Quilting With Strangers
So, my daughter asked me, "What are you doing this weekend?" And I told her, "Quilting with strangers!" Out in Lancaster County, the family that owns one of the largest, most popular, most affordable fabric stores also owns three (there may be even more) houses that have been converted into retreat centers for groups of quilters. Each house has many bedrooms, almost as many bathrooms, a magnificently appointed kitchen, and a humongous work room with a bazillion outlets, good-sized tables, a couple of design walls, and pre-designated ironing stations. And each has a minimum number of guests required. Mary Ellen, my machinist, had invited me more than a year ago to go away for a weekend with a group of her friends. It seemed they were looking to expand their number in order to make the minimum needed for their retreat house of choice. My buddies Judy and Helen were able to join them that time, but I wasn't. And the same thing happened the next time. But what d...
