Fiber and Thread

Address Change

2009-12-05T13:29:00.000-05:00

If anyone is still coming here to read my blog, I apologize for not posting that my blog is on my new website: http://www.teridspringer.com

So sorry.....

Swiss Cheese for Brains

Pretty Much All Clear

2009-08-23T13:57:00.002-04:00

The tide has gone out and the storm surge is over. The wind has shifted to N-NW from S-SE and the rain has let up. There are small patches of blue in the sky and the sun is trying to come out. Our area was very lucky. Other areas of Nova Scotia got hit a lot harder. But, we are well protected by Mahone Bay. The road to Laurie Swim's in Blue Rocks is closed as is the road to Peggy's Cove (333) from the SwisseAir Crash Memorial to the lighthouse. Many other roads are closed as well due to erosion and debris being tossed onto the road.

Louisburg on Cape Breton is getting blasted right now. The snow crab fishermen have had to go in to shore and are staying on their boats in case they need to move. Of course, it's the height of the season off Cape Breton.

I will post the rest of my photos later tonight.

teri- safe and dry

Here We Go

2009-08-23T08:48:00.012-04:00

Well, it's started. I got up at 4am and it was barely blowing and not yet raining so I went back to bed. At 6:30 am (ADT) it had been raining lightly. By 8am the rain and wind started and it hasn't let up (it's not yet 10). High tide isn't for another hour but already the storm surge is bringing the water up higher than the normal high tide for this time of year (when we get our highest). So, it will be interesting to see where the water level is in an hour. The radio report said Halifax can expect the worst of the storm between 2 and 3pm which means we will get it between 1 and 2. Thankfully that is after high tide.

Anyway, here are some photos from yesterday and today:

Across the harbour yesterday- neighbour's boat high and dry. This low tide is WELL below normal.

Same boat, well lashed at 3 spots.

Tide wasn't even at it's lowest at this point. My wharf had a metre of mud past the end of it.

The sky to the NW yesterday.

To the north today. This tree is well protected but it's blowing pretty good.

Normal high tide on my wharf.

Storm surge tide level about an hour before high tide.

Latest Update

2009-08-22T13:06:00.002-04:00

Latest word from WeatherNetwork.ca:

HEAVY RAIN IS FORECAST ON SUNDAY AS HURRICANE BILL IS EXPECTED TO TRACK SOUTH OF NOVA SCOTIA AND NORTH OF SABLE ISLAND. RAIN IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN OVER EXTREME SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA OVERNIGHT TONIGHT AND SPREAD EASTWARD TO CAPE BRETON BY NOON SUNDAY. 90 TO 140 MILLIMETRES OF RAIN IS CURRENTLY ESTIMATED FOR THE ATLANTIC COASTAL COUNTIES

WIND WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR SOUTHWESTERN NOVA SCOTIA WITH NORTHEAST WINDS OF 70 KM/H GUSTING TO 90. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN NOVA SCOTIA. THE CENTRE OF HURRICANE BILL IS FORECAST TO PASS CLOSE TO NOVA SCOTIA ON SUNDAY. GALE FORCE WINDS OF 65 KM/H ARE EXPECTED TO EXTEND MORE THAN 300 KILOMETRES WEST OF THE PATH OF THE HURRICANE AND THESE WINDS ARE NOW EXPECTED TO REACH THE ATLANTIC PORTIONS OF WESTERN NOVA SCOTIA SUNDAY MORNING. DEPENDING ON THE PROXIMITY OF HURRICANE BILL TO THE COAST GUSTS OF 100 KM/H ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST.

Southwestern counties- that includes Lunenburg County.....we are the first county west of Halifax.

Still hard to fathom as it is positively beautiful out. One of the nicest most comfortable days so far this summer......Glad I am prepared.

teri

All Quiet on the South Shore

2009-08-22T09:15:00.002-04:00

For now, anyway. The sun is actually shining out over Mahone Bay but it's overcast here in Chester. Very little breeze. It looks like we just hit high tide a little while ago and it was VERY high (highest I've ever seen it). Could make for an interesting storm surge if tomorrow morning's high tide coincides with the worst of the wind and rain. My studio level sits only about 2 metres above sea level at high tide and the weather service is already predicting waves of 2 metres for this afternoon along the coastal beaches (the surfers are positively orgasmic). Since we sit on primarily rock here, the rain run-off is an issue too. Wonder if my wharf will be under water...

I've gotten pretty much everything from outside moved in or tied down. Will save moving my one chair, footrest and small table in for when the rain and/or wind starts. I have a lobster pot sitting on the deck too. Even though it is doubtful it will move (it still has the rocks in it used to keep them on the ocean floor) I'm going to have my brother help me drag it into the living room. Now all I can do is hope all of my neighbours have done a good job of battening everything down too.

I wonder how the dog will handle it. He hates to go out in the rain so walking him for potty time could be problematical. And I forgot to bring my rain poncho with me so I have no foul weather gear. Our sailing stuff disappeared last year during race week and we have yet to replace it (that stuff is NOT cheap).

I really should have gotten the generator back in June. Never occurred to me that I really need it for my CPAP. Well, I have lived this many years with sleep apnea and didn't have the machine so I guess I can manage a few days without it.

Chester is VERY, VERY quiet. I think everyone is just waiting to see what will happen.

I will try to keep posting over the next few days and even putting up some photos but, even if we don't lose power the cable may go out and then my only connection will be the Blackberry. If the cell towers go out too I will be without a way to contact anyone.

More later.....

teri

What a Weather Forecast

2009-08-21T20:38:00.002-04:00

Yes, it's been a VERY busy summer for me. Charity Golf outing in St-Hyacinthe where I met Max Talbot and his best friend, Bruno Gervais (NY Islanders) and Marc-Andre Fleury. Spending several days out on my sister's friend's 73 foot fishing boat; helping host a day at Fabricville for a large group of quilters from the US on a quilting cruise, a SAQA regional meeting, quilting, cleaning, walking, reading, knitting cotton washcloths for a group of docs and nurses from Fisherman's Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg who are going to Belize next month, etc, etc, etc.

Now I am preparing to spend about 24 hours sitting out a hurricane that may make a direct hit on us. Here is our weather forecast from the WeatherNetwork.ca:

Atlantic Canada
Hurricane Bill's impact in Atlantic Canada is a guarantee with rain bands expected to start on Saturday. The storm is expected to lose intensity as it moves into cooler waters (not much cooler- waters here are about 22-24 C- my note) but it is very possible Bill could still be a hurricane on Sunday.

The current storm track is suggesting that Nova Scotia, PEI, Cape Breton and eastern Newfoundland will be the hardest hit with New Brunswick, western Newfoundland and Labrador being less affected. Keep in mind, with hurricane force winds extending almost 200 km from the centre of the storm today, all of Atlantic Canada is going to feel the impact of Hurricane Bill when he passes this weekend. Also, this storm track could change right up to Sunday so check regularly to find out how the storm will affect you.

Rainfall amounts from Hurricane Bill will depend on the final storm track but are expected to be between 50 - 100+ mm. Hurricane and tropical storm winds will accompany the rain and could reach up to 140 km/h closer to the centre of the storm with lesser tropical storm winds of up 90 km/h farther away from the storm.

Flooding will be a significant problem in affected areas (esp. since we don't know how the worst of the storm will match up with the tides but we are in our highest tides of the season right now) in addition to wind damage including power outages. Residents should already be preparing for what could be a weather emergency including an Emergency Kit with food and supplies for at least 72 hours. (hope I can use my grill but I AM cooking up a bunch of chicken and steak in the morning so I can have cold chicken and cut up either to put in a salad. I DO have a big cooler and LOTS of ice).

Yes folks- this could get interesting. I'd still rather deal with a hurricane than a tornado- at least I had plenty of warning to get prepared. I DO wish I had gotten a generator back in June when I originally planned and, since my windows are not the best, I WILL be replacing them in the spring with hurricane-rated ones.

teri

2009-07-05T14:43:00.008-04:00

I made it home from Montreal last night; landed about 9:30pm in a very heavy fog. All pilots who fly into Halifax must get special training in fog flying as it is so rarely clear here.

It took me a little while to find where I had parked but I didn't have to resort to using the panic button on the clicker to find it. I could have found it faster if I hadn't taken the luggage carrier off the roof!

A quick report on the Omnium Gervais-Talbot (Gervais-Talbot Open Charity Golf Outing in St-Hyacinthe, PQ). I arrived Wednesday afternoon in Montreal and picked up my rental car for the drive to St-Hyacinthe. It's only a short drive and I got there before 3pm and checked into the hotel.

The next morning Sylvain Gervais (yes, Bruno's dad) took me to the golf club for breakfast and then a tour of St-Hyacinthe. It's a beautiful town and I should have take photos but I knew he had a lot to do with the golf outing only 24 hours away so I didn't. We went to the market place downtown and oh my! the smell of the freshly baked bread made my mouth water even though I had just finished breakfast. This marketplace has been there since the 1800's and still has the water fountain out front with one side for horses and the other for people. There was fresh fruit and vegetables outside and the bakery, fresh fish, meat, and cheeses, Oh the fromage! Sylvain took me back to the hotel where I did some work but I could not get the cable internet to work. I tried 2 cables with no luck so I figured either the connection in the room was not working or my computer was being stubborn. Saturday I discovered it was the connection because I was able to connect with the cable in the business room.

Anyway, got some work done, took a little snooze, ate dinner and did a lot of reading.

