The Swirly Girls visit NYC

(The RMQG Board asked us to share our trip to New York on the blog and we took 200 pictures, so I'm going to split this post into two parts - Susan Emory)

Christine and I took the train from Richmond to Penn Station in NYC.  We love taking the train and would highly recommend it! We have stayed at the Affinia Manhattan Hotel during our last two trips to New York. It is right outside Penn Station, so you get off the train, walk across the street and check-in. It couldn't be more convenient!

Here are some pictures of our room. I really like the modern wallpaper.

Here is the view from our window:

After checking in at the hotel, we took a cab to Purl Soho (http://www.purlsoho.com/).

This store is fantastic and their website and blog are too.

I found several tutorials on their blog that I will be working on.

I keep resisting the urge to take up knitting and it's shops like this that are hard to resist.

The staff was super-friendly and the place was packed!

I put on the blinders to get through all of the yummy yarn and headed to the quilting section. I bought some fabric and Christine picked up some wool, a pattern and some silk thread.

Here are some more shots:

Next we cabbed up to Tinsel Trading Company (http://www.tinseltrading.com/).

This store has an amazing history - you should definitely check out their website.

Tinsel Trading inspired the book "Treasured Notions" by Kaari Meng from French General.

I don't even know if there are enough words to describe this bright, shiny, vintage, inspiring store -  so check out the pictures:

This place is a crafter's dream and we didn't leave empty handed...

I bought buttons (I need an intervention) and Christine scored some spools

of metallic thread and other goodies.

After the inspiration overload that afternoon, we went to Macy's and shopped before heading to dinner. We ate at Tir Na Nog, an Irish Pub, near our hotel (http://www.tirnanognyc.com/).  A woman on the train recommended this local favorite and she was right - it was delicious and a great atmosphere. It would have been perfect if the older couple sitting directly behind Christine hadn't been making out the entire time...

So there you have it, day one in NYC.  In my next post I will tell you about our day at Michael Miller Fabrics, as well as visiting The City Quilter and Times Square.

Have you been on any quilting-related trips lately? We would love to hear about it, and see pictures, of course!  Post any time on our Facebook page, or email richmondmqg@gmail.com.