A Very, Very Good Day

I just had one of my best days... ever!

And it wasn't just because I got to go here. Though, this was pretty amazing. 

I'd heard of Hamilton, Missouri, and how Jenny Doan has put the city on the map since buying up several stores to expand her quilting empire. Goodness knows, I passed by that Cameron, Missouri exit on I-35 quite literally hundreds of times when traveling from West Des Moines (where I lived for more than 22 years) to Kansas City, when visiting my family. But I'd never driven that extra 12 miles east from the Interstate, to Hamilton. 

Did you know that James Cash Penney put Hamilton on the map the first time? He was born in Hamilton, and after becoming successful, returned to his hometown to open the 500th J. C. Penney's store. It's now one of several Missouri Star Quilt Company store fronts.

That particular store is where I found quilter extraordinaire, Angela Walters, signing her latest quilting book. She now has four books under her belt (check out Shape by Shape), offers several Craftsy free motion quilting classes, and is simply a really nice person.

Angela and I had met before, at a Kansas City MQG meeting, but it was my Flourishing Palms name that brought recognition to her face. Just like old friends, we had a nice chat, even talking about her recent trip to Australia, visit to the Blue Mountains (one of my favorite places in Australia), and her workshops in Katoomba. 

Later in the afternoon, I had the chance to meet Alexandra Ledgerwood of TeaginnyDesigns, and author of Improvising Tradition. I've been one of Alex's Instagram and blog fans because her modern designs are always fresh and innovative.

In just two of the half-dozen Missouri Star Quilt Company shops, I gave a great boost to the Hamilton economy! Alex's book is among my purchases as well as the elusive In-R-Form Plus, a fusible foam product for making bags. Crafty Gemini friend, Vanessa, (also president of the Gainesville, Florida, MQG) made a video with Jenny Doan, using In-R-Form Plus to sew a tote bag. That's all it took for the product to sell out and become unavailable, for several weeks, on Amazon and Missouri Star! 

But the most wonderful, fantastic, super-special part of being in Hamilton, Missouri for four glorious hours, was getting to spend time with these dear, dear women - quilter best friends from the Des Moines 'burbs who were, and will always be my besties.

L-R: Bug, me, Mary, Michelle

I made our meet-up plans with Linda (AKA "Bug"), and knew Michelle was coming too, but I didn't know Mary would also be there. Literally running to meet them, I embarrassed myself by crying. I knew I missed these precious women, but I surprised myself with how much I miss them. It's been three years, come May, since we've been together, so my heart was full to bursting over our reunion.  God blessed me when He placed these women in my life at Lutheran Church of Hope, and strengthened our relationships through quilting with Hope Quilters and Stitchin' Mission (my interdenominational ministry that's no longer exists).

If today was a foretaste of heaven, the real heavenly reunion is going to be phenomenal! Linda

Last Lasts

The past week has passed in a whirr of packing, address changes, and last-minute details. 

Neither of us has good short-term memory.

Where's my cigar box? Did you check your prescription refills? Have you cancelled phone service? What are you planning to do with those books? We need another mirror box. Where's the box of miscellaneous stuff? Do we want to keep this (fill in the blank)? Have you changed our address with (fill in the blank)? 

It goes on and on.

My sewing room was out of commission last Thursday. Everything sew-y and craft-y I own filled two dish barrel size boxes; 19 full-sized bins; 6 half-tall bins; and 8 medium-sized clip-lid bins. Along with two fold-up tables, two hollow core doors, two sawhorses, and five sewing machines, there was more stuff than I thought. Oops! And there are three dish barrel size boxes full of quilts! Though I don't expect to use the quilts in Florida, there are unknowns about teaching, and whether Stitchin' Mission will continue as it has. For now, I'm keeping those quilts.

Last week we hired a college age fella to carry all the bins and boxes from the basement and house to the garage. The pile is missing the last of the kitchen stuff; several picture frame boxes; a bed; wooden rocking chair, floor quilt rack, and wine rack. (Everything else has been sold.) We're pretty sure it will fit into the 17-foot U-Haul truck we'll be loading Wednesday.

