WOW

I hadn't realized I hadn't posted in weeks.  Sorry about that.  I've been busy.  Best of the Valley Quilt Show 2016 has come and gone, and I'm now in the week of wrap up.  It is possible that I will get back to regular posting in the near future.  Goals are good!

Penny and her Mama came to the quilt show.  Here is Penny with Grandpa.  They had a nice visit, albeit a short one.

I entered six quilts, and came away with three ribbons:  2HM and a blue.  Blackeyed Beauty did well, and was happy to preside over the MiniQuilts, Illustrated category.

And now I am home again, catching the last of the blooming iris.  They seem to peak when I'm at the show, but there are enough of them this year, that I'm getting my fill.

 I felt like Georgia O'Keefe, as I zoomed in for a close-up.

Next week, I'm aiming for needle and thread.  Goals are good!  :)

Photography

I tried taking some show photos of quilts today.  *sigh*  I used to have great results with a film camera.  The digital camera?  Sometimes the photos are great, sometimes, not so great.  Today was not so great.  I set up my lights and tripod and turned the camera on...and the battery died.  grrr.

I charged it, then spent 45 minutes trying to get clear sharp photos.  Apparently I don't have enough light today.  Maybe the sun will come out tomorrow, and I'll be able to do a better job.

I promised a better photo of Blackeyed Beauty.  This is the best I've got to date:

 But I did get a pretty good close-up.  There is some embroidery, on the bug, and the French knots on the flower's center.  All the rest is paint and thread.  That's it.

 And with that, I'm on to the next item on my ToDo List.  Wonder why it never gets any shorter?

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!