For Your Inspiration: Paducah

I had a little time to wander today.

Quilt Man!!!

Student Spotlight: Paducah

I truly am THE luckiest person in the world to be able to do what I do. I shlep and huff for a week, fly for a day, then play and play and play! And I get to play with the funnest people. These lovely ladies came in singing out loud and I joined right in.

Just Foiling Around

foil, glitter, painted Wonder-Under

Surface Design Sampler Platter

Imagine my surprise and joy - that's Quilter Beth in the cupcake apron.

She's been spotlighted here as she works her way through Art + Quilt!

Here we are getting up and around, doing photo transfer, painting and stamping, 

and yes, cutting out snowflakes. It's more fun than kindergarden!

Apli-Punto to Go

What troopers! It was a night class and they stayed awake and made such beautiful things!

Couldn't quite get them all in the picture so here we have the other half.

They are laughing at me perched up high on a chair with the camera in the air.

I LOVE THIS JOB!!!

On The Road: Paducah

I’m tired enough that it’s difficult to write… long blank spaces in my brain. But it’s all good. I’m sitting in the terminal and am surrounded by quilters. I suppose there aren’t all that many flights into a small town like Paducah. The sweet girl at the check-in counter in Raleigh said “you’re the ONLY one going to Paducah.” I think she’s wrong but it made me laugh anyway. I’m looking forward to southern spring weather there and am grateful to be going there rather than farther north where it might still be grey and cold.

So what to do in the airport? 

Today it’s two of my favorite podcasts. Betty In The Sky With A Suitcase, and WNYC’s Radio Lab. Betty is a long time flight attendant with a plethora of very funny stories to tell about things that happen on planes. Radio Lab is the most interesting and entertaining science podcast I’ve ever heard. Did you know that our natural state of number understanding is logarithmic rather than linear?

Stitch. Hours of meditative hand work. Every time I get on the plane I’m a bit tired because I tend to go out on very early flights but have stayed up too late the night before. Usually I’m throwing together a few pieces of fabric with a bit of batting and then a little box of embroidery threads and some beads. Who knows what will happen by the time I’m done with it? No plan. 

Perhaps it will get done on the way home.

What a lovely way to pass the time.

Title ideas would be greatly appreciated!

running, running, running....

Whew. I still have a million things to do before the American Quilter's Society show this week. No time to post on Monday but a full day of travel on Tuesday! Am I the only person on earth who loves long travel days? No dishes to do, no children to drive, no fights about homework or chores? I can write and do handwork or read to my hearts content. I hope to post a review of ARTQUILTS:illuminations for you as well as a book review. Keep your eyes on this space.....

Fire 

by Diane English

For Your Inspiration: Spring!

This weekend I'm attending the annual spring conference of the Professional Art Quilter's Alliance - South. Next week I teach in Paducah at the American Quilter's Society show. I've arranged childcare, made a million handouts, packed one of my 50lb suitcases full of supplies, shipped four boxes and have told my other den mother I won't be at cub scouts (scrub sprouts) next week. I still have a million things to do so what did I do yesterday? 

Pulled out my camera and spent an hour in the yard glorying in the riot of color that is spring in the South. It felt like the sun was pouring into my hands - and heart.

Most of the azaleas in the yard are repeat bloomers - coming out for an encore in the fall.

This sweet little azalea has creamy white blossoms - and they don't even turn brown and yucky when the temp takes it's usual late spring quick dive.

My bleeding heart is tucked in a corner and the blossoms hide under very bright lime green foliage.

My favorite childhood flowers are lilac and iris.

A few years ago I planted one of the very few varieties that will bloom here in the south.

They usually like cold winter weather and we don't get enough of it. 

The smell is heady. The whole kitchen is full of it from one small branch.

And of course this morning instead of getting more things ready I'm sharing my spring color with you. I still have a few hours before I need to leave. I have to gather my stuff for the conference, find a ride to the airport, print out more handouts (and of COURSE the printer is out of ink) and figure out an activity for the six year old's birthday party tomorrow. I think I can squeeze in a stop at the craft store on the way there. Any ideas? Helpful hint for squeezing in more art time: convince your children that a donut tower is waaaay more fun than a decorated birthday cake!

For Your Inspiration: Tulips

It's a glorious riot of color here. The tulips are almost done. 

The Azaleas are just getting started.

Bahman Farzad on Flickr

LeCotillon on Etsy

Hammelman Art

Tutorial by Robin Rivers at Our Big Earth

Art + Quilt: Quilter Beth - Unity

Quilter Beth is making fantastic progress - methodically working her way through the exercises in Art + Quilt. Pop on over to her blog and take a look!