Take a gander at the Houston Market...

And I thought I had blunted the jet lag... well, that theory goes by the wayside.  Just couldn't stay up any longer last night, so laid down at around 9:30, thinking that would probably get me through the night, and I could wake up at a respectable hour... well, sort of respectable, like 5 or, with luck, 6.  Forget that!  I woke up at 2:30 am.  There is nobody else up, probably in the whole city... so thought I'd blog for a few minutes before I try to catch a few more winks.

Checking out samples, discussing...

Writing orders...

I thought I'd give you a view of the Houston Quilt Market before this new format (or my funky computer) completely drives me nuts.  I have pictures and text bouncing around at what appears to be random.  And, this blogging thing used to be easy!!

There were 22+ rows of vendor upon vendor.  You can see in the first picture how big the smaller vendors' spaces were, the second picture shows a bigger vendor with people writing orders.  The vendors who would share with me seemed to overwhelmingly say that they had wished this show had followed the election, thinking that the results of the election would have influenced the orders written.  Everyone agreed that people were kind of waiting anxiously before taking another financial risk.

Trying to give perspective... the lights go on forever!

Some vendors had lots of free space...

It didn't seem like the economy was much of a bother for many of the shop-owners, though.  New ideas and products, demonstrations, samples, quilting ideas abounded.   I took photos of lots of quilts - who would have guessed? - and found many ideas that might be translated into projects over here.   We have ideas for marketing, potential vendors if we want to open a store here, and it was generally a very productive time.

My lovely hostess after hours of driving, tromping the show!

Adi and I talked for hours about how a store might work, where it could be, what we would do there, strategies about introducing quilting or sustaining it over here.  Basically, she said we should focus on Tirane for now.  So, will not try to go north, but will still try to visit Morave and Berat.  It always seems like such a really long visit while I'm preparing, and the time goes by so fast, I wonder how I'm going to get it all done while I'm still here.

Well, I'm going to post this - so you can read it before it mysteriously disappears into the clouds somewhere.  I'll catch you up on my activities here in the next blog.

"You haved arrived"

Adi's GPS would announce "You have arrived!" when we would thankfully reach our destination in Texas.  It always made me feel a little special, somehow... you know, like when the car door opened, there would be a red carpet or something special.  That's how I felt when the door finally opened on the last airplane yesterday...

Last night I had trouble with the internet, and I see this morning that my post was not posted.  So, hopefully the kinks will be worked out soon, the photos will finally upload, and the internet will be more cooperative.  Do you think there is a battle going on????

Leaving Dallas, the Lufthansa captain skirted the storm, and we had a comfortable flight over the "pond."  You may ask how I know that it was comfortable... well, I couldn't sleep!  The guy behind me was sniffing and coughing all night - each time he blew his nose it sounded like a horn and I jumped.  The fellow beside me was snoring, and I just couldn't get comfortable.  Oh, well, the perils of modern day travel!

We arrived in Frankfurt, I found my way to the gate for Ljubljana (a trek), and then realized that I had given Alban the wrong information about when my flight would be arriving in Tirane.  So, I spent what little time I had trying to navigate the internet in German.  I can manage a little Albanian, a fair amount of Spanish, but very little German, unfortunately!  They said, in English, that I had 30 minutes of free internet, but the access process was explained in German, and I could never figure it out!  They announced our plane which was two stories down (we all got to carry our luggage and so on - no elevator), onto a bus then up a flight onto the plane), a nice trip to Ljubljana (I'm going to get that spelled right without the spell-checker pretty soon...), and then a sky-way into the terminal.  WOW!  No bus!  No stairs out of the plane!

The underground tunnel

Ljubljana (got it!), at least the airport, has an Austrian feel.  It is clean, modern, seemingly efficient with yet another language to navigate, and the people seemed more friendly than Frankfurt.  We arrived with snow covering the surrounding mountains, an inch on the ground at the airport, and the ambient temperature at 0 degrees Celsius. 

Remember that Slovenia is part of the EU; Albania is not.  After managing another passport check (I think it was my third or so), I went looking for the "B" gates.  It was easy to find all the other gates, C, D, E, F were on the same floor.  But, the "B" gates were through an inconspicuous glass door, down five (count them, five) stories of stairs without an elevator, along a long corridor, and up two stories at the other end (thankfully, with an elevator).  Along the way, I met a fellow traveler from Spain who was lamenting her inability to communicate.  She spoke under her breath, as she panted her way up the stairs, that she didn't speak English, German, French... and nobody could understand her.  Now you understand why I say that I can speak a fair amount of Spanish...  we understood each other.

