DAY 6 - GSMAT ....continued some more....

WOW........this is truly a dream. I've visited the Biltmore Estate several times since we moved to the Asheville area.....but never imagined I'd have the opportunity to stay at their 5 Star hotel......well.....it's frankly, incredible.

The Biltmore estate is 8,000 acres. The Inn on Biltmore Estate is about 15 mins. by shuttle bus from the mansion.....which you can see in the distance from the veranda of this hotel. (Illustrating just how HUGE the 'House' is.)

So....I walk into my room.......as the kids say OMG!! Fabulous.... I grabbed my camera and began taking photos before I messed up the room by unpacking.

This corner room boasts of an alcove leading to the bathroom.

You can see my reflection in the bathroom mirror......I'm NOT kidding.....I almost need a road map to find my way to and around this huge space. There's a walk in shower, and toliet closet.....note the fresh rose on the counter.

Oh....did I mention the jetted tub?

However.....what are they thinking??? With the extensive food choices....I really didn't want to know how much weight I've gained these last 7 days.

Are you getting the idea of just how huge the room is?? Yes, I'm in heaven!

Look at the size of this TV........of course it has to be this large due to the distance it is from the bed.....did I say the room is huge??

Housekeeping service is provided twice a day....... How many times have you wondered where the heck you should put the decorative pillows hotels now seem to have on the beds? They have it all figured out here......they are stacked on a spare luggage rack when turn down service occurs.

Bed linens are folded back.....

The next day's weather forcast is provided.....along with chocolate. Oh, did I say how pampered I feel? I'm so grateful to all the participants for registering for this trip.....otherwise I'd be home with 'the husband'......not that he's not worth staying home for......but this is enjoyable as well.

There's one more day to report and then our tour will conclude. My camera was snapping pictures all day, I expect to post a few more photos before it's time to put these memories in my treasure chest.

DAY 6 - GSMAT ....continued

.....Show and Tell at Asheville Cotton continued with the very talented members of PTA fiber group.......which I'm happy to say I was able to join when I moved to Asheville.

Because I was helping to hold quilts for my pals....I wasn't able to get photos of everyone's pieces. That doesn't mean each and every quilt wasn't special. I wish I could share them all with you. However...... thank you girlfriends for taking the time to share your fabulous talent with my tour.

Barbara and Linda teamed up to make this award winning spectacular quilt.

Georgia Bonesteel showed the group this large Trip Around The World Quilt...... Georgia has developed a nifty cutting method to make this design a snap to assemble. Visit her website to order one for yourself.

She also generously shared at least two dozen or more barn quilts, many made by her retreat students. They pay homage to the Quilt Trail.

Well....if you know me......you already understand I may see things that tickle my funny bone........ Assuming our bus driver will never read my blog.....I think I can safely post one of the best comb-overs ever!

DAY 6 - GSMAT

Tuesday was another busy day for our tour group.

We arranged for a private tour of Lark Books, a well known publisher of quilt and other craft books. Their offices are located in an old car dealership building in downtown Asheville. The view from the 3rd floor research library was amazing.

We all wondered where they displayed the cars?

Wouldn't you love a library this large??

The lower floors reminded me of a maze.....

The office is dog friendly.......this photo was taken through a glass office window (so as not to disturb this Boxer, who was having his morning nap.) Amanda of Lark books shared a great deal of information about the publishing process......this is the kind of extra we like to provide to our guests.....the inside views of places normally not accessible by the public!

Next we traveled to South Asheville to visit Asheville Cotton, the area's largest quilt shop and Bernina Dealer.

Shop owner Robin makes sure the store is overflowing with stock.....our group enjoyed their shopping experience.

We had access to their classroom and took the opportunity to do Show and Tell.....first with the tour members, followed by members of my small group....PTA.

Here June, on the left, is showing her Shasiko quilt.

Donna wowed us with her colorful piece.

Diane brought a small star/heart wall quilt....

Sara gave us all chills with her Quilt of Valor quilt.

Karen shared a piece she began in a workshop with Gloria Lohman....and the personal touches she added.

There were many more.......this is just an overview of the talented gals I've had the pleasure of traveling with these last 6 days. More to follow......but I must get myself moving this morning (Now Wed.) it's time to begin exploring all that the Biltmore Estate has to offer.

