BLUEGRASS 1st CLASS - ASHEVILLE, NC

 We have attended Bluegrass First Class, an Asheville bluegrass festival every February since we moved to WNC in 2006, with the exception of the one Covid cancellation.

This year's 29th annual event didn't disappoint......great bands, great music, great friends that we've gotten to know over the years of attending.

Our reserved seating has remained the same front row seats now for nearly all the years we attended. Can't tell you how that special experience adds to the enjoyment.

Some highlights, in case any of you readers are bluegrass lovers....these are 'must see' groups.

A new 'in person' experience for us, The Malpass Brothers.....a bit more country than bluegrass but one forgets that the moment they begin to play. (I like Country too!). Their stage presence is professional and yet personal....they had the audience in fits of laughter many times.

The Seth Milder & Midnight Run band brought back an old bluegrass tradition where the players gather around one microphone for their vocals......several other groups do that too.......love it!!

Authentic Unlimited is the updated version of Doyle Lawson's Quicksilver group (one of my all time favorites).  Doyle retired after being on the road most of his life and happily many of the band members continued under a new name.  Their harmony is outstanding.

Appalachian Road Show is a newish group that has been making headlines wherever they go.  I especially enjoyed learning where they obtain their material and songs.....lots of research including the Smithsonian, resurrecting tunes from the late 1700's grown out of the mountains of Appalachia.  Great story tellers!!  An interesting detail...the guitar player on the right is Zeb Snyder.....we first saw him as a preteen at this same annual event years ago, probably in 2010.  Their group was the Snyder Family Band....father, son and daughter.  We all knew Zeb's talent would take him far. His sister Samantha is also a success and works as a coveted session player in Nashville.  Zeb was an amazing guitar player as a child and he's probably one of the best in the bluegrass world now.

Here's little Zeb back when he and sister Samantha....plus dad  playing the base in their family band.  It's one of the many things I love about this music.....family orientated, audiences are always respectful and it's just darn fun happy music and there's always a little attention to trains, death, love, and lots of story telling.

Even though we are moving across the country....there is planning underway to attend the 30th Bluegrass First Class in 2025!!

 

NEW SPACE

 Introducing Judy Simmons' new space at Woolworth Walk Gallery, Asheville, NC. I love how much more prominent her beautiful art quilts are, framed by Judy's hand-dyed, printed scarves and her unique cards!  

Though this is a smaller space now than we had together for 7 years, the bonus is her location. It's very visible, directly to the right as one (as they say at Woolworth's) 'walks the walk' down the staircase to the lower level. Best wishes for continued success at Woolworth's.....I miss being booth partners already!!

THE PEOPLE WE MEET

Selling on Facebook's Marketplace, which is a marvelous, helpful service both for buyers and sellers, can sometimes be frustrating due to increasing number of fake buyers waste your time by agreeing to purchase, then never showing up plus then ghosting you.

With that said we've met some really nice folks.  For instance the young couple who bought our John Deere Zero turn.  Hard working ambitious and adorable!!

And there's L. (I'll use his first initial).....who has come back so often that now when I undercover something I think he may want, I just text him first.

Then there's V., who has also been a steady buyer.  After her purchase yesterday she taught me the traditional Dominican Republic way of preparing plantains.  I've had no experience with this fruit which is generally used as a potato substitute....they look like a banana but MUST be cooked.....

After peeling and cutting on the diagonal..

They are sauted in a pan.....I used Avocado oil

Turning till crisp and easily pierced with a fork

Transferred to foil, covered and smashed with a mallet

Now back into the skillet to caramelize even further.........sprinkle with salt.....can be served with a variety of different sauces or on its own....DELICIOUS.....Thank you V.

A DEFFERENT GOODBYE

 No guy feels good about saying goodbye to his faithful John Deere zero turn sit down mower.......'the husband was stoic!"