Friday morning I was so excited about the outing that I was up and dressed by 7am. I didn't want to eat at the hotel as we were having a brunch at the golf club so I did some more paperwork and studied a little of my French language DVDs (not that it did me much good). I got to the club at 9:15am and Sylvain asked me if I had seen the boys at the hotel the night before ("the boys" being Bruno and Max). Shoot, I was sound asleep when they must have arrived. Anyway, I met Sylvain's beautiful wife, Hélène (no way does she look old enough to have a son that age), Max's parents, Serge and Lucie who are SO very nice (at least they look a little closer to my age so I didn't feel totally like an old lady), and Max's brothers, Bill and Frank (Francis) as well as assorted Talbot cousins and 2 of Serge's brothers. They are a wild and crazy bunch (and I mean that in the nicest of ways- so happy to all be together and so energetic).

When Bruno and Max arrived it was hugs and handshakes all around. I was made to feel like one of the crew and it seemed like everyone there knew about "Teri from Nova Scotia." We had a lovely brunch; well, some of us did. I don't think any of the Gervais or Talbot family ever sat down or really ate anything as all them were continually jumping up to make sure things were getting done and the guests were enjoying themselves. This went on ALL DAY.

At about noon we had a shotgun start. I golfed with three wonderful ladies from Montreal, Lyse, Lyne and Marlene who went out of their way to make me feel welcome. Lyne was even kind enough to teach me some French. I won't say what but it came in handy every time I hit my ball into the water or the trees (there are probably still some angry squirrels and birds cursing my name in French). We finished up just as it was starting to thunder and lightening so we made a dash to the clubhouse to put our stuff in our cars and grab our clothes for the evening soiree.

Once showered and dressed in respectable clothes, I made my way back up to the dining room and front lobby where a band was playing and we were given drinks. The silent auction was set up in a room off the dining room and I went in with one goal in mind- to win the bidding on the large, beautifully framed photograph of Max after he scored what was ultimately the Cup winning goal. It wasn't until after the auction that I found out that no one would bid after I did because people knew my name and knew how badly I wanted that photo. I felt kind of bad because the photo would have brought more money if people had been willing to bid against me. I hadn't intended to bid on anything else but, in the live auction, the bidding on Sidney Crosby's signed and framed jersey was not going nearly as high as I felt it should so I jumped in. Yes, I got it. Later I also got Marc-Andre Fleury's signed jersey.

I also brought along several photos I had of Max and Marc-Andre and they were both kind enough to sign them for me. Marc-Andre sat right behind me at dinner so we had the opportunity to chat a bit. He is a very sweet and intelligent young man but he really needs to put on a few pounds! A gentleman there was kind enough to take a photo of Marc-Andre and I and then the two of us with Max and, I'm here to tell you, Marc-Andre is nothing but ribs! Guess I will need to send more cookies next year! Of course, Max is hardly a heavy-weight!

I spent quite a bit of time visiting with Frank Talbot (the oldest of Serge and Lucie's boys). Again, you can sure tell when kids have been brought up right....Frank is so very nice and all those Talbots are so intelligent and well-spoken. No wonder Max interviews and writes so well!

After dinner and the auctions we had live music and dancing....even Serge, Lucie and I joined in. Max and Bruno were constantly checking to make sure I was having a good time and seeing if I needed anything. I wish my sons had come because I know they would have loved it. Hopefully next year.

I got back to the hotel about 2am and slept until about 9:30! I never sleep that late. After packing I checked out and then went into the business room and downloaded all my email. Serge and Lucie spotted me in there and came to say goodbye. I now have even more reason to work diligently on learning French so I can speak with all the wonderful people there without making them speak English.

I can't say enough good things about my experiences in Montreal, St-Hyacinthe or with the Gervais and Talbot families. If you are a golfer (or, like me, a really bad golfer who just likes to have fun) you should come next year. Even if you don't golf, the brunch, dinner and after-dinner activities are well worth the trip. I had been told that Montreal was not a very friendly place for non-French speaking but that is simply not true. Everywhere I went the people were friendly and went out of their way to make sure I enjoyed myself but none more so than the Gervais and Talbot families and all the people at the outing.

Oh, and I would be remiss in not mentioning, the girls and women there were so beautiful and the men all handsome. I felt like the ugly duckling but hey, we all need a little comic relief.

I took all of these before the outing with my cell phone. I can't find the *^*(&^^&%&^* cable for my camera but, when I do, I will post the photos from dinner and the auction.

Beautiful Quebec

2009-07-02T17:32:00.003-04:00

And here I am, In St-Hyacinthe, PQ, praying it doesn't rain tomorrow. Why am I here and why do I care if it rains....

I am here to play in a charity golf outing, the Omnium Gervais-Talbot that is put on by two NHL players and their families: Bruno Gervais of the NY Islanders and Max Talbot of the Stanly Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

This morning I had a wonderful breakfast. No, the food wasn't that wonderful (nor was it not- it was a toasted bagel with cream cheese and lots of fresh fruit and plenty of good coffee) but the company was phenominal. I had breakfast with Sylvain Gervais, Bruno's father and better company one could not hope for. He is intelligent, funny, very sweet and very good on the eyes. For an old lady like me (ok, not THAT old) this was so delightful. I can't remember when I last had breakfast with such a charming, attractive man. He then took me on a tour of this lovely city (small city, and very charming as well). The highlight of the tour was the wonderful marketplace downtown. The smell of the fresh baked bread alone was enough to drive one crazy (even though we had just eaten). There was fresh fruit, meat, fish, cheeses- oh my. I am going to go back on Saturday before I fly back to Nova Scotia so pick up some bread and cheese.

I am slowly (very slowly) learning French, both from my language DVDs and the residents here (including Sylvain and a wonderful waitress here at the hotel, named Brigette). Saturday I am also going to go to a bookstore and pick up some children's books in French so that I can learn them and read them to my nieces.

Tomorrow I will go to the golf club and, hopefully be able to play golf and not make a total fool of myself. But, I am going for the fun so, really, as long as I don't pull a Gerald Ford I really don't care. I am really looking forward to meeting so many people. Too bad Max is not bringing "Lord Stanley" with him but that would take attention away from the purpose of the day- to raise money for 3 local charities including Autism research and education. If it rains (and please pray it does not) we will have a casino day and shoot pool. Dandy. The only thing I am as bad at as golf is billiards.

In the evening we will have cocktails and music and food followed by an auction of sports collectables. I have a reputation at auctions- especially after several drinks (just anyone who has been to QSDS with me). But, I already have a jersey autographed by Max, and a game used stick....however, there is a photo of him scoring the Cup winning goal that is up for auction. You KNOW I will be waiting to bid on that.

I have no internet in my hotel room. For some reason my computer will not work on their cable internet. Since I had no problem with the cable internet in either Montreal or Moncton (NB) last week I have to suspect it is the connection in the room. So, I am using the computer in the business room here where the keyboard is a French keyboard and I cannot get the question mark to work and the monitor is a tiny, blurry Compaq S510- about 100 years old and it is very hard on my poor ancient eyes.

I will try to write more later but I know I won't have time tomorrow so, maybe Saturday. Hopefully I will be able to post photos on Sunday.

Au revoir!

teri

teri

Oh YES! Max is THE MAN

2009-06-02T22:43:00.003-04:00

Woo hoo! Well, the Wings may have won games one and two but the Penguins are NOT rolling over and playing dead!

Tonight, my "other son" (well, in MY heart) scored not one, but TWO goals and FINALLY got the recognition as the 1st Star of the game!!!

I was feeling so DOWN after games one and two (both of which I was at- I think I am a jinx) but I am walking on air tonight!!!!

teri

She's Baaaack!

2009-05-25T19:54:00.005-04:00

I am SO embarrassed that I have not posted in 2 months. Excuses? I have plenty but, what's the point in having a blog if you don't post? One of my BFF's who now resides in So. California bugged me about it. Don't know why; we are both on Facebook and I do post there semi-regularly.....

Any way, I got home from Athens, Ohio Sunday afternoon. Why Athens? Well, the SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) conference was held there in conjunction with the opening of Quilt National. I am now the co-rep for Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland-Labrador, and Prince Edward Island) and, since my partner, Laurie Swim, couldn't make it, I made a semi-last minute decision to go. And am I glad I did!

I went for the pre-conference and took a class with Deidra Adams on Photoshop. Now, I am still no pro with it but wow, did I learn a lot! Deidra is a wonderful teacher and has the patience of a saint. While there were a few of us with Photoshop experience, there were more without it. And, of course, we had many different versions of PS too. All the way from the old PS 7 to Essentials to CS 4 (yes, you KNOW I have to have the latest and greatest). To really muddy the waters we had 2 "loaner" computers. I thought it was great that OU had Macs.....so tell me, WHY would you have Macs and then run them on Windows??? Yes, both were running on Parallels and, despite the fact that I have Parallels, I could NOT get them out of Windows (I have Parallels but, now that I have used the Mac OS for 3+ years I am firmly a Mac person and have difficulty working with Windows except for my Quickbooks). The LOVELY woman I sat with, Cathy Smith, not only got stuck with Windows but had a new MacBook with a wonky touchpad (I suspect because of the Windows OS). Any way, Deidra spent a LOT of time working with us individually to help us learn the layers issues, etc. This class was WELL worth my time and $$.

During the actual conference we had a day of "mini-workshops." I ended up taking a class in "Marketing Outside the Box" with Lisa Chipetine (another wonderful, wonderful woman and the next president of SAQA). Great class. We did a more-or-less round table discussion of what we were currently doing and what was working and not working. Lots of great ideas.

