Category: Uncategorized

Running time: 01:10:51 Size: 32.5 MB

From the Gold Coast Quilt Guild of Morro Bay, CA:

The Gold Coast Quilt Guild of Morro Bay, CA

And here is the much-awaited video for the start of the seemingly endless road trip ; )

Thanks to my pal and hostess, Ruth Bull for holding the video camera while I stepped in the freezing water.

Me with my friend, Ruth Bull — what a great way to start out my trip!

cute sandpipers at the beach

The view from Ruth’s living room of the Pacific Ocean is breathtaking… er, uh, at least it was yesterday when there were blue skies and it was 70 degrees outside. Today, it was overcast and cold.

My first stop along the way: Solvang, a Danish town in California.

Ebleskivers  — little warm pancake balls of yummy goodness

Nodding Place — the shop where I saw the Matelaisse quilt that lead to $700 later…

Creation Station quilt shop in Buellton, CA – right on the edge of Solvang

Dawn and Patrick Farrier – owners  and here is a picture of Dawn (center) with two happy customers.

the floor is painted throughout the shop, to appear as a stoned walkway, complete with dandelions and ants!

The apron and kitchen area of the shop where they have a stove and a mangle!

The Kaufman Kona collection. What a great substitute for expensive hand-dyes. Perfect for applique.

The best notions wall I have ever seen! Antique ironing boards, that Dawn said took a while to collect!

flowery pin cushions!

the Christmas nook

Then, I met Gina Halladay at her shop in Yorba Linda, CA  Cranberry Quiltworks – a Gammill Distributor, where her Threaded Pear Studio resides and she is expanding to add a quilt shop in the space.

Gina, our beloved QuiltersBuzz blog-queen, with a new fabric collection, Michael Miller’s Andalucia by Patty Young

Gina’s new sample quilt — do ya LOVE this fabric?!

Welcome to Cranberry Quiltworks!

Gammill longarms — oooh, I want one of those!

Threads, oh yeah!

Threaded Pear pattern wall

Stay tuned for more pictures, interviews and links from my trip — coming up tomorrow!

©2009  Annie Smith   All Rights Reserved

Running time: 00:16:10 Size: 7.4 MB

It seems like it’s been a week since I arrived home but it’s only really been a day and some change.

Here are some pictures from my last day in North Carolina.

Here’s the final odometer reading – 3705 miles total traveled!

You know that I have been jonesing for snow ever since we had the cold snap in California prior to Christmas. Every year of my life, I wish for a snowy Christmas morning — thank you Hollywood and all of those wonderful movies depicting snow. It’s not Christmas in 75 degree sun.

We heard that it would snow today, but that it would be gone by early afternoon. Now I’m not so sure. It IS beautiful and we have been having loads of fun taking pictures and standing outside to watch it.

Here’s a sneak peek:

 

Inspiring, isn’t it?! I would love to be home in this, with the blinds wide open, and quilting.

Let’s see if I really get home today ; )

Running time: 00:32:15 Size: 14.8 MB

I’m still resting from my marathon drive and having a good time with my son Ryan and his wife, Karen.

But that didn’t stop me from visiting a quilt shop. I found this cute little place, on Highway 64 in Apex, North Carolina. It’s called Plain and Simple Quilt Shop, in an old house re-purposed into this store.

Here’s an outside shot of the store:

I hadn’t made any arrangements to speak with the store owner or to take any pictures. I will be going back there tomorrow to do both, so you will see and hear more in a future podcast!

In this episode, I speak with my kids about moving across country and ask them what they would recommend if anyone else were planning the same thing in their lives soon. They both offer some sage wisdom.

I also update you on the stash-busters drawing that is coming-up soon.

Running time: 00:15:50 Size: 7.4 MB
This program was created on Friday evening, January 16, 2009 and is first aired Saturday, January 17, 2009

I got to visit long-time listener, Sandi Cain in Alpharetta, Georgia and visited a cute quilt shop called, Georgia Sewing and Quilting in Beuford, Georgia and Denise Eubanks in Greenville, South Carolina.

This is me on the Blue Star Highway in South Carolina

At the South Carolina Visitors Center

At Ryan and Karen’s Home

More to come!

Running time: 00:23:30 Size: 10.9 MB

This is me, coming into Louisiana

Gumbo for breakfast, YUM!