Well, even at the B gates, the internet was free.  So, I sent an e-mail off to Alban, hoping he would check before he got into the car to pick me up, and I nodded off while waiting, and again flight.

Albania was not covered in snow, but was drippy when we arrived.  Alban had gotten my e-mail, Dori and the kids were there (they have really grown!).  Customs was concerned about the Action Packers, one of which, they explained, had been in lost and found because all the identification had come off (at least it made it to Tirane).  One official-looking fellow came up to me as I was trying to leave in the "nothing to declare" line, asking what I had in the Action Packers.  When he learned that I had sewing machines, he wanted an invoice.  But, I said, they were "old" machines and I had no invoice.  He called over a colleague who conferred with him.  I offered to open the Action Packer; he agreed and checked out one of the machines.  He called over the boss, more conversation among the three agents, the boss looked, another request for an invoice, I explained the machines had been used in a school... a school???  Yes, in the US.  All interest was lost!  And, I was free to go.

So, I'm at the Stefan Center - awake at 3:30 in the morning - but have basically unpacked, slept, and am ready to go.  My phone is charged, I have bought some minutes on it, and I meet Krys at 10.  Think I'll try to catch a few winks before I get up in earnest, but did want to let you guys know that I am here.  And, it seems, I have at last mastered the new way to import photos, so will try to add a few more later today showing the Houston Market and so on. 

Mir pashen!

Wow! What a show!

Well, today we again walked the Houston International Quilt Market.  Adi and I learned a lot, got some new ideas for income producing activities for women, discussed quilting in Albania, looked for vendors, investigated marketing strategies with a couple of vendors at the market, and generally had a very interesting time.  There are several European vendors who are closer to Albania than the US, so we will investigate them after getting home.  And, will take over a few more ideas with me.

Tomorrow, I'm off "across the pond" and over the storm (hopefully).  There are thousands of flights cancelled, but so far, my flight is on track.  Will check in after I arrive.

Well, I am having trouble with photos, and it is quite late (all day at the market, a 4 hour drive, then sorting and putting things away).  I have to get up and repack, do some errands, and then head to the airport, so I am going to hope that everyone will be OK with no photos again today!!  I'll get back into the swing of things soon.

"The countdown" came and went...

I can't believe it... I had so many plans to blog in the days leading up to my departure, but a crummy old virus took residence in my upper respiratory tract, and the last few days were a blur.  Seems appropriate, somehow, last spring I left with a cold, and now I'm arriving (in Albania) with one... let's just hope that the aftermath is a little less dramatic (that is, no resulting bacterial infections).

So, as you read this, I am wending my way east... first to Dallas, then a trip south with Adi to the Houston Quilt Market to scope out all the choices for a potential quilt store in Albania and to find vendors willing to deal with us so far away (if my crazy plans ever come to fruition).  Not anticipated, but very welcomed, is the opportunity to check out various "tools" that might be incorporated into a ministry for the widows to make jewelry or other adornments in an effort to produce income.  We've actually seen quite a few things that Adi thinks might work well.

Because I arrived at midnight last night and didn't get to sleep until 2:30 am, only to open my eyes and jump out of bed at 7:30 am to begin the 4+ hour trip south to Houston, I forgot my cord that would allow me to download photos.  So, sorry, no visuals today!!  I've tried to Jerry-mander something but it doesn't seem to be working!

When I have a little time and I'm not on my knees typing on the computer located on the bureau, I'll fill you in on more.  But, wanted to say, "Mirpashen."  Be "chatting" with you soon...

A quilting bee at GBC

Here we go again!  Last month we had a number of people who learned how to make the Albania Gospel Spinner pillow covers - and we had fun.  This month, we are making Albania Pointed Star Hot Pads.  Join us this Friday and Saturday (one of both days) for 10 to 3 in the Community Room at GBC.  Please let me know if you are planning to come; I would like to have enough "kits" available for anyone who would like to make this project.  It's fast and easy!  And, of course, can you see the Gospel message in it?

If you couldn't care less about another hot pad... then join us anyway and do the Spinner Pillow covers, begin or complete another project, or bring your hand sewing, knitting or crocheting!  Those who were there last month had fun.

There will be examples of other crafts I will be taking to Albania at the end of this month... your thoughts are always appreciated!

