VENTING

I doubt whether anyone but me cares....but this is the aftermath our our blizzard......

The photo is taken from our deck....one story above the driveway......so it may not be apparent just how big this snow drift is......at least 3 1/2 feet tall, plus the entire width of our driveway and half the length.

'The husband' has no business being outside removing the snow (it's 6 degrees and who knows what the wind chill factor is), but we are supposed to get freezing rain next and he's worried about not being able to get a car out in an emergency. That's my guy......always thinking ahead!!

I'm thoroughly discouraged by winter already.....and even more so since I'm missing the LINT Christmas Party today. Sounds like my fiber group parties for both tomorrow and Thurs. are also in jeopardy. Seriously......I know other parts of the country have been suffering too...... This area is so poorly equipped to deal with winter.....that the affects are long lasting. The good news is we never lost power!

**In answer to your comments......of course we sold the BIG snow blower we owned in Wisconsin.....what's even funnier....we sold all our snow shovels too! And yes, the locals all swear that last year's bad winter was the worst in 30 years........we trusted that was true.......hummmm......it seems to be repeating. 'The husband' purchased some clip on snow traction cleats to help us during our daily 'forced march'....because not going just because of snow is not an option. I was convinced that alone would assure our first couple of snows would be our last....

Happily, I'm using my at home time wisely. I'm unfolding/pressing/cutting fabric for my retreat project (a string pieced scrap quilt) to be made during our annual PTA get-away which will be shortly after the first of the year. I know from experience....I need to have all my materials prepared ahead of time.....it's way too difficult to concentrate with our funfilled group all chatting away....distraction becomes the norm.

PTA CHRISTMAS PARTY - Finale

The White Elephant Christmas Exchange......tears of laughter are a certainty.

It seems the presents are actually getting more desirable this year......but what is one person's excess 'stuff' may be another person's jewel! Linda was the first to choose a wrapped gift. These beautiful glass balls (thought to be 'floaters' used in fishing nets) were a hot item......many of us wanted to take them home. Let the game begin.......

Yes, even practical gifts can be found....here Judy Simmons sports these colorful socks and hat.....
Janice decided to wear this Christmas theme silver plated candle holder. She didn't keep it long as the swapping has already started.....as further numbers are drawn from the basket.....that person can open a wrapped gift OR....take a gift from someone. If the later happens, the giftless person can take a wrapped gift or something from someone else. There are lots of versions of this game.....but we've now adopted a 2 'steal rule'. Meaning a gift can only be stolen twice in each round. Otherwise, we'd be there all night....which actually would be fun.

Somehow Janice snagged this.........I LOVED the bowl and had just commented that morning to 'the husband' that the next pottery show we attend....I wanted to find a large, low blue bowl! And here is was......in Janice's hand.....

We all cracked up as Linda (in another stealing frenzy that took place) ended up with an photo album of her own Boston Terriers. She dresses and stages them for pictures, which are a riot. Linda gifted the album last year and Kate kept it all year just to put it back in the mix again. Too funny.... Well....not too funny cause I ended up with it.......let's see how I can recycle it.

Linda loves sharing Boston Terrier 'stuff'........this year she's gifted a drawing......

Along with this ceramic Boston..... Mary Berry seems to be enjoying it....however, in a post game swap......which has become a tradition......it ended up going home with Connie who put it in her chicken coop to scare away hawks!

Kate's gift included a bottle of very nice wine......and the ugliest cork screw you'd ever seen. Doesn't this look like dog do?? Naturally, in the post game swap.......it found its way into Linda's stash.......she of the Boston Terrier addiction needed it.

And finally.......This Christmas necklace with tiny colored lights that blink was one of the items I put in my gift box. I purchased it at great expense (well relatively considering it probably cost $.59 to manufacture) last Christmas at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville where EVERY store featured them and about half the people in this very crowded hotel were wearing them. I saw it and thought 'Connie'!! I could even picture her wearing it and ta da........she indeed got my package and there was no stealing or swapping this one....it went home around Connie's neck!

So....we close out the adventures of the a typical PTA Christmas Party.........with one final addition......I tried to swap and then out right purchase the blue bowl from Janice....who wasn't budging during our post game negotiations....... But, girlfriend that she is......as we were departing....she presented me with the bowl....yeah!!! LOVE it...tx's Janice.....

ALZHEIMER'S ART QUILT INITIATIVE

News flash........

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Learn how quilters are stitching towards a cure here.

PTA CHRISTMAS PARTY - Part 2

The PTA fiber group tries to cram as much into one gathering as possible.......so before we began our Christmas White Elephant Exchange.....we had Show and Tell.....

