Every trip starts with packing the bags! I was booked to spend a day at the BERNINA store in Omaha before moving onto two days with the Lincoln Quilters Guild, two different classes and a lecture… lots of bags…
Here are my two checked 50 pound bags with my carryon and personal item (it just fits under the seat ), all ready and waiting to go into the car.
They have traveled lots of miles and don’t look new any more?
The front one sits on top of the next one and the two big ones can go back to back to glide quite easily through the airport concourse. Which is a good thing. Omaha airport is in the middle of construction season and it was a little walk to the designated pick up spot!
Cyndi picked me up and we went for an early dinner/late lunch, followed by a quick trip to Trader Joes before she dropped me off at my hotel. So far, so good.
I was asleep early but I wasn’t really ready for a 5.30 wake up call from my phone alerting me to strong storms moving through the area! I know to check the local TV station for the latest news and found I had about half an hour before the full force of the front would get to us… time for a shower before going to a lower floor. Breakfast might be ready by then? The TV was warning of the possibility of power cuts so I was very responsible and took the stairs.
Coffee was indeed ready at six o’clock. It didn’t seem like a lot of the hotel guests were taking the weather too seriously but everyone was certainly chattier than usual. The oatmeal was good to go by 6.30 so I stayed until the worst had passed through. I did take the elevator back to my room and was ready to be picked up at 8 by which time it had even stopped raining.
We had a nice full classroom at the BERNINA Sewing Center of Omaha for our walking foot quilting class. Just one lady had called in to say they had had storm damage on their farm and she wasn’t going to be able to make it. Everyone had brought their own machine, lots of different BERNINA models, some with walking feet and some with even feed systems at the ready. Four shop employees were there to watch and help. It really was a super day!
My view…
And their view!!
We tackled all the things, including organic curves,
and all manner of spirals.
Time to go home and make some tops into quilts., and time for Cindy and me to get some dinner!!
Sunday was at leisure so we decided to visit the Joslyn Art Museum. But first there were more storms. These ones didn’t set off the sirens but they did seem to be noisier than the night before. Oh well. It’s the Midwest in August!
Cindy and I had a good time at the Joslyn. The main building opened in 1931 and is a lovely example of Art Deco. Unfortunately the fountain wasn’t working but here’s a view of the entrance hall.
Check the website for more info. I’ll just include one more picture, Stone City by Grant Wood.
The label gives you all the details.
After a quick stop at Kaneko on the way back to the hotel for more art, I needed to get some work done. I am happy to report my next book has gone to print!! Modern Machine Quilting, 2nd edition is available for pre-order right now, publication is set for December 23rd. Check your favorite place to buy quilt books, or use the link at the side for more details.
Ever onwards. Time to go to Lincoln. Cindy picked me up in the morning and off we set. We met the Lincoln ladies at the International Quilt Museum for a behind the scenes tour. The museum is closed to the public on Mondays so I felt very privileged as we were shown around. The museum doesn’t publish exactly how many quilts they have in their collection, rather they say they are “home to the world’s largest collection of publicly owned quilts”. All of those quilts need a lot of storage space…
Just one set of shelves.
The exhibitions change regularly. I just missed Colorful Improvisations 3. Collections of Chinese Quilts, Covid Quilts and Quilts with Words were showing and a new exhibit was being hung. You can look at the museum website and see pictures of past and present shows.
Back in 2013 I recorded a segment of Quilting Arts TV with Pokey Bolton where we made yo-yos. I still have a soft spot for a pretty yo-yo quilt! This one was in the China exhibit, Leafless Flowers by Zhang Geng.
The yo-yos were constructed with multiple layers.
The Lincoln Quilters Guild had chosen my Language of Flowers lecture for their evening meeting. There was a good turn out. I needed a picture!
Looking left,
and right.
I do love a responsive audience!!
There was lots of show and tell. How about some bunnies?
Or a technicolor Joseph Coat? (Maker and volunteer model!)
Next day we met back at the museum for a wool appliqué workshop. Sign up was very low when I was given the number the week before, but I smiled and packed plenty of kits. We were up to a more respectable number by the time class started!! I think the members wanted to check me out in person before they committed their time and money? Handwork makes for such a friendly sociable class.
No more storms. My flight home arrived at Midway on time, with all the bags, just a bit lighter… Always an adventure in Nebraska!
On Saturday I taught another wool appliqué class, this time on Zoom for the Arizona Quilters Guild. It was a cheerful six hour together. Patty worked diligently and sent me a picture of her finished project.
Good job Patty!
And now I have two bags packed all ready for my next trip…