How much piecin' a quilt...

How much piecin’ a quilt is like livin’ a life!  Many a time I’ve set and listened to Parson Page preachin’ about predestination and free will, and I’ve said to myself, ‘If I could jest git up in the pulpit with one of my quilts I could make it a heap plainer to folks than parson’s makin’ it with his big words.’  You see, you start out with jest so much caliker; you don’t go to the store and pick it out and buy it, but the neighbours will give you a piece here and a piece there, and you’ll have a piece left over every time you cut a dress, and you take jest what happens to come.  And that’s like predestination.  But when it come to the cuttin’ out, why you’re free to choose your own pattern.  You can give the same kind o’ pieces to two persons, and one’ll make a ‘nine patch’ and one’ll make a ‘wild-goose chase,’ and there’ll be two quilts made out of the same kind of pieces, but we can cut them out and put ‘em together pretty much to suit ourselves and there’s a heap more in the cuttin’ out and the sewin’ than there is in the caliker.  Eliza Calvert Hall, Aunt Jane of Kentucky, Boston: Little, Brown & Company, 1908, p 74.

_________

What a fun time we had!  Several of us met in a "Quilting Bee" format a couple of weeks ago to make the Albania Gospel Spinner pillow covers, the project we took to Albanian churches last spring.  We have such talented people in our church!!!  I think everyone was well on their way to finishing the project when they left to tend to children or whatever.  We did, however, miss all those knitters, crocheters, etc. who we'd like to join us for a fun time getting to know each other and sharing ideas about sewing, life, or other vital concerns.

For those who haven't quite finished the pillow, or who would have liked to join us before, feel free to join us on Saturday, Sept 15 from 10-3 in the Community Room.  I'll be giving instructions for the pillow covers at 10 and 1, as before.  Kits will be available for purchase, or bring your own fabric (about 1/4 yard for each of four or five colors and 1/2 yard each for the backing and border).  Bring your own sewing machine and sewing notions (scissors, thread, etc.).  We will have rotary cutters and mats available.

In addition.... tah! dah!... we will have another "quilting bee" and a new project on October 5th and 6th!!!  This is the project I hope to take to the Albanian churches next month, and a sample should be available on September 15... using prairie points.  Come and join us Friday, October 5 and/or Saturday, October 6 from 10-3.  I will have a kit and will give instructions at 10 am and 1 pm both days.  And, if you are not a quilter, but like to knit/crochet/cross-stitch, etc., come join us with your project and let's get to know each other!!!

OK, who knows when the first "quilt" was made and where?  I'll answer that question and more in the next few days.





REMEMBER SEPTEMBER 15 and OCTOBER 5 and 6!
SEE YOU THERE!!!

COME TO A QUILTING BEE

and

TAKE HOME A LITTLE OF ALBANIA

Did you know that quilting bees are uniquely American?   During the 19th century, women had few social venues, and for many the quilting bee became their primary social event.  Quilting bees also participated in funding both sides of the Civil War.  Learn more in an upcoming blog.

The Albania Spinner Pillow

While you're waiting to hear more about quilting bees, come to one and make a pair of pillow covers for the Albania Spinner Pillow,  the last project taken to Albania.  This pair of pillow covers was finished by a new Christian sister before she went home from our "bee" in Tirane... and she had never before touched a sewing machine.  They feature simple piecing and straight stitching with the Gospel represented by the colors chosen.  Instructions will be presented at 10 am and 1 pm during the Quilting Bee, which will take place this Friday, 8/24, and Saturday, 8/25, in the Community Room of Grace Bible Church in AG from 10 to 3.  A  kit will be available for purchase, or bring your own fabric!  

At quilting bees, you can work on your own project, if you'd rather!  The point is to get together, have fun, meet someone new or spend time with friend, trade tips on whatever you'd like (recipes, sewing, work, kids... you name it).  The point is to  just get together and have a fun time while sewing.  Bring a sack lunch, or...

 Also, there will be a selection of things which have been crafted to raise funds for my next trip.  These will NOT be available for purchase at the quilting bee, but you can talk to me if you're interested.  My next trip to Albania is scheduled for the end of October and hopefully will include trips to several church plants, placing three new machines (pending funding), a project at the women's prison, and collaboration with a community center outside of Tirane.  Come, ask questions if you'd like.... bring new ideas!

REMEMBER, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, 10 am - 1 pm

....SEE YOU THERE!