Airport. Jet. (I love these little commuter jets.) Salt Lake City.
So far, so good, right?
Except that I flew in on Sunday and got home yesterday afternoon. I had to change my plans and skip Spring Market in Salt Lake City.
I'm a teeny tiny bit disappointed, mostly because it means I won't get to see some of the people I only get to see at Market. I also won't meet new friends. I'll miss the chatter, the buzz, the gossip and the drama that always happens when you get a big huge convention center full of women. I'll miss seeing all the new fabrics and terrific new things my favorite people have created.
As for the whys, it is pretty simple. Some of you know that my Mom is 81 and while she's in pretty good health... well, she's also 81. Small problems can become big problems pretty quickly, and when she had a bad reaction to some medications she was prescribed, she wasn't feeling very well. After an up-and-down couple of weeks, I made the decision last week that I would cancel going to Spring Market. The long and the short of it is, I couldn't leave her on her own for the ten days I would have been gone with my classes at Corn Wagon Quilt Co. and Spring Market. And the classes took priority for me since other people had made plans based on my being there. Much as I might like to pretend otherwise, nobody went to Spring Market just to see moi.
Except maybe for George. But I'm pretty sure he won't be there.
The good news is that my Mom is much better and getting better every day. She's doing so well that Carrie's little pattern-packing sweatshop is back in business and running smoothly. I might throw Mom a little peanut butter Dove egg or two when she's feeling poorly, but once she's feeling better, she's got to work for that chocolate! (Is it any wonder she was so happy to see me go for a couple of days?)
So lest you think I've been working hard ~ as if! ~ this is where I've been.
Corn Wagon Quilt Co. in Springville, Utah. It is just south of Provo, Utah, about 45 minutes or so from Salt Lake City. I was invited by Marsha and MaryAnn ~ the lovely ladies who own and run the shop and give it so much life and energy. I first met Marsha and MaryAnn about five years ago and this is the second time I've been to the shop.
I flew up on Sunday afternoon and did two workshops, Wild Air on Monday and Long Tall Sally on Tuesday. Can you believe that there were actually ladies who heard that they would have to make 656 flying geese that finish at 1" x 2" and still came? I thought I would be there all by myself. Or that there might be a few folks in white coats and jackets with really long sleeves.
Even this picture didn't scare them away.
This is Wild Air. It is named after a line from the Ralph Waldo Emerson poem "The Conduct of Life". The best known lines of the poem are ... “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air’s salubrity”… though most folks leave off the last word of that line. It means “favorable to or promoting health.” As ever, I don't know why I liked the name for my quilt but I did.
On Tuesday, without any assistance from Little Richard, we spent the day with Long Tall Sally.
There are two versions of this quilt. This one has scrappy lights and darks and a smaller "block".
This one has a single background and scrappy darks. It is also just a skosh bigger.
Sally can also be made in an all-over scrappy sort of way using an assortment of lights, mediums and darks. If Linda M. would hurry up and finish her quilt from class, I could show you what that would look like. She's using the Sunkissed collection and it is going to be gorgeous. Come on, Linda! Sew faster!
There are a few more new quilts coming but they haven't had their pictures taken yet so they're still officially "coming soon."
Since I don't have anything else to do for the next couple of days, I'll probably be back tomorrow to tell you about my time as "Louise".
Until then, I'm off to get dinner ready. These are on the menu... Baked Hasselback Potatoes.
Until later...
So sorry you had to skip market...and I am willing to bet that some people will be sad to miss you this year...but family ALWAYS comes first..no matter what. Your mom is the same age as mine and I understand the health thing...
Did you see I blogged about the box of goodies and linked back to you?
