THE FINAL STRAW

I'm now on my 3rd full day of wearing the same clothing.....no cosmetics, creature comforts that were in my suitcase because the butt head airlines still can't find my bag. I will spare you my head exploding frustration of literally hours on the phone dealing with two airlines who blame each other but neither will admit to knowing anything about this bag except that it was located in Gulf Port, MS, Thurs. night at midnight. Location now?? Guess it evaporated....

Yes, things happen, but what is maddening is the lack of responsiblity of the airlines to assist one and the incredible incompetence in this world. Sorry this is depressing....so I'll sign off and go back to having fun and hope for the best.

AIRLINE HASSLES

I'm in the Pacific NW where environmental concerns are always in the spot light. This is a new one on me.......the flushing instructions posted in a Portland, OR airport public bathroom. Couldn't help but take a photo and share this with all you green folks.

So....this is sort of how my day went......I left my home about 5:00 AM Thursday morning, I arrived in Eugene, OR at 11:45 PM EST.....spent the next hour on the phone trying to locate my bag which didn't arrive...DESPITE having a 2 hr. layover in Charlotte and what turned out to be a 6 hour delay in Chicago.

Since there wasn't a seat to be had in the gate area, I stood for over an hour watching this ridiculous sign tell us falsehoods! When I took this photo which stated 'boarding' would begin in 6 mins.....DAH......he inbound flight wasn't even in yet. This repeated its self over and over again....each time with a new later departure time, new boarding count down times and still no plane.

Of course it finally did come......and we depart Chicago after 5:00 PM.......very weary. The worst was yet to come when I stood waiting and waiting for my bag to appear on the carousel. It's a long story, but apparently, it was found in Gulf Port, MS.....I'm assuming it was never taken off the Asheville/Charlotte flight and just rode around in that aircraft..........but why nobody took the time to reroute it back in the system and on its way to me show the typical incompetence we often find these days. At this writing - 6:30 AM PST (ya....after only about 5 hours of sleep, I woke up and cant' get back to sleep) I still have no clue when I'll get my clean underwear.....my guess is it won't be till later tonight......grrr!

But, the luggage rack will be here waiting........ Life on the road can certainly be stressful. No matter, I arrived safely and am looking forward to some sibling bonding and family time.......and for that I'm thankful.

NIMBLE THIMBLE QUILT GUILD

I enjoyed a lovely evening with the Nimble Thimbles Quilt Guild in Mauldin, SC last night. Show and Tell was inspiring and went so quickly, despite the vast number of great quilts......sadly, I wasn't able to get the names of the makers......but please enjoy...... I've put a request out for names so I can credit them....will post if they come my way.

Made by Norma DeHaven

THE VOTES ARE IN!!!

Thank you everyone for confirming what I suspected......the B's have it. In addition to the comments registered on the blog, and email votes....... view B was the clear winner with 17 quilters votes. View A......my original working position received only 1......

I appreciate all of you taking the time to share your thoughts.

I just returned from the Nimble Thimbles Guild in South Carolina and am heading off to Eugene, OR tomorrow.......hope to have a chance later today to post some photos of the wonderful shows and tell I saw last night.......otherwise......I'll be in touch soon.

TWISTED STITCHER CHALLENGE

One of the most rewarding aspects of my long time teaching career are the friends I've made along the journey. It's VERY flattering to be invited to a guild, not just once but 3 times as I have with the Dallas Quilt Guild.

A small bee within that organization, Twisted Stitchers, has issued their 10th anniversary challenge which includes an invitation to their extended arty-farty family of friends. (That would be me....thank you Judy for asking me!) It's titled Twelve Squared Inches.....obviously the piece must be 12" x 12" and made by a single person.....that's it....short and sweet rules. Love it.

My piece isn't due until March 1, 2010.....can you believe I'm already tackling this task? That's me......I'm not a last minute person......when I have a deadline.....even if it's 6 months away....I'm not content until I have it finished. I can just hear all of you out there.......but yup....that's me....miss organized!

The exhibit will be on display at the 2010 Dallas Quilt Celebration show.

Small is good.......because that's just the kind of piece that will show off some fun beading. I began with a 9 1/2" sq. of Woolfelt which was thread basted to a stabilizer. I decided to make this one fairly colorful.....with high bright contrast colors in the images and beads.

After beginning the beadwork with yellow beads on the pink fabric.....I realized it didn't provide the impact I wanted. I tried just one line using various green beads and knew I had to start over.

I used a 4 seed bead embroidery stitch (instructions in Beading Basics and Beading Buddy)

to create the veins, and a single bead back stitch with bugle beads for the center vein.

My idea was to bring this piece up to the 12" size by backing it with a dark green Woolfelt.....so I'm auditioning other design elements using this back drop. I love securing objects such as cabochons and flat sequins by sewing beads in the round to capture the element to the fabric.

Due to the size of the finished piece, I decided to use these flat mirror discs to keep the weight down.

Before I began the beadwork, I decided to give the lime green background some texture by machine echo stitching with a variegated rayon thread. Next, I beaded the mirrors in position. Note...I'm ONLY stitching through the lime green wool and the stabilizer at this point. The piece has been placed on the darker green fabric on my design wall only for viewing and for this snap shot. The backing won't be added until all the beadwork on the center unit is complete.

Which is is now.......you can see I added some scatter stitched bugles and seeds along the machine stitching lines to add further interest. AND......after thinking dark green all along, I changed my mind and hauled out some lemon yellow Woolfelt instead for the backing/border treatment.....which perks the whole composition up.

So, the backing has now been added....the two layers are secured with the 'spiral bead technique' which outlines the lime green center (instruction in: Beading Buddy). And finally, I used a decorative rotary cutting blade to trim the outside edges and added a few more beads to complete the piece.