Dort's inspiration for this adorable quilt came from the yellow cheesecloth elastic banded lemon wedge covers that are served with hot tea at a restaurant where our group like to lunch. (The fabric traps the seeds when squeezing the lemon.)

Dort utilizes her drawing skills, machine applique, paints & inks to design her quilts.

But, this multi-talented PTA member also successfully stitches patchwork as well....

Linda Cantrell is well known for her humorous, intricate hand appliqued quilts......which have won her many, many awards at major shows. Now she's focusing on smaller pieces that are machine appliqued, which...more than not, feature her beloved Boston Terriers. This is the 'Fall" portion of a four season theme she's currently working on.

Linda is a very active volunteer with the Boston Terrier rescue group......often fostering dogs at home along with her own.

Winter

Winter - detail

Georgia Bonesteel's recent retreat students presented her with a large fabric packet......isn't it just great how she pulled all these varied prints together? The blocks are set with a black/white polka dot....who'd have thunk it? Georgia did!!!

PTA CHRISTMAS PARTY

This past week our PTA (Piecer's Talkers & Appliquer's) fiber group had our Christmas party at the home of Georgia Bonesteel. (Of PBS TV "Lap Quilting" fame.....and yes, she's as nice in person as she is on TV.)

We always do a white elephant exchange.....which involves drawing numbers from a basket to decide the 'picking' order......but we allow 'stealing' from each other after as the gifts are opened too.....it's always a riot.

We enjoy really wonderful food that each contributes.....Lynne brought salmon with a variety of well chosen condiments......

This is a view of Georgia's kitchen, where.....not surprising you can find one of her signature quilts hanging. Her husband smoked the turkey you see pictured on the yellow platter......divine!!

Georgia is pictured here.....3rd from the left as we begin our show and tell...... I just love her red painted panel walls.......

Aren't her socks festive......they even had bells on them!

Georgia is also known for her 'letter' blocks.....which she's made into pillows for her window seat. This is the 'kids' table.......since the dining table wasn't large enough for all 14 PTA members.

We never have enough time during our meetings to cover all the things we want to talk about, show, share, do......happily we managed to squeeze this activity in. Georgia had been given a large stack of Saturday Evening Post Magazine covers......which she had laminated. We were each given 4 and had 5 minutes to study/think about them. We were to come up with a personal short story that any or all of the covers reminded us of. I'd like to do this again.......it was really insightful.

WEATHER CONDITIONS: SNOW # 6 - and I'm not just akiddin'.....it's a blizzard, wind gusts 50 MPH......I did not sign up for this when we moved here!!

3-D CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT

SNOW # 5- oh come on....this winter is starting just like last year....and that was BAD!! We woke up to a winter wonderland....actually BEAUTIFUL....but....everything stops around here cause they simply aren't equipped to remove the white stuff from the roads.....and of course then it ices up = danger. However.....it makes this post even more appropriate.

If you are in need of some impressive ornaments for yourself or gifts, that can be made fairly quickly at home....check out the Dec./Jan. issue of Quilter's Home Magazine for my article.

It features 3-d fabric ornaments, similar to the paper folded/cut ones you may have created as a youngster.

The magazine has had a make-over and I think you'll enjoy the content and its new look.

'NUMBERS' - WALL HANGING

In between all my recent travels, I've been working on a new woolfelt wall hanging.

I don't draw, but with lots of time with pencil and eraser......I created various sizes of numbers for the design.

They were traced onto the paper side of a fusible interfacing (I prefer Wonder-under).....cut out, and arranged on this red background. My goal was a bright, youthful, fun, whimsical piece.

After fusing in position, machine stitching secures the motifs to the stabilized woolfelt background. I used my machine's pre-programed "EKG" looking stitch.

To add more interest and texture, a couple more hours were spent hand embroidering 'x's on the background using Aurifil's # 12 wool thread. (Which is really a 50/50 wool/acrylic thread.)

Detail

NUMBERS 15" x 15"

$150 (includes insured shipping)

email me for payment details

Next, I squared my piece, added a wool backing and beaded buttons along the edge.

I can see this piece finding its way to someone who has a colorful home or hanging in a child's room.

FAREWELL QUILTS & COLORADO

I could say I left my heart in Colorado......

Well....perhaps so.....but I also left a few quilts which now have new homes! This 'bead appliqued' wool felt quilt is titled "Heartfelt" and is one of my very first wool quilt designs.

This button star wool quilt is the original quilt project featured in my book, "Embellishing With Felted Wool". Now, Cheryl will be displaying it in her home.....

