Quilty Visits Part 2: Stars of Bethlehem

As you will recall in my last post....

I had just visited with the Prairie Pine Quilt Guild at the
Sew Sweet Quilt Shop and Retreat Center in Brunswick, MO.

I traveled home after that visit, and on the very next day,
set sail.........I mean, drove to Bethlehem.  Pennsylvania that is!
I met up with the Colonial Quilters Guild for a super fun
Lecture, trunk show, and "String Star" workshop.

Come along with me for this fun trip!

These are the 2 great quilters who are responsible

for bringing me to Bethlehem, PA!

Boots on the left (my right)

and Beth on the right (my left).

This trip was a year in the making,

and, I am SOOOOOOOO

happy I had the opportunity

to meet these wonderful ladies

as well as their talented quilt guild.

On Day 1

I drove through Illinois

and visited some antique malls.

I then ended up in Indianapolis to stay

with a great friend I made years ago

during my former

life as a volunteer for the
Miss America Scholarship Pageant.

We had a great visit, dinner,

and reminisced about the good ole'

glory days of the Miss America Pageant.

I then drove through Ohio on Day 2.

Ohio was covered with Antique Mall visits!

I highly suggest you visit

Heart of Ohio Antique Center.

WOW!

This has to be the LARGEST

antique mall I have ever visited!

I drove through West Virginia.

I can now mark off West Virginia for states

that I have visited!

Only 4 left to see before I have visited them all!

And then I finally made it to Pennsylvania!

I was excited to be able to visit another

pageant friend at his farm outside of

Pittsburgh where I stayed that night.

I was in hog heaven with all of the animals!

Lamb Chop!

She thinks she is a dog!

Water Buffalo!

Fiona, on the left, is just a baby!

Isn't she adorable???

Her momma wasn't so sure she wanted me

too close to her baby!

But........

....these guys!!!!!

Tut and Cairo stole my heart!

Who knew camels could be so sweet????

No, they didn't spit at me, but,

I was wet from their kisses and noses!

I wanted to take them home with me!

I also got to see a barnyard full of other

gorgeous animals.  Too many to name.

But, I am so thankful to have friends such as

these that allowed me to stay with them and visit.

And finally, I made it to Bethlehem!

A full house welcomed me for my

lecture and trunk show.

And you all KNOW

Huffman's Hotties

made an appearance!

Oh what fun we had!

Thanks for your help Hotties!

I truly felt the love and support of

all of the quilters that attended.

I love sharing with others the little

tips and tricks I use to make

my quilting as accurate as possible.

I am somewhere in this photo?? LOLOL

Thanks Susan for sharing it with me!

But, something really special happened

after the trunk show.

Meet my newlywed bride, Dolores.

Ain't she a cutie????

No.....we didn't get married.....

but, I was definitely tempted!

Dolores introduced herself to me before

I spoke and said she had something

for me if I was interested?

I was intrigued........

I was beyond touched when

Dolores presented me with

a gorgeous string quilt

her mother had made.

There wasn't a dry eye in the house....

INCLUDING MINE!

This quilt is made of string pieced

diamonds on muslin foundations.

It is pieced VERY well!

I will forever cherish this

beautiful work of art that

Dolores so generously shared with me.

I will be using this as a teaching guide

as well as displaying it in my home.

I can't thank you enough Dolores!

Again.....I am beyond touched!

The next day was our
"String Star" workshop.

The venue was transformed for our workshop.

And a wonderful venue it is!

Holy Cross Church in Bethlehem

was most hospitable for all of the

meetings.

Everyone worked busily on the diamond points

throughout the day.

Busy, busy, busy!

Here is a shout out to Susan

who recommended my visit

to this guild!

Thanks so much Susan!

Perhaps some of you

can be like Susan and suggest

I visit your quilt guild?

HINT! HINT!

LOL

Strings were everywhere!

I even brought my own personal

string collection to share with

these quilters.

They could use whatever they wanted,

or just include with their own strings

in their diamond piecing.

Having worked with several guilds,

I could tell there were several

strong friendships in this one!

Everyone was so nice and welcoming.

You can do this Beth!

Just let it go!!!!!!!  Let it go!!!!!!

Beth was most hospitable, and

was most efficient in

organizing my visit.

Thanks for your friendship!

Boots was dubbed my official

handler during my visit!

Thanks for being so fun!

Aren't quilters smiles infectious!

How can you not want to smile right

along with them!

Then the stars started coming out

in Bethlehem!

Even Christmas stars!

But, these quilters right here are the

REAL STARS!

What a fun group and workshop!

I hope you all had as much fun as I did?

It was a blast!

And, much to my surprise,

this basket full of strings was a gift 

from them to ME!

How incredibly special!

Believe it or not, I have an idea for a quilt

using these

very scraps so I can always remember

my time with this guild!

All too soon,

my visit was over.

But, I hope you all know

how special you made a 

corn fed country boy feel in your

neck of the woods!

Thank you Colonial Quilters Guild

for a
FANTASTIC VISIT!

Thank you for joining me on this journey.

I am not quite done with the quilty visits.

In Part 3 I will share the great time I had with the

Dixie Lee Quilt Guild in my hometown of 

Fredericktown, Missouri.  I was also able to celebrate

my birthday with my family while there!

Thanks so much for your encouragement!

Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter