DAY 27

This is our last day here at the franch. It has been the most marvelous, magical time.

It has been a time of struggling to get going on a new path, working hard, laughing a lot, sharing with friends from all over, and a lot of growth.

We owe so much to Karey for this very special time. Both Virginia and I were at a point in our careers as artists where we really needed this opportunity. It has proven very beneficial to each of us. We are both well on the road to a new body of work.

For me, I will finally have a cohesive collection of work so I can finally find a solo show venue that I have wanted to do for some time. I have a great sense of gratitude to Virginia for pushing me to get to 20 pieces, and I surprised myself by not giving at at 17 when I didn't think I would have enough batting to get past 19. I worked it out and got my 20 plus a number of smaller pieces, plus a piece that was entirely different from the others...in fact, it was my very first piece that I did.

We have spent our last evening at Las Fuentes with Karey. We haven't been there for an entire week and that has become a record for us. We spent a lot of time sharing with her our feelings about the experience and especially how wonderful it has been for the both of us.

Such an opportunity doesn't come often and we were both very fortunate that our family situations allowed for us to take advantage of this opportunity. It was the right time in our artistic careers...a time when we have matured as artists, have worked through a lot on our own and were in need to the time away to allow ourselves to grow in new ways.

It has been a privileged to become intimate with Virginia's work. I have told her that I feel she is an absolute genius as abstracting nature...you feel nature, when you look at her work. You don't see trees, or water, or whatever else, you just feel it in your soul. What a special artist!

I also want to thank all of you who have been so supportive of us during this process. I blogged about the process as I feel so many artists, just starting their journey as artists, think that it is always easy, and I felt that the creative process needs to be shared more so others can understand the ups and downs that occur. Just because you are not actually creating work does not mean that you are not working. Remember to take time to refill the well of inspiration. Take time to question what you are doing. Learn, which I have been doing, to trust your instincts and to make your own work. Seek your own voice and follow it. But most of all, have fun!

Sorry to get so philosophical but that is part of the leaving process.

DAY 26

So, the process of separating continues although both of us have still been doing some work. I was able to get all of my quilts into my large suitcase...because I am shipping so much other stuff home. I have three more boxes to ship....

Here are a number of Virginia's pieces in progress...they are really cool, even unfinished. I can just feel the atmosphere of the Boundary Waters and lose myself in the trees and water.

and another


and another


and another

love the star charts!


and water

and horsetail reeds...I think that is what Virginia said


Earlier today as I was running errands, I found the back of some buildings, which are much more interesting than the fronts. I'm sorry we haven't had better weather because it would have been fun to wander the alley ways downtown for pictures. Don't you just love all that rust?

And right next to it was another door. If you look closely, you can see that a lot of the bricks have no mortar.

We decided that we should go out and finally take some pictures of the longhorns who live nearby. But first we stopped on Windy Hill Lane for a close up of these berries but neither one of us knows what they are.

Now isn't this a face any mother could love? Tried to get the "red-eye" out but it didn't work because the calf doesn't have red eyes to correct and I didn't want to spend the time fiddling with it to fix it so it is the zombie calf.

and the zombie long horn

Then we came back to Windy Hill Lane and right on the road is Fished and Loaves, a nice little restaurant...this is where we have come for Chicken Fried Chicken which is on special on Wed. nights which includes two pieces of chicken per person, and five or six different sides. I think I talked about this in an earlier blog. Of course, tonight wasn't Wed. but Virginia had friend chicken and I had a humongous quesadilla filled with cheese, chicken, mushrooms and spinach with a great chipolte sauce! MMMMM....half of it came back with me.

So we are starting to pack up the last stuff. Tomorrow morning I will head up to the studio, do a little work and then go to church, come home and finish packing. Karey comes back from Houston tomorrow so we get to say good bye!

I am ready to go home. today I did the stitching on all the edges on #20 and that felt really good but will do well at home in my own studio. Then add backings, turn them, and do the quilting.
Oh, that will take a day or two!

DAY 25 I DID IT!

I did it! I have gotten 20 large pieces done in the circles series!

Below is #18



Below is #19



And below is #20. Right now this is my favorite! But of course, it is the last one I have done.

Today I folded up all the big pieces of fabric from this series. If I make more I will have to get some more black fabric so I can discharge the smaller circles that I cut out and add at the end.

Tomorrow I will use scraps and do a bunch of 10 x 10's and then add backing and do the edging on all of them that aren't finished. That will keep me busy for tomorrow.

Sunday Karey comes back so we can see her before we leave early Monday morning.

I am so proud of this body of work. I still have a lot to do to finish it and I would dearly love to see them all together in a big show. I have only seen three or four together at a time and as I have finished them and taken them down off the wall, they have been piled up on a table. With these 20 and two others that I did, I think that is quite an accomplishment. And, I also have that small purple and gold circles series and the black ones that I am still doing. I am going home with more work than I had dreamed of.

I have also been able to go off into another direction, which I dearly wanted to do. I think the fences are done, and the flying geese ended a while ago...and I don't think these will have any satin stitched lines in them. Besides, I am beginning to see those things showing up in other people's work so I have to keep ahead of the crowd!

I feel really good!

DAY 24

Time is really moving fast, but then so am I.Today has been really busy but well worth it. Got more of the 12 x 12's done, finished 15 that I started last night and finished 16, and 17. Also went to the post office and shipped off 7 boxes for home and went out for dinner at the Rotary Pancake dinner!


Above is a 12 x 12


And another one

Saw a discharged cow...actually there were two but I am letting you see one. If we had waited, I could have given you a picture of a discharged cow discharging.

Here you see four grills working away at the Rotary Pancake dinner...there were about five more. The place was at the elementary school cafeteria and was crowded with people coming and going constantly. All you could eat pancakes and sausage! Three were enough!

In backwards order, although I am beginning to get confused, I think this is #17.

And this is #16 for sure...it's also bigger!

And #15

and another 12 x 12

and another one

Thank you to all of you who have been trying to find some Quilter's Dream cotton select...I really appreciate the efforts. I have enough of it to do 18 and 19 and I may try some Mountain Mist for the last one...it depends upon how desperate I get.

So, tomorrow's agenda, mail another package or two, make two more large pieces and maybe a couple of 810 x 10's and go out for dinner and a fiber art show and see several more friends including Linda Minton, whom I haven't seen since Houston '05. She has a picture of me that she could black mail me with but she is too much of a lady to do so. Karey comes back to say goodbye on Sunday and we leave early Monday to take Virginia to the airport.

Virginia has been busy the past couple of days doing some really neat things...she will show you when she is ready. She's been working the way she wants and is doing great stuff!

See y'all tomorrow!

DAY 23

Today has been a very long day. I have been working pretty hard all day.

First, I finished up #12 which is below. I only needed to do a little bit more on it and then add the circles and then trim it.


Then came #13. This piece worked right along and got finished pretty quickly (well, finished enough to take home)


And then, I started cutting out my batting to lengths and found that I was going to be two short. That sent me into a depression (probably because I was getting tired and this was discouraging because doing these at home is going to be hard) so I worked on three 12 x 12" pieces which are all ready for backing and edging.

So I toddled down to Virginia's and found one piece of batting that I had given her which is big enough and a couple of half pieces that I can probably put together to make one last piece. I have lost count so many times that I really won't know how many I have batting for until I am all done.

So then, it was time to work on #14, below, which has been trimmed and ready to go.


I also spent time getting stuff packed up and now have five boxes ready to go to the post office tomorrow with two other boxes almost ready. I have decided that my quilts are getting packed in lutrador in my large suitcase...since they aren't finished quilts, I don't think anyone would give them a second glance...just fabric and batting, which will also be in that suitcase. Oh, the end is getting near.

Friday night we are going to Round Top for dinner and a quilt show. That will be lots of fun and a good diversion!

Going to hit the sack and read and go to sleep, and then be ready to get going nice and early
tomorrow!

DAYS 21 and 22

Where or where did yesterday go? I think we just missed it somehow! Must say we were a little sluggish and ran some errands. Stopped by Wal Mart and they had just gotten in another 10 yards of black fabric so I bought it all.

I forgot to mention several things the other day. Sylvia Weir brought me some homespun cotton from Wal Mart in black, dark red and navy blue to try discharging. I did a little test piece but I haven't washed it out yet to see just what color it is leaving.

And then, Connie Hudson, who wasn't there, sent 10 yards of black cotton from a couple of other Wal Marts. That was so special for her to do!

And then, Jeanelle McCall gifted each of us with a wonderful fiber piece which has been framed. They are delightful and have been needle punched to bring the different fabrics together...very cool! See it below! Unfortunately, I had to take it through the glass so you get a reflection on it. You can even see the neat card to attached to the outside of the package. She said "Thank you for sharing!" Now, wasn't that special!


So yesterday I started working on a piece and finished the top of #11 and got almost finished with #12 which I am not showing you right now. This is about 44 x 66" or so.


And today, since I had 20 yards of black cotton and lots of orange fabric I had painted and still need to get another 8-10 pieces done before Sunday morning, started discharging. I had lots of questions about how I do it and what I use so I thought I would show you my discharging mono-prints.

Above you can see the black plastic underneath covered with dried Sunlight Dishwasher gel which is what I use for discharging. It is dried because I have been way to lazy to clean off the black plastic after each time I used it. This has resulted in some very interesting designs, however. I am a firm believer in serendipity.

Any way, I have spread a layer of Sunlight get on the plastic about the size of my fabric and have smoothed it out with a foam brush. Then I have done some sort of design into the gel. Then I carefully lay the piece of fabric over the whole thing and pat it all over to be sure that it is picking up the gel.


Above you see a piece that is discharging...I have placed it on a piece of table cloth fabric (since we cleaned up the floors I no longer had that huge piece of black plastic, but did had the table cloth fabric that I use for under fabric when screening to give it a little padding ( I work with the fluffy side up). The piece has been monoprinted and then I dragged my fingers through it making some sort of curvy pattern.

In this and the next two pictures you see the results of the first 10 yards of fabric. At that point I had washed it all out with water, then put it into a bucket with anti-chlor which neutralizes the chlorine. This is available through Dharma Trading or Pro Chem...google them to find their website. Vinegar does not neutralize the chlorine. Then I wash in a large washing machine with lots of water and also detergent and you can see what they look like dried.


This group of fabrics seem to be coming out more orange than before. I ran out of Sunlight and had to take a break to run to the grocery store. We had already taken a break earlier for lunch (2 hours worth) when we took Pam out for lunch at the Bistro.

So, then I was able to finish up the discharging and finally quite, having done 20 yards, at 6:30 pm. Washing out the fabric in a low deep sink can be back breaking so I fixed myself a healthy dinner of tortilla chips and salsa, sat down in the comfy chair and watched an hour of TV.

The it was time to get the fabrics out of the washing machine (the second batch) and put them in the dryer. Then, I started ironing Misty Fuse on them...only got four pieces completely done and ready to go and got the other 10 yards out of the dryer and folded.

So now I am ready for tomorrow...enough fabric to get going, finish piece 12 and go forward. I feel so good about this series..who knows when it will stop.

This series is about the circles of life...still looking for a title but that will come.

See y'all tomorrow!

DAYS 19 and 20...ZOWEEE!

Jan 27th has arrived! Virginia's studio is all dressed up and ready for display, mine is looking nice, we look nice and we finally roll in at 10:30 as people start to appear. And appear, and appear. Cars are coming in from everywhere. Those staying are parked nearby...those leaving Saturday had their cars parked a little further away with shuttle service to the cars. It is way beyond exciting. I must tell you right off that I did not get as many pictures as I would have liked because I was just too busy showing people how to do what I do and talking and smiling. My jaw is still a little tired from two days of smiling. But, we are settling down...

