Ithaca New York Quilt Show - Part One

The bi-annual Quilt Show in Ithaca presented by the Tompkins County Quilt Guild was beautiful and colorful as always.

Waiting for the start of Project Iron Quilter, which debuted here two years ago at their last show.

Ruth White designed these gorgeous placques for the winners.

There is always a great display of wearables.

Aafke describes how she made her unusual quilt made from labels.

The winning garment by Nancy Crouch.

Sewing Day at Marcia's Studio

Linda worked on some pieces from her stash.

And I started a new jacket based on a piece I purchased on my last trip to Laos.

Some foiled pieces left by Marcia Murphy during her last visit.

My jacket progresses.

Inspector Suki inspects some of my pieces for softness and compatability.

And Linda makes progress on her piece.

While looking for pieces for the blue jacket I found this beautiful parrot cross stitched on wool which would also make a beautiful jacket back.

Bog Coat Workshop at Quilter's Corner's - Ithaca

I just love the classrooms in the new Quilter's Corners Quilt Shop in Ithaca. There is space for everyone to have their own table.

And a huge table for cutting fabric.

The Bog Coat is a great pattern for large prints you don't want to cut up. By the end of the day participants are trying on their jackets.

This beauty doesn't have its front band yet.

And this self-banded one is just about finished.

As is this one with a contrasting band.

Trip to Thailand & Laos- Bangkok

A great Spirit House near my Bangkok hotel.

Traffic is terrible in Bangkok and I like to stay near the River and use the River boats to get around town. The water was very high. There was major flooding in the low lying areas about two weeks after I left.

Two huge barges being towed by tug boats.

An old Portugese building

A vendor on my street.

Another advantage of my hotels location is a Swensen's Ice Cream Store half a block from my hotel. Location is everything.

The display area in the airport on the way home was full of orchids again.

The trip had its good and bad points. The Temples of Nan were absolutely fabulous and well worth the trip there. And I always love coming to this area and just hanging out and walking around...especially in Laos.

On the negative side...it was hard to get around Nan with no tuk tuks...prices are rising rapidly everywhere...and crafts are becoming harder and harder to find.

A nice perk on the way home was the use of the first class lounge while I waited for the plane. Great food and comfy surroundings.

Trip to Thailand & Laos- Train from Nong Khai to Bangkok

The Royal Family is greatly revered in Thailand. Members spend a great deal of time visiting charities they sponsor and "opening" things. A couple of years ago the rail link from Nong Khai Thailand across the Mekong into Laos was completed and, of course, had to be "opened". The King's second daughter, Princess Sirindhorn did the honors. When a Royal "opens" something apparently everything they deal with must be preserved and shown. In the Nong Khai station is this large glass case with the Princess's photo, a sofa she sat on, the podium she used for her speech, photos of the event and so on. My daughter, son-in-law and I happened to be in the station a couple of years ago the day before the opening and the station was full of folding chairs in rows, neatly covered with white cotton slipcovers waiting for the great event.

I was waiting for the evening train to Bangkok. I used to buy a First Class ticket and reserve the whole compartment (upper and lower) but the Railway changed the rules and I was no longer able to purchase tickets online. I then discovered that 2nd class was very comfortable and much cheaper. The racks hold luggage and serve as steps to the upper bunks.

The seats which face each other are wide and very comfortable.

An attendant makes up the beds adding a foam mattress and clean bedding. I always bring a pillow and extra blanket (which comes in handy just about everywhere with the air conditioning)

And all the bunks have privacy curtains and there is a western toilet at the end of the car. The train leaves Nong Khai around 6:30 pm and arrives in Bangkok around 7am the next morning. Not a bad trip. The second class ticket is around $25.00.

Trip to Thailand & Laos-Laos

After Chiang Mai I took two flights on Thai Airlines and a shuttle to the Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai and a taxi to Vientiane, Laos. A street vendor near my hotel

This building has been in the process of being remodeled for years. There used to be un upscale clothing store on the ground floor.

Pumpkin soup at one of my favorite restaurants.

My first banana split on this trip.

I never can resist these statues.

A new Chinese style temple which has just been built in the new park by the Mekong.

And a nearby tower. The park was designed to hold back the flood waters.

And includes playgrounds.

A beautiful mural on the temple wall.

On my last evening I had Chicken & Cashew Nuts...my favorite meal in Laos.