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Since we have the most creative online community ever - let's play the game again. Put your creativity to work.
1. Caption This.
2. What quilt pattern is most appropriate for this photo? Oh... that's a tuffy.
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Cattails bursting open.
Yes, the foreground, background and sky are filled with cranes.
Boogie down!
According to my brief research on the web there are three spellings for playing hookie (hooky, hookey). Yesterday I shut the office lights off at 2pm and headed 90 miles to the Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge to see the migration of the fabulous Sandhill Cranes. The full story is too long to tell here, but I'll try to hit the highlights. I've lived here for 5 years and this was my first effort to go see them. I had no idea how to find them or what to expect. My web research said they would be at the Alamosa Wildlife Refuge and the Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge - and that this should be peak time.
1. I first stopped at the Alamosa refuge. I was the ONLY car there - no birds - no wildlife - hmmm. So I took a photo of the only thing that was abundant - cattails splitting open.
2. Since I was only 30 minutes from the other refuge I decided to bite the bullet and driver further. Once there, I looked and looked and finally saw two cranes. - big woo. - actually it was a big woo, but they were too far away for a good photo. Nonetheless, I took that photo in case I never saw more.
3. On my last ditch effort I pulled into the last view point. To my amazement there they were - about 20,000 of them. The information placard indicated that almost all of the Rocky Mountain migrating cranes stop here for about six weeks twice a year.
4. I took 1100 photos. It was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!
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Look around you. Keep your camera handy. These six images were on furniture and accessories in my hotel in Cusco, Peru. One image was a stone carving on a church. I took many photos hoping they might someday spark an idea for a quilt. Have you ever made a quilt from photos you took on a vacation?
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As you might image, there were no official Galapagos textiles. However, once we got to Cusco, Peru, we began seeing amazing woven alpaca tapestries. The common market at Aguas Calientes had a lot of weavings featuring typical Peruvian designs. Here is just a sampling. Notice the many variations of designs.
We also saw Peruvian embroidery. I love these designs.
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I know many of you have been looking forward to seeing the sights of the South America tour. First, let me say that our journey was focused around the creative process and the lessons I gave prior to leaving on the trip were on composition. The idea was not tour to these wonderful places and then spend time 'quiltling', but rather to have an experience that would enlightened us all personally and let our insights filter into our artistic endeavors when we returned home. My talks were on The Journey - the journey in life, on our trip, as well as our creative journeys. There were two reasons for this: 1) So we could spend all our time focusing on the sights we came to see and, 2) so anyone who is not a quilter (spouses, friends etc.) would be able to fully enjoy the trip too. If you ever want to do a trip with me, you'll find we won't be sewing, but we will learn and experience a lot. By the way, the next big trip is Africa in early 2011 with Jim West, www.sewmanyplaces.com. The itinerary, cost, and actual dates are not set, but if you are interested, start putting your dimes in the cookie jar. You can contact Jim and be the first to get the details when they are final.
I came home very inspired artistically and I think many of our group did as well. My first creative effort will be to document this from my personal perspective in video clips. These take a great deal of time to put together so they will likely be issued rather slowly. Here is the first video. The narrative is from my daily journal and the photos were taken by either Justin Shults, Jim West, or myself.
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Hey gang. Thanks for zooming to get the Rhapsodie Coloree Bundles mentioned yesterday. Some of you are searching for them and they just aren't there. That is because they sold out. When our inventory drops to zero, the item is removed from the webstore so they you don't order something we don't have - thus the 'while supply lasts' comment.
However, according to Justin, he is going to order some more in and we will let you know when they are back online and we'll offer them at the same special price. If you missed out - and you really think you would like one of these special bundles - why not comment here and it will give us a better idea of how many to package? Thanks everyone!
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Just prior to leaving for South America we saw some of my newest fabric possibilities. However, everything takes time and if any of the new designs will ever make it to reality, we won't see those for a year or more.
So, you may recall I went to Japan in the Fall of 2007 (see blogs from Nov 2007). My photos inspired my third line of fabric with Red Rooster and it was introduced at Fall Market 2008. Now, they are ready for YOU. Encourage your quilt shop to contact Red Rooster and get the whole line!