DAY 5 - GSMAT - continued again

Here's a wrap up of Monday's fun........

When creating these customs quilt blocks......design choices vary. One 'client' asked to use a family quilt as inspiration.

Here's their finished block.....wonderful yes??

I was delighted to see this block in progress.......it will be one of the first to be hung at the Shelton House Museum in Haywood County (the county I live in). I'd love to have one on our log cabin storage building.......and intend to look into the application process. From what I understand, the largest blocks run about $300......which surprised me....I expected it to be higher.

What would a day be like on a quilting tour without a visit to a quilt shop? This is Needle Me This their block, with Kathy and Robin enjoying the front porch.

And to top off the day......Judy Simmons joined us for dinner and presented a lecture! We were treated to detailed information about the techniques she uses to create her incredible digital photo enhanced quilts.

She told a touching story about the making of this quilt which features a drawing of her grandfather who as a newcomer to the U.S., worked on the docks in New York. (I hope I have this correct Judy...)

Day 6 is now at an end....it too was jam packed with events.......If I continue to be able to grab an internet signal.....I'll start posting them tomorrow morning. Nite, nite.....with all this fun I'm pooped!

DAY 5 - GSMAT - continued

Today (Tues.) has flown by.....we just checked into the Inn on Biltmore Estate........This is the way I was meant to live. Pictures to follow.....

I'm not sure if my internet availability will hold......so for now I want to finish sharing the rest of our activities on Monday.

One of our stops in quaint Burnsville was the Fox General Store.......where you could buy 1 of just about anything you might need.

I'd have taken this home with me but sadly the size was way to large for me.....love the humor!

This isn't so much a look at the past in small town's of NC.....rather....I'm guessing all of you know of a drive in that looks much like this.

A big highlight of our day was being allowed to visit the paint studio....where all the Quilt Blocks are made.

Barbara Webster showed us how she took computer drawings of the blocks.......and had them made into full size patterns....done by a local printing company. Everything is labeled.....

Next the design is transferred to the top of the wood framed block. They use a special sign board as their top layer.

This is a work in progress for a eye Doctor's office......sections are being painted. The work is done entirely by volunteers....but the materials for each block are paid for by the 'clients'. They are available in 8 different sizes at varying costs. Each is custom designed for the 'owner'.

The paint is Benjamin Moore Exterior soft gloss......and applied in several layers. There is no lacquer or other protective surface added.

Sorry this is short.....more to share as I can....but I must sign off now.....

Long time readers know what a hotel snob I am.....seriously, my room here at the Inn is swell.....wait till you see it.

DAY 5 - GSMAT

We had such a busy day today......I hardly know where to begin....my camera is full of photos so this will be a two part post.......

We headed to Burnsville, NC where Barbara Webster guided us along parts of Yancey County's Quilt Trail. We began with an introduction to this small town North West of Asheville. Barbara created this huge quilt as a tribute to the area which she made entirely from digital photo transferred fabric.

Detail

The Quilt Trail is quickly making the town of Burnsville famous. Yancey County has the highest concentration of quilts block anywhere n the USA! The Quilt Trail project got its start in Ohio when Donna Sue Groves put a block on her barn to honor her mother. From that simple act, the project has spread to 24 states. We were so fortunate to have Barbara, the driving force behind this region's project, as our personal guide for the day.

This is the block that is displayed at the Railroad Sock Factory.

This small factory was crammed with machinery......and boxes of socks everywhere.

They manufacture socks for many famous companies.....who then brank them with their own names.
The factory makes the socks that are used to create those creepy sock monkies.....ya, some of you might think they are cute.....but they give me the willies.

This block was designed by Barbara and her husband for the town's Chevy dealership. The owner's favorite car is a Corvette.....notice....two sides of the block depict the front of the car and the other two the back.

Quilt blocks are displayed on every kind of business in town, from bakeries to dentist offices, to this jewlery store. All custom designed.

In March the world's first Quilt Block Sundial was installed. It's also the largest vertical sundial in North Carolina. It's not only beautiful to look at.....it's accurate. Yes, for those who asked....it's was about 11:10 AM.....

I'll continue as I can.........we move to stay at the historic Biltmore Estates for the next two nights where I'm guessing I won't have internet access.....but please stay tuned for further reports....