DAY 17

Even tho Virginia was in bed very early last night, she slept for a little while and then read for a long time and then was up at 5am...everything is back to normal!

The sun was shining and it has been a beautiful day.

I have been whining about the fact that Virginia has a design wall that must be thirty feet by 8 feet and I only have an 8 x8' wall. Whine, whine, I can do that so well. Let me tell you, if you whine to Pam she shuts you up with what you want...I'm not sure that is a good parenting technique but it sure made my day.

This is a picture of Ermalinda on the left and Pam on right after they finished my second design wall. I still don't have as much space as Virginia does but everyone will be at my space most of the day on Saturday and Sunday and they will have lots of time to admire whatever is on my wall. Maybe I should change exhibits every hour with an announcement to get everyone to look! I'm being silly...


I must put in a big plug for Janome USA. When we first talked about coming to the Franch, there was only one sewing machine, a Bernina, a good Bernina, but still, a Bernina. Well, with two of us, that just wasn't going to work. Virginia quickly indicated she would be willing to use the Bernina since that is what she has at home. So what would I like? We sent the word to Karey that we (I) would like a Janome 6600 since that is what I have at home.

Janome sent two 6600's, a Gen Plantinum and the Expression (the needle punch machine) Wow. Then I realized that I still needed the straight stitch plate for free motion machine quiltingt...it just makes a world of difference. So Karey contacted Janome again and a big box arrived today with two of every foot there is for this machine...and there are lots! It was like Christmas again!

The support we have had from misty Fuse, Janome, and Superior Threads has been absolutely wonderful!!!

So this morning I finished off the piece I had been working on, got it completely fused and trimmed up...I like it now.

Spent the day re-discharging three pieces as they didn't come out with enough definition. Had lunch while they were washing out. Piddled around doing several small things and finished a couple more while I waited for my fabric to be finished. I have realized that I still have a full week after Sunday and I have bought all the black cotton at Wal Marts in three towns now. Frances Allford has kindly offered assistance from Austin so she is going to send out her buddies to see what they can find for me and bring it Saturday...only quilters would go into a Wal Mart for another quilter!

But I've started playing with scraps and like the little pieces.

Virginia suggested that we go outside for a treat...just escape...get away...see the countryside and maybe end up with ice cream or some else deemed appropriately special. So off we went down the other side of Karey's road and then we headed out on 159, remembering that Karey had said something about a nice little town that is only open on the weekends...Round Top, we thought she said. What a fascinating little town...but it was closed up today because it isn't a weekend. And there will be a quilt show next weekend, opening, so we can go to it before we leave.

I have discovered the Virginia and I both like to take pictures of the same things...rust, distressed items, old stuff, you name it, nothing like most people take to record their vacations! So I have included a picture of prime Texas real estate....now don't get mad at me, Karey, I can talk like this because Texas is my home state! And besides, it's just a neat picture!
Virginia needed to go to the grocery store and we decided that 5:30 pm wasn't too early to eat dinner...especially if we go to bed at 7 pm. So, again, our brains were working and remembered that Karey had pointed out Mac's Road House and said it was pretty good eating. Just past Wal Mart (that still didn't have any black cotton for me)

Virginia decided not to go for the fried shrimp and catfish again. Said she needed to eat more healthy food...so she got grilled shrimp. Don't those look great? That big mound of white is mashed potatoes...about three servings worth. What you don't see in the picture in the huge bowl of fried corn...like corn fritters or maybe more like corn tots...you know, like tater tots only made with corn and dough. They were really good but she didn't want anyone to know that she was eating fried food again...don't tell anyone!


And I am still on a quest for good chicken fried steak...the last one I had had a piece of "steak" that was less than 1/4 " and not more than a hamburger patty size. So when the waitress asked me if I wanted the small one or the larger one, I went for the larger one.

Now that is a heaping plate full of chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes covered in white gravy...really low fat! But was it good! I'll get to remember how good when I have some more of it tomorrow for lunch and then the rest for dinner tomorrow.

