You're going to have to bear with me a little bit because while I was in Utah earlier this week, I didn't get around to taking many pictures. So I'm going to improvise a bit and include a few random whatevers while I tell you about my little adventure.
See captions for explanations of the randoms.
Pretty self-explanatory. Remember this the next time you think everybody at Market was working their little fingers to the bone these past few weeks.
You're wondering about the "being Louise", aren't you? There's just something about hanging out with someone named Thelma that makes me think of the movie. And just so you know, that is the only thing that made me think of the movie. We didn't rob any gas stations or shoot up any tankers, and despite encountering some "good wood", we didn't run into any cute cowboys.
Scarlett Queen. A scrap quilt made with assorted fat quarters and/or fat eighths in lights and darks. In my case, that means assorted reds and assorted lights.
While on her way to visit her daughter, Thelma of Cupcakes 'n Daisies decided to stop over in Springville to take the Wild Air and Long Tall Sally classes at The Corn Wagon Quilt Co. (Her quilts are going to be wonderful... but you're probably not surprised by that, are you?) When I knew that my Market-plans were changing, I e-mailed Thelma to make sure she knew that the classes were still on. After chatting about it, we decided to meet up at the Salt Lake City International Airport and share a car.
When Thelma e-mailed me to tell me that she had already checked out the area and (1) there was a Starbucks just a few blocks away, (2) no Panera Breads in the state of Utah, and (3) a cupcake shop within walking distance of the hotel, I knew she was the perfect travel buddy. How could we go wrong? And Thelma had a Garmin that she brought along ~ a Garmin she had already programmed with the directions to Starbucks, Corn Wagon Quilt Co. and a few other shops, and every other place we might need to be going.
Or so I thought... but more on that in a moment.
Another of my favorite Non Sequitur cartoons. And just so you know... been there, know that brick wall very well.
Back to the adventures of Thelma and Carrie... While at the airport getting our buggy, we asked the young man for a dinner recommendation. It was getting late and we were hungry... and have you ever tried to find an open restaurant in Utah on a Sunday? He directed us to The Red Iguana downtown, less than fifteen minutes from the airport. Brilliant! The food was terrific and while the place was hopping, we were seated within ten minutes. After a great dinner, we headed for Provo to settle in for the night and get ready for Monday.
After meeting up in the lobby on Monday morning and getting the car loaded, off we went to Starbucks and then to the Art Museum next to the shop for our Wild Air class. By the way, about all those little geese... they finish at 1" x 2" and yes, there are a lot of them. But they're made with Monique's amazing Fit to be Geese ruler so how bad could it be? The geese are going to be perfect, which means the blocks and the border will be straight, flat and perfect. Still... there are a lot of those little things, aren't there? When class was done, we went to the shop and... well, we shopped. It is a lovely shop and while I was too distracted to remember to take pictures, I know that someone else did take a few.
We then had dinner at a very nice restaurant, Magleby's, with Marsha and MaryAnn, and six of their closest friends and co-workers. I know... and I try to call this "work". Who am I fooling? After getting back to the hotel, Thelma and I engaged in one of the newest and most popular forms of entertainment -- Compare the iPad Apps. Thelma came out the winner any which way you look at it. She didn't have Pulse and I didn't have Moonlight Mahjong. She loves Pulse and I'm hooked on mahjong... to the point of playing it while I really ought to have been sleeping.
Scarlett Queen v. 2. This version is made with scrappy Jo prints and shirtings, and the square in the block is cut to make a slightly smaller block.
Tuesday's Long Tall Sally class was probably a little easier than Monday's because almost everyone went home with a couple of rows sewn together. I kept telling them that it was a "cut it out, lay it out, start to sew" kind of quilt but they didn't believe me. Nobody ever does. But they came around when the rows started coming together. And just so you know, Sally is made entirely with connector corners. It is all a matter of placement.
