I had only been on one bus tour prior to joining a group of quilty girls in Hamilton, MO early Friday morning. That previous bus tour was a disaster, as I had to spend the entire trip listening to someone with a very irritating voice talk on and on ad nauseam for the duration of the trip. My husband said, as I left home, "I sure hope there aren't a bunch of NUTS on your trip."
I had to return home and tell Al, "They were all NUTS on the trip." Nuts about fabric, nuts about enjoying themselves, nuts about just about everything. It could NOT have been a more fantastic trip. Each and every passenger on the bus I rode was a very special quilter with a very special goal. I did not take the opportunity to get to know each and every one (I am basically a private person). But, when interacting at our stops it was easy to speak to each one as if they were long-time friends. Quilters are a very unique group!
Carolyn was our tour guide and her sister Christine came in from Virginia to join us. Carolyn was very knowledgeable of the area and imparted loads of interesting tidbits, historical, funny, and personal about places we visited. She brought snacks, prizes, gifts, and lots of laughter for the trip. And our driver, Ray, was a true asset. Fun-loving, entertaining, and a gentleman to all. (Even though he reacted quickly when I didn't win a prize for shouting out "Quilt Block" and made the comment "Well, I'm just going to walk home." . . . and he pulled over!!!!!) {I can be a smarty at times - mouthy at best . . . }
I have to admit that even though my camera was constantly at my side I am NOT good at remembering to pull it up and snap pictures. I took pictures in Jamesport (the Amish community) and at the Quilt Coop outside Clarinda, IA. My BAD. I'm putting pictures in an album under my profile.
Each shop we visited was unique and a GREAT find. I have to admit that while I left home with a plan of action for my 'stash' acquisitions, that my mind was changed once I hit the first shop . . . alas, I did not purchase anything in Hamilton :-(. My original plan was to lean toward homespun fabrics and purchase enough fabric in each shop to make on block of a Civil War type quilt (patterns to be determined later). I did NOT do this. My second idea was to get fabric for one block from each store to accomplish a BOM that I've been collecting from a site in Florida: http://www.floridacabinfever.com/
. . . and even though my original idea was to make the quilt in red, white and blues (which is basically what my home is decorated in), I wound up gravitating towards greens and golds. So, at each stop I purchased 1/2 yard of three coordinating green/gold fabrics - leaning towards the olive side of green. I tried for one light, one medium and one dark. I also picked up at least three fat quarters from several of the shops that could also be used in the same quilt. I do believe at the end of the day I have enough to make a total of 24 blocks - possibly more using my existing stash. I'll have to take photos and show off my choices.
Would I do this again? A resounding YES - but not for longer than two days. My sister and I left the trip one stop early because we were so close to home and in all honesty, we were exhausted from the travels. I don't think I could have made it another four hours until we reached Hamilton for our return. It was ironic, too, that we passed by my home by less than half a mile and I could have walked home!!!!!
There is so much more I could relate - and I will in another post, perhaps later today.
All in all, I'll rate this trip about a 999,999,999,999 star show! With M*QC making up the first and BEST star of the trip!!!!!!
Thank you, M*QC gals and dolls!!!!!
I had to return home and tell Al, "They were all NUTS on the trip." Nuts about fabric, nuts about enjoying themselves, nuts about just about everything. It could NOT have been a more fantastic trip. Each and every passenger on the bus I rode was a very special quilter with a very special goal. I did not take the opportunity to get to know each and every one (I am basically a private person). But, when interacting at our stops it was easy to speak to each one as if they were long-time friends. Quilters are a very unique group!
Carolyn was our tour guide and her sister Christine came in from Virginia to join us. Carolyn was very knowledgeable of the area and imparted loads of interesting tidbits, historical, funny, and personal about places we visited. She brought snacks, prizes, gifts, and lots of laughter for the trip. And our driver, Ray, was a true asset. Fun-loving, entertaining, and a gentleman to all. (Even though he reacted quickly when I didn't win a prize for shouting out "Quilt Block" and made the comment "Well, I'm just going to walk home." . . . and he pulled over!!!!!) {I can be a smarty at times - mouthy at best . . . }
I have to admit that even though my camera was constantly at my side I am NOT good at remembering to pull it up and snap pictures. I took pictures in Jamesport (the Amish community) and at the Quilt Coop outside Clarinda, IA. My BAD. I'm putting pictures in an album under my profile.
Each shop we visited was unique and a GREAT find. I have to admit that while I left home with a plan of action for my 'stash' acquisitions, that my mind was changed once I hit the first shop . . . alas, I did not purchase anything in Hamilton :-(. My original plan was to lean toward homespun fabrics and purchase enough fabric in each shop to make on block of a Civil War type quilt (patterns to be determined later). I did NOT do this. My second idea was to get fabric for one block from each store to accomplish a BOM that I've been collecting from a site in Florida: http://www.floridacabinfever.com/
. . . and even though my original idea was to make the quilt in red, white and blues (which is basically what my home is decorated in), I wound up gravitating towards greens and golds. So, at each stop I purchased 1/2 yard of three coordinating green/gold fabrics - leaning towards the olive side of green. I tried for one light, one medium and one dark. I also picked up at least three fat quarters from several of the shops that could also be used in the same quilt. I do believe at the end of the day I have enough to make a total of 24 blocks - possibly more using my existing stash. I'll have to take photos and show off my choices.
Would I do this again? A resounding YES - but not for longer than two days. My sister and I left the trip one stop early because we were so close to home and in all honesty, we were exhausted from the travels. I don't think I could have made it another four hours until we reached Hamilton for our return. It was ironic, too, that we passed by my home by less than half a mile and I could have walked home!!!!!
There is so much more I could relate - and I will in another post, perhaps later today.
All in all, I'll rate this trip about a 999,999,999,999 star show! With M*QC making up the first and BEST star of the trip!!!!!!
Thank you, M*QC gals and dolls!!!!!
Comment