I went back up to the studio to do some clean up so I don't embarrass Karey in front of everyone with my messiness. Found the counter again, or at least part of it and carefully stacked my stuff neatly. Put three boxes on the table which I will move to store under my cutting table. My new design wall leans against the wall right next to the bathroom...so, if anyone closes the bathroom door (this bathroom has two private bathrooms (toiddies) and a private shower, but if the door gets closed, my wall gets a good puff of fresh air and hits the floor. It just can't stand fresh air!!

Stopped by Virginia's studio on my way back tonight and her green piece is getting even longer.


Here is it all by itself and you don't get any sense of how long it is but it is 24" by about 10 feet right now. Who knows when it will end...the never ending project!


But then, here is a great picture of her aspens which are done. It is just wonderful and so very simple!

Well, everyone here has been rushing around burning piles of branches, painting signs so people won't get lost, making tags for cars when they are parked so that you can't pick a new car for yourself from the valet parking. There will be tours around the property and if it dries out enough, you can walk around and sit in nice little places and feel the peace...of course, it's been too busy to be peaceful but we will feel it again on Monday! It really is going to be fun. Virginia can hardly wait to see my public face that I will put on....the smiley one!!!

DAY 16: We Have Hit the Wall

Well, today has been a long day. I discharged 8 yards of black but am not very happy with four of the pieces as they are too dark and have no definition to them. Had to get the black plastic up as it is getting close to time to clean up in the Creativity Center. I have moved my little studio into a smaller square so that will work fine but I need to pick up some other stuff and get it stored away.

The rains are playing havoc on the grounds...hard to park cars on mushy mud! But, ever-thinking Karey and there will be valet service for the cars.

Virginia hit the wall also...she spent the day working on this piece below, went for a walk and came back and begged off from chicken fried chicken dinner tonight and went to bed to read. I cam down at 7 pm and her lights are OUT!

This is a large piece...I think it is about 80" long. So nice to have the design space to work on it! Little parts have been stitched and I think she is about ready to stitch everything together.


So, I piddled around with this piece today and was not very satisfied. Took me a long time to work out how I wanted the bottom left corner, what I had started with just did not work. And then I played with the circle placement for ever. Finally decided to fuse more orange fabric and then some of the black as Misty Fuse came through and arrived today...not a minute too soon either. Both of us were in dire need...

Son finally came up with something that I am satisfied with. Haven't taken it off the wall to do the final pressing as I was just too tired. And then I realized that I am going to have to redo some of my black and that I need more black fabric to discharge so I can keep on going. All of a sudden the black I had has disappeared.


This has not been trimmed yet...it will be uneven but I am not sure what, yet.

So, tonight I am going to curl up in bed again and read for a little while and start a new day tomorrow!

thanks again for all of the comments...it does help to keep us tied in with the rest of the world...although we don't watch TV and haven't read a newspaper since we have been here. I guess we figure if something really important happens, we will find out somehow! I'm sure it will be listed on the Quilt Art List!!

DAY 15

This morning was a grey and wet start for the day. I made the decision that I might as well try to meet Virginia's challenge of getting 20 pieces together for a potential show. Of course, they won't be quilted until I get home. However, I faced the challenge of almost running out of fabric again. Virginia gave me a bunch of her 60 " fabric that she didn't paint...about 6 yards, and I proceeded to paint various oranges. However, I needed more black so I went on a quest for black cotton at Wal Mart. The Wal Mart here in LaGrange still hasn't gotten any more in so I was off to Bastrop, about 34 miles away, to get some there...hopefully. Well, they did have it and I returned back to the studio triumphant.

Stopped by Virginia's studio and she had new stuff up on her wall. She had painted a bunch of knotholes and those were up and she was busy doing some other things.

Her piles of fabric are getting more and more messy...so she is feeling much more comfortable in her surroundings.

This is a closeup of some of the texture on one of her pieces.

And some more texture on another piece.

and more texture on her piece with the branch. It's fun watching these come about.

