Up early for class – Elegant Slender Curvies with Dianne Hire. This was a fun technique to learn and she has a book on her curvy sewing, but it’s so much more interesting to see it taught in person. Time flew by so quickly that I wish it wasn’t just a half-day class. For my class piece, I used a flowery fabric for color inspiration – blues, yellows, golds – and have enough extra pieces that I’ve decided on finishing the project and making a throw pillow.

I was back in and around the show arena after class. There were just too many interesting things to see that several hours were needed. I have plenty of “project idea” photos that I will be busy for years! I did pick up a few Asian fabrics and a lovely geisha pattern and also this fun fabric shrinking iron-on … there will most definitely be a post when I get to using that. Sensory overload.

And in the middle of all that I made a HUGE decision, finally made the leap and purchased a long-arm quilting machine – HQ18 Avanté! That’s an 18″ throat which gives a lovely 15″ of quilting space. And because of the show, they were offering the demo machines at a big discount … so I have the machine boxed up in my car and the 12ft frame is being shipped on Monday. Yes, 12ft – the magic size to fit a king-size quilt. And once everything arrives in CT, my HQ rep comes out to help put it all together and give the first how-to lesson. I can’t express how excited I am in words … you will just have to wait and see it in my work!

A fancy meal at Gibraltar restaurant finished off the day in style. The menu was Mediterranean influenced with fabulous fish dinners – my choice was the Maine Lobster Fettuccine with local sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, crème fraiche, herbs and shaved reggiano. In one word – delicious.

And tomorrow I make my return drive back to Stamford and grumpy kitties :) Great mini vacation!

After a free Irish dinner at the hotel on Thursday, I crashed hard for the night and gave myself a nice and slow Friday morning – no need to rush around and get to work :) And today is the most beautiful warm break from winter … around 75!! and in March!!

I headed over to the show to check things out as I didn’t have a chance yesterday. So. Much. Awesomeness. Half of the show room was dedicated to showing off the fabulous pieces entered into various competitions and the other half was for vendors selling machines, fabric, patterns, and much more. Even a wood quilter!

Next was a break for fresh and creamy made-on-location ice cream at the cutest ice cream parlor – Carmen and David’s Creamery. They learned ice cream making from Penn State’s renowned Ice Cream school … we are!! Delicious. And follow that with a juicy steak and micro-brewed beer from Iron Hill Brewery.

And an early night as I have class tomorrow at 830am.

I’m on a mini vacation to the American Quilter’s Society quilt show in Lancaster PA. The show is 4 days long and besides the main show also includes workshops, lectures and classes … and even a Ricky Tims concert. I’m here for 3 days (woo hoo!) and signed-up for two classes.

So this morning I got up at 4am and made the drive from CT to Lancaster … much less traffic at that time, but I’m still amazed at how many people are up early for long commutes to work. That really makes me appreciate my less-than-a-mile walk to work :)

On my arrival to the Lancaster County Convention Center, I went straight to my first class – Ocean Sunrise taught by Karen Kay Buckley. The class used a specific pattern to learn techniques for paper-piecing sharp skinny points and machine appliqué on curves. I’ve done both before, but there are so many different ways to do things and tips to learn along the way that I really enjoyed it.

And after a fun 6 hours on a fabulous Janome machine, I completed four full blocks and several more are almost there. Plus, my fabric was the highlight of the class so I felt even more excited with my color choices. The ‘Sea Life’ quilt fabric is from the Oceanica collection by In the Beginning and has mermaids, frogs, seahorses, fish & more … plus it’s a fabulous green color :)

I will post another photo when I get more blocks completed and sewn together.