Our fellow travelers asked Lynn, Trena and I how we knew each other. It was great fun explaining PatternReview.com and how we had friends in the Netherlands. We gathered together in a little town called Nieuwport. How cute is this City Hall? The canal flows right underneath.
It really warms your heart to know how generous our community is. Really. These days, isn’t the most precious gift time? I was looking forward to this ALL week. And not in that, ‘What will we talk about? What will we do? I hope they like me!” kind of looking forward. But, the ‘Woot! Woot! I’m going to see long lost friends!!” looking forward.
I was rather sad about missing PR Weekend in Chicago last weekend. It looks like it was the biggest turnout ever. But, honestly? This was just as good!
I had the pleasure of first meeting up with Sigrid, Joana, Marta, Hilde in a little town called Nieuwport. And truly, when you start talking, you feel like you’ve known them forever. I also learned that in the Netherlands, you greet with three kisses on the cheek. You can believe I’m going to be whipping that one out at my next greeting.
Lynn, Trena and I joined them for some espressos, tea and wine.
Joana wanted our opinion on some handbags she crafted. I tried to buy the velvet bag Sigrid is holding below but Joana wasn’t selling them yet.
The time flew! The next thing I knew it was minutes to 10:00 p.m.! We’d kept them out all night.
I have to go on the record here to say that there is nothing better than traveling overseas and meeting people you ‘know’ that you never thought you would actually meet. It shows you how small the world is and how far reaching the internet has become. This is officially my thing. Wither I goest, you will be called / e-mailed / stalked until you agree to meet with me. I really cannot express how much I enjoyed my evening.
Plus, we left with magazines!
I’ll post about our second rendezvous seperately which was a visit to Kantje Boord. Be still my heart.
Miss Celie's Pants 
Thank you so much! I knew this was going to be exciting!
Looks like everyone had so much fun – I love it when you can get together like you did with people and talk ‘n’ talk and you run out of time ‘cos everyone is enjoying themselves so much 🙂
I love how the Interwebs bring us just that much closer together! Looks like you gals had fun!
You’re always welcome here in Portland, you know. You just say the word and I’ll clear out the guest room!
Oh, and foreign sewing MAGAZINES! Love!
I prefer the ‘mutual friend’ excuse. You know, my mutual friend who also has a blog…
Looks like a fantastic time was had by all. What a fantastic treat to find out how much we have in common around the world once we get talking sewing and fabric. I’m envious of those terrific magazines, too. Welcome home!
Now you just need to come to my end of the world! Or maybe I should come there …
What a wonderful trip you had. First and foremost, meeting up with friends and secondly, the magazines! WOW!
hee hee I LOVE IT! We need to meet somewhere in Baltimore soon! (as soon as you are over your jet lag).
GREAT POST! I love all the pics 🙂
It’s so much fun to read about all your travels. I’m such a homebody that I’ll just live vicariously through you!
I agree with you! I can’t wait until my trip to London and I get to meet all those bloggers there! Hope you had a fantastic time!
You must be in magazine heaven! Look at that bounty!
Internet friends, sewing buds, magazines, Holland and cycling. Pretty much the best holiday I can imagine!
I have so many friends in so many places thanks to the Internet. I even got to meet two of them when we traveled to Mazatlan. We had a great lunch and still keep in touch. The friend that lives there year-round even offered to pick us up from the airport next time. Someday maybe you and I can meet and talk sewing for hours! (And feel the fabric, as my mom would say when she wanted to go shopping, “Marty I have the urge to go feel material.”)
Oh it was so much fun! And I’m looking forward reading your post on Kaantje Boord, it was an amazing experience for us all.
Awesome! If you ever decide to travel to Southern France, please go right ahead and nag me for a rendez-vous 😉