JT Ranch Quilt Shop - Cisco, TX (and a little antiquing too)

It's the Saturday after Thanksgiving and I have already driven from Houston to Abilene.  Now I am once again behind the wheel going from Abilene to Dallas.  My sweet man is riding shotgun and spots a billboard advertising a quilt shop in Cisco.  He puts it into the GPS and soon we are in the downtown area and parking the car for a leg stretch.  I do so love this man of mine.

JT Ranch and Quilt Shop is the most pleasant surprise.  As you enter the shop, you realize just how large it really is.  Wow.  We are instantly greeted and asked if we need any help.  That is such a plus in my book.  Asking to just wander and look around, we are left to our own devices and out comes my camera.  Take a few minutes to wander the store with me.

Brazos Retreat - A Night at the Movies

Let the

begin.

We have looked forward to this retreat all year long.  I cannot tell you how much fun we have planning it and putting it together.  I'm pretty sure it's about on the same level as the retreat itself.  Honest.  At any rate, in the Facebook group are all the pictures that were taken and I just can't show 250 of them here, but I'll still cover the highlights.  Each person is greeted upon their arrival with paparazzi microphones in their faces, being asked silly questions just as expected at an awards show.  So, so much fun.  Here's just a couple of the entrances - light flashing in their faces and everything.  Oh yes, we ARE that good.  Classic movies are already playing and the party is ready to start.

Prep For Retreat

Brazos Golden Globes - A Night at the Movies is about to get started.  The committee is arriving today for a day of decorating and setting up.  I'm the first one in and once the tables are all just how I want them, out come the chair backs.  Well, dang.  I kinda like how they look.  (Patting myself on the back here.)

Houston Festival - Days Two and Three

Good Morning Houston!  I am awake before everyone else and sneak out to the hallway to make a phone call and reservations for breakfast.  We all agreed to meet downstairs at the restaurant at 8:30 and for some reason, only now is the reservation idea setting in.  Perhaps the wait last night prompted this idea and perhaps my brain just managed to crawl out of the fog of "fabric overload" I have been in since arriving.  Who knows which one but at least it's done.  Now what?  The rest of the room is still asleep so I hook up to wifi and start watching an episode of Gilmore Girls.  About 15 minutes in, Sherri peeks her head out the door and looks at me with a most confused look.  The story that accompanies the look is divine but one of those --- what happens . . . stays . . . type.  Needless to say, lots of giggles and then we just sat in the hall on the floor talking -- which for some reason was disconcerting to those who walked by -- to the point that some were concerned about our comfort or if we were locked out of our room.  Silly people --

Once the room is awake, back in we go to gear up for the day and now -- it's breakfast time.  We are given a cute little private room in the restaurant and that is awesome.  Great conversation, new friends, and full tummies make it all a success.  Onto the show -- we are armed and ready.

Houston Eye Candy 2018 - Part 2

I love that since our group is here for several days, we can take our time and REALLY see the quilts.  I've had a break and am ready for another couple of hours drooling before the show closes at 7.

Let's get started -

"Moonlight Sonata" by Susan Stewart of Pittsburg, Kansas quickly stops me in my tracks.  I had not considered making the quilt as one big block.  This square in a square really calls to me.  The black and white alone does the trick and then add in the rest of the features and I'm hooked.  Susan writes, "This is a very simple design in black and white with lots of intricate quilting.  It is embellished with bright machine embroidery and edged with free-standing lace."

Houston Eye Candy 2018 - Part 1

Houston International Quilt Festival is in full swing and I am blessed, once again, to be able to enjoy the visual feast.  Are you ready for some eye candy?  As always, keep in mind that I do NOT wander around getting pictures of the winners.  I grab the ones that grab me.  Talk to me.  Inspire me.  Here we go.

First up is "Small Happy Crazy Quilt" by Aki Sakai of Hachiouji, Tokyo.  It is a mixture of  cotton, linen, and lace along with being an original design.  She says, "I like small and cute things very much.  The designs are based on my favorite things and family memories."  It is hand quilted and includes applique, embellishment, yo-yo's, and trapunto.

Houston Festival 2018 - Day One

I cannot explain to you how much I look forward to this type of trip each year.  Seriously!!  It is just fun and friends with some shopping and eye candy thrown in.  What could be more perfect?

This weekend we are off to Houston International Quilt Festival for just those items listed above.  My car has Lydia and Rocky in it and we are zooming south to meet up with everyone else.

Upon our arrival, check-in goes super smooth and we are able to store everything in one room right away.  The only down spot is that we had already given everything to the concierge and so had to retrieve it, but within moments it was returned and we are now set.  It's time to play.  Let's get going.