Houston is a Madhouse!

Houston may be a madhouse with all of the Super Bowl activity, but it is hard not to get caught up in it!

Especially when your plane going from Altanta, home of the Falcons and Super Bowl contenders is FULL of Falcon supporters dressed in red gear, ready to descend on Houston and RISE UP against the Patriots.

The tension at the gate was palpable.

Seats on my flight were severely oversold, and gate agents were offering as much as $1000.00 vouchers for travelers, mostly Bowl-goers, to take a later flight.

Heck! If I didn’t have somewhere to be by a certain time and guild ladies waiting for my arrival, *I* would have given up my seat for a $1000.00 voucher.

The woman next to me said “NO WAY.  I have waited months for this bowl game, I’ve had my tickets for a long time, I am not giving up my seat for a voucher in any amount.”  And I could tell most of the other football fans felt the same way.

Then I thought – okay, Delta, you made this situation by overselling so many seats, why not offer those you can’t give seats to the $1000.00 vouchers and let THEM take the later flight where you DO have seats. 

As it was, I took my cramped seat back in the cattle section in row 20 and attempted to stitch.

This photo was taken when I deplaned in Houston, and we were descended upon my Falcons supporters cheering on Falcons Fans who had flown in for the game.  A welcoming and cheering committee as we left security -- AND in the baggage claim!  It was hard not to get caught up in it, so I succumbed to this photo op.

Greensboro to Atlanta.

I had two flights, and two very wonderfully intriguing seat mates on both flights and I admit, so much talking was going on that I didn’t make much progress.  Both flights were under 2 hours, and I love learning about people and their lives more than just about anything.

Of course quilting opens up a whole direction of conversation.  The woman I sat next to from Greensboro to Atlanta was on her way home to Los Angeles, her husband and son a row behind us.  They were in North Carolina because her son will be attending college in NC on a golf scholarship as well as academics. Turns out she is into scrap booking and understands my need to cut up fabric and put it back together.  Very fun conversation!

Atlanta to Houston

The gentleman that joined me from Atlanta to Houston was one of the lone Patriots fans on the plane.  He was interested in what I was doing, and then confessed that he was into stitching of another kind – he was a plastic surgeon from Florida on the way to Houston from Florida to spend Super Bowl weekend with his brother.  What an interesting round of discussion!

He came to the realization that quilting, like plastic surgery is much about keeping stitches as invisible as possible! 

I asked what brought him in to plastic surgery, and he says it is rewarding to give someone their life back through reconstruction after surgeries, either from trauma, accidents, (facial reconstruction) cancer (mastectomies in particular) or even the average person who just wants to feel happier about the skin they are living in.

Florida is perfect for this guy.

You know, even us classic cars can benefit from a new coat of paint.  I can see it.  And he said that sometimes reconstruction is also artistic in a way because things need to be in proportion and you are creating a new reality for someone who has lost something, or has never had something.  Very interesting.  Like working with clay, only it’s flesh and muscle and tissue, nerves and….very cool.

And I think he was taken aback that quilting could even be considered a successful business. He checked out my website.  I told him about the Quiltmaker column, and the book writing, tool designing, online workshops, global travel and the fact that I am the Joker on my own decks of Quiltville Playing Cards.

"We are a subculture to be reckoned with!" I said.  And he laughed.  And he was impressed,

I just love meeting people and learning what they do with their lives and where their paths have taken them.

As for the hexie star –well, let’s just say that points on diamonds are a bit tougher than “normal” hexies.  This unit is big, and it felt stiff.  And there is a lot of seam allowance and dog ears at those points to deal with, especially when the center is joined.  I’m wondering if it is better to work these stars in 3-diamond HALVES and then stitch the star together first before setting in the outside diamonds, or if it is best to work these “tumbling blocks” fashion and then just insert the 3 remaining background diamonds after those are together.

Any tips would be appreciated!

At this point I’m thinking “regular” hand piecing might even be preferable than all of this big paper bulk and dog ears.

Dinner!  Ole!

Picking up the luggage and getting to the curb was fairly easy.  I was quickly spotted by my “road crew” and off we went to dinner.  I was STARVING!  We knocked one of my “Must do’s” right off the list for any time I visit Texas.  TEX MEX! 

My friends, what you see here is an avocado stuffed with chicken fajita meat and veggies, rolled in corn meal and deep fried.  Oh. My. Word.  I know it went straight to my thighs but it was so wonderful!

Adding fill in corner #4 to the mothership.

I brought this with me.  THE BIG THING.  Instead of having a machine with me, I decided to take the evening time that I have free and attach fill in corner #4.  Besides, there was a Harry Potter marathon on TV, and a recliner in my room.  I wish the light were a bit better, but by removing the lap shade from the lamp over my right shoulder, I could do okay.

Half way done.

Tonight I’ll finish the remainder of that section, and I’ll be able to show this as part of my lecture with the Baytown Area Quilt Guild tomorrow night.

This happened!

I shared this photo this morning to social media after waking up to discover that my Facebook page had reached over 100,000 followers.  I am just blown away.

But what blows me away even MORE is that my son shared it.  To HIS “very cool” friends –letting them know that he is proud of his mother.  That is worth even more to me than that 100,000 followers.

It's great to be in the company of so many like-minded scrapaholics! Thank you for hanging with me, peeps!

I’m being picked up in just a bit for breakfast with the guild girls, and then we will be spending today in a Box Kite Workshop from the Addicted to Scraps book.  I’m excited to be sharing the ins and outs of the Essential Triangle Tool with the members of the Baytown Area Quilt Guild of Houston Texas.

Due to it being Sunday (And a Super Bowl Sunday at that) we are starting at 11am and going until 6pm.

Quiltville Quote of the Day!

Vintage double wedding ring quilt found in North Carolina.

Take a good hard look at the things that are stopping you. Are there valid reasons? Or just excuses?

Remember even a little bit of progress is moving forward. (which is why I set in to attach that hexie section.  No more excuses!)

Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone!

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