Next, I spent the time writing in my ubiquitous notebook; filling pages with ideas on how to recruit and market us in my region.

Then I snuck into a Critique class led by Sandra Sider. Wow! Great class. Those who were actually registered for this were asked to bring a piece of their own work for critique and several people did bring work. We had a very educational experience AND got to see some wonderful work; both in-progress and completed. If you have never experienced one of Sandra's on-line critiques, google her and attend! And, added bonus if you are a member of SAQA, past critiques are archived on the SAQA U site! You can bet that I am going to be checking out these podcasts. One of my goals in Nova Scotia/Atlantic Canada is to get live critique groups going. I don't think there is anything that can compare to feedback from colleagues for getting help when you are stuck.

The last mini-workshop I attended was with photographer Gregory Case. Those of you who know me know I am a very enthusiastic photographer. Now, to become a GOOD (or, preferably outstanding) photographer, I am attending The Art Institute of Pittsburgh's online school to get my BS in Photography. I really would like to be able to photograph my own work and to provide the service to art quilters all across Atlantic Canada. Gregory's class was also excellent but too short. It would have been wonderful if he had taught one of the pre-conference workshops so we could have work available to photograph for practice.

Friday night was the opening of Quilt national and I can't come up with the adjectives to do it justice. Quilt National is the epitome of shows for art quilters and this year's show did not disappoint. There is a book published of the work but it just doesn't do it justice (no reflection on the photographer but the colour in the book was not true, tho better than years past and some of the works were 3-D so they MUST be seen in person to be appreciated). Among my favourites: Regina Benson's piece, Cathy Kleeman's, and, of course, Carol Taylor's. I would have purchased Carol's but I don't have a wall big enough to display it so I am working on mum and dad to buy it.

And don't think I walked away empty handed. Oh no. I went back Saturday when I left the conference and purchased a work by Nelda Warkentin that just would NOT get out of my brain. I have the perfect spot for it over my staircase in Chester. The show will travel for 2 years but, believe me, there isn't a piece in that show that isn't worth the wait!

That was Friday. Now I am going to back track to Thursday.

On Thursday we had a reps meeting which was very helpful to me as a new rep. I was able to meet reps from all over the US, one of my fellow Canadian reps, and the wonderful, talented and gracious European rep, Linda Colsh (whose work I have long admired). My fellow Canadian, Anna, has a real challenge on her hands as she lives north of Moose Jaw, Sask. which, if you don't know, is darned isolated. Yet, she has more members than we do! She ALSO had a piece in Quilt National! I am humbled....I've never even submitted. One of my goals is to submit a piece by 2013.

Ok, Saturday we had mentor sessions, a "boutique" set up for members to sell their work and we also hung the SAQA trunk show. This is SAQA's 20th anniversary and MANY members submitted small works for this. The trunks are available to members and guilds, etc. to show. There are 3 traveling trunks with 60 or 61 works in each. The works have been mounted and matted and they are great! One of the perks of helping hang the show was being able to flip the pieces over and see who they were by and read the artist's statement. I mentioned to our wonderful Executive Director, Martha Sielman, that there were many works there I would love to take home with me. Now there is a possibility that some may be offered for sale after they are done touring. Woo hoo!

In the afternoon we had a catered lunch and a presentation by none other than Alyson B. Stanfield of Artbiz.com. I have taken a class with her online before but listening to her in person can't be beat. After lunch there were other presentations but I ran out of gas and went back to the Inn for a snooze.

There were presentations that afternoon that I am sorry I missed but, when my body tells me it's had enough, I listen.

That evening we had a barbeque in "tailgate" park that was delicious. Of course, ignorant me, I brought a bottle of wine to celebrate Desi Vaughn's surviving her first stint organizing a conference. Hey, really, I didn't know you couldn't have alcohol in the park! Oh well. The guy in charge was kind enough to "ignore" the bottle of wine so we finished it.

It was rather hot and humid out, which I don't tolerate well, so I made my exit and headed to BW3 to watch the Penguins game.

Sunday morning I drove Alison Schwabe, Rita Hanifan, and Cathy Smith to the airport and headed home....

All in all, it was a great week.

I will post more, including the few pictures I took, tomorrow or Wednesday.....

Ta!

teri

Eye on the Sky

2009-03-17T21:47:00.002-04:00

Well, my sky watching has been pretty special lately. We have been blessed with clear skies the last week or so. When the weather is warm (relatively speaking) I go outside with the dog and sit on the back steps looking at the stars. A few nights ago I was lucky enough to see a "falling star" in the vicinity of the constellation Orion. Tonight, at about 9:15, I was again outside and looking around when I spotted a moving ligt in the sky that was not an airplane. How do I know? Airplanes blink. This moved like a plane but was a steady, white light moving west to east. Now, I have seen the ISS (International Space Station) go by once before but it was much fainter and was moving more SW to NE. Tonight it was just as clear as could be, just to the north of me. So, I checked the NASA charts and, sure enough, it was the ISS (it could also have been a satellite). How cool is that?? I always wanted to go into space. Probably influenced by watching the original "Star Trek" when it was first on (and in reruns as the show was cut and hacked to allow more commercial time). Of course, not being born at the right time and being severely claustrophobic it didn't work out. So I enjoy the space program from my seat in the back yard.....

Idol and New Work

2009-03-06T09:31:00.004-05:00

Matt is IN!!!!

YES! Wildcard it is!!! Does anyone know how many wildcards have gone on to win?????

Ok, for some quilting content, here is my latest piece:

There's One In Every Crowd

This was inspired by two photographs. The first was of a large flock of birds sitting on telephone lines. The second is a picture of a bunch of young men and women (well, one of the men is older than the rest but still in damned great shape) in their swim suits in Florida. All are facing the camera except one. He has his back to the camera and, in the fashion of young men everywhere, is mooning the camera. It's obvious in the quilt which one is him. Of course, he has garnered the attention of most of the other birds. A few of the birds are pointedly ignoring him. And, of course, the bird on the right, covering her eyes in embarrassment, is his mom, who really isn't all that embarrassed- she just doesn't want to encourage him by letting him see she is laughing.

The young man who inspired the quilt (no, it actually wasn't my son but it just as easily could have been) will recognize himself immediately, I suspect.

Ok, back to work. I'm trying to get a sufficient amount of work done in March to get my website up.

Missed It

2009-02-06T10:07:00.002-05:00

My Blogaversary, that is. January 20th was the 4th anniversary of this blog. Wow, can hardly believe that I stuck with it this long. Yes, there are some pretty big gaps along the way but, over-all, I have done ok.

Now I need to go work on that quilt so I have some art to post.

Working Away

2009-02-06T09:40:00.004-05:00

On a piece that was for a show but I missed the deadline because I was so sick (pneumonia) most of December and January. Anyway, I am finishing the piece. Maybe I can use it as an entry for another show. Who knows- stranger things have happened.

Anyway, several people I know have done this "99 things" meme- I am putting a * after the ones I HAVE done and ** after the ones I plan to do in this lifetime:

1. Started your own blog*
2. Slept under the stars*
3. Played in a band- well, did the lights*
4. Visited Hawaii*
5. Watched a meteor shower*
6. Given more than you can afford to charity*
7. Been to Disneyland (and Disney World)*
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis*
10. Sang a solo (in my car, poor Joey- actually it was "She's in love with the Boy" and Joey told me I sounded just like Trisha Yearwood- now, if I just LOOKED like her)*
11. Bungee jumped (not in THIS lifetime)
12. Visited Paris**
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.** (may get that opportunity in 2010 if I get accepted on to the crew of the Picton Castle for their global circumnavigation)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch*
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning* (too many times)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables*
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France**
20. Slept on an overnight train**
21. Had a pillow fight*
22. Hitch hiked*
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill*
24. Built a snow fort*
25. Held a lamb (and delivered one and did CPR on one)*
26. Gone skinny dipping*
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice**
29. Seen a total eclipse*
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset*
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise**
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person*
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors**
35. Seen an Amish community*
36. Taught yourself a new language (working on it- French)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (never- but it's because I want to give more to charity)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person**
39. Gone rock climbing*
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David**
41. Sung karaoke (not on a bet)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt**
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant*
44. Visited Africa**
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight*
46. Been transported in an ambulance (and driven one too)*
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing *
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person**
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris**
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling*
52. Kissed in the rain*
53. Played in the mud* (more times than my mom would have liked)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater*
55. Been in a movie * (worked on the set but did not actually appear in it)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business*
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia**
60. Served at a soup kitchen*
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies*
62. Gone whale watching**
63. Got flowers for no reason*
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (tried) *
65. Gone sky diving (no how, no way- if the plane was going down you'd still have to toss me out the door)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check*
68. Flown in a helicopter*
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy*
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial*
71. Eaten Caviar*
72. Pieced a quilt*
73. Stood in Times Square**
74. Toured the Everglades*
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London**
77. Broken a bone*
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle*
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (does seeing it from the air count??)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican**
82. Bought a brand new car*
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper*
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve (not yet, catch me some other year- I'll work on it)
86. Visited the White House**(well, I've BEEN there but we didn't have time to do the tour.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (do lobsters count??)
88. Had chickenpox (in my late 20's- thanks Shelby)*
89. Saved someone’s life (i was a paramedic and ER nurse- what do YOU think??)*
90. Sat on a jury (thank goodness- NO)
91. Met someone famous* (not as big of a thrill as you might think- Lance Kerwin and Scott Baio made a movie in Madison and I got to be friends with them and their families and they were ALL very nice)
92. Joined a book club*
93. Got a tattoo** (still trying to figure out what and where- wouldn't want my dad to see it)
94. Had a baby*
95. Seen the Alamo in person**
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake**
97. Been involved in a law suit*
98. Owned a cell phone*
99. Been stung by a bee*

That about covers it.....