A view of part of Virginia's wall all ready for people to come in.

Amanda folding fabric for my table so that it looks professional...something I sure couldn't have done!

My studio area all nice and neat...won't be that way tomorrow, you can bet on it! Won't be as compressed, either...will get it spread back out!

A display of fabrics in Virginia's studio.

A display of her screen printed fabrics and her screens.

Nancy, Karey's cousin, also from Quilts, Inc. She is just delightful and it is a hoot to listen to Karey and Nancy talk to each other!

The crowd has gathered for eating lunch. I know the names of many of the people now, but I know if I try to identify them to you, I will get it all mixed up. Knowing the names and being able to put them with the faces is still coming...Yesterday was such a blur I had to constantly look at everyone's name tag to know who I was talking to.

Out of order here, but some sweets in Karey's house during our happy hour for those going to dinner.

The other stuff at her house. She was so gracious and opened the house for people to come in and see her things, have some wine and visit some more!


And the beautiful, gracious Miss Karey signing her book for people!

And people visiting.

And eating and talking

and posing for pictures

And more eating and visiting.

Unbeknownst to Virginia, Karey had asked the top 18 providers of postcards this year to make a special one for Virginia. She had them framed in to separate frames with each card labeled with the maker's name and the name of the post card. This was a big thank you to Virginia for all of her work with the Fiber Art for a Cause postcard program to raise funds for the American Red Cross. Virginia was just thrilled and so surprised!


Lots of visiting.

And Rosemary Claus Grey gives Karey a piece of art.

After happy hour, we went back to Las Fuentes for dinner. This is Pamela Allen whom I knew before this weekend so I remember her name!

And Virginia and Janelle McCall. Janelle made some beautiful art pieces which she gave to Virignia and me with a note saying "Thank you for sharing" What could be sweeter!

At dinner


Still at dinner

Still at dinner

There were so many of us I couldn't get a picture of the entire table at one time...the flash did not reach that far but if you look closely, you can see Pamela Allen down at the very end on the right.

And this is the breakfast club the next morning...or at least, part of it.

So, what was it like? Absolutely awesome!!! People ooooed and awedddd about our work, making us feel so very special. Karey's staff and Karey fussed over us and made us feel like prima donas. Everyone wanted to know how we did what we did, took tons of pictures of us, had their pictures taken with us, had us sign our autographs and just spent lots of time talking art and quilts with like minded people. Both Virginia and I were walking on clouds. Discussing it later, we both felt so validated in doing the work we are doing.

So, Saturday was filled with lunch and lots of visiting and sharing knowledge, then happy hour (as if we weren't happy enough) and then dinner out. Virginia and I wisely did not go back up to the Creativity Center afterwards as that became one giant pajama party. All ten beds in the dorm rooms were filled, two cots and the couch in the main room were filled.

Today (Sunday) arrived and I got even fewer pictures. We had breakfast all together at 9:30, chatted a lot more and then everyone was gone at 1 pm when the first car of the next group came in. Another 30 or so members of the local quilt guild came to us. Coffee, tea, and sweets were served. This group is composed of mostly traditional and some contemporary quilters. They were very interested in what we did and how we did it. They were all so gracious and friendly, Again, my jaw was hurting from smiling so much! They stayed until 3 pm and then finally it was quiet. There had been talk about another group coming, the local artists' groups, but Karey wasn't able to make contact with them to invite them over...Their loss!

So tonight we are unwinding, relaxing and coming down out of the clouds as tomorrow we are back to work. I have ten more quilt tops to make!

I have no pictures of to the people who were gathered in front of my table as I was talking about things, and Virginia has none of her talking to people. If you were here and took pictures that you think we should have, please email them to me and I will put them up on the blog and also send them off to Virginia.

Many thanks to all of you who came and gave us such wonderful support and admiration. It is the most wonderful feeling to have other artists (whose work admire) complementing . Thank you all and most especially, thank you Karey for making this happen!