Here are two of the knot holes closer up. She isn't sure yet just what she will be doing with them yet but tonight she is busy ironing on what is left of our precious Misty Fuse. Iris Karp is sending more and it should be here tomorrow...thankfully, then I can get more of my orange fabric fused.

In this piece, Virginia decided it was time to just do what she wanted to do and to stop trying to plan everything out. In this, both of us work the same...let the fabrics talk and tell us what to do.

so, in keeping with Virginia's challenge, here is piece #7

and in a different vein, Piece #8 I have started to foil some of the orange fabric which is great fun.

I am really enjoying letting the pieces come out whatever size and shape they want to be. I enjoy having little parts sticking out. I enjoy not have square corners...

There is lots going on around the Franch. New gliders are being put together, more seating is being put outside in various peaceful places for guests' enjoyment, everything is getting spruced up and Pam, Karey's assistant is frantically trying to figure out where to put more cots. Everyday Karey gives us a new figure of how many people will be here and it is beginning to get staggering! What a little shindig!

I must thank everyone for taking the time to comment...even those of you who had to go to my
website in order to reach me because they couldn't leave a message on blogger for some reason. Both Virginia and I have gotten a kick out of reading the messages. You all made our day!

Thanks to you all again, and especially my good buddie Gerrie Congdon who has become my greatest cheerleader!

Gee, it's 8:30 pm...must be bedtime!

DAY 14

Well, I don't have as many pictures to show you today. I got busy working on a new piece and that took the day. Today is mid point...two weeks here and two weeks to go. Everyone around here is starting to gear up for the shindig this coming weekend. The never-ending invitation seems to now hover around 60+ people coming although those are not all spending the night!

This is the first big piece I started and I have done a lot of screening over the piece and I am more satisfied. It's better but not great.


Virginia has changed her studio around so that she has better light over her sewing table. And you can see that she can look at some of her wonderful fabric while she works, and she can also look at her design wall which is to the left. Life is so difficult. She has spent today sewing on smaller things and getting back in to the swing of sewing as she has been so busy with the Fiber Art for a Cause program for the past year and a half.

I got this piece put together. It is about 44 x 70", a little bigger. The pieces are starting to add up. It has been very difficult for me to keep on making tops since I am so programed to get things finished before I start something new. So now I have about 6 fairly good size pieces that need to get quilting done. I put in an emergency order to Superior Threads for some gold color thread as well as black and also mono poly which is clear and also their smoke. It will be here on Thursday. So this piece joins the pile that has been fused to the batting.

I think I will do the pillow case method once I get some 60" fabric painted. Virginia kindly gave me some since she would have to ship it home, so tomorrow I will be painting fabric so I can get some backings on before this weekend. That will help to stabilize them better. So, do that first thing and then start another one.

I also silk screening adhesive for foiling and did two pieces of fabric, one with a beautiful orangie-gold and the other with some brownish foil. Really neat, now I have to decide how to use them. I will also be making some cards for Karey's Heart 2 Heart project for wounded soldiers in the hospitals.

We all went out for dinner tonight, Karey, Virginia, me and Pam, Karey's very hard working assistant. Had good Mexican food again and Virginia and Karey both came home with lunch for tomorrow.

It's an early bedtime tonight. The weather has gotten cold and it is very windy. Burrrrr...time to crawl under the covers and get warm and read for a little while.

Oh yeah, if you stop by to read any of this, would you just say hi? You know, it's nice to know that a few more than three or four people happen to look this way. You don't have to say anything other than hi...no compliments expected (of course they are welcome!) but just say hi!

Many thanks....

Day 12 and 13

This is what I felt like at the end of the day, yesterday, so that is why there was no blog for yesterday, day 12. Both Virginia and I spent two days painting fabric and I was also discharging fabric. I am enjoying this new series and wanted to do more but didn't have enough fabric. So first thing on Saturday I headed to another Wal Mart to buy out their black cotton and then came back and discharged. After that I started painting.

So this is just a little of the oranges to yellow browns that I did. The top piece is a monoprint as are a couple of others. I have more but I have completely run out of white Misty Fuse so can not fuse them yet. More is on the way! Another bolt of white and another of black! Hurray for Misty Fuse!

