Texas is a BIG place. When I go there to teach it is often possible to combine trips with up to 3 guilds. It makes for a long trip but the guilds get to split the airfare which helps them. It does take a lot of logistical planning to get me from place to place but it's worth it.
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| Have bags, will travel |
Recently I started a trip flying into Houston Hobby Airport. Delays out of Atlanta meant I had to keep my first guild contact informed so she didn't get to the airport two hours early. I arrived, got my two large suitcases and met Diane outside at Passenger Pickup.
The Lakeview Quilters of Houston have access to a townhouse AirBNB they can use for guest teachers. A new experience for me, I'm a hotel kind of girl. Diane asked what I would like for breakfast and she stocked the kitchen before my arrival. A very nice accommodation:
The only issue is I didn't know where the thermostat was and it dropped to the 30's the second night--that is BITTER COLD, dead of winter weather in Houston. In the morning I went hunting and found the thermostat upstairs--it was 51 degrees. Changed the setting to HEAT, and within an hour it was a pleasant 65 degrees.
The guild held the workshop the next day, before the monthly guild meeting that night. Western Sun is an enjoyable class to teach and everyone did great:
We met in a terrific quilt shop, AND SEW IT BEGAN, in La Porte, TX. Just a taste of this shop:
That evening after dinner we went to the guild meeting location, got the technical side done for the lecture "How to Make An Award-Winning Quilt", and I enjoyed the meeting prior to my presentation. That lecture is completely updated, with images from Houston 2025 and the Heritage Quilters of Huntsville 2026 show, that support the important points of the topic. It was very well received. During Show and Tell the students showed off their work:
The next day was an "off" day, in between jobs. In the morning I did hand sewing in front of the TV. In the afternoon I did my usual two hour power walk after it had warmed up. Not far from the townhome in the Clear Lake area, near NASA, is a beautiful walking trail. I don't walk at my usual 16 minute mile pace because I often stop to take photos:
For my last night at this guild Diane took me to a great seafood restaurant, Tommy's. I eat well on these trips, sometimes too well. I saved some of this for the next day:
The next day it was on to the Coastal Prairie Quilters in Missouri City, about 45 minutes west of Clear Lake. Sara picked me up at the townhouse and off we went, arriving there in time for a great lunch at Old Hickory BBQ:
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| Texas Brisket sandwich |
This place was just around the corner from the hotel and I knew I'd be coming back here again.
Pattie met us at the hotel, Spark by Hilton. The handoff was complete. Sara went home and Pattie took over.
I really liked Spark, a new Hilton brand I wasn't familiar with. Every employee I interacted with was great, helpful, and pleasant. The Bagel Bar breakfast included hard boiled eggs so I was set after my morning workout in the Fitness Center.
My room was big and clean, and included a small refrigerator and a microwave oven. Lighting was excellent! Rarely is that the case. And there were outlets and USB ports everywhere. Good planning.
I stayed 4 nights there, including my day off, between jobs. I used the day off to do laundry in their facility. All in all, I can recommend Spark by Hilton:
The next day was the guild meeting in the morning. The lecture was Time Management for Quilters, always well-received. Since I had the afternoon off, I went for a power walk all around the neighborhood, very commercial, with at least 50 eateries nearby. Sidewalks were wide and I didn't have to cross any big streets.
Day 2 with the Coastal Prairie Quilters was the workshop On the Lily Pond. The quilt is a replica of an antique quilt I own and I wrote the pattern. The students did well:
I have always wanted to see someone make this block with a black background so here you go:
The funny thing about this group is: there is Linda and Trena, and Debbie, Diane, Darlene, Denise, Deborah, and Donna. Keeping them straight was my challenge!
Now I was on my own for a couple days and you know where I went to dinner: Old Hickory BBQ. This 3 meat plate was dinner for me both Friday and Saturday. The fried okra was some of the best I've ever had:
On my full day off I headed out for that power walk and was delighted to find a terrific two mile walking trail featuring edible plants with lots of signage. A wide variety of fruit and nut trees, each with a sign that explains their season and how to tell when they ripen.The day was beautiful:
And I saw my first field of Bluebonnets, across the bayou. They were several days away from being at their full beauty. I am always either too early or too late:
The next day was moving on day, from Missouri City down two hours to Victoria. Pattie picked me up and took me about 25 minutes to Laura, another guild member and helper. We drove another 35 minutes to Buc-ee's at Wharton, where Marcia from Victoria was waiting for me. The suitcases changed vehicles, goodbyes were said, Laura went home and we headed south to Victoria.