After class on Tuesday, Thelma and I loaded up the buggy and headed out. First up, the Sweet Tooth Fairy in Provo. Since she's the expert on these sorts of matters, I'll let Thelma handle the reviews. Let me just say ~ cute shop, very cute man behind the counter, very nice man behind the counter who provided cake-bite samples to the out-of-towners he thought were kind of funny. What can I say? Those plates were really cute and we liked them! Did he expect us to be nonchalant about that? I was also a little excited about finding one of these Coke Zero bottles as I already had one of the Coke bottles.
They're 8 oz. metal bottles. Recyclable. Refillable. And they're supposed to keep the coke a little colder than glass or plastic... though really, does that matter when they're this cute?
After leaving the Sweet Tooth, we headed to The UPS Store to ship Thelma's machine. Then to American Quilting in Orem and Quilts Etc. in Sandy. After getting to both shops before they closed, then grabbing some dinner at Cafe Zupas, we headed back to the hotel to get packed up and ready to leave on Wednesday.
Did I mention that I had been wondering all day why I hadn't received that 24-hour alert on my cellphone/e-mail about my flight on Wednesday? After getting my bag all settled, I finally went online to check in and get my boarding pass... only to find out that I had really, really goofed when buying my tickets to Salt Lake City! Instead of advancing the return date by a day or two, I had advanced it a whole month! My flight home was -- is -- on June 8th! After a frantic attempt to change the flight and a call to the airline, my ticket was changed to a Wednesday morning flight at Salt Lake City International Airport. Whew! Disaster avoided.
After a quick breakfast at Starbucks -- I like their oatmeal -- we headed off for the airport. Garmin was already programmed. It knew the way. To the Salt Lake City Municipal Airport.
Now I ask you... am I wrong in assuming that "my driver" would take me back to the same airport where we met up? I know I said that I had flown in on a "small plane" but I meant a commuter jet, not a single engine Cessna!
Just so you know, we were both laughing when we realized the mistake. Thelma got a little nervous about getting me to the right airport in time for my flight but I was laughing too hard to care. And really, we weren't more than fifteen minutes away. We had lots of time. As soon as we got the Garmin corrected and realized we would get to the right airport in plenty of time, we started discussing the finer points of being specific and making assumptions.
It really was the perfect ending for a terrific trip.
Too bad that other Thelma and Louise didn't have a Garmin.
Too funny, but sounds like you had a blast and enjoyed. I'll have to look for the BBQ place. Love the new quilts. Glad your Mom is better.
Posted by: Auntie Pami | May 14, 2011 at 07:09 PM
Okay Carrie, let me wipe the tears off my face from the laughter and just say two things...first, hubby and I both love The Red Iguana in SLC. We discovered it one weekend when he came home on leave from his 2 year job in Alaska and we stayed in Salt Lake for some time away from raising grandchildren for the weekend. We started eating there every time we met in Salt Lake for a weekend...hey, ya gotta have time away, yes he came home frequently or traveled to Tucson in between and stopped by the house to pick me up so I could go with him, yup, gotta have time away. Well, not now that we have the house to ourselves but now I'm off topic...sorry *blush*. Second point was, just be glad it was the Salt Lake 'Municipal' Airport and not the Ogden Municipal Airport. Otherwise you would Never had made your Wednesday flight. I know, we're only 40 miles north of SLC, but that would have been an 80 mile round trip and there are a couple of really great quilt shops this way. Well, I said I would only say two things but I'm satisfied that other than drifting mildly off topic, I really did only talk about two things. I know, I took the long way around (I need a "Comment Garmin" to keep me on track!) but I ALWAYS take the long way around any topic...maybe that's why I don't have my own blog...hmmmm, food for thought. Hugs...
Posted by: Nancy C. in Utah | May 14, 2011 at 08:13 PM
Ha! Sounds like quite an adventure! I LOVE your new quilts! Will they be in a new book, or sold separately? I can't wait till they come to a shop near me! I hope your mother is feeling better!