New Work

2009-01-27T12:11:00.008-05:00

Yes, that's right....I said NEW WORK!!!! The Procrastination Princess has a burr up her *** about doing a piece for the SAQA "A Sense of Humor" as I have 2 wonderful inspirations that, when combined, make (what I consider) a rather funny piece. Now, "cute" is not my style so it's pretty abstract but I think, with the artist's statement, people will get it.

Anyway, here's a few photos (and you can see that I have been busy with rearranging my studio for more space):

Auditioning fabrics

New view while sewing!

Misty fuse to the backing

Piecing together the batting- I can't stand to waste anything! Thank goodness for fusible!

I did not have a large enough piece of blue (for sky) in my stash. Most of my hand-dyes are in my lovely studio in Nova Scotia so I was torn between making a smaller work (but still within the guidelines) or using a fabric that I normally wouldn't use for sky. The latter won out as I don't think the piece would work as a whole if I make it too small. Besides, it IS an abstract- more-or-less......

Oh Max

2009-01-18T10:41:00.004-05:00

I've not made it any secret that, of my hockey obsession, the Pens are my favourite team and Maxime Talbot is my favourite player. His personality is so much like mine that I feel like he's a long-lost twin (yeah, very lost, since he's nearly 26 years younger than I am). Still, he's a kind and generous person with a (somewhat) warped sense of humour, he can yap with the best, and he plays his heart out.

Unfortunately, on a Pens team already decimated by injuries, Max sustained what looked to me like a fractured collar bone or a separation of the AC joint on the left, in the game against the Washington Capitals. The "official" word is "upper-body" injury. I know that posture and I am afraid he is out 4-6 weeks. I do so hope I am wrong. (I was- must have just strained the AC- thank the Goddess).

Here is a video of game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals vs Detroit last year. Max doesn't score a lot, but when he does it's generally a big contribution:

Nice Job, Pascal

2008-12-12T09:05:00.003-05:00

Well, I had a hat all picked out to send to Petr Sykora for his hat trick last night (see below) and then Pascal Dupuis went and got HIS first career hat trick. I just love Pascal. I used to say John LeClair had the sexiest eyes in the NHL but he retired. So, Pascal has claimed that title. His are such a wonderful green with thick, long eyelashes. Pascal, gotta do something about those eyebrows tho.....

That's Pascal on the left. Max (on the right) has sexy eyes too

Anyway, congrats on the hat trick; only took you 8 years- so 5 fewer than Petr....

Holiday Meme From Gerrie

2008-12-12T08:38:00.002-05:00

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Either- I put Amaretto in my hot chocolate for extra warming power

Does Santa wrap presents or set them under the tree? We no longer bother with this except for with my sister's kids (boy- 9, twin girls-7). I told everyone to make a donation to the Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center for me this year and the boys already have their gifts; my BFF and I exchanged gifts Wednesday and then went out to dinner.

Colored lights on tree or white? Actually, my tree in Canada is white and pre-lit. I decorate with green and blue ornaments and ribbon.

When do you put your decorations up? Well, I will get there Sunday so, sometime after that.

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Don't have one.

Favorite Holiday memory as a child: My dad's brother got married at Christmas time (don't remember the exact date but it may have been Christmas Eve) when I was three. I remember how beautiful the church was. Right in the middle of the (Catholic) ceremony/mass I asked (after a hymn and in a very loud voice in a stone church) "Mom, when are they going to play Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer??" The other thing I remember was riding around on Roosevelt's shoulders at the reception. His wife was my Aunt Marge's housekeeper/nanny and I remember Roosevelt as the biggest man I had ever seen (considering my uncle was 6'4" he must have been pretty big). Years later I saw a photo from the reception....I hadn't even realized that he was black! I guess because our family was pretty much colour-blind. Annie and Roosevelt WERE family.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Don't remember, maybe 8 or 9. I think my next door neighbor's older sister told me.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We used to wait until Christmas morning when I was a kid. In my ex's family we would go to Granny and Pa's (later, sister Shelly's since she had the largest house) on Christmas Eve but saved the immediate family gifts for the morning.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree? See above. I have a HUGE collection of ornaments here in Michigan but, since I go to Nova Scotia, I quit decorating here too. Someday I hope to move everything up there so I can go hog wild.

Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it, love it, love it. It's snowing right now and it looks beautiful!!

Can you ice skate? My mom was an ice dancer and competed; her partner was a guy by the name of Michael Kirby who was, I guess, pretty famous. I had skates on my feet as soon as I could stand. Am I any good?? Heck NO. Just call me "Grace."

Do you remember your favorite gift? My first horse.

What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Family and helping out others less fortunate than we are (I do this all year but I can get more out of family and friends at this time of year- that good old Catholic guilt.

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Christmas cookies.

What is your favorite tradition? Baking cookies.

Which do you prefer, Giving or Receiving? I love to give.

What is your favorite Christmas Song? I’ll Be Home for Christmas

Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Yum!

Ever recycled a Christmas present? Actually, yes. I just don't need more stuff so, if some wonderful but misguided soul buys me something I find someone who would love it and give it away.

Ok, time to go bake more cookies! I'll be outta here (and sitting at the airport) in 24 hours.....

Way to go, Petr "Gunn"

2008-12-11T21:09:00.004-05:00

I am sitting here, grinning like an idiot. One of my favourite NHL/Pens players, Petr Sykora, FINALLY got his first hat trick (3 goals in a game) tonight. Petr has been in the league 13 years without one (870 games, 44 two goal games). Now, it isn't unusual for a guy to go his entire career without a hat trick, but Petr, as his nickname would indicate, is a sniper- known for his goal-scoring ability. Funny because, earlier in the game he had put the puck in the net for what should have been his 1st hat trick, but the referee waved it off- saying he had lost sight of the puck and was going for his whistle when the puck went in. But, after he put in #2, I had a feeling that he would get it tonight (I even said to myself- outloud- yes I do that- "tonight's the night.")

Petr- I am so happy for you.

The Amazing, and adorable, Petr Sykora

Now, Max, you need a goal too.

In the meantime (ironically enough), my eldest child (Jamie) and Team nXI and my 3 billets (Joel, Jon and Ace) are in Pittsburgh (at least, they should be by now) for the weekend. And Ace's dad is at the game. No fair, Shawn!!!

I am still baking cookies, between periods of the game, to send to 1) my good friend, Lin in Texas (she and her DH are vets- career USAF), 2) some wonderful guys I know in Pittsburgh, and 3) My 4 boys: Joel, Joey, Jon and Ace (we may have to change his name). I sent the chocolate, chocolate chip cookies I was saving for Christmas with Jon so they could have them on the bus on the way to the "Burgh". Then, I sent the broken, unfrosted sugar cookies with Ace and Joel (I doubt they made it to the bus- there weren't that many). Tomorrow I make the rum balls and almond cookies then pack them up and run to the UPS store to ship them out. I also need to finish wrapping Christmas gifts to ship to FLA tomorrow.

Oh gee, somewhere along the line I need to finish laundry and pack since I leave Saturday for NOVA SCOTIA.......I am sure gonna miss my puppy, Kaiser, and all my boys (kinda like "All My CHildren") but I also miss my sister, brother, BIL and nephew and nieces as well as being able to wake up in the morning and look out at the ocean.....

Back to knitting and hockey!!!

Dangerous Borders

2008-12-09T12:22:00.004-05:00

I stumbled across this on Jeanne Williamson's blog:

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Nailed 'Em - Radical Knitting

Colbert at Christmas
Colbert Christmas DVD

Green Screen
Bill O'Reilly Interview

You can also read about her in this article, "Keene artist had hard time getting back into US, Woman was detained by Customs and Border Protection because of an SUV sketch she made for artwork," on October 4, 2008, by Lohr McKinstry.

I had to laugh...this could be me! Not that I have ever knit or crocheted anything like this but, oy, all the times I cross the border! Only once has anyone wanted to open my vehicle and look about (it was a woman, US border guard in Niagara Falls). The guys take one look at all the crap I have crammed in my car and decide not to even try! Funny thing is, she was detained at the same border crossing I use coming to the US from Nova Scotia! I have always sailed right through there....good thing because I usually have to have a pee so I stop at the Tim Horton's and use their facilities and grab another cuppa.

Today is supposed to be a baking day. I made a double batch of sugar cookie dough and it is in the fridge chillin'. Can I find my rolling pin?? Of course not. I was picturing it in my head and then realized the one I was picturing is in the right hand set of drawers in my kitchen....in CHESTER. I am pretty sure I have one out at the farm but it's really crappy out and I don't feel like driving over there so I think I will call my ex and see if our son can pick it up on his way home from the BB game tonight....Guess I could do some laundry today instead of baking.

Oops, I Did it Again

2008-12-08T14:47:00.002-05:00

No, I am not referring to my not blogging for a month (ok, so YES, I haven't). I am referring to two other things.

