HOUSTON!

ahem.  Sorry for shouting.  I got a bit carried away there.  But according to the contestants list on quilts.org, BLACKEYED BEAUTY IS GOING TO HOUSTON!!  Oh, there I went and did it again.  Sorry about that.

I'm just really really really thrilled.   This is the second time I've had a quilt accepted into the judged show.  I believe the first was in 2011.  Maybe it wasn't just a fluke.

And that's my big news for the day.  Other than that, I've been madly cutting/sewing/creating on my design wall.  I'm trying to hit an August 1 deadline, but it's going to be touch and go as to whether or not I'll have something.  I'll share later, when I've got more than pieces on the wall.

In the meantime, I've got to get back to my happy dance.  Thanks for visiting!

Blackeyed Beauty in progress - April 2015

Susan Brubaker Knapp seminar at Empty Spools, Asilomar

Tree vs. Drought

Well, the drought won this one.  One of our redwood trees has been water-stressed for the past several years.  Part of it was probably due to our switching from above ground sprinklers to a drip system 5 years ago.  Obviously the trees aren't getting as much water as they used to, and then combine that with the cut back in watering due to a lack of water and, well, the drought won.  Tree zero.

 The above is the "before" picture.  The tree on the furthest left belongs to our neighbor.  I suspect it looks so healthy and luscious because a couple of years ago it tapped into the sewer line, eventually popping it and causing a huge leak in the middle of the street.  Our tree (second on the left) was not so aggressive.  Here's a better view.  It was definitely struggling.  I'm not sure if you can tell from the angle, but it had a 20' split up the front, and it was leaning towards the garage.

 They cut a wedge at the bottom, tied the top to a truck, cut through the trunk, then backed the truck up.  Timber!

 It was simultaneously depressing and impressive.

 When they started cutting the top, the owner called me over to see the trunk.  This was 20' from the top.  He said the tree was much more distressed and dangerous than he'd thought, and we are fortunate that it hadn't fallen on its own.  (If you notice in the first photo, the top of the tree is double.  That means that at one point, it did break off.  I think I remember that, but not so clearly.  It's happened more than once in the middle of windstorms.)

Below is the "after" photo.  One tree is gone, and the tree on the right has been thinned, as has one in the backyard.  You can see the redwoods surrounding us.  Five are ours, the two shortest ones belong to our behind the fence neighbor, and the lush green one belongs to the neighbor on the left.  The giant trees were a huge selling point, when we moved into this neighborhood in 1994.

 This is what we have left.  One friend received about 15' of trunk to make bowls.  Another friend and my son are discussing the remaining 18'.  I've told my son that I'd really like a table made out of the largest section.  Then again, do I really want to add to his list of UFO's?  (He's already got tons - probably literally - of walnut, waiting to be planked.)

And that, folks, is what's been happening around here lately.  I've also finished my project from Asilomar and Susan Brubaker Knapp's class.  I just haven't gotten around to taking good pictures yet.  I can give you a bad one, just to tide you over...

And with that, I've got to say that I am most definitely happy to be back and quilting!!  :)

Almost Done

Well, the week at Empty Spools is drawing to a close at noon today.  *sigh*  And what a week it has been!  I saw lots of deer early in the week, including this inspiring trio:

There were the usual birds, but they flit around so fast, it's difficult to catch them with my camera.

But as I told you earlier, my focus has been to learn to paint on fabric.  I do believe I've had some amazing success.  It's hard to believe that I did this/am doing this.  But it is mine, most definitely.  This is what I had on display for the walk-about.

 Here is some of the quilting I've been doing.

 And this is the underneath.

whew!  I was hoping to finish before I leave today, but there's still much too much to do, so that's highly unlikely.

And with that, I'd best put my bags in the car and head down to the classroom.  The clock is ticking!

Beyond My Wildest Dreams

I seriously never thought I could paint.

Apparently I can, and quite successfully.  All it took was the right teacher, and 30 years of experience looking at and analyzing fabrics.  wow.  Susan Brubaker Knapp is a genius!

In other news, one of my older quilts was accepted into Sacred Threads.  I was also able to get in a couple of submissions to the In Full Bloom exhibit for Houston.  I don't know when they jury that exhibit, but you can't get in if you don't submit anything, right?  right!

I've started quilting this painting, and I have to say, I'm very pleased.  Very pleased indeed.  I might even show up early tomorrow, so that I can make more progress.  Goals are good!

Going, Going, Going

wow.  On the road, to there and back again, and oh wait!  I'm not back again, I'm gone again!

That might give you a hint of my past week.  On Wednesday, we flew to St. Louis, for multiple reasons.  First, our son and his wife live there, and it was time to deliver their wedding quilt.  What better way than to hand it off in person?

 They immediately put it on the bed, and were willing to pose for a photo.  (I don't think the wall color is accurate.  I have no memory of a yellow green room.)

 Khan, my son's 17 lb cat, also approves.  I believe the plan is to hang the quilt on the wall, though they did want to see it on the bed.

On Thursday, my husband and I drove to Kentucky and back.

It was totally worth the 5 hours there and 3 hours home (we took a "short cut" to get there), even though we only had four hours in Paducah.  It was totally worth it.  Last year, my husband said that this year we'd stay more than a day.  This year, he says that "for sure" next year we'll stay for more than a day.  :)

On Friday, we were back in St. Louis, where my brother's FTC (First Tech Challenge) team was competing in the World Championships.  My nieces are in 8th and 10th grade, and their teammates are equally young.  They have The Knack (Dilbert engineering reference...google it, if interested), and really love building robots.

I'm related to the three on the left, and the one on the right.  Team 3595, comprised of my favorite Alaskans - yes, they were there from Alaska! - WON the competition.  These young kids are the reigning world champs.  I believe the oldest might be a junior in high school, so if they stay together, they might be back again next year.  Fantastic!!

On Saturday, we flew home, and on Sunday, I got in my car and drove to Asilomar.

I'm taking a class with Susan Brubaker-Knapp, a quilter I admire so much that I even own one of her pieces!

I have never had an aptitude for painting, but she's blown my mind.  In one day, I've generated this:

I can't wait to get back to work!  oh my!  Class begins in 8 minutes.  Gotta get going!!  Happy Quilting!