PIECING PARTNERS QUILT GUILD OF COLORADO SPRINGS

 I recently had a wonderful trip to Colorado Springs to work for the Piecing Partners Quilt Guild. Some years ago I taught for the Lakeview Quilters Guild in Houston and the woman who was my contact there became a friend. Jonnie moved to Colorado Springs a few years ago and--Voila!  Another job opportunity came my way.

My favorite hotel is Home2Suites, having stayed in several in recent years. This one had an awesome view:

Early morning sun shining on the mountain as I waited for my ride to class

It's best to sleep under a quilt, this was the largest one I carried with me this trip, The Village:

Rooms are comfortable, good lighting, clean and comfortable. Breakfast which is included is very good, easy to eat smart most days. No pictures of breakfast, I must have been hungry:

I love the full kitchen. Refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, sink with dishwashing liquid, real dishes and glasses. This almost always saves the guild money as I usually have enough leftovers to skip one dinner out. The room costs about the same as Hampton Inn: 

The view from my room:

Another view:

Packing light is required. With only two days with the guild only two outfits were needed:

Favorite speaking outfit

Favorite teaching outfit

The guild is very active, there were more than 120 people there for the morning meeting:

The FREE TO A GOOD HOME table was popular

Terry with the Block of the Month quilt they are doing this year, pattern by Angela Walters

Who doesn't love snacks? Wait, didn't we just have breakfast?

More snacks. Each month the "HOSTS" for the snacks are determined by your last name. Next month everyone whose last name starts with "S" is expected to provide the snacks. Brilliant!

I was first up with my Lecture "Time Management for Quilters". This is always well received and I often hear from people months later that they tried some of the suggestions and found "more" time. For a few of the tips offered in this lecture see this post: Top 3 Tips for Time Management for Quilters Your next opportunity to hear the entire lecture is at Houston, Friday October 10, 2025, 10:15 am, $15. Registration in advance is not required, you can pay at the door as long as there is room. About one third of the seats are already taken I am happy to report. 

The guild business meeting followed my presentation then there was Show and Tell. I love Show and Tell, so interesting to see what quilters everywhere are making. 

 

I loved this show and tell quilt. Unfortunately, I did not get this woman's name.

After lunch we had a 3 hour class on The Village--paper pieced houses, fast and easy stars. The 15 happy students learned and laughed a lot. As class neared the end I grabbed several from students to discuss different options for finishing:

My class sample:

Dinner was Panera, soup and berry salad with grilled chicken breast:

The next day 15 students gathered for Charming Sampler, several were with us the day before. They worked hard all day and we had quite a collection of small blocks by 4 pm:

My class sample:

The "Class photo" is something I always try to remember before people start to leave. Here is the group from day two, all lovely people:

Dinner that night was Bonefish Grill with my friend, Jonnie. We had a big day planned for the next day, hiking, sightseeing and shopping so it was important we fuel up.

More about that day next week.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore

 Recently I got to travel to the Eastern Shore of Maryland to teach for the Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore. It was a delightful trip that I enjoyed very much. There were no travel issues so that helps make a good trip even better.

I flew to BWI, Baltimore, where I was met by my contact guild women: Marianne and Lisa: 

Marianne and Lisa

In Atlanta waiting for the flight

During the more than one hour drive to Easton from BWI, my "tour guides" told me all about the area. We were a mile from Annapolis, we crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, they pointed out where they both live. It was a good ride and I got to see the sights.

We got to the Tidewater Inn in Easton, an historic hotel, where we had dinner together. The hotel is lovely and in a great old neighborhood and I really enjoyed my stay there:

The next morning I got up early so I could walk, from 5:45-6:45 am, before breakfast. I didn't go fast because I kept stopping to take pictures. The area reminds me of the Philadelphia neighborhood where I grew up, in a home built in 1900. Here are just a few photos to give you a sense of the area:

Gardens are everywhere. Local restaurants grow herbs out front I am sure they use in their dishes. It was a beautiful way to start my day. 

I had breakfast at a little place nearby, Breakfast in Easton. It had been 50 years since I ate Taylor Pork Roll--growing up it was a breakfast staple:

The guild meets in the town of Trappe, not far from Easton. I was picked up early for that trip. Once the PowerPoint was all set for my lecture, I could mingle with the guild members. After the business meeting, my lecture was "My Joyful Journey", the story of my "one woman show" in Houston in 2021. It gives a chance to look back at the quilts I have made, mostly traditional, from the humble beginnings to four Best of Show quilts. The lecture was well-received. 

Ready to go to "work"

After lunch we had a 3 hour class on foundation paper piecing, The Village AKA Quilter's Scrap Houses. Everyone did well and all learned something:

Back at the Tidewater Inn that afternoon I met up with good friends who drove down from Philadelphia that day. Judy and I met in 7th grade and have been friends since then. She was my maid of honor. I have known her husband Mark just as long. 

We had a great dinner at Legal Assets, a block from the Inn. It was delicious. So good, there are no photos. It was just enjoyable to sit with old friends over a great meal. 

The next day the 6 hour class was Western Sun. Several students returned from the day before and several new students joined the fun. They all did well and all learned something:

Judy and Mark spent the day sightseeing and their assignment was to make dinner plans--anywhere was fine with me as long as there was seafood.  

After my day of teaching, the 3 of us drove to St. Michael's, where they had spent the day. We ate at The Crab Claw, right on the water: 

I love seafood and eat it every chance I get. Most of time, grilled or baked. But when on "vacation" and I have the option of fried, well, yes, that is what I want. That's why I walk at least an hour every single day. It was so good, a crab cake, oysters, shrimp, clam strips and rockfish. I left most of the potato--I can have a potato anywhere:

Waterman's Seafood Sampler platter

Mark and Judy

After dinner we had the most beautiful weather. Temperatures were in the 70's and humidity was low. We walked around the Maritime Museum grounds, where Judy and Mark had toured earlier that day. An employee who was leaving told us the grounds were open after closing so we were welcome to walk all around. 

It was the "golden hour" when the light is perfect for photographs. The water was soothing, it was just a wonderful way to spend some time. Here is a glimpse of the area:

A selfie of 3 people who all have short arms

After the 10 mile drive back to Easton we said goodnight and made plans to meet for breakfast the next morning in the hotel. After breakfast our adventure would take us to Philadelphia for a couple days. Stayed tuned, next week I'll tell that part of the story.

Let's quilt.

Barbara