Posted by: Nancy Lee | May 12, 2011 at 06:14 PM
Carrie, I'm sorry you are going to miss Spring Market, but very happy to hear that your mom is doing so well. I won't be there either, though I had planned to help my two new friends from Australia set up their booth but where the spirit is willing, the flesh (and joints) are weak. So my one and only chance to see a Market will pass me by. But I did spend a truly fun filled day taking Gail and Sandra around to some of the specialty stitchery and quilt shops up my way, north of SLC about 40 miles, it was a day to remember I tell ya, LOL. About your classes in Springville, I love both of the quilt patterns but I must admit, those tiny little geese would probably have my hubby calling for one of those coats with the really long sleeves for me if I tried it just now. Long Tall Sally however looks a bit less stressful for me, LOL. I can't wait to see it in Sunkissed...*sigh* what a gorgeous collection. Ah well, I'm rambling which means it's time to hush...In the mean time, Hugs... and hey, throw Mom an extra little peanut butter Dove egg from me, just because! Oh, and could we talk about the recipe for that Baked Hasselback Potatoes. Yummmmmm
Posted by: Nancy | May 12, 2011 at 06:26 PM
Lucky ladies that attended your class! Glad Mom is better.
Posted by: Mary on Lake Pulaski | May 12, 2011 at 06:32 PM
Wow!That wild air quilt is amazing. Despite the multitude of geese I am tempted to try it. Perhaps you should rename it Wild Hair. Because I have a Wild Hair to try it. LOL!!
Posted by: Robyn Brown | May 12, 2011 at 07:08 PM
I'm so glad to hear that your mom is improving. Also, who's George?? You have some dedicated followers, if they willingly make that many flying geese blocks, at that small of a size...whoo-eee! That's about 600 more than I think I would have made. But, the final product is beautiful! Darn it! Lastly, I love that several of your patterns are named after literary works. As an English teacher, I appreciate your cleverness!! :)
Posted by: Jayne Honnold | May 12, 2011 at 07:24 PM
So sorry you had to skip spring Market, but I am so glad to hear your mom is doing better. As our parents age, it's interesting to see how we, in some ways, become the caretakers. Though, my dad and my husband's mom are going to end up being locked in a room together if they don't behave when we get to that point! LOL!
THat potato looks SO GOOD! Gotta go check that link out!
Posted by: Lori | May 12, 2011 at 07:36 PM
sorry you had to skip part of your trip but when our moms get to be in their 80's we tend to put them first don't we - I cut a trip short last year for basically the same reason - my mom is 86.
Karen
Posted by: Karen | May 12, 2011 at 07:58 PM
How many flying geese!?!?!?!?! OMG and I thought I had done well when I did them on Brocante!!!! Glad your Mum is getting better, you made the right decision, there will always be another market...you only have one Mum.
Posted by: Sunnybec | May 13, 2011 at 12:16 AM
Glad Mom is on the mend - do you suppose Rosie put her up to the fake out so you'd cancel?? Just kidding!!
I always love hearing your review of market, sorry you won't be there, and yes, I'm sure you will be sorely missed!! Can't wait to see what all you were showing!!
Not only is that a mega amount of flying geese, but those guys are small too!! YIKES!!!
Posted by: Linda P | May 13, 2011 at 04:30 AM
Well that makes two of us that didn't make Spring market...not that I had planned to go. LOL I'm bummed for you that you didn't get to go rub elbows with all your friends and quilter's who would have loved to meet you at same time so happy that your mom is doing better and was your top priority. :-) Maybe this week you can plop your feet up and relax some.
Posted by: Mary Flynn | May 13, 2011 at 05:05 AM
Carrie, so sorry to hear about your Mom. We've been going through similar things with hubby's Mom who just turned 90!!! For 2 1/2 years the family has been caring for her, but my sis in love and I were able to go to Paducah this year! Yay! Hang in there, and I hope your Mom will be good as new and up and "running" soon.
Posted by: Jocelyn | May 13, 2011 at 05:21 AM
Hope your mom is feeling better. Chocolate has always been my go-to medicine too!
Posted by: Ramona Chester | May 13, 2011 at 06:14 AM
Bummer about Market, but you are a wonderful daughter to be taking such good care of your mom. I think you and my husband are living parallel lives right now! His mom just got moved to a convalescent hospital, and her improvement is going very slowly. Your new patterns are sensational!
Posted by: Nicole | May 13, 2011 at 08:00 AM
I tried these potatoes (or something like it) several years ago. didn't work well for me. Since then I saw a trick to keep from cutting all the way through...lay the handle of a wooden spoon parallel to the potato alongside it and it will keep you from cutting all the way down. Anyway, I hope they turn out well for you! Enjoy!
