Taking in the View --

Waking up to this view after a good long sleep –a deep slumber so refreshing, no waking up in the middle of the night – I don’t even think I rolled over at all –what a wonderful morning!

Other than the blog posting problems I’ve had with a slower internet than I am used to – everything is PERFECT!

What I can’t post here is the feel of the early morning breeze through open shuttered doors.  The sound of birdsong ---the gentle morning light --

And thinking to myself….I AM IN ITALY!

I am in a historic place ---

This is a new adventure!

And we are here for a whole WEEK!

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Small Glimpses of a Very Big Class!

I am still having a dickens of a time trying to get posts to upload to the blog.  Slow hotel wifi -- I can get things posted to facebook, but anything larger than one photo just doesn't go!

So this is a sneak preview of what went on in this morning's A Little Bit Hexie workshop.

Gorgeous hotel, great room for 40 of us to gather and get some English paper piecing in!

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Tuscany, Day One!

Written last night -- but internet was down so I was unable to post!  Wonder of wonders, it is back up and working right now so I am able to post this on....

Communication may be sketchy over the next week, but will post when I can!

Water – just water –and darkness for  hours and hours and hours across the sea.

I thought we’d never get here!

I could swear it was the longest flight of my life ---

Big metal box underneath the chair in front of me taking up all of my “under the seat in front of you” space….

A non-functioning TV in the back of the chair in front of me….I couldn’t even turn on the overhead light --

And something unheard of in planes….there were no individual air vents to direct airflow ---and with these hot flashes I could really have used it!

But ---I slept a little, I listened to music on my phone ((Because I couldn’t see to thread a needle or do any stitching in a completely dark cabin with no overhead light!))

At one point….after moving the two other people in my row so I could get out and use the lavatory, I reached into the overhead bin to grab my kindle ---because there was no room for my bag under the seat in front of me – only to find that THAT TOO had a dead battery and was non-functioning.

HURRY UP and get us to ITALY!

And then it happened fairly quickly from the moment they turned all of the cabin lights back on and started feeding us breakfast.

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Hello from Tuscany!

Having a great time - however dealing with some really slow internet and can't get posts to upload!
Sending this as a test...may have a cyber cafe in my near future!!
Much love from Italy!

Click Here to like our Quiltville Friends Page on Facebook for more fun!
Click Here to join our sister group, Quiltville's Open Studio on Facebook, a place to Sew, Share & Grow!!

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Grand Illusion at the Grand Hotel!

I’m writing this post while waiting for my morning flight in Atlanta!

I had some email correspondence with photos from Mary Frances who is currently at the Needle Art Seminar at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan – the same event that I taught at last year, and what was the whole inspiration behind this winter’s Grand Illusion mystery ---

She has her quilt at the conference!

She is photographing it in places where everything came together color theme wise for us!

Check it out here on the GERANIUM PINK SOFA against the green wall and the black and white floor.

Just like I dreamed!

She writes:

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Galaxy-Gram! And we are OFF!

Boarded in JFK headed to Rome!

Having a pinch me monent--with intermittent doses of reality.

Did I get it all done?

Did I forget anything?

Where will I next find wifi?

Photos below  quickly before they close the boarding door!

Sunrise in Atlanta!

Gorgeous day descending into New York!

I have a ticket to ROME!

We are all present and accounted for!

This is NOT a first class seat---window yes, leg room NO!

BUT I'M GOING TO ITALY!

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A Little Bit Hexie! ((Tutorial!))

So I’m off to Tuscany this morning!
 
Weeeeee! So excited!
 
I have 40 kits in my suitcase…I can just imagine us on a beautiful Tuscan Morning…sitting around, sipping espresso or tea, enjoying the view, and doing some simple English Paper piecing as a group as we talk about what we have seen, what is still yet to see, and all of the things we have eaten, and what is yet LEFT to discover!
 
Can you imagine it?
 
And since I don’t want to leave anyone here at home out of the loop, I am uploading the little tutorial for our project so you can sew along too.
 
You can use ANY fabrics – and these are so cute, you might want to start thinking of Christmas Projects Future and do some through the summer months as gifts for this winter.  I think they would be absolutely adorable in red and green, don’t you?

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Last Minute Details!

Look what I spotted today!

Do you have your copy yet??  I got a big smile seeing it tucked in there on the shelf front and center.

It’s the Eve of Leaving!

Am I ready?

HECK NO!!

Today was also a day of waiting….

For things like “We have to get this oil change and tire rotation and vehicle inspection TODAY because your tags are going to expire before you get back from Italy.”

Oh.  My.  Word.

I’ve just not been home to handle this….and the thought of wasted hours at the dealership while there are other things, so many other things to be done…well….

But I did it.

((And this is when I let you know that no….they don’t have a shuttle that will take me all the way to my house, it’s more than 15 miles and no, there isn’t someone else that can take care of this for me..I’m it!))

This is what we do when waiting:

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Celebrating Ann’s Freedom!

I love your stories!

They make me smile, they make me laugh – sometimes they tug at my heart and bring tears of understanding and connection to the surface ---

I love how you include me in your life and I love to include you in mine!

This email came from Ann in the UK and she wanted to share with us what is going on in her scrappy life!

She is breathing a bit easier now that she she has found direction in how to manage her scraps thanks to the Scrap User’s System!

She writes:

Hello Bonnie,

  Ann from Norfolk, UK, I have taken the bull by the horns and cut into my fabric stash !!!!!! Phew, there, I have done it, I am no longer a fabric hoarder' I am now a fabric user, with thanks to you and your scrap user system.

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