The best of everything

A few weeks ago, I was blessed to be able to spend time away from home...  with two sewing buddies...  in Payson, AZ.... in a beautiful home....  with a gorgeous view.... where its cooler....   to stop by a quilt shop....  do a quilt show....  to see a few old friends....  and to meet a couple new friends...  and to quilt.

Can it get much better than that?

To protect the innocent, I will name us Friend #1, #2, and #3.

Friend #1 lives in Payson offered us a place to store our pillows.... and our heads.   I was not sure that friend #1 knew what was to hit her as the idea progressed in all our heads and our discussions prior to our trip !!!

Friend #1's home was filled with work she had done.  What an amazingly talented woman:  Painting....  cross-stitch.... embroidery.... quilting....  Every corner turned, there was another example of her talent.   I was honestly in awe of her artistic skill in so many arts.

The view from friend #1's deck was beautiful! The wooded area, rolling hills, and mountains were a joy for me to experience, coming from the "flatlands" of Phoenix.   There were rumors of mountain lion visits in the area, evidenced by very large cat-like footprints left in the mud or snow but, of course, no sightings while we were there.

And of course, we had to eat.   The trip for weekend supplies was an adventure in itself...  all three of us calling out things we thought we would "need" for the weekend...   watermelon, some sewing supplies, drinks, and..... candy.  How did that candy get in there????

Friend #1 had pre-prepared a dinner for when we arrived and had also set out some homemade sourdough bread rise.   Oh My Gosh, everything smelled so wonderful.   We were into the bread as soon as it was cool enough to eat and dinner tasted as wonderful as it smelled. 

I didn't get a photo of the bread....  partially because I forgot and partially because we had to almost fight friend #2 to get any of the bread!   Seriously, the bread was a HIT!!!  And when you added friend #1's raspberry jam....    yummmmm E is really all I can say.

There was lots going on when we weren't out and about, chatting and laughing and sharing.  Friend #1 is well traveled and friends #2 and #3 delighted in her adventures and stories.   

Friend #1's set up for our quilting time was amazing,  We were close enough to chat amicably but still had plenty of room and a place for our own irons.  She had also set up a cutting area that was raised...  a back saver!!  We had quilting stuff  EVERYWHERE....   just as it should be!  Tables, floors, the kitchen, the bedrooms...  we took over the whole house !!

Friend #1 worked on a table runner.  There was a bit of a "design opportunity" but rather than just letting her pick up the dreaded ripper, and since all three of us are bits of mavericks, we looked at alternate layouts to change things up! 

Friend #1 ended up staying with the original layout but we figured out how to do it sans ripper.   It was fun to lay all the "puzzle" pieces out in different ways with the three heads bend over the pieces and all offering ideas.

Friend #2 finished a 12 1/2 square for a swap in which she was a participant.  She had started with a smaller block and was considering options to make it larger to meet the swap requirements.  The three maverick friends got together once again and suggested options, ideas, and layouts.   I think friend #2 choose her layout well. 

Friend #2 also worked on themed pillowcases.

Friend #3's (me) featherweight was throwing hissy fits.  I was intent on having quite the conversation with the little featherweight but friend #1 offered her Brother so rather than spend time on discussing the merits of behaving oneself with the featherweight, I accepted the use of the Brother.

I have never been a huge Brother fan but this machine was truly a joy to use.  I was impressed with its ease of use and the stitches were perfect!!

Friend #3 (me) worked on this little bag for our hostess, friend #1, gifting it to her upon its completion.

I was also able to finish a couple more of the little bags for a project I have coming up.  I was thrilled with the progress.

It was a healing weekend.....  I think for all of us.   We shared joys and fears, we laughed until we cried,  we cried until we laughed, and we ate bread with real butter and raspberry jam until we were full.  I know that friends #2 and #3 went home happy.

Thank you ladies for hanging with me.    And a heartfelt thank you to friend #1 for the beautiful and spacious accommodations and the amazing hospitality!