#1-opened up my big mouth and have ended up with yet another kid living here. Turns out three of the players on the hockey team my son is assistant coach for were living with the head coach. NOT a good move under the best of circumstances. Even worse when said coach has 2 children under the age of two, a wife trying to cope with two children under the age of two AND a hockey coach husband with some, shall we say, personality quirks? Add to the mix 3 boys ages 16 & 17 who are very normal teenaged boys. YIKES. All three decided to quit the team and go home. Jamie and I talked them out of it. Of course, this meant we needed to find homes for them (sound like stray puppies). Guess who volunteered?

It really isn't that bad. I actually only got one of them full time. Of course, they played a home series this weekend (and shut-out the #2 ranked team in the country- TWICE), so I actually had 6 of them here playing rock band, etc. Plus my 17 year old and HIS friends.

I should own a grocery store......But I wouldn't trade these kids for anything. I might get frustrated, and exasperated, but they keep me young.

#2- Once again, I purchased a book I already had. Actually- twice. I bought TWO copies of the same book at the same time. How's that for brilliant? Actually, in my defense, the book had two different sub-titles, leading me to believe they were two different but related books. Nope; same book. That's as bad as the publishing companies re-releasing a book years after the initial release and putting a new cover on it. I've fallen for THAT one a couple of times (now I check the original publication date and, if it's a re-release, I READ some of the first chapter. That's usually enough to jog my memory). But, I have no excuse for buying "Three Dimensional Embroidery" by Janet Edmonds as it's sitting right here on the shelf in my studio! D'uh. And I even have a book inventory list I made in Excel so I can check by title or author! Of course, I didn't check.

So, anyone want a copy?? Half off and you pay shipping. Otherwise, my local library will be gaining another book from me (they are thinking of naming a room after me since that's where all my books go when I am done with them).

Sigh.

Now, what the heck do I fix for dinner????

Yes, We Can/ DID!!!

2008-11-05T09:56:00.002-05:00

There was a polling place in Grand Rapids, MI where the wait was up to 3 hours. Now, I know there are other places where the wait is longer but:

This is a low income, predominantly black precinct where voter turn-out is historically low.

There was a RECORD number of FIRST TIME voters there.

NO ONE left because they didn't want to wait.

Thankfully, the weather was not the usual November weather for Michigan. We had record high temps and no rain. And the local Obama Mamas brought out food and bottled water. Chairs were provided to the elderly.

Spirits were good....for the first time many of these people felt their vote COULD and WOULD make a difference!!

Hope- it's a wonderful thing.

What also really excited me was the response from OUTSIDE the US. So many countries/people look to the US to lead and they have been so hurt/angry over the last administration. No matter that many of us did not vote for "he who shall remain nameless," the fact that he won reflected on all of us. Now, instead of saying "hey, don't blame me; I didn't vote for him" I can hold my head up and say "darned right I voted for him!!!"

It's a wonderful day in the neighborhood!!

Hugs to all,

teri

Yep- It's Harvest Time

2008-11-02T16:46:00.007-05:00

My Michigan home backs up to a farm making for a nice view out the west windows. We have some wonderful sunsets but we haven't been able to enjoy them much as the field was planted to corn this year (in years past it's been in wheat and soy beans). The corn was "as high as an elephant's eye" since before I got home in September, effectively blocking a view of the horizon. However, I enjoy the corn, especially when it starts to dry. The sound of the wind going through the dry stalks is like a song to me.

Well, this week it's all over. The combines came in and ziiiippppppp, all gone. Then they came through with a chopper and chopped the stalks. Then they baled the chopped stalks into large "square" bales (actually rectangular) and round bales. These will be used for bedding. Farmers don't waste much. With the high cost of fuel and equipment and the low prices they can sell the crops for, they can't afford to.

That said, I have enjoyed walking the now somewhat naked fields (though walking over the ruts and naked corn cobs and left over stalks and pieces of stalks makes for some less than graceful moments). The first time I went out with the dog I noted there were missed cobs of dried corn lying about so I picked them up. I stuffed them in my pockets of my sweatshirt. When the pockets filled up, I zipped the zipper down part-way and filled up the front of my sweatshirt. I did this several times. Then I got smart and took a big plastic bag out with me this morning. I finally had to stop picking cobs when the bag got too heavy. Tonight I went out again without a bag. I almost went back in for one but the dog was headed across the yard and I didn't think I would find much more. Wrong. Next time I'm taking another bag. The funny thing is, I keep finding more where I have already walked. I don't know how I am missing them but I am guessing the wind is blowing the discarded husks thus revealing the missed cobs. Mind you, this field is probably 40 acres. When I cross the fencerow there is another field at least as big. I have covered only a small fraction of these fields. This is most of what I have picked up so far (there are some cobs in the suet feeder of my big bird feeder because the squirrels like to get into that feeder).

The somewhat naked fields.

My 3 day collection of eared corn.

I also thought I would throw in proof here that, while I have not been quilting, I have been creating. I have become completely obsessed with finishing this sweater:
the sleeves are almost done. The back is done so I hope to get started on the front tomorrow. I was limiting myself to knitting only at night while watching TV but the weather has been so nice I spent Thursday, Friday and a little of yesterday sitting on the porch and knittng. I LOVE this time of year!!!

It's number 7 in the Noro Book #3.

And last, but not least, I have been blessed by finding a series of good to excellent books to read in 2008. I don't know if it's that so many good books have been published recently or what. Anyway, I just finished "Goldengrove" which was sad but excellently written. It is about a family consisting of a mother, father and two daughters. Early in the story the oldest daughter dies and the story takes place over that summer and explores how the family, especially the younger sister and the boyfriend of the older sister, deal (and don't deal) with the death. Just prior to that I had read "Ghostwalk" by Rebecca Stott. It is also a fascinating story with a somewhat bittersweet ending. It is the story of a woman obsessed with researching and proving that Sir Issac Newton was not a lone genius but worked in concert with a brotherhood of alchemists. This woman dies somewhat mysteriously before her work is done and her son, a neuroscientist, enlists the help of his former lover (and friend of his mother's) to get the work completed. I won't tell you ay more except to say that, if you have a problem with the metaphysical side of life, skip this book. If, however, you enjoy a mystery with prominent bits of quantum mechanics/physics (ie: how time is not linear but ribbon-like that bends and twists back over itself, with timelines and lives, overlapping and intersecting, then get it.

The book I started yesterday is "The Gargoyle" by Andrew Davidson. I am only about 1/3rd of the way through it and am having a hard time putting it down. This story (so far) is about one of life's damaged children who grows up in poor circumstances (the story is told from his viewpoint as if this is an autobiography). He is in a serious auto accident and goes from being a physically handsome and morally/spiritually corrupt to hideously burned. He makes the decision to kill himself when he is released from the hospital but he meets an interesting woman who is "mentally ill." Or is she? She claims to have known him for over 700 years having met him in the 1320's in a Germany monestary where she was raised and where he was brought, horribly burned in a battle. That's as far as I have gotten. Oh, and the main character has a scar over his heart, supposedly inflicted during the emergency c-section done to try to save his mother's life. It becomes more and more important throughout the story.

The title of the book comes from the "crazy" woman's occupation- she is a sculptor of gargoyles or, as she points out in the story, grotesqueries since gargoyles are waterspouts and her creations are not. If you are sensitive to somewhat crude language, or can't handle graphic descriptions of medical procedures, this book may not be for you. Having worked in a burn unit I not only found the descriptions of the main character's treatments not a problem but was impressed by how accurate they were. I generally can pick apart any book with medical descriptions in it, but (so far) not this one. BTW, this is Mr. Davidson's first novel. You can bet his name is going on my "must read anything by" list.

Ok, off to knit.

Happy Hallow'een/Samhaim

2008-11-01T22:14:00.004-04:00

Just wanted to post a quick pic of my "boys" in their costumes....

Joey, Ben and Derrick as the boys from Braveheart. Don't you just love the socks??

More Comfort Food

2008-10-25T11:55:00.003-04:00

For someone trying to lose weight I sure am spending a lot of time on food. Hard not to with three teenage boys in the house.

Anyway- I baked a second loaf of bread from the "starter"...the first loaf was too small but very tasty with a nice crust and light interior. Unfortunately I could not get a photo of it as Joel and Jon came in the door from hockey practice about 2 minutes after I took the loaf out of the oven. It was all I could do to get them to wait until it was cool enough to cut.

So yesterday, while all 3 boys were at school, I baked a second, bigger loaf. The outside was nice and crusty and brown but it was still a little doughy on the inside in the centre. Could have used another 4-5 minutes I think. Still, it was tasty and went well with the leftover white chili I had for lunch.

Lots of Work- But not Quilting

2008-10-23T11:23:00.015-04:00

It's a beautiful, sunny, crisp autumn day and I have been busy, busy this morning. Just not making art. Well, I guess you could make the argument that cooking from scratch is an art. Please. Go ahead and make that argument. I'll feel so much better!

With 3 teenage boys, all athletes, food and meals are a top priority. I hate waiting until the last minute to make dinner but I am not great with making decisions about WHAT to make. With fall and cooler weather moving in I find I have a craving for soup, home-made bread and other comfort foods. Well, on my diet I have to severely limit my carb and fat intake which really limits what I consider comfort food (like, cream of tomato soup with grilled cheese sammies).

I LOVE tomato-basil soup and found a recipe even my dad (who also loves it) would like. No onions or garlic (ok, I sauteed a couple of smashed garlic cloves in the olive oil but removed the cloves before putting in the tomatoes and basil). Anyway, the first batch went over so well (and disappeared so quickly) I made a double batch yesterday. It's nearly all gone (and the leftover meatloaf is history- the boys all agreed, I make the best meatloaf- EVER).