In between bouts of feverish activity, sorting and packing, and donating even more stuff to Goodwill, I've had my last, last good-byes. Thursday evening Batting Buds took me to dinner at an Italian restaurant.

Chianti raised in toast

Dinner conversation was about how we met one another, memories of activities together, quilting retreats, numerous Stitchin' Missions and how life will be so different. Dinner ended with that pink squirrel, just for me! It's creme de Noyaux, creme do cacao, and light cream for those of you, like me, who didn't know what constitutes a pink squirrel.

L-R: Bug, Norma, me, Lola, Susan

These gals, and several others who couldn't make it to dinner (Mary, Erika, Kim, Michelle - You were missed!) gave me fat quarters. Knowing how much I like modern prints, each one gave me a print that represent themselves. They've challenged me to make a quilt - once I get settled in Florida - with all these prints. 

Saturday, these same buds hosted a reception for Stitchin' Mission, the quiltmaking ministry I've offered in the Des Moines area for the past seven years. The reception was at church, and this is what I first saw when I arrived.

The room was decorated with some recently-made mission quilts. 

And look! More cake! I will very likely be heading to Florida carrying a few extra pounds of junk, and it won't be in the back of the U-Haul truck!

Here are the lovely, wonderful, smiling friends I was blessed to first get to know through Stitchin' Mission.

L-R: Ann, Andrea, Michelle

me and Lola

L-R: Norma, Kim, me, Rachel, Bug, Andrea 

Sara and Suzanne

me and Abigail

Missy

Again, it's pretty much impossible to sufficiently express my thanks to these special, thoughtful and giving friends. Each of them have blessed me with their support and friendship these past seven years. I've already shed a few tears at partings, but I'm sure the waterworks will flood on Thursday as I'm driving south on I-35 toward Kansas City. That's where we'll unload and stay with our daughter for a couple weeks.

As for these fat quarters... They're quite a unique collection, aren't they? Initially I was stumped as to how I might use them in one quilt. But then...

... I received this card from Erika. Doors. All of them different. Are you tracking? "When God closes a door, He opens a window." Each fabric a door, unique to the friend who lives behind it. A window. Some embroidery. Some creativity. I'm itching to get started.

Doors will wait for a few more last last things that need taken care of. God-willing, a truck to be loaded, and house closing papers to be signed Thursday. Later in May, after quilt market and the Machine Quilter's Showcase, we'll head to The Villages to begin hunting for a new home... and opening all kinds of new doors into the future. Linda

Batting Buds Retreat

I'm blessed to be a member of the Batting Buds small quilt group. The six of us are best buddies, and share much of our lives with one another, beyond our mutual interest in quilting. We call ourselves the Batting Buds because just like when making a quilt, it's the part on the inside that's the most important... batting is what makes a quilt what it is, and what's inside each of us makes us special friends with one another.

This weekend we retreated, and we're all grateful that Mary opened her home for our long weekend stay -

from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon!

When Mary asked for input on the t-shirt quilt she's making for her daughter who will graduate from high school in May, we were all happy to respond.

Quite a bit of time was spent on the floor, analyzing and testing various aspects of this quilt's layout and assembly process. Such a bright and fun t-shirt quilt!

Lola (Her real name is Linda, but with two of us named Linda, it's less confusing to call her Lola.) worked exclusively on a 144-block quilt called "Sylvia's Bridal Sampler."

Lola's making it with her mom, and between them they've made about 100 of these six-inch blocks made from Aunt Grace type 1930s reproduction prints.

Kim mostly embroidered on "Snowmen A to Zzz" blocks, a pattern from Crabapple Hill Designs.

Susan decided to begin something new, reading up on and then starting to English paper piece tumbling blocks. Susan's already hedging on how far she'll get, referring to this project as a "coaster."

Michelle worked on hand-appliqueing a Joseph's Coat block that she, Kim and I are slowly making along with Kellie of Don't Look Now.

After two and a half days and two nights of sewing into the wee hours, lots of laughter, a good movie (Australia), some wonderful eating, drinks, and chocolate... we don't look much the worse for wear, do we?
I'm very grateful for my Buds! They are the stuff of a beautiful life.