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!