Posted by: Kate | May 14, 2011 at 08:51 PM
OMG, I'm crying...this one should have come with a warning...there's coffee spewed on my laptop screen...what an adventure...the other Thelma and Louise didn't have much on you girls...what fun!
Posted by: Carol | May 15, 2011 at 02:27 AM
Ok, a nice way to bring out the smiles and laughter, problem is no one is here to share with me in my splendor. YOU do make me laugh Carrie...and I do I do love Scarlett Queen...mysterious, like she has something to hide...and the coke bottles...mmmm I don't drink POP, ever never...sew I think if I ever had one of those my peeps would surely blow their tops...lol
Posted by: madame samm | May 15, 2011 at 03:32 AM
Love, Love, LOVE the Scarlett Queen (especially in the red). And I need one of those metal coke bottles too. have you found them in Phoenix?
Posted by: Patty | May 15, 2011 at 08:32 AM
Next time your in SLC try Siegfried's deli. It is a German place and it was recommended to us on our last trip there. My husband and I still think about that place and wonder when we will get back again.
Sounds like a fun trip. My Garmin is named ReRi (Retarded Rita) since I tend to be more lost with it than without it. Please don't be offended by the name, I don't mean any disrespect. She can't help it, she was made that way.
Love the SQ2!
Posted by: Diane | May 15, 2011 at 12:55 PM
omg my side hurts from laughing so hard
this was toooo funny
I just hope Thelma behaved in class!
LOL
Kathie
Posted by: kathie | May 15, 2011 at 03:49 PM
Cute post Carrie. Very happy you had fun and are back home safe. Will your trip influence your creative juices in the future?
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Posted by: SewCalGal | May 15, 2011 at 06:28 PM
It sound like a great trip but we missed your class at market.
Posted by: Jan Frandsen | May 15, 2011 at 08:55 PM
Sounds like you had a great time. but you are such a tease with the Scarlett Quilt quilt!! When are you going to release the pattern? I can't wait to make this one!!!
Posted by: MaryBeth | May 16, 2011 at 07:46 AM
What a way to chase a gloomy day..love your blog!! Thanks for having such a great sense of humor and for your very funny blogs!
Posted by: Julia P | May 16, 2011 at 09:06 AM
Thanks for the afternoon break... and the wonderful saga or T & L #2. Could the trip have been any better?
Posted by: Sinta Renee | May 16, 2011 at 12:31 PM
We missed you at School House this year.............
Posted by: kathy | May 16, 2011 at 07:01 PM
I know firsthand what an organized and thorough trip planner our Thelma is. It sounds like you gals had a great time! I loved reading your story!
Posted by: Lisa D. | May 18, 2011 at 06:56 AM
Yes, you do have fun - thanks for the chuckle!!!! Glad you made it home safe and ...
Posted by: Gran - Knot-y Embroidery Lady | May 20, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Oh I could not resist this one...I have been hoping to find a gal pal named Thelma to do quilt shop road trips with..What absolute fun! I do have a Garmin but do much better with a road map, the old fashioned kind of paper map..thanks for the laughs..Louise
Posted by: Louise Murphy | May 21, 2011 at 07:22 PM
I love your trip! I love Thelma too! You guys rock and when I grow up, I want to come and play at your houses LOL! Just kidding!
Posted by: Shelley dionne | May 22, 2011 at 07:04 AM
What a wonderful trip! I really had a good laugh about you drive to the airport! I can so imagine it (: Luckily you had enough time.
Posted by: Simone | June 02, 2011 at 01:03 PM
Congrats on being named to Quilt Home's Top 55 blogs!
LOVED your pie chart. That pretty much reflects my "creative" process this weekend!! Good to know I'm not alone.
LeAnn aka pasqueflower
http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com
Posted by: LeAnn Frobom | June 12, 2011 at 05:55 AM
ahhhhh I LOVE that pie!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Pat Sloan | June 14, 2011 at 06:25 AM