Hello and happy Thursday! I just returned home this week from a busy couple of weeks of traveling. It’s always good to be home, but I had the most wonderful time getting to meet with many quilters from different parts of the country.
My first trip was to Orange County, California where I was able to meet with the
Flying Geese Quilt Guild in Irvine, California. This visit included a class where I was able to teach a wonderful group my new Mahalo quilt pattern. It’s always so much fun to see the fabrics everyone chooses for their quilts. I was especially delighted to see it pieced in reproduction 30’s fabrics since my great great grandmother’s quilt was made with the fabrics of her day: 1930’s fabrics. It was also a lot of fun to see it pieced in everything from very traditional to very modern!
I was also able to meet with the guild and give a presentation and trunk show where I shared about 50 of my quilts! Since we were able to drive to California for this event I was able to take a lot of quilts…our car had quilts in about every available space!
Of course the best part about getting to travel and teach in different areas is being able to meet more quilters! Quilters are the best, and I feel like I’ve been blessed to be able to connect with so many lovely people through quilting. I really appreciated the hospitality of the Flying Geese Guild board and members.
My husband was able to travel with me to California, so we were able to do a little sight-seeing and even got to catch up with some friends we hadn’t seen in many years!
This past weekend I flew in to Chicago, Illinois and traveled to Geneva and St. Charles where I met with the Prairie Star Quilt Guild. I have to say I was a little nervous about flying into Chicago all by myself. But I was so pleasantly surprised that outside of the city are smaller towns with all of the beauty and tranquility you’d expect to find in the Midwest.
Again…the hospitality was incredible. I feel like I’ve made new life-long friends! I was able to teach Mahalo again and was again delighted to see all of the different fabric choices. I took a picture of the most modern version made in the workshop there…multiple brown backgrounds that really made the bright prints sparkle! Of course there were many lovely versions also made that day!
I was able to do a lecture/trunk show with 31 quilts that I brought with me (they all fit in 3 checked bags and a carry on)! I was even able to fit two of my favorite king-sized quilts!
On the morning of the day I traveled home I was treated to a tour of some local shops (I was treated to wonderful hospitality on this trip as well). The Quilt Merchant was a favorite shop with many beautiful samples for eye-candy. Valerie, the owner was also the one who so graciously picked me up from the airport! If you are ever in the area, this shop is a must see!
We also visited Sew Generously which had lots of fun, bright fabrics with beautiful samples and A Different Box of Crayons with it’s bright, eclectic fabulous textured space and studio.
I sampled some wonderful food while I was there, too: a hot dog, cheese fries, cake shake and Italian beef from Portillo’s, and delicious ice cream from Graham’s in Geneva.
But I just couldn’t get over how lovely so many of the downtown areas were. Everything was so green, and the historic buildings were absolutely lovely. I wish I had taken even more photos!
I’m so very appreciative of the opportunity to travel a bit and meet quilters from different areas of our country! Quilters really are the best!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Janet says
The Mahalo workshop was so much fun and thanks for posting a pic of my block! Glad your trip to Illinois was fun, too!
Hildy says
Looks like you had a great, great time:-)
Karen says
I'm glad you are getting to travel with your quilts. Maybe I'll get to see you in Ohio sometime.
Rosemary B❤️ says
Yes they are the best!
Sherri, Thank you so much for sharing your adventures
great pictures, what a fun time
Teresa says
HI Sherri! We so enjoyed having you visit our guild, you are a treasure! AND you always have a home in Illinois, come again soon!
Teresa
E Barrett says
Hi Sherri, we all had such a great time with you in the Mahalo workshop. Thank you for posting the picture of my modern autumn Mahalo. I will send you a photo of the completed quilt once it is ready. Thank you for all the tips and tricks! Just wonderful.
Valerie says
Sherri it was so nice to meet you! Come again soon!