After all that gadding around the countryside with my new friends it was definitely time to get back to work.
Cyndi from Emma’s Quilt Cupboard in Franklin MA had booked me for a lecture and two workshops. We moved the tables and I started with my Lessons Learned lecture on Wednesday evening with a cozy group sat around the tv screen in the back of the shop.
Classes started at ten on Thursday morning with the table arranged to fit everyone in. We began with a free motion class and then put our walking feet on for the afternoon. 
Some people did both classes, some chose either the morning or afternoon session. No pressure! We all had a good time and I hope everyone went home with lots of new ideas and ready to practice!
Back in the car to head west and leave Massachusetts and return to Connecticut. My geography and my spelling is improving…
I met Cheryl from Yankee Quilter in Seymour, CT when I was at Stitches United back in the spring. She provided the machines for the classes and we had such a good time we both agreed I needed to go back!
I was booked for four classes in two days. they were sold out and the classroom was full with busy stitchers. 
You get the idea?
I always need to keep an eye on the back row 🙂
One of the stitchers was working on black squares. I liked the way they looked.
How’s this for some matchstick plaid?
The Viking machines we were using have a fix button which you can engage and then just take one stitch for the best locked pivot points every time.
And just so you know we did do some free motion stitching too.
I had ordered 60 books for my trip and I sold out before the end of Saturday. People bought some of my DVDs too. However, nothing replaces actually sitting at the machine and sewing…
So that was that for classes. I still had some time on Sunday before my flight back home. With my cold brewing we decided a trip to Mark Twain’s house in Hartford was in order. Not too strenuous and on the way to the airport!
We were greeted by the man himself in the foyer.
From Wikipedia,
“The Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford, Connecticut, was the home of Samuel Langhorne Clemens and his family from 1874 to 1891. It was designed by Edward Tuckerman Potter and built in the American High Gothic style”
Definitely High Gothic with decorative touches wherever you looked.
No picture taking was allowed inside. The home is beautifully restored back to the way it would have looked when the author live there with fancy faux painted finishes, and a billiard table on the top floor which was brought in by crane the second time around.
I know a whole lot more about Mark Twain than I did before!
I had been hoping for some fabulous fall color while I was away but due to the hot weather the trees were a bit behind my schedule…
Here’s one last picture with a hint of what it must look like now 🙂
Ten days in New England, it was time to fly. Many thanks are due to Cheryl for the initial invite. I came home with lots of happy memories and that cold which kept me in for a few days…
I unpacked, finished a hand stitching project that needed finishing and now I am getting ready for Market and Festival in Houston. I think I am well on the way to having what I need. I made and received an order from Brewer. I have lots of kits ready to go. Books and postcards have been ordered and will meet me there. I have bought new shoes and a couple of new outfits… I still need to print some of my handouts and I would like to make one or two quilts before I fly next Thursday.
We’ll see about the quilts? Time will tell.