Think how we'd feel if that trailer was full of our sewing machines???......  Life is full of adjustments.....😢

SO LONG BUT NOT GOODBYE

I've been fortunate to be a member of a small fiber group ever since we moved to the Asheville area nearly 18 years ago.  Yesterday we met at Georgia Bonesteel's home, it will be my last formal meeting with the group before we head West.  

It's been an honor and privilege to call these talented artists friends.  There are 14 of us.....sadly not everyone could attend.

Georgia, ever the instructor, showed us a new technique and after lunch we gathered to commemorate the day.....so here's a 'so long but not goodbye' photo.

Check out Georgia's barn quilt too.....

 

SLOW PROGRESS

 I could have sworn we have only necessary 'stuff'.....no real excesses....UNTIL we began packing.  I'll blame a lot of this on 'the husband' who is a buyer, and never one....2 0r 3 is better.  But after living here for 18 years......the outside equipment especially has grown out of control......selling as much and as fast as I can......but who needs rakes in February!?!

Now I'll admit to excesses myself....namely fabric and sewing supplies....I just counted...I have 37 bins packed just in my upper loft area (not counting all the small tote bags (also filled) I'm embarrassed to tell you how many more we have in the garage!!

Looks like there is no turning back now.......

UPDATED ONLINE GALLERY

 I've been meaning to update my online gallery https://marystorishop.blogspot.com/

for months.......finally all the sold quilts have moved to the lower section.  Only the available quilts, as seen here are now featured for sale.  If interested in any piece....holler and I can get it out to you before what remains heads West!

SOMETHING FISHY - 25" x 17"

$250

Appliquéd cottons, embroidery, & machine quilted. 

Bound edges.  Fabric hanging sleeve.

ALMOST HEAVEN -  26” X 17” © Mary Stori

$400

Artist hand ice-dyed cottons & batiks, appliquéd, 

thread stitched, & densely quilted by machine. Edges finished with hand stitched double fold binding. Fabric hanging sleeve attached.

QUILT SALES

 Tongue in check I asked readers not to make me haul my Woolworth Gallery quilts out West when we move.

Hummmm.....can't thank you enough.....Nancy just bought this one.....

Seriously, I told 'the husband' I hope people don't think I'm preparing my last goodbye by selling off my work........seriously, I'm not dying.....LOL.  I'm just hoping to find some homes for my pieces.  Oh and of course, it also reflects the HIGH cost of living in CA.  Perhaps I need to raise my prices?!?

GINKGO -  28" X 18.5"

DOWN MEMORY LANE OF MY QUILTS

My 2001 Quilter's Tour to Iceland, London, & Paris had been scheduled for well over a year, to begin only a few short weeks after 9/11.  Flights had just begun to resume as we departed, and many were still nearly empty.  After long discussions.....we decided to go forward with the tour and not one guest cancelled!

One memorable moment occurred as we were on a private tour of the famous Liberty of London store.  Nancy Garver (as quilter must do)....ran her hand lightly over a stunning mohair throw that was displayed on a couch.  She quietly murmured, "This is like touching a warm cloud!"......

Immediately I made a note, knowing those simple words would be an inspiration for a quilt.  It was the very first project I created after that trip and have cherished it ever since.

Moving preparations have given me the opportunity/reason to examine pieces I've had carefully stored.  Since I'm no longer on the quilt circuit teaching, many of my past art quilts were simply 'resting', waiting for new homes.   

Though I'll never forget the reasoning behind this quilt, it is a reminder to all, be sure to label/document your quilts!

LIGHTENING MY LOAD

 Wow....what a happy surprise.....there is less work that has to be loaded on the moving van......Thanks to my loooooong time pal Jackie.

TROPICAL STARS IN PARADISE #2. - 30" x 16.5"

This is a design I created to teach on one of my Caribbean Quilting cruises.....I had so much fun making the prototype I made several!  I love knowing where it will be hanging out now!!

And a couple of these fabric bowls found homes too......it's a good thing I knew which bin I had placed them in after retrieving them from Woolworth Walk Gallery the other day. It's a relief to feel confident that some of my brain cells are still working!!