THIS IS CHOICE A.

Now....I need your help.......during the whole design process I position this leaf with the pink edge on the bottom.......BUT.....when I stitched on the hanging sleeve and put it on my wall to photograph......low and behold.......I reversed it.......as you can see below. Now I'm wondering if I actually like this position better???

THIS IS CHOICE B.

I'd love to hear if you have a preference?? A or B??

I'll be on the road for the next couple of days, but expect to have internet access so I'll be looking for comments posted here or email me personally by using the link on the upper right side bar. Thanks in advance for your insight.

WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?

Ya gotta wonder?  Hey, little buddy....where did you come from?  AND.....where are you going?

We saw this HUGE snapping turtle meandering along our road yesterday. 'The husband' stopped our car and was considering helping it off the road so it didn't get hit until he noticed it was a snapping turtle.

Our elevation is 3,200 feet......there are some ponds up this high, but mostly there are creeks which are now moving rapidly with all the rain we've had.

Almost daily we see evidence of bear.......everyone assures us that if we live here long enough, we'll see one.......hope so....but at a distance!

MARY RAY TRUNK SHOW

Long time friend, Mary Ray was in town presenting a trunk show of her fabulous garments at Waechter's Silk Shop in Asheville.

Mary is known for her impeccable construction, innovative and classy designs.  Her long list of credentials include multiple fashion show awards, designer for Fairfield & Bernina Fashion Shows, Editor with Threads Magazine, her own custom fashion design business, Bernina Artisan, as well as a giving and talented instructor.  She and her husband moved to Banner Elk about 6 years ago where they own a wine and cheese shop.

Though we probably only live less than 2 1/2 hours away.....to this point, we've only seen each other on the road, so it was great to have the opportunity to see some of her new work.  I hope you'll enjoy this mini show.

Mary loves to create smart and stylish quilted clothing.  Many avoid this approach because of the bulk, but she has developed innovative patterns and procedures to keep the clothing flat and flattering.

Mary advocates pressing, pressing, pressing before during and after construction.  She likes to use Hobb's Wool Batting and thinner drapey fabrics rather than heavy cottons.

She shared many of her tricks when working with different weights of fabrics.  For instance, she'll back a lighter fabric with a fusible tricot interfacing to bring it's weight up to heavier ones that she's working with.  I too use this stabilizer for most of my garments and find it's worth the trouble!

Not all her pieces are quilted....this one has inset panels of a textured fabric to add interest.

Other times she'll achieve texture by stitching in large grids.

This small bag was inspired by a photo of baked goods (photo beneath the purse).....who'd have thunk?  Mary's doesn't focus on too many embellishments....but clearly she know how!

This is so typical of a Mary Ray design.........classy!!!

ALZHEIMER'S ART QUILT INITIATIVE

I'm delighted to share some good news...... AAQI - Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative, a grass roots organization raising awareness & funding through art, has awarded it's first research grant of $10,000.  It went to the University of Pittsburg for a study on brain cholesterol and how it may affect Alzheimer's.  It was given in honor of Bebe Moss, the mother of founder Ami Simms.

Please consider supporting this worthy cause by bidding on one of June's 2009 Silent Auction quilts. Remember, all the profits go directly towards research.  Since January 2006, we have raised more than $290,000!

Thank you to all who have participated in any manner.  I've personally pledged to raise $1,000.....despite trying now for over 30 mins. I can't get the photos of my recent donation quilts to upload.....I'll try to share it with you at a later date......  

Now, go and check out this hard working organization by clicking on the link above.

BLUE RIDGE SALON EXHIBIT

Enjoy a few more views of work from the Fiber Arts Alliance members on display at Salon Blue Ridge.

FIRE STORM by Shirley Arledge

FRIENDSHIP HARBOR  by Elaine O'Neil

This piece is for sale, email me for contact if you are interested.

Did I tell you how amazing this design center is??  Yes......I know I did.....but it bears repeating......

and repeating again....

This was my favorite area.....I love a good deep soaking tub.  I miss the one we had in our Wisconsin house.  Personally, I think jet tubs are over-rated......I always feel like I'm bracing myself, in water that cools off too rapidily, rather than just sitting back and relaxing.  I've never seen such a variety of really distintive tubs.

INNOVATIVE SETTING FOR FIBER ART EXHIBIT

Our monthly Fiber Arts Alliance meeting was held at Salon Blue Ridge where many members have work on display in this innovative design company in Flat Rock, NC.  This business is a complete source for kitchen and bath products.  

The facility is top of the line and a wonderful backdrop for art.  We are grateful to have such insightful and generous folks in this area who are willing to showcase our work.

  Black Tea with Lemon by Peggy O'Connor 

This is one of the first pieces I noticed as I walked into Salon Blue's spacious foyer - turned art gallery.  The tea cups are so realistic they literally jump out of the quilt!

A beautifully executed and designed piece by Martine House was displayed in a nook of one of the kitchen displays.

 

Meet Machinella by Martine House

If you live in the area and are in need of  tile, this is the place to go.  Isn't this tile wall Mosaic incredible?

This is just a minor view of the tiles available.  A very large room was devoted just to their tile selection.

And.....you could walk into their warehouse to personally select high quality granite.

I requested a farm sink for my kitchen when we were selecting fixtures for our house......our builder had no clue what I was talking about.  Maybe I was ahead of the style curve, because now 3 years later, apparently they are very popular.  I LOVE the look.  Note the back wall.....it's filled with faucet options.  Oh my.....this is the place I want to shop if we ever have the opportunity to build again.