Today is white chili day. Something I have never made before but then, I'd never made tomato-basil soup from scratch before, either.
First we have the crock pot (not the crackpot- that would be me).

The beans soaked all night and now they are going on to boil and then simmer.

Next we brown the chicken.

Then we chop the onions. What you don't see is me chopping the green chilies. Why?? Well, I'm crazy, NOT demented. I bought them already chopped and they are in the crock pot.

Hmmmmmm.....ingredients in- note the pan to the left with about 2 cups of cooked beans left in it. I think I need a bigger crock pot. Ok, tomorrow we make a trip to Tuesday Mornings (I need a lamp for Jonathon's room too). Any ideas for what I should do with all those leftover beans?? They will go into the fridge until I figure out what to do with them.

Ok, got the lid on at least AND I got it all together with plenty of time to cook it on low and have it ready when Joel and Jon get home from hockey practice. I don't know when Joey will get home as he is staying after school for the JV football game.

Next job- some home made bread!! But this will have to wait until the dishwasher is done running as the bowl I need is in there. So......

I have time for breakfast. A high protein shake, prescribed by my doctor, to help me lose weight.

Today is recycling day. Everyone else has, at most, 2 bins. I have 4 bins, 2 bags of papers you can't see and a box full of papers. There's another box of papers in the garage but I didn't want to press my luck. Can you tell I have missed a few recycling days?? They only pick up every other week and the last pick up was while I was up north at Fabrications. Heaven forbid the boys should think to put it out.

The remains of the tomato-basil soup.

My gift from me to me......

Now off to see what other trouble I can get into. Oh, yeah......I need to clean up the studio.

Sigh

2008-10-21T11:41:00.002-04:00

I know, I need to post some work. I wish I could. At the moment I am trying to put my studio back together. I left it such a mess when I left for Canada and, between everything I have done since I got back I just have not gotten it done. So, that is what I will be doing the next few days (hopefully I can get it done by the weekend).

My only creativity has been knitting a sweater at night while watching TV. The back is coming right along and I will do both sleeves at the same time. I will post a pic of the back as soon as it is done. I am using a Noro sock yarn and the colours are so cool that I ordered yarn in two other colourways for 2 more sweaters. But first I have to finish this one!

So, back to work.....

Odd Observations

2008-10-20T11:24:00.004-04:00

For those of you who don't know, I am a hockey mom. And NO, I do not relate to Sarah Palin. I am the real thing. I attended more than 90% of my son's hockey games (both sons) and was a score keeper and counseled kids on the other teams in our league (especially those from single parent families) and drove kids everywhere (not just mine) for games. I even took a 14 year old, 15 year old (my son, who turned 16 while on the trip) and two 17 year olds on a road trip to Sault Ste Marie (7 hour drive) for a long weekend to play in a 3-on-3 "pond" hockey tournament (actually played on a rink but using just one defencive zone going side-to-side). If you've never spent a long weekend with 4 teenage boys in a (very) small town with little to do between games plus driven hundreds of miles in not ideal conditions (March) with 4 sets of stinky hockey gear well, let me tell you, it's an experience and one I'll bet old Sarah never had.

So, here I am, age (almost) 51. I have one child of my own left at home (17); you would think I would be enjoying my space. HA! Jamie (the almost 25 year old) is an assistant coach for a Midget-Major (ages 16-19) AAA travel hockey team. Last year I got talked into billeting a player (having one live here). THIS year I got talked into TWO! They ran out of homes for the boys and, being the pushover I am, I agreed to take the kid they had no home for.

Now, both of my billets, Josh and Jon are great kids. Josh is 17, from New Orleans (played in Georgia last year- is HE in for some culture shock when our Michigan winter arrives) so he has done this billet thing before. Jon is 16, from New Jersey and has never been away from home. Josh is all "yes ma'm" and "no ma'm" and all that good southern stuff. Jon barely talks but he IS a bottomless pit when it comes to food. Jamie was the same way but Jamie is 6'4" and well over 200#. Jon is 5'9" or 10", barely 150# and eats like there's no tomorrow. I made a pork roast for dinner one night that was supposed to feed 8....I had 3" left over, only because Joey (my 17 year old who is the same size as Jon but a picky eater) wasn't home. So, needless to say, my grocery bill is approaching monstrous. I try to keep healthy stuff around for them to snack on and make healthy meals but none of them like veggies or salads. Bring on the carbs! They don't like whole wheat pasta (or spinach pasta either) so I have to make them their own pot.

And laundry! Let me tell you. Having three teen boys, who all wear virtually the same size, has been a new adventure in laundry. Jamie and Joey are 7 years apart so there was never an issue of what belonged to who. Plus, I would tend to spread out doing the laundry over the entire week (I took Saturdays off; Sunday was for bedding- I like to start the new week out on fresh sheets). Now I get: Joey, who picks up the clothes on his bedroom floor once a week (usually Sunday) so he can have clean clothes for school for the upcoming week; Josh and Jon, who are usually gone for the weekend playing in St. Louis, Omaha, Des Moines, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh.....so I get all THEIR stuff Sunday night. I have seriously considered using my respirator mask for entering the laundry room Monday morning! One kid's stuff stunk bad enough, but TWO???!!!! Yikes!

So, thank you people at Tide who had the good sense to put Febreeze in their detergent. It's been a lifesaver!

Oh, and teenage boys do not seem to get the concept of "please return your dishes to the kitchen before the night is out." I had to go downstairs this morning to take some of Joey's clothes down (I can generally tell his from Josh and Jon's because Joey is: slimmer- wears jeans in 29-32s or 30-32s and a different brand than the other two and wears boxer/briefs rather than plain boxers which he hates because they chafe). I now know where all my glasses are. And many of my plates, bowls and silverwear.

Tonight- no dinner until ALL the dishes are upstairs (and I will have the dishwasher empty and waiting).

Oh, and about the rest of the laundry- well, I know most of Joey's t-shirts and that he only wears the short, black socks. But I fold the rest of the clothes and stack them on the back of the couch. Since Joey has a tendency to just dress himself by grabbing clothes off the couch, the other two started doing it too. New rule: when I tell them "ok, the clean clothes are on the couch" they have 24 hours to claim what is theirs. After that, the leftovers go in the Goodwill box (I now have 4 of them waiting to go in the car- I cleaned out my own closet too). Unfortunately, this does not account for the stuff that Joey's school friends have left here. Oh, did I forget to mention, on weekends I have at least one, if not 3, of Joey's friends for the weekend. Sometimes more. I can't remember the last time I had a night in this house when it was just Joey, me and the dog.

Oh, and speaking of the dog; he takes it all in stride. The pack has grown. No problem. YES problem since the boys like to get the dog all wound up and then leave him for ME to deal with. I am having the back yard fenced in sometime in the next 3-4 weeks so I can let Kaiser run. In the meantime, my bed gets shoved against the window at least a dozen times a day; whether from the dog running INTO the bedroom at full speed and leaping on the bed (I have hardwood floors and the bed wheels, even with the brakes on, slide. And yes, I tried the little wooden things the wheels sit in that have the rubber pads on the bottom to stick to the floor- they break) or off the bed to go see who's here. Area rugs slide all over, even with the no-slip pads.

Yep, lots of fun and games at the Springer household. And the next two weekends Josh and Jon have off- no games.

Oh goody.

A Sad Loss

2008-10-14T13:22:00.004-04:00

I apologize to whoever holds the (c) on this photo and I will remove it if asked but, I needed to say goodbye to this sweet and talented young man. Alexei Cherepanov, 19, was drafted 17th overall by the New York Rangers in 2007. Yesterday he collapsed and, ultimately died of an apparent cardiac arrest in a game in Russia. This young man was an exceptional athlete and it's frightening to think of him as being gone but, most especially in such a manner. An auto accident would have been understandable but is is so difficult to believe that his heart failed him.

Goodbye Leshu....you will be missed but remembered.

As Promised

2008-10-13T10:53:00.007-04:00

Here are two more shots from Fabrications 2008:

The Great Room- where we spent our creative days....

Where I pretty much was when I stopped. Now to clean the home studio so I can finish it!!

But first:

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian Family. We aren't having turkey tonight (it isn't a favourite around my house) but a lovely pork roast.

And, I received in the mail a book that is a MUST have for people who post images to the internet. The book is aimed at quilters but it is written so well that I would recommend it to anyone posting images. The book is:

Digital Essentials: the quiltmaker's must-have guide to images, files and more! by: Gloria Hansen; ISBN 1-893824-64-0; it is published by The Electric Quilt Company and is $29.95US. Get your autographed copy NOW!!!!!!

Ok, back to work.....

teri

Tagged

2008-10-12T15:35:00.003-04:00

Tag, you're it:

The rules are as follows:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog. (done)
3. Write six random things about yourself.
I LOVE younger men (no, I am NOT a cougar- I don't sleep with them, I just enjoy their company. Bear in mind, under 40 constitutes "younger)
I love to sit in the front of the boat and do my best imitation of a dog with her head out the window of the car- there is something about that wind in my face (and, in some cases, rain) that is just so ennervating for me.
I am a lousy housekeeper
I am a MAJOR packrat
I talk to the TV set (in some cases I yell- which is why my family does not allow me to watch the debates- they are afraid I will take it one step further)
I wish I had a hammock in my backyard so I could lay out in it in the shade or to stargaze.

4. Tag six people at the end of your post. (done)
5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know your entry is up.

xo,
FunkyC.