King cake with a baby inside – pre-Mardi Gras

I was talking with my friends and we seem to have had a disagreement where the strawberry capital of the world is. They claim it’s in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. I think it’s in Watsonville, California – a town I lived in when I was a little girls. Click this LINK to see what others think about it.

A basket full of quilt-y goodness.

Driving across the swamp lands, I saw these skinny trees with moss growing off of them. WebGuy thinks they are bald cypress trees. Click HERE to see what I am talking about.

I’m In Mississippi, Really!

Mardi Gras dress at the Mississippi Visitor’s Center

You know, the king cakes at Walmart come with your own set of Mardi Gras beads. Woo woo!

I’m in Alabama now, really I am.

In this program, I speak about cotton and how some of our world’s cotton supply is still coming from the US of A. I’m surprised that cotton is still being grown in America, but it is. Look at the map below and see where most domestic cotton comes.

Amazing, huh?

Running time: 00:7:00 Size: 3.3 MB
Now that my body has calmed down, I can relate to you a little about my stay yesterday in Houston.

I was able to vist TWO absolutely fabulous quilt shops in the area. First we went to Quilt ‘N Sew. It’s a lovely oasis of quilt-y goodness! Be sure to visit their web site for directions to their store which features a very handy online store!

The second shop we visited is SunFlower Quilts.

Store owner, Jill Rimes, is as charming as her store. The store is just brimming with over 1500 bolts of fabric in stock.

Now that my health is returning, I’ll be traveling to Baton Rouge, Louisiana tomorrow. I expect I’ll be in for some more treats as I get nearer to my final destination!

Thanks to everyone for all of your well-wishes, prayers, and comments. They have all contributed to my speedy recovery and are helping me return to the task at hand. This is becoming YOUR trip almost as much as it is MY trip! You are the greatest!

Love,
Annie

Well Quilters,
It was bound to happen. I arrived in Houston yesterday afternoon and had a wonderful time hanging out with Texas pals Pat and Jean. We went to our favorite place to eat in Houston, Black Eyed Pea, and later that evening… IT HIT ME.

I’ve had all of the typical flu symptoms combined with, ummm… how do I say this gently… the typical food poisoning symptoms.
I am so upset that this is happening in the middle of my roadtrip. But on the positive side, I’m so glad I have these two angels, Pat and Jean to take such good care of me.

I’m thinking that I will need to sit-out today and (hopefully) start to feel better. The plan is to continue my trip tomorrow. That will bring me to North Carolina on Friday instead of Thursday.

If I’m feeling a little better today, I’ll check-in with Webguy and see if I can get a podcast out to you.

Running time: 00:9:00 Size: 4.1 MB

I left Fort Stockton Sunday morning to find more of this:

I rolled into San Antonio town as the shadows were getting long. There I met my friend Tracy Ward where she entertained me in town.

First we went over to the Alamo.

At the Alamo, I saw ANOTHER idea for an applique quilt. What do you think:

These fish are in a cement ditch that surrounds the Alamo. It’s pretty cool.

Driving around I found yet ANOTHER idea for an applique quilt — on the side of a highway retaining wall. Is someone trying to tell me something?

We ate at the County Line BBQ Restaurant on the Riverwalk. That place is good eats! I’d recommend it to anyone who likes barbeque.

We also visited Seventh Heaven Quilt Shop.

It’s a cute shop inside and out with a HUGE amount of fabric. I would consider the store fully stocked by anyone’s standards. I spoke with the shop owner, Dixie, and she made us feel right at home — even on a Sunday late afternoon/early evening! That’s Texas hospitality.

Please note: This post is delayed. It is the post from Saturday, January 19. A new post for today (Sunday) should appear late tonight or early tomorrow. -Webguy

Running time: 00:15:20 Size: 7.1 MB

The desert is always desolate and barren but it always seems beautiful to me. I got into New Mexico in the early afternoon and I crossed the continental divide.

Today I traveled through New Mexico and found a darling little quilt store in Los Cruces. Organ Mountain Quilt Shop!

Later that day, I passed this sign:

I don’t know if you know this about me, but I hate driving at night. As it got darker and I was still miles away from my stop for the evening in Fort Stockton, I could feel the good wishes and prayers from all of you coming my way. I think I was blessed just a little bit last night by this:

Later I found out from Webguy that the moon truly was 14% bigger and 30% brighter than lesser moons last night. For more information about this phenomenon, go HERE.

Thanks to everyone for all of your comments and phone messages. Please keep those encouraging words coming!