SUMMERTIME TRAVELS!

Summer time travels...

Perhaps it's a sign of needing a break from sewing...

when I see quilty inspiration everywhere,

even the broken TV screen at the airport!

Once in upper Michigan...

it was time for cherryade and...

cherry PIE!

(ala mode - of course!)

Cool stuff seen on a road trip to the very cute town of Glen Arbor...

After a relaxing  (and HOT) week we continued our way east!

My youngest son was nominated by his teacher to attend

a wonderful leadership camp in DC!

We spent a few days exploring the city before and after his camp.

Here's a fabulous folk art lady made of bottle caps

in the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

And a fabulously whimisical chandelier!

What a surprise to see this sidewalk art!

It covered a whole wall

and was made entirely of door knobs, door handles, and keyholes!

During the camp I took my oldest to NYC!

(my middle son went home with his dad

because all he wants is a break from brothers!)

It was a second trip to NYC with family,

but as a teen I spent five summers working

in my uncle's deli near Wall Street.

I absolutely LOVE the energy in this city!!!

We spent four glorious days

(getting along!)

walking

and

walking

and riding

the subway

from Harlem

to the Statue of Liberty

and from the High Line

to 2nd Ave

loving all the

neighborhoods

and all the people

in the

intense

gritty

humid

heat.

Every single

moment

was

a

beautiful

gift.

On the last day my oldest's horoscope said,

you have spent the last few days with one who talks too much (ha!)

but you have developed great patience.

Hallelujah!

Here's some of my favorite pictures.

Enjoy!

MOOD!!!!!!

(LOVE Project Runway!)

Chairs with wild Betsy Johnson fabric!

Merimekko flagship store!

Freddy makes here flower collage quilts with Merimekko!

The fabric is outrageously expensive,

but I found these two in the remnant basket...

and started cutting like Freddy!

These leaves are already up on my design wall!

City Quilter...

with an exhibit of Sylvia Einstein's quilts.

We ate a lot of fantastic

food...

Ukrainian, Italian, Persian,

organic and fresh, 

folded slices of drippy greasy pizza goodness,

hotdogs from the corner,

deli deliciousness,

and even the trendy noodle bar Momfuku,

but the rice pudding-only place called

Rice to Riches

was too much fun!

Etc...

four favorite window displays

We've been back a day.

We are pooped, but all is well.

Here's a "little" that needed to be made this morning.

I'm looking forward to getting back in the groove

(and not feeling so hot!

one night it was 94 degrees in DC at midnight!)

Nothing left to do but smile smile smile...

What has you smiling these days?