Actually TWICE! Once by Cathy, who is our "fearless leader" for Fabrications and the second time by Von. Hmmmm.......

teri

I am tagging:

Fabrications 2008

2008-10-12T14:31:00.010-04:00

Another fall in Northern Michigan with the most wonderful group of women (and a DELIGHTFUL addition of a talented man- so happy to have met you, Von) is history. I always find myself wishing this retreat would last at LEAST another 24 if not 48 hours as I feel so recharged afterwards.

We started Tuesday night at Garland Resort in Lewiston, Michigan (northeastern lower peninsula) with the annual reception at 7pm. So nice to see so many old friends and great to make new ones. This year the award for "she who traveled the furthest, went to Katie who joined us from Colorado. Belinda would have had to share the award with her friend but she recently relocated to DC from Colorado. 3 of us have lost significant amounts of weight since last year and the lovely Harriet from Suttons Bay (who I have also gotten to share time with at AQT) arrived sporting a new short hairstyle which was a celebration that she is now cancer free. I was also so happy to see my roomie, Carol Myers when she finally found her way to us after a couple of wrong turns (note, GPS on your cell phone only works if your cell has a signal whereas satellite GPS works off a satellite, not a cell tower).

Wednesday morning started with our "circle" in "The Great Room" which our group gets because there are too many of us to work in the "pods" that are the main conference rooms- although the "pods" have far superior lighting (we remembered from last year and brought more lights with us). We even had a serendipitious addition to our class when Barbara was misdirected and joined the circle. She then switched classes although I know she would have enjoyed the class she had signed up for she found the freedom to create in our class too enticing to pass up on.

It was chilly and rainy all day Wednesday but no one seemed to mind and the evening's entertainment was fantastic, especially to see all the great work that had been submitted to the "With One Voice" show which benefited the American Cancer Society followed by a presentation by Carol of gelatin plate printing and a sale of Desi Vaughn's always spectacular fabrics and a sale of all kinds of stuff from Deb Harowitz.

Thursday dawned bright and clear and the colours of the trees were spectacular. We got a lot done and were dubbed the "wild bunch" after we popped open a bottle of the wine I brought at 9am. Needless to say, both bottles were gone before we wrapped up for the day at 4pm and, despite my best intentions, I never did make it back to the classroom after the evening's presentations were completed (wine MAY have played a part in this....).

I decided to work on a piece I had started at QSDS. I had the intention of getting it completed in time to enter into the SAQA Transformations: Reflections show but realized the piece was a tad too narrow (9") to meet the minimum size requirement. Laura gave me ideas of how to make it wider but I would not have had sufficient fabric to make it the length I needed for my space in Nova Scotia where this piece will hang so I decided not to go with it. I may enter it in another show though. I also had another piece in mind for the show but really wanted to complete this piece. So, it is nearly done (not in THIS photo- but I got a LOT done on Friday) and I hope to finish it this week and get started on the other, related piece. I will post pictures of this further along, later.

Friday was also a lovely day tho it started out a little frosty (much to MY delight). I got a lot done and took more photos and in general, totally enjoyed the company and the incredible work done by my classmates. Since the retreat ends on Friday, some people started packing up after our final "circle" following lunch. I opted to stay until Saturday morning so I could work right up until the end and not have to make the 4+ hour drive that late. I was up and out by 8am Saturday and was still lamenting the fact that the time was too short.

I will post more pictures later but, right now, they are still on my memory card.

Laura, once again, the best experience of the year for me.....

teri, enjoying watching the leaves "down south" here as they work to catch up with the leaves up in Lewiston

Fabrications

2008-10-07T21:21:00.002-04:00

Arrived at Garland Resort by 4:30 and got the car unloaded and my workspace semi-setup. The colours of the leaves are spectacular, the air is nice and cool and the company is great!!

I had dinner with Laura Cater-Woods, Cathy Arnett and Jeanne Beck and THAT was wonderful. It is so nice to come back and see so many people I like to be with.

It promises to be a fun and productive 3 days if we can get the people running the front desk to figure out how to bill two different people for 1/2 the room charge......

More tomorrow!

Woo Hoo- NHL Has Started

2008-10-04T12:48:00.003-04:00

Ok, the NHL season doesn't "really" start until the 9th however, 4 teams are in Europe (NY Rangers and Tampa Bay Lighting in Prague and my beloved Pens and Ottawa are in Stockholm) and are playing today. So, sorry, MSU Spartans and Fighting Irish, I am spending this sunny, beautiful fall day watching HOCKEY....not football.......

Of course, I still have to iron Joey's dress shirt for the Homecoming Dance tonight, and get stuff together for Fabrications next week.....

teri

Joey at the park next to the Joe Louis Arena last spring prior to the first game of the Stanley Cup finals between the Red Wings and Penguins.

Joey's friend Derek enjoying a brat before the game.....

Sudden Inspiration

2008-09-29T10:11:00.002-04:00

This morning I was walking Kaiser along the fencerow between the two corn fields behind my house when I heard this eery sound. It was overcast and somewhat foggy out which added to the weird feeling. I looked up to see 5 Trumpeter Swans flying overhead. If ever there was a time I wished I had my camera with me it was now. Of course, I didn't and, even if I had, the corn is so tall that the swans were in and out of my view too quickly.

But, inspiration struck.

I don't know how many of you know the story of the reintroduction of the Trumpeter to the lower 48 and I'm not going to tell the story here, you can find out plenty just by Googling Joe Johnson, Harry Burgess and Trumpeter Swans. I was lucky enough to have a pair of swans decide to make their home on the small pond that is tucked nicely into the back of the farmland I own.

Anyway, Joe retired this summer after 45 years with MSU/KBS(Kellogg Bird Sanctuary). So, now I am going to make a piece commemorating this man and his wonderful contribution to our world......

teri

Last Days in Nova Scotia (summer 2008)

2008-09-25T12:37:00.010-04:00

Ok, here are some photos from my last full day in Chester....sob....

Three of the four paintings I bought from Melody Johnson

The fourth one arrived the day I was leaving and it is also hanging there. Unfortunately, the camera was already in the car.

Kaiser doesn't want to leave either....he loves hanging out on the deck. I think he's part cat.

My roommate, Chris (who is a great housekeeper, handy-man, painter and OUTSTANDING cook) and my (rude) brother, David....and yes, ladies, they are both single.

Manarola

2008-09-20T15:26:00.007-04:00

Ok Gerrie, just for you I fired up the laptop and am posting shots of Manarola.

Full view- mounted on black silk covered stretched canvas.

Detail

Detail

Detail

I Love Autumn

2008-09-20T12:41:00.002-04:00

I would, however, love it a lot more if I was still in Nova Scotia. Good thing the weather here in Michigan has improved. It's 78 out right now (too friggin' warm in MY book) but it's only 73 in the house. The sun is shining and the corn is drying out (the view out of my studio window is my tiny backyard and a cornfield...)but there's no breeze so I might have to resort to the A/C here shortly.

Only 17 days until I head to northern MI for the Fabrications Retreat and 19 days until the 2008-09 NHL season starts!!!

Still trying to put my studio here to rights so I can start on a new piece. My piece "Cinque Terra: Manarola" sold on 9/5 to a private collector. It is the first in my UNESCO Sites series. Next will be Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland/Labrador or Old Lunenburg in Nova Scotia. I want to do one from each continent to start. I guess Lunenburg would be the obvious choice since it's right down the coast from me but I kind of want to do something a little less obvious and less familiar....

We'll see.

teri

Photos

2008-08-26T20:03:00.005-04:00

I have to wonder if I haven't lost the majority of my audience due to my long absence from posting here. I can only hope that someone is still reading and that any who left will eventually wander back for a look.

Yesterday and today Laurie Swim, Linda Mills and Sandy Ternoway were here working in my studio with me. They worked on printing resist in the katazome technique on silk scarves. I had intended to do arashi shibori dying on scarves but am on a dead line to get a quilt done and shipped back to Michigan in time for the annual Cheff Shindig auction.

So, here are some pictures from our day:

Sandy, Laurie and Linda hard at work.

Some of the scarves hanging to let the resist dry.

even more

even I was working. Too bad this was supposed to be my challenge piece for the W. MI Art Quilters. Still, I'm glad I had it as I just haven't had the time to start anything new for the auction.

I leave you with a shot of the beautiful Nova Scotia coast just outside Halifax.

Summer's Gone

2008-08-25T15:53:00.003-04:00

Yes, I know, it's only August 25th. It's a very comfortable 74 degrees; gentle on-shore breeze. It was cloudy and muggy this morning and now the sky is a beautiful blue with light, fluffy clouds. The leaves on the trees are still green. But I can smell it; feel it. Autumn in the air.

In general, autumn is my favorite time of year. Crisp, cool to cold nights with the stars twinkling brightly in the sky. Comfortable days with dryer air. The smell of the changes un the atmousphere obvious to me. But this autumn is bitter-sweet. I am not staying in Nova Scotia. My younger son decided to return to Michigan for the school year so I must return too. While I love my home in Michigan I have come to love, not just my home but the village, my neighbors (with one glaring exception) and everything around me here. I don't want to go.

Yes, I can look forward to staying next year. Joey will be 18 so I can give him more space. But I still have to pack up in the next week and prepare for the long drive back to Michigan. Loading up the car with luggage, art materials, Kaiser and the two bikes.

No, I don't want to go.

