Daily Blog

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There are moments in life that are undeniably unique, inspirational, and memorable. Most of you are aware that I have been involved in a reunion choir comprised of students from my high school acapella choir between the years of 1961 and 1993. Those were the years (32 of them) that Donald B. Cowan directed the choral program at S. H. Rider High School in Wichita Falls, TX. 

Through Facebook, a reunion began, and the seeds for singing together with our beloved director were planted. The vision became a reality. The Donald B. Cowan Legacy Choir performed in Wichita Falls, TX on June 25th and again this past Saturday evening, July 9th, at Bass Performance Hall in Ft. Worth, TX. Singers from across the country assembled once a month to rehearse and the final performance left us all exhilerated and inspired. I can only wish every person reading this has had, or will have, a red-letter day such as this in their own lives. 

The commitment I made to serve Legacy Choir as president and tenor section leader has taken away from time I use for other ongoing responsibilities, but for me, this event was an opportunity to pay back a debt. I was given so much by my musical mentors during my formative years and this was my chance to show my appreciation. 

I composed Prayer of St. Francis, an eight part piece that was premiered at both concerts. It was one of the greatest honors in my life to have such an amazing choir sing my composition - but even more of a blessed moment to know that those singing were my peers.

The review out today had this to say: "glorious in their delivery" - "resplendent" - "stunning" - "reverent and powerful"

Please take a moment to read the entire review in the Times Record News.

Once the CDs are available, I'll let you know. Expect Septemberish.

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We've got GOOD NEWS!  Here's a message from Liz Whitehouse, CEO of The Quilters' Guild:

I would like to pass on a huge "thank you" to everyone who voted for
'Unfolding the Quilts' in the National Lottery Awards. We made it into the
top three in the Heritage section and will now go through to the final, with
voting starting (again...) on 2 September. This will give the Quilt Museum
and Gallery much-needed publicity on national TV. Thanks again to everyone -
we could not have done it without you! We will keep in touch and let
everyone know when we need you to start voting again. With best wishes and
thanks for your support.  Liz

Great job everyone!

_____________________________________________________________________________

An excellent quilter and great friend, Rebecca Collins, is asking for help from TQS members to aid the Quilter's Guild of the British Isles in their effort to facilitate the setting up of the Quilt Museum in York.

The Museum opened almost three years ago with a Museum Director as its first staff member.  A short time later, they heard that an application to the Lottery Heritage Fund had been successful.  For an application to be successful; very full details of what will be done must be given and these must later be adhered to.  The project was named 'Unfolding the Quilts' and its aim was to introduce as many people as possible to what the Museum could offer.

There has been great success in recruiting volunteers to steward the exhibitions and in making display items for handling purposes, just to mention two things.  There are now about 70 names on the volunteer list.  The initial money was also able to fund materials and expenses incurred in progressing the project. Unfortunately, the original funding will finish this coming October and the people who have worked so hard to make a success of the Museum will be out of work.

The Lottery Funding for the Museum has now reached the semi-finals and the public voting stage on which is the best project.  As mentioned, the Guild's is called "Unfolding the Quilts" and is in the "Best Heritage Project" Section towards the bottom of the page on the site (see below).

The Guild needs as many people as possible to vote for the Museum.  You don't have to be a quilter or guild member you just need to be a person interested in the success of the Museum which is the only one of its kind in the United Kingdom; where many museums are currently disposing of textile items or mothballing them.The Guild  has checked and people from all over the world may vote.  The winning entry will receive additional funding and will be featured on National Television.

Voting for the semi-finals starts at 9am on Tuesday 31 May and ends at midday on Monday 20 June. The three projects in each category with the highest number of votes will go through to the final round of public voting later this summer.

Visit this website (http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards/) again from 9am on Tuesday 31 May for further details on the semi-finalists, and to cast your vote. 

Don't just sit there, get out and vote for the Quilt Museum in York!

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Hey Everybody - and thanks for your thoughts and prayers during my recent illness. I'm happy to report that I'm doing much better after almost 12 days of bed rest and meds. I'm up and about but trying not to overdo it. You know how well that works for me! Haha.

I know within the TQS community there are many of you who have faced, or are facing, health issues. If laughter is the best medicine, then I hope you will find lots of it within and around you. As a matter of fact, the person who made me laugh the most for her caption (see below) is JMHUNT. Some Ricky Tims hand-dyed fabric is on it's way to her. Thanks to everyone who gave me a chuckle during my long, torturous ride back to Colorado.

