Aloha, Work hard to Play hard!

I had a lot of stitching to do before I left for a really tough "gig" in Honolulu. I sketched and drew and then quilted all kinds of ideas for borders and blocks.   I had to work... well, teach and quilt for 2 days.  The ladies were awesome of course and the days went fast.  We drew, and quilted and laughed and ate from 9 in  the morning until 7 at night.  Everyone brought treats... brownies with macadamia nuts, honey roasted macadamia nuts, chocolate covered macadamia nuts!  My kind of party.

 

 

 

 It was not all work and no play. We spent a day the the Polynesian Cultural Center.  We had a great day at Pearl Harbor.  Loved the Submarine and the big ship Missouri...Great time at the Air museum. And of course lots of time at the beach, shopping and great restaurant.

Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings

I over came my fears.  I didn't know it would be so HIGH up. AND straight up. My heart was pounding when I got to the top of a 32 foot ladder, a tiny path of steps UP the rock steps with chains for hand rails, a trail right on the ledge of the cliff, crawling through an 18 inch tunnel and sliding between slits in the sandstone.  We went to Balcony House first thing Saturday morning.  Before I had time to rethink what we were doing.  It is the only dwelling you are able to CLIMB down into and through and CLIMB back out.  It is amazing these people lived in these stone houses on cliffs. Amazing.

We had incredible weather, the perfect temperature, clear blue skies and we were there ahead of the crowds. We got a nice hotel in Cortez, Colorado.  We went into the National Park 2 full days and were able to see about everything.

Spruce House was the most well preserved and had a Kiva with a roof.  The circle rooms in the floor of every dwelling first had a roof that evened out the floor of the dwelling so it was like a huge patio that they all made baskets, pottery, did their cooking and lived there with the birds.  Way up there they raised their children.

Cliff Palace was the largest and still had THREE 10 foot ladders to climb out.

Balcony house was built for a smaller group on the morning sun side of the mesa and was more defensive with all the small slots  and tunnels to enter and exit and quite the drop off in front.

The Sun Temple was built in a "D" shape and had 3 Kivas or Rooms inside.  It was very high up and was never finished.  These people lived in the dwellings about 100 years and then left.

Sea And Green Modern Quilt

My Quilt is featured in the Spring Edition of Modern Quilts Unlimited!

I am still amazed!  It's crazy to see it in the magazine.

I made this quilt after a  3 day class in our studio.  I had all kinds of fun with color and  design elements. This turned out to be my favorite choice for a quilt.

Country Music Weekend in St. George

 This is the most beautiful venue for a concert. Tuachan in St. George is set in these amazing Red Rocks.  We went with Dick and KC to hear Diamond Rio.  We sang along to every song.

Jerry and his brothers sang at the Care Center Saturday morning and mom and dad came to listen, but it's getting harder and harder to get them out of security when it's all over.  AND, the Condo.  A place away from the snow.  Just not sure who is going to get to really enjoy it....

From Sketch to quilt

Lots of doodles  until I finally found what I wanted.

I entered this quilt in HMQS.  The Quilting Show for our area.  We'll see how it does. See if all the sketching was worth it...

Midway Retreat

It was a get away in the mountains and no husbands. But there was a frog to kiss.... and hug.  The resort was charming. No Prince, but Vicki, Angie, Kimmy Brunner, Cheryl and I found  a frog to kiss. 

This is where I stayed, and this is me getting a picture of  the sun coming up.... SEVEN am and I am headed to breakfast.  This is my charming cottage, that I hardly had a chance to enjoy.  We were very, very busy teaching, laughing and  eating.  All buffets.  And food  breaks between lunch and breakfast and lunch and dinner and treats for the night gatherings. UGh!  Why is food always too good to pass up?

Jill Finley came and did a trunk show and Cheryl and I raced right up to get her to sign our copies of her book.  We had to twist her arm to get her to write that we were her biggest fans.  Which we really are.

This is me... teaching I'm sure. At the  first of every class I have to start with a joke. At least they get a good laugh out of my classes.

And this is my class of very good students.... the ones who followed ALL of the directions and laughed at my jokes.  I try to warn them ahead of time that I am telling a joke and when I stop talking is when they should laugh.

At the Homestead Resort there is this cave with clear blue water 65 feet deep.  I've been to the Homestead lots of times and looked at the water and the people inside.   I made the other educators promise that we would all go swim.  No cameras allowed.  It was on my bucket list ... well after all it is close to home, one of those things you just really ought to do before you die. Turns out we are almost dead.  We were supposed to pay $15 to swim and the guy only charged us $10. Angie wanted to go back and pay the five bucks when she figured out that we ALL got in for the Senior Citizen discount.  We had been so busy all week that this was the highlight of it all...just soaking in the warm water and relaxing. Oh, and laughing, a lot.

This is only a Test!

I took my machine to work for them to put a new part on it.  They said take it home and test it. Sew a lot.

 I just started with a border of feathers.  I need a sampler of micro designs for a class I am now teaching so I started adding them to the center.  This is one of those times when it is just fun to sew like crazy and not have to think very much.