She'll also be giving '3 In The Wind' a new home.......

Gwen now owns 'Fall Approaches' which is one of my very newest pieces and a favorite.

It's a real treat to be able to see completed work that was inspired by 0ne of my workshops. 'Vertigo' features a silk painted figure with bead embellished streaming locks. This is why we quilt instructor get on airplanes!! Thank you, thank you!!

Detail

CQC WORKSHOP

Isn't this just the cutest! My role as a traveling quilt teacher allows me to meet so many quilters across the country. Then when I'm lucky, opportunities to revisit them turns acquaintances into good friends.

Jackie from Colorado Springs, has built-in bovine radar. She's constantly finding charming greeting cards for me and when we gather in person......I'm often treated with fun items like these....which embellished my teacher's table at the workshop. Squeeze the adorable stuffed cow and it moos. Then, press down on the cow's head of this pen to see its eyes flash and hear more moos. It was a very effective and fun way to get the attention of the class!! Love it....thank you Jackie....I'm going to have big fun with your gifts.

Here are some of the 22 talented and hard working students....Jackie is enthusiastically pulling her beading thread tight....middle table.....she's wearing black. Next to Jackie is another pal Gwen, who flew in all the way from AZ for the weekend. She spoiled me terribly and I loved it!

All the ladies are practicing some of my beading techniques as they embellish a wool felt scissors sheath case. Enjoy viewing their excellent results......

COLORADO QUILT COUNCIL

Now that I've gotten over the shock of winter's arrival......seriously....I all but put it out of my mind in an effort to stop its arrival! Our temp. is a super cold 9 degrees.....I'm really beginning to believe we've been told a pack of lies about how 'mild' winters are here!! Schools have been closed for the last two days and lots of other activities canceled due to the snowy, icy roads. However, the sun is just coming out now so it should improve and now I'll shut up about it....I'm sure it's worse in other places!

Let's get back to chatting about Colorado Quilt Council. It's the state guild of Colorado, consisting of dozens of local chapters. Each month they meet in a different location around the state. December is their wrap up month.....so the business meeting was long.....starting at 9:30 AM.....my presentation didn't begin until 11:20......and concluded about an hour later....just in time for their luncheon. It's been my pleasure to visit this guild well over a half of dozen times during my career, so it almost felt like home.....so many friends, familiar faces, and new pals to meet!

I'm guessing none of us really 'like' sitting through long meetings but I was so impressed with this one. The charter of this group is education but that doesn't mean they've ignored charity/volunteer efforts.....in which they are very active. They do amazing work!

The installation of new officers was also held. Though I've experienced many, many at various groups across the country, this one was special. First of all.....it's a large board......smart...spread the work around!! But here's what was special. Each of the executive board members were individually called by name and a short job description was read.....asking them to verbally promise to carry out their duties. With that came a red rose.... It's vital to have volunteers and I think this gave the audience a real understanding (and hopefully appreciation) of the importance and dedication required to fulfill their duties. It was impressive!

Show and Tell probably took a good 30 mins.....and no one was blabbering excessively....they just had that many wonderful quilts to share. I wasn't seated in a location where picture taking was easy and unfortunately, I can't match quilt makers names to their pieces but I did ask for blanket permission to post any photos that didn't have someone's head smack in the middle.....so here goes...

ooopps.....yes, there is still a head here..... But I want to share this one.....it was make featuring photos, taken of the quiltmaker's garden. A photo program on a home computer was used to tweet them after which they were printed on her home computer.....

Two good friends made these quilts....both are named Terri......thus the 'T' designs.

Then, with their scraps, they made smaller ones to exchange.......great idea....

Again, since the meeting had run so long......time was limited.....so I wasn't able to get better photos of these two wonderful woolfelt pieces. They were inspired by my "Bead Embellish Wool Collage" workshop during my last visit to CQC. I'm happy to see someone else has gotten bitten by the woolfelt bug!

The view you are seeing is of the top two block of this quilt........the design was created using the shirts/clothing of a family member who had passed away. Isn't this a novel way of utilizing the fabric, rather than the more traditional patchwork? Nice....

Then....in the lobby of the church......I spied this decorated Christmas tree........

Here's the whirling dervish, Bobbie Aug, who kindly helped with my book sales....not to mention waiting for 3+ hours to fetch me from the airport when my flight was late.

Yup.....the ornaments are beads......well......pearls to be exact. They are constructed using wire. I don't know whether they were commercially made or created by an individual or group connected with the church. It was stunning!

More adventures to come tomorrow........