Caption: In a balloon over Alex's head, she's singing a song (badly!), in balloon over Ricky's head, "Would Alex notice if I made for that exit?", and in a balloon over Libby's head, "OK now Libby, don't laugh, don't laugh, don't laugh....". Get well! JMHUNT

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Last week during the drive to Eau Claire, Wisconsin for a Ricky Tims Super Quilt Seminar, I came down with severe flu-like symptoms (achey all over, fever, lifeless, and coughing). Since the seminar started the next afternoon I treated myself with over-the-counter flu meds that are tried and true for me. This time they had no effect.

I managed through the first session of the seminar but it became evident something was really wrong. Off to the ER I went. I was diagnosed with a urinary tract bacterial infection. Everything there was a mess - kidneys, bladder, and prostate. The doctor was more concerned that it did not turn systemic which could become critical or even life threatening. 

So - long story short I spent a lot of time in bed. Alex and Libby played backup quarterback for the seminars and I was in the game as much as I could be - thankfully. However, by Saturday the infection had localized in my nether region (yes, a testicle, ouch) and it was insisted that I return to the ER, which I did.

The report is that the antibiotics are working, in time the swelling will go down, and that the only way to a speedy recovery is bed rest. Walking is minimal because gravity will not help "the situation", and therefore I have had to cancel a couple of weeks of things on my calendar.

Today I am still in bed - doing all the right things (I hope) so we can start the drive back to Colorado tomorrow. I'm sure we'll make a mobile hospital bed so I can still be horizontal as much as possible.

Thank you for your care and concern. If you want to be entertained during my recovery, then you'll have to follow my public figure page on Facebook - just LIKE me on that link. 

Here is a photo from the weekend during a moment when I was not feeling so bad. You caption it. What are each of us (Ricky, Libby, Alex) saying/thinking? Whoever makes me laugh the most before I get home to Colorado on Wednesday or Thursday will get hand-dyed fabrics as a treat.

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Yesterday (Monday) was the first of five days of taping 10 new TQS shows on location in the Colorado Springs area. Remember, "on location" means out and about and not with audience members. It allows us to shake up the TQS drill and we've heard from enough of you to know that you like both.

Our first location was the United States Air Force Academy - and more specifically, the Cadet Chapel. The chapel is one of the most amazing architectural buildings in the world and certainly one of the most identifiable. We taped two shows INSIDE the chapel - who would have thunk it? Not only that, but I had the honor of getting up to the choir loft to play the magnificent organ (see photo) - with 4334 pipes! This dream was not on my bucket list because I would never have thought that would have been possible. It will forever be one of my most memorable moments.

The photo above shows quilts from our first guest. He uses architectural elements in his quilt designs so being in the chapel was a great fit. Our afternoon guest was an international quilter from the Netherlands who makes quilts that explode with color. Any guesses?

Justin, squinting in the bright morning sun, is wired for sound to open the show outside the US Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel.

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I've completed working on designs for Oodles of Doodles II (the sequel) and am really happy with them. The are all very colorful (no surprise) and I created them just doodling! Even though these won't be in stores until Spring of 2012, I thought you might like a sneak peek!

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You may recall I started this quilt last Fall. Well, it has resurfaced and has come back to haunt me. It is a fantasy quilt based on the symphonic work by Modest Mussorgsky, Night on Bald Mountain. I've decided to let you choose whether or not I should finish it. The poll is on the right column of my website. Click here to cast your vote. Should I finish it, or send it to the graveyard? Comment here if you like, but cast your vote in the poll.

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I understand the deadline for the triangle exchange is fast approaching - April 1st - right? - No foolin'!

So, I'm busy putting the finishing touch on seven-hundred-upteen HSTs. They each are getting an "RT". Who's idea was this anyway? It's all good. Are you meeting the deadline?

Whoo-hoo!!!

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Last week as Justin and I were heading to Puyallup, WA for the Sewing and Stitching Expo we were able to snag our 10th Drive-by Quilting. Valerie and her daughter found a safe spot on a pedestrian overpass in Portland, Oregon to show of her beautiful quilt. One person commented how great it was that she chose a Mariner's Compass to show us the way! Congratulations Valerie. Read the full story here.

Today we are heading home to Colorado. It will take at least three days. Here's hoping the snow stays away and we can make good time. A Drive-by Quilting requires lots of updates so stay tuned by following me (LIKE) on Facebook.