Fly Me to Florida!

It’s raining! It’s Pouring, the Quilters are snoring…….

Go ahead, make up some lyrics – it’s been pouring buckets in Daytona all night long!

It was one of those early airport run, yesterday morning.  4am alarm going off, run run run to get to the airport, haul the luggage to the counter.

“It’s the quilter lady!  Where are you off to today?” says the gate agent as I board my flight.  (Another reason to love flying out of smaller airports!)

“I’m headed to Florida!” I say, a smile on my face – busy bag in one hand and my backpack in the other.

It can rain.  Of course it can rain – but there will be moments of sunshine between the moments of rain, and we’ll grab what sunshine we can along the way.  Life lesson in there?

My first stop on this 3-guild-tour?  Daytona!

We are 2 hexie rosettes longer on border number 3!

While Jason’s hexie quilt is in the hand quilting arena at home, Jeff’s is coming up  behind and gaining ground to reach top status.  I smiled to myself as I stitched up these couple rosettes in the fabrics I purchased in Temecula earlier in the month.  And I realize that all of these adventures that go into the life of this quilt are all recoded here on the blog.  13 years worth of blog.  Wow.

Beach in between the rain!

I’m a lucky girl this trip.  The Racing Fingers quilt guild of Daytona is my friend Terri’s guild.  And when she saw I was going to be here in Florida, she asked….”Could you see to add one day to your trip?  We want in on the fun, too!”  Well, January in Florida is a great place to be, and it just so happened that I had time.

We had a great afternoon yesterday – headed out to lunch, ran some errands, and wound up here at the beach for a long long walk.

BAREFOOT!

When you get visiting with a friend you’ve only seen through Facebook over the past couple of years, bits of conversation happening here, and happening there – usually revolving around a photo of some event (quilt finish, maybe?!) that has happened, you realize just how much connection you have missed when you finally get time to REALLY have a conversation, not just a reply.  I’m so happy to be here.

I love watching the gulls run from the surf!

We also headed over to the church where today’s events are being held – It’s a Talkin’ Turkey workshop day (for 40 students!) from String Fling, followed by tonight’s guild presentation.  We are cramming everything into one day, and that’s what makes it so worth it to catch that early early flight out yesterday.  More time to relax and walk and talk and enjoy meals together.

Tucked under so much quilty wonderfulness!

I have loved visiting all of Terri’s quilt finishes – they are hanging all over the house – on beds, on walls, over chairs, on quilt ladders, and folded in stacks.  It feels like home here.

There is even a treadle machine in the corner of the guest room.  I could move right in!

Thanks for the invite, my friend!

And as I listen to the rain still pouring outside, I’m so grateful we got set up yesterday so we didn’t have to lug boxes of books and a trunk show full of quilts through the rain into the building.

Yesterday’s #quiltvilleoftheday

Smith Mountain Morning from Scraps & Shirttails II.

Recycled fabrics are a passion, and there are many in this quilt.

The use of specialty rulers enabled me to make the whole quilt from 1 1/2", 2" and 3 1/2" strips.

The Essential Triangle Tool will replace the other 2 rulers previously used to make this pattern.  One ruler, instead of two.

Both Scraps & Shirttails titles are on sale for $19.99 each in the Quiltville Store.  Do you have your copies yet?

Quiltville Quote of the Day!

Photo shared by Kevin H.

It’s not always easy, but be open and willing for growth to happen!

Have a wonderful Monday, everyone!