In the meantime, the Ricky Tims Online Store (not to be confused with the TQS SHOPPE - they are not the same) is offering a fabric bundle of all 24 pieces in the line, in 1/2 yard cuts. That's TWELVE yards of great new fabric. These fantastic fabrics are usually only available online in one yard cuts at $9.00 per yard. For a LIMITED TIME (while supply lasts) you can purchase the Rhapsodie Coloree III 1/2 Yard Bundle for only $7.50 per yard!! You will get all 24 pieces for only $90.00 plus shipping!!
The Spirals, Buddha Hands, Feather Scrolls, Road Rings, and Bamboo Forest designs work beautifully for contemporary and traditional quilts, landscapes, stained glass projects, applique, and wearables. Some are tone-on-tone, while many are multicolored, making them great blenders. These new textures (and who can have too many textures) are definitely stash builders, too!
To see swatches from the entire Rhapsodie Coloree III collection and to purchase your bundle, click here - and scroll down, select page two, scroll to the bottom of page two.
The Rhapsodie Coloree III Sampler Bundle is ONLY AVAILABLE HERE and for a LIMITED TIME WHILE SUPPLY LASTS. ACT NOW to take advantage of this special offer.
I'm so glad they are finally here and hope you'll enjoy including them in your 'fabric collection'.
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Hey everyone. I got back from South America at the end of last week and brought home an aweful cold. I think just about everyone on the trip got a cold at one point or another. I spent the weekend recovering.
However, my cold did not diminish the fact that the trip was far more than I expected. WOW is all I can say. I've started putting together some short travelogues to give you a glimpse into the many wonderful and magical experiences we had. Keep an eye out for these videos in the coming days - weeks.
Our first island in the Galapagos was the tiny island of Bartolome. There was little vegetation on it - mostly rock - NO trees at all. It was like a moon scape - like something from another planet. After our hike to the top of the volcano, we had time to swim and snorkel on the Bartolome beach.
Speaking of something from another planet - the image above was one of my favorites from our first day: Justin, the creature from the Bartolome lagoon.
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Monday, February 16th - Today I have the opportunity to participate in one of the optional tours offered through the hotel, explore the ancient ruins, or relax with a morning massage. I plan on taking time to contemplate the adventure as it draws to an end. In the afternoon we will check out of our hotel and take the train back to Aguas Calientes, where we will connect to a transfer train back to the city of Cusco. Upon our arrival, we will check into our Cusco hotel and rest.
So what about textiles on this trip? I won't be able to answer that until I get home. However, in my web search prior to leaving I located this Incan tunic (shown above) made in about 1550. It makes me realize as quilters how closely we are connected to our past - even continents and centuries apart.
Tomorrow we will have only the morning to explore a bit of Cusco before flying to Lima - then Miami - then home. Thanks for taking the virtual tour with me. I'll be home in a couple of days - do I get to rest? Get ready for my homecoming report on the journey! What do you most want to know about the tour?
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Sunday, February 15th - This morning I plan to wake up early and watch the incredible sunrise over the ruins of MACHU PICHHU. Maybe I'm expecting too much but I bet it will be one of those special moments that I'll remember for a lifetime. The day will be ours and we'll be on our own exploring the ruins at leisure. There is a hiking trail that leads up to the top of Huayna Picchu - the dramatic, towering cone-like mountain backdrop to the "lost city of the Incas" that you see in most all photos of Machhu Picchu. From what I've read the trail is very doable but dicey at times. Although I might not be in the best of condition, I plan to take my time attempting to conquer this mountain. If I make it to the top I'll post photos of the momentous occasion after I return home. Light a candle for me today. Here is a blog from some of those who made the trek to the top.
Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas, is nestled 7,500 feet above sea level in the Andean mountain range above the Urubamba valley. Many questions remain unanswered but here are a few generally accepted ideas about this ancient city on a mountain peak. Like the pyramids of Egypt, it was created using massive stones hauled over great distances. Inca structures were highly resistant to earthquakes and it’s one of the reasons Machu Picchu is still standing today.
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