So here is a washed out picture of a pile of my discharged fabrics which already have had black Misty Fuse fused on to them. This is so much fun! Not the ironing or the fusing, etc as that is all grunt work. But, once that is done, we are "Good to go!"

Someone asked what I discharge with...well, is you don't tell anyone, I'll let you in on my secret!
Sunlight Dishwasher gel! I have almost finished a big bottle. What color comes up depends upon the colors used to make black. I have seen one black that actually discharged to white, sometimes greenish, and all shades of redish-orange.

So, this picture was taken later in the day in the AIR where Virginia has her studio. Of course, she has spent most of the past two days up at the big studio painting. Between the two of us, we practically fill the room with yardage waiting to dry. Once it is dry, up it comes, gets ironed and the added to the pile...that it unless you like to put it up on the wall to admire it all day! And then it starts again with more painting etc. finishing up with screen printing or writing or whatever is deemed necessary to complete the cloth.

On the wall you can see some of Virginia's written fabric. It really isn't meant to be read, and the same goes for my writing on fabric, but is part of the story of the piece that means something to us...it isn't necessary to be able to read it to enjoy the finished work.

And then we have the layout of fabrics...these cover a huge low table...one of the shots shows all the fabrics on this table (certainly not all of the fabric that Virginia has done!




Here you can see the table with fabrics!


And more painted fabrics waiting to be picked up

and more

and more on the table


So, finally this afternoon at 3, I started putting away the discharging stuff, cleared off the cutting table which has been my discharging and screen printing table, and sorted out my fabrics. Took all the stuff that didn't go with this series over to the other side of the room and piled it up out of the way.

I have begun piece #5 and you can see how I work on the design wall. I am cutting and layering and placed different pieces of fabric on top of a piece of Quilter's Dream cotton Select which I can fuse directly to, on the wall, once I am satisfied. It is sooooo nice to have an 8 x 8' design wall that I can get up to and stand away from...clear across the room!

This shows a close up of the piece in process.

And then, here it is fused and ready to be finished. I now have four to finish and will spend tomorrow working on some more. Once the Misty Fuse comes in, I can finish fusing the rest of the orange fabrics. Who knows how many of these I will make1 They are running about 45" square or so...will do a couple more this size and then do some larger pieces. Such a pleasure to have the space to work in this size!

Today was just beautiful! Gone was the rain. We got up to lots of misty fog in the oak trees. But you could see a bright light above it all! What could it be? The sun! The sky quickly cleared and the sun shone all day! It was even warm...probably up to 67 degrees again. Virginia was in her shorts all day! (Her husband was home getting 3" of snow and 2 degrees below zero weather.) I went off to church and stopped by the old town cemetery to take pictures of angels, one of which opens this blog. There was even a little cherub for a six month old baby. Many of the graves are from the mid 1800's and it is very interesting to read the headstones.

The little soiree coming up next weekend is getting bigger and bigger! Karey will have seating for 50 in the Creativity Center for lunch. What a grand day that will be! And then, the slumber parties in the dorms, the AIR and the Creativity Studio. Fortunately, Virginia and I still get our rooms to ourselves...that is unless Karey has decided to add cots to our rooms to put up more people. On Sunday, the local guild will be coming over. What a blast!

You can not imagine what a wonderful opportunity this has been and we are only through the first two weeks. However, we do lost a couple of days with the party (in grand southern style...you know, putting everyone up for the night, etc!) but once everyone is out of our studios again, we are back as work for the one last week.

DAY 11 I'm in the Zone!

What a difference having the right set up and right tools makes! I am in the zone and cooking hot!

Yesterday I got a design wall. I showed you one piece that I had done with my circles and discharged fabrics. Well, I couldn't stand it so I fused that first piece on to Mountain Mist cotton batting and it shrank which left wrinkles in the piece. I went ahead and quilted it heavily but they still show. Disappointing.

