The new Open Star workshop – from my Quick Star Quilts book. Here are some photos of quilts in progress during the one-day workshop. Click on any image to see a larger view.

The Pine Tree Quilters are a state-wide guild, founded in 1978. They hire a national teacher once or twice annually. The meeting presentation and workshops are offered in different communities to allow members statewide the opportunity to attend.

I arrived in Portland, stayed in Waterville, and traveled to the surrounding communities of Augusta, Gardnerville and Bangor for workshops & presentation. My hostess, Mary Coombs was a delight! A highlight – one night we had dinner at the Lobster Trap in Winslow. Have you ever eaten Lobster Pie? WHOA! This delicious dish was lobster pieces, butter, bread crumbs & seasoning, all broiled in a little casserole dish – I wonder how many calories in that dinner!???

Today was a travel day – Don and I got up about 3:45 am, and left home at 4:15. After arrival at San Diego Lindburgh Airport, I learned my 6:27am flight would be delayed due to weather issues in the Chicago area. We took off about 90 minutes late. I changed planes in Chicago and flew to Portland, Maine.

The 2nd flight landed about 90 minutes later than expected (about 6pm), and my friend Carol met me at the airport. We learned that the luggage would be on the next flight, so we decided to wait for it rather than driving to Waterville (about 75 miles away).

We asked about local Portland restaurants, and ended up going to the Miss Portland Diner – a historic little place that has been moved to its current site and restored.

After dinner, we drove all over the place in the dark killing time until the next plane arrived, eventually ended up at UNO pizza for a late dessert and hot tea. About 10pm we returned to the airport, ready for that 10:20 flight………… which was delayed until about 11:10 pm.

Hallelujah! The bags arrived!! Carol drove me from Portland to Waterville – and we arrived at the hotel about 1 am. She still drove on to Mercer, another 30-45 minutes. What a long day!! THANK YOU, CAROL!!!

Hi! My blog entries have been sporatic recently! Sorry about that!

From Boca Raton I flew back to Poway, spent a few days washing laundry, answering e-mail, writing contracts & re-packing to teach for the Pine Tree Quilters in Maine.

Here is my little “roll-aboard” 21 inch suitcase – I keep the projector, laptop and all other electronics with me during travel. On the smaller regional planes, these bags won’t fit in the cabin, so they must be checked. The airlines hand you a “gate check claim tag” that has an elastic string. I have only kept the tags on the bag from February through May, 2009 – and you can see how many tags there are!

Thank goodness the luggage and projection equipment is holding up to the rigors of travel. Speaking of luggage, I replace my larger bags every year, because they wear out. The frame or inner support gets broken, wheels and zippers break down.

We had such a blast on the Mexican Riviera Quilt Cruise! Here is another photo slide show!

Make a Smilebox photobook

I have just returned from 4 wonderful days in the greater Atlanta area. I taught 3 workshops, each in a different location– and presented a trunk show / talk on Saturday in Peachtree City.

If you’ve never heard about Peachtree City, Georgia, it is a planned community with golf courses and paved golf cart trails throughout the town. Friends Judi and Catriona came to give me a fun afternoon ride to Judi’s home! Don’t you love Catriona’s cute quilt & totebag?

I traveled north to teach in Montana – what an adventure in February! Brrr! My hostess, Karen Vosen picked me up at the airport in Great Falls, and drove me to her home town in Havre, MT. We stopped and saw the sights along the way, which I am sharing in a travel log. The most interesting things I saw were the great big open sky, the wide open prairie of eastern Montana, river ravines, historic Ft. Benton, and two great quilt shops! Ok, here is a peek at the day!

Mark your calendars! The participants for Quick Star Quilts & Beyond will be signing the book for all customers at Quilter’s Paradise in Escondido, CA.

What:  Author & Artist Book signing

Where: Quilter’s Paradise in Escondido, CA  map

1451 Montiel Rd # 140
Escondido, CA 92026
(760) 738-9677

When: Sunday, March 8, 2008    from    1 pm -4 pm

Additional Activity:  5th San Diego Quilter’s Run – a multi-shop “hop” with special prizes

See the quilts from Quick Star Quilts & Beyond on display, and meet the artists who created them! Many of the artists will be present to sign your book!

I had the pleasure of teaching the South Bay Quilter’s Guild workshop in Luella’s Quilt Basket classroom. What a great shop! Visit Luella and her staff when you’re in the South Bay area! The shop is easy to find at 1512 Aviation Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA – just watch for the huge quilt blocks painted on the building!

Wow, what a quick trip to the Redondo & Hermosa Beach area – just west of Long Beach. The Diamond Landscape / Monet Waterlily workshop was terrific – take a peek!