It was around 16 degrees (that’s fahrenheit!) at check in for my flight to California. A just short of five hours and two movies later, low seventies felt good at San Jose airport 🙂
It’s Silicon Vally country and Ubers are easy to find…It’s better if you get the hotel right first time but my driver was very understanding and I did eventually get dropped off at the correct one… oops! I was a little early for check in… perfect timing for early lunch and a walk down the road to the closest supermarket which happened to be a Whole Foods. There was more help there for the white haired lady with the funny accent, and who knew Prime membership got you a free reusable grocery bag to bring everything home in?
Now there was a room ready. I stocked the fridge, unpacked, enjoyed the sunset and fell asleep.
Eighteen hour turnarounds are just about do-able?
I was straight in to two machine quilting classes on Thursday. No pictures of our Walking Foot fun but here are some of the free motioners hard at work…
I was in Santa Clara for STITCHES West! It was my second visit there, last year being my first experience of the huge show floor… Preview night is open for all the attendees signed up for classes. The line was already very long when I came down in the elevator after class was over.
I did join the crowd inside the Market later on in the evening for a little embroidery demo and to sign books.
If it was Friday it had to be introduction to Folk Art Embroidery… sold out! twenty five stitchers ready to get to grips with the basic stitches I use for my embroidery.
And another twenty five enthusiastic class members joined me in the afternoon to make Dorset buttons.
That was a busy all-consuming ninety minutes 🙂
On Saturday we learnt some more stitches for our Folk Art embroideries.
Here is one happy student’s work! Left to right there’s crested chain, drizzle, tete du boeuf, trellis ( the big round one), double cast ons and bullion stitches…
I had an embellished embroidery stitch class in the afternoon and that was it… six classes in three days, three demos in the Playground, book signings…just the Student Banquet and Fashion Show left. That’s always a fun time when the students get the chance to walk the cat walk with their creations. Unfortunately I know I had a 7.15 AM flight departure time on Sunday morning so I just got to do the banquet part this time…
Yes, I repacked my bags, got some sleep and made it back to the airport with an hour to spare. One movie and the chance to chat with Cathy, my traveling companion from Naperville who was at the show working in one of the booths and was seated next to me at the banquet the night before. Thanks for keeping me company Cathy!
It was a beautiful day in Chicago as we took the loop over the lake ready for landing.
I’ve been home for a whole week.There have been errands, a shingles shot (just a sore arm to report), and making things!! I need to wash two of the things I made and then I will be posting picture… before I head out again.
Will I see you at the Indiana Heritage Quilt Show next week? There is still space for a few more in my classes. I provide the kits so it’s an easy sign up… Bloomington is a very nice town and the weather forecast is good…