The Homewood Suites hotels are very nice and I try to stay there when possible. A full refrigerator, microwave oven, two burner cooktop, a dishwasher (not needed by me) and cabinets with dishes, glasses, silverware and utensils. 4 nights here was very nice:
The next day Marcia took me on a country tour, hunting the elusive bluebonnets. We saw these, again a few days too early:
Marcia then took me to a small quilt shop in Shiner, TX, The Square Quilt shop:
I wasn't going to buy anything but then I did. I have been wanting to make a sesquicentennial quilt in honor on the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of July 4, 1776. I found a panel, pattern and prints to make a simple yet commemorative wall quilt. Now I have a project with a deadline:
This was my fourth visit to the Victoria guild. That NEVER happens. It is my honor to visit them. The first full night Yvonne hosted a small gathering at her lovely home outside of town. It was so nice to see so many familiar faces and those who have become friends.
The next two days were spent making Western Sun blocks. 18 students did so well. Having two days instead of one, allowed for more time with each step:
Kay is very talented with fabric paints/pens. She is planning to make each block like this, with different yellow suns and give them all different faces which she paints on:
Kay even painted the spokes of the sun with the fabric pens:
Yvonne has a beautiful palette and spent the first morning just cutting pieces. In the afternoon and the second day she could sew all day long:
Samantha is a bit of a new quilter so she took her fabrics home the first night to cut and sort all the various parts into baggies, which makes the process of making many of these blocks easier. The next morning she was ready to go:
An interesting thing happened for me while teaching Western Sun twice this trip. Jerrianne in the Lakeview guild used one of her "good" fabrics for the "placeholder" in the center. The next step would be to cover that fabric up with a circle:
For the first time I saw what a great, easy, simple block this can be WITHOUT the circle! Not to be outdone, in Victoria Yvonne did the same. This block is only laid out, she hadn't sewed the rows yet:
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For charity quilts or baby quilts needed quickly, this is such a fast block to make. My next Quilt of Valor will use this block. I have taught this class many times and only now see the block without the circle!
I eat good on these trips. The Homewood Suites was no exception. The first night, on my own, the hotel shuttle driver took me to and from the Olive Garden a mile away. It wasn't safe to walk there due to traffic.
Breakfast was excellent and on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights they have an Evening Social--Monday was chicken alfredo, salad bar, free wine and beer. Tuesday was Beef Enchiladas with all the fixings and salad bar. This saved the guild the cost of two dinners plus the time involved “hosting” me. A win for all.
Wednesday night was hot dogs at the hotel so--the guild took me to The Pump House, a local restaurant I enjoy very much. The grilled salmon and roasted Brussel sprouts were scrumptious. And the company was even better--these women are friends. And I was even asked "when are you coming back?"
The 12 day trip was coming to an end and news at airports around the country was of long TSA lines. Yvonne and her husband Paul picked me at 8 am for the two hour trip north to the Austin airport. In less than 20 minutes from exiting their car, I had checked the two large suitcases, gotten my boarding passes, headed up to TSA Pre-Check and went through TSA in less than 3 minutes. I was 4 hours early for my flight but I really like AUS and there was Brisket for lunch.
Only minor delays for my two flights, to Atlanta and then on to Huntsville. Arriving about 30 minutes later than expected I was sure glad to see my husband and he was glad to have me back. He says I make the best coffee...
I always gain weight on these trips and this was no exception. Within a week or so most of it's gone since I get right back on my exercise and nutrition regimen.
A huge THANK YOU to all my "handlers" who got me where I needed to go. More than a year of planning goes into these contracts/trips. It takes a village.
Conclusion: I LOVE my job but 12 days is too many. This year I will have 49 days away. That's too long. I am cutting back travel next year and beyond.
Let's quilt.
Barbara