Posted by: Jenn | May 13, 2011 at 08:23 AM
You are a good daughter, teacher, person! Glad your mom is better; she sounds like a gem! Love the recipe...thanks!
Posted by: Linda | May 13, 2011 at 09:06 AM
There are always more Markets.. but I'm so happy to hear that your mom is doing better... how
scar-iee. I hate that stuff! I want to see inside pics of the quilt shop and all of your class hard at work too:) I bet you have them chained to their sewing machines and they are having flying geese nightmares!LOL
Posted by: Sinta Renee | May 13, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Enjoy your time with you Mom' I am sure she will appreciate you missing spring market just for her. So glad to know she is feeling better, but I think chocolate is a great medicine:^) There is always next year.
Posted by: Gale Lavers | May 13, 2011 at 01:03 PM
BTW, I forgot to mention earlier that I absolutely LOVE Wild Air! How big are those flying geese and what fabrics did you use to make it?
Posted by: Lisa D. | May 13, 2011 at 01:15 PM
I guess my comment above seems silly because the one I posted this morning didn't post. The most important thing I meant to say (not that your patterns aren't fabu!) is that I'm glad your mom is okay. Of course being with her was far more important than Quilt Market. You have your priorities straight, for sure.
Posted by: Lisa D. | May 13, 2011 at 01:18 PM
Sorry to hear about Mom, but glad she is on the mend. You will be missed at market, I am sure!
Posted by: Cheryl Miller | May 13, 2011 at 01:24 PM
Glad to hear your mom's on the path of feeling all better! Here's hint on how NOT to cut all the way through the potato - you lay the spud between the handles of two wooden spoons and slice, slice, slice! Tah dah!! My mom was a Swede and we had these often when I was a kid!
Posted by: Elaine Morgan | May 13, 2011 at 04:59 PM
So glad your Mom is better. Sorry you had to skip quilt market, though. Love the quilts you were teaching. Wild Air is pretty amazing with all those little pieces. Just gorgeous!
Posted by: Kim | May 13, 2011 at 05:12 PM
Glad to hear your mom is better. There will be other spring markets but there is only one mom. That potato looked wonderful! Recipe coming anytime soon?
Posted by: Jane | May 13, 2011 at 06:15 PM
Love the quilts and if you were teaching in SoCa I might be tempted to do all those little geese. Glad your Mom is better, give her a hug from someone who misses her Mom everyday. And thanks for the Potato recipe, I used to make these and the recipe got away from me!
Posted by: Mary Ann | May 13, 2011 at 09:25 PM
Sorry to hear that you missed market, but glad to hear that your Mom is doing much better!
Posted by: Deb A | May 14, 2011 at 08:25 AM
Carrie, sorry about your mom and glad to hear she is doing better.. I think the Dove Chocolate done the trick! How soon will Long Tall Sally be in the Shops? I am very eager to try it...think is will use up the fat quarters or is it 10 inch squares? You are sooo creative..Beth
Posted by: Marybeth Paulson | May 14, 2011 at 09:53 AM
Missing you........ It's not the same without you. And Rosie, of course- was she terribly disappointed??
Posted by: Jacquelynne | May 14, 2011 at 04:50 PM
The Wild Air class was wonderful! Such a special treat to finally meet one of my favorite designers! And in case your wondering, I still have 646 geese left to make! :~)
Posted by: Julia | May 14, 2011 at 06:10 PM
I hope your Mom is doing better.
Also, I was just amazed at how fast you responded to my email the other day and I appreciated the info. regarding backround yardage needed for OSO.
Posted by: Michelle | May 15, 2011 at 09:27 PM
I'm glad your mom is feeling better. I was really concerned when they made the announcement right before schoolhouse that you had a family emergency.
P.S. You were #1 on my list of people to see!
Posted by: Monica | May 17, 2011 at 08:35 AM
I hope your mom is much better!
Love Long Tall Sally!
Posted by: Simone | June 02, 2011 at 12:57 PM