Then today I hit the Creativity Center and went to town and got another piece layed out on the wall and then had to figure out how to get it off the wall and on to my teflon sheets to fuse it. Had to take a picture so I could reconstruct it on the teflon and then fused it all together.

This is the first piece I did this morning. I was a little disappointed because my Quilter's Dream batting had not arrived yet (it was supposed to come on Thursday) so I couldn't go ahead and fuse it to the batting. So, I just put it aside and started another one.


This one really isn't quite as dark as it looks...the wall behind it is white, not grey.
But, the UPS guy came a second time and this time brought my batting. Was I ever happy. Got those two tops fused on to the batting and there are no wrinkles and it is as smooth as can be. So, no time to stop now!


So back to what I know best...the cruciform! And away I went! Got it fused to the batting also. By this time I was getting a little tired or standing all day so went down to Virginia's studio to see what she was up to.
The UPS guy came again, this time bringing a big box of threads from Superior Threads for the studio. We delved right in like kids at Christmas opening presents. Thank you Bob!

By then we were feeling a little more tired and getting hungry. First we had to stop at Wal Mart to get more black cotton for discharging since I am almost out of my fabric. Got there and they didn't have any. My plan was to discharge in the morning, get the fabric washed and then start doing more work tomorrow afternoon. Well, I will have to drive to another Wal Mart to see if they have it.

We decided to head out to the Bistro for dinner...by the time we leave LaGrange we will have eaten in all the restaurants in town! What a great dinner! Virginia is on a fried food thing...you must understand that she does not eat red meat, likes organic food and is very particular...eating fried food is very unusual for her...two nights in a row now and tonight she had fried catfish (again) and fried shrimp. I had a wonderful, juicy pork loin wrapped in smoked bacon, cooked to perfection with glazed onions and apples on top. Wonderful! So, in the spirit of sharing, we are giving you pictures of our dinners!


It is so wonderful to finally be at the place I knew I would eventually get to...the Zone. That place where everything is working right, the ideas flow wonderfully, all the equipment is in place and you have enough room to support what you are doing. Virginia is getting there but is somewhat hampered by the size restrictions she has placed on herself. Oh well, she should work through it by tomorrow.

Tomorrow I have to dash off for my quest for black cotton so I can get back and really go to town! Each of the pieces I have done today are about 45 x 40 or so and I am really happy!

DAY 10

This is one of three pictures of Virginia's design wall. She is working away.

Second picture of her design wall...pieces in progress.

And, by process of elimination, this is the third picture from her wall. I love the branch on the top with textured trunk to the right of it...really cool!

Thought I would give you a shot of fusing with black misty fuse. I have two large pieces of teflon that I got from Valerie Hearder and in this shot the misty fuse has been placed on top of my fabric (the wrong side of the fabric) and then the second sheet of teflon is layed on top and then ironed.

This is a shot of part of the ironing table which is really big...the piece of teflon is 36" x 56". The misty fuse covers one half of the fabric, which I will fuse and then turn around to do the other half.

A piece of discharged black cotton...you can see that I am really into circles.

And, ta da!!! I now have a design wall myself. This is a piece in the planning but I just washed out some fabric that I dyed this morning and will stamp and screen it tomorrow to use in this piece. There are about 6 different discharged fabrics.

Virginia and I went out to dinner for a typical Texas style dinner...I had chicken fried steak with white gravy and she had fried catfish with hushpuppies. While we were out, we were talking about our progress so far and both of us feel that we have not hit the grove yet. We are working hard, doing art but haven't reached that place where it just zings out of you. Hoping this will happen sooner, rather than later, as both of us move quickly when we are in the zone and work really hard. Just have to free up the mind, open the heart, and let it come!

Karey's little get together is getting really big. She went in to Houston today to do some work and will return to the franch tomorrow to do more work here.

The weather warmed up...must have gotten to 50 at some point today, and everything has been melting. Got all the ice off of my car. But then, it started raining and the temperature has dropped. When we first got here, Virginia called her husband and asked him to send more polo shirts and shorts...now she needs fleece!