smile that Mary Jos made Best Quilt Store (Physical) on the list! Oh Yes oh Yes oh Yes! Any time I’m driving down I-85, my car goes into autopilot and has to stop there!

I am floating on cloud 9 right now ((If you felt the earth move—please forgive me at this early hour—that was ME jumping up and down!!)) There have been tears of definite joy flowing over here at my house.

Thank you Sew Cal Gal for doing this, thank you to all the sponsors who donated prizes, thank you to all my students, friends, and readers who took the time to nominate and vote…and mostly for your encouragement to continue to do something that I love so much, even when the going is not easy….sometimes it is down right hard to be gone from home so much and to find balance in it all-- I’m just ever so grateful to all of you!

And now..I need to go do what I was crowned for! LOL! It’s time to go give a Pineapple Blossom Workshop to the Heart of the Triad Quilt Guild, in Kernersville NC!

Have a Quilty Weekend Everyone!