I am finishing up a project that must be done and in the mail by the end of the week. It is going well but I am finding the stress of finishing it is taking a toll. I know that, once it is done I need to pack up and I want to avoid that. I am good at that; avoidance behavior.

I was planning to hit the road by September 9th but we have a guild meeting (Mahone Bay Quilters) that I don't want to miss. My new friends, Sandy, Linda And Laurie want me to stay so we can do a presentation on the things we learned in the Karen Miller workshop. So, I will stay until the 10th. It will be the longest I have ever stayed...and I think this will make it all the more difficult to leave.

But, I have 4 couples who are coming on the 15th to stay here a week. They won the week in my condo in a fund raising auction last year at the Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center. I still have to finish hanging art on the walls and reorganizing my kitchen so that they can spend most of their time relaxing. I have put together a notebook of travel/tourist information for them so they can pick and choose what they want to do and see. As I went through the brochures I realized how little I had seen in the three summers I have been here. Next summer calls for a trip to Cape Breton for a week at least. And I still need to get a boat. I had one all set to bring home this past weekend but my dad had a fit that I was going to buy one. SO, I relented and didn't get it. I would love to be out on the water right now. In three years I have been out on a boat exactly three times. I don't like to lay on the beach or sit out in the sun doing nothing. I can't read in the sun as I get a migraine. But out on the water I feel so free. Next year, no matter what, I AM buying a boat!!

I met a marvelous man earlier this summer. His name is Christian and he's a sailing instructor. He's originally from Ft. Wayne, Indiana and spent many summers in Pentwater, Michigan. Now he lives in Washington, DC and has his business in Baltimore. I thought we made a real connection. We talked for hours. He walked me home. We talked more. He kissed me goodnight. I can't remember when a kiss felt so good. I haven't seen him or heard from him since. He left a couple of days later for a race in the states and he won't be back until next summer. Tel est la vie.

I'm feeling a bit lonely. I have been divorced for 2 years now. I had hoped to meet someone to spend time with, go to art shows with, talk to, maybe even a little romance. At this point I am done trying. It really seems to me that men focus so much on a woman's physical appearance that they make no effort to get to know the person. Every man I hear from wants a woman who is "athletic, trim, attractive." What's wrong with TRYING to be more athletic, trying to lose weight (hey, I've lost 30 pounds), and not butt ugly?" What amazes me is how many of these men can't even meet their own criteria. What makes a balding, somewhat chubby, 50+ year old man think a woman of 35-45 who meets their physical description is going to be interested in them??

News Flash guys: if a slim, trim, beautiful woman of 37 takes an intense interest in you it's probably because she's seen your $75,000+ car, your $100,000+ boat and your $500,000+ house.

Can she carry on an intelligent conversation on a variety of topics? Does she ever read a book on Oprah's list? Does she know anything about classical/jazz/blues?? Can she cook?

A friend of mine, a very attractive young man, recently started a relationship with an older woman who I also happen to know. She is fit (former gymnist) and trim (never had kids) and attractive and intelligent. She has never been married. Without getting to know her as a person he decided a relationship with her sounded great. He even talked about the possibility of marriage and children. A physical relationship quickly developed. (hey, what woman over the age of 37 wouldn't LOVE to be pursued by a very handsome, intelligent, athletic man more than 10 years younger than her). After less than two weeks my male friend discovered WHY this attractive, intelligent, fit woman is still single. SHE'S DEMANDING. She expected him to jump and run when she called. She expected him to restructure his entire life around HER schedule and needs. And when she didn't get her way SHE GOT PISSED OFF.

Lessons here: first, don't assume that an attractive person is also kind, considerate and patient. I may not look like Christie Brinkley (nor have her money) but I am not into drama or head games or control. I want friendship,companionship, a comfortable relationship with respect and space and a little romance.

The other lesson: just because the sex is great doesn't mean the rest of the relationship will be. Conversely, just because the relationship lacks that high drama doesn't mean the sex can't be great.

Sigh, anyone out there with a single brother willing to date a not-spectacular looking woman who is still a little over weight who is relearning to ride a bicycle (27 gears!!!!????? you have GOT to be kidding!!! I never mastered 10!!!), is a beginning kayak enthusiast, who loves to fish, sit on the deck in the evening listening to jazz, sipping wine and watching for shooting stars and walking a night in the fog????

teri

On a Sad Note

2008-08-18T15:43:00.002-04:00

Yesterday one of Joey's life-long friends and teammate from soccer, Nick Smith, was killed in a car accident on a windy, narrow county highway. Another boy in the car has also died and the third is in unknown condition in Bronson Hospital. I don't know if alcohol was a factor but speed surely was.

Nick was his parents only son and he and his dad were the best of buddies. I can remember Mike and Nick on all of the class trips always having a great time.

Nick and Joey weren't as close in recent years as they had been growing up (Smith's lived not far from us) but I always enjoyed Nick. He will be greatly missed by his birth family and by all in Delton, MI.

Summer's Almost Over

2008-08-18T15:25:00.002-04:00

And I have greatly neglected my blog and a lot of other things. What can I say. I've been SO busy!!!!

I am still in Nova Scotia and will be until at least September 7th. We have had an 80th birthday party for my dad, a Katazome Workshop with Karen Miller (more on that in a minute), parties, run-ins with the neighbor that involved RCMP, visits from friends in the states, painting the entire house (interior), hanging new art, gardening, Race Week, lots of time with family and friends, shopping for a boat and, coming up, shibori dyeing. Yep, it's been busy and, for the most part, fun.

My new studio is beautiful and I don't want to go back to the states but, at least for now, I have to. I plan to be back here for Christmas (Joey is going to Cozumel with Austin and his family). And next summer I will be headed here as soon as I am done at QSDS and will stay at least until the end of September. I am already signed up for sailing lessons with a wonderful instructor from Washington, DC who comes up here for the summer (he's originally from Ft. Wayne- how ironic) and now Joey wants to learn to sail also.

Regarding the Katazome Workshop....if you EVER have the opportunity to take this class with Karen Miller DO IT. We had 5 days of learning and creativity that was out of this world. I made 3 great new friends out of it, Sandy Ternoway, who lives not far up the road from me, Linda Mills who lives over in Marriott's Cove (where I almost bought a house) and Laurie Swim from Blue Rocks who is the most talented Art Quilter!!! These 3 are coming back next week to "play" in my studio and I can't wait. Anyway, the workshop was worth every penny and then some. And the bonus was having a weekend to roam around with Karen along the South Shore and take pictures, talk and generally have fun. She is SO brilliant. We visited Laurie on the Saturday and SHE took Karen and I on a tour of Blue Rocks and the general area that was not to be missed. We had a lobster feast and a dinner at the Rope Loft with my family.

I will be posting pictures but most of them are on my other computer and, since my friend and roommate, Chris, is painting, I am trying to stay out of his way. Besides, the weather is SO beautiful that I don't want to go inside (I'm sitting on my deck watching the nearly cloudless blue sky, enjoying the breeze, and watching the tide go out)...now...don't you wish YOU were here???

I will be having a shibori workshop here next summer and, hopefully, a workshop with Laurie Swim teaching so stay tuned. I have room for 9 students plus teacher and will work out details over the next few months. First I have to find out when my sailing lessons are!!

And Mel, sorry about the no posts....Your paintings are going to be hung in my breakfast area so they can also be sen from the living room....but you need to SIGN them!!!!!

Hugs and apologies to all,

teri in sunny, comfortable (22C around 75F) Chester Nova Scotia

Off to Chester

2008-06-27T07:31:00.003-04:00

Ok, in a couple of hours we will be off to Nova Scotia. First stop, Peterborough, ON to visit a friend at Fleming College. Saturday I hope to make it to somewhere around Quebec City and then on to Chester on Sunday....It will make for a long drive on Sunday but, with two of us we should be ok(even though Joey maintains he will not drive because of the trailer. Once we get to New Brunswick he should be able to do it).

So, off to load the last of the stuff in the trailer.

Happy Birthday, Nelson Mandela.

And here's to a wonderful and successful fundraiser for Red Cross Canada and Breast Cancer Research at the Gervais-Talbot Golf Tournament. I hope for MANY successful years for this!

I'm off (oh, wait, you knew that already- grin)

teri

Here and Gone

2008-06-25T10:00:00.003-04:00

Ok, yes, I am home from QSDS....it was a WAY amazing 9 days with Sue Benner and some of the most talented quilters in the world today. I was most definitely the "baby" of the group talent and skill-wise.

If you are into real/surreal (I can't think of any other way to describe her beautiful work), Karin Franzen of Ankorage, AK was there working on a Sandhill Crane series. If you love very abstract, I got the watch Eleanor McCain work, up close and personal as well as Sidnee Snell (who has the most fantastic eye for looking at a piece and finding the most amazing areas of interest). If you like quirky, I watched Ginny Smith at work on a large, very fun piece. And the wonderful Gilda Hecht was my table mate. She brought all kinds of great stuff. And Deborah Fell..Floris Flam, Betty Ford, Leslie Rego, whose work I fell in love with last year.

I could go on and on and on.....

Anyway, I am home and packing for the trip back to Chester on Friday. The trailer is in the driveway waiting for Joey and his friends to get up and help load the heavier pieces then I will get the rest. So, no quilt work going on here right now.

Thought I would throw this in tho- you HAVE to watch this video. It is absolutely amazing!!

Working Vacation

2008-06-16T21:08:00.003-04:00

I have finished my third day at QSDS in Sue Benner's Master Class. I really feel like I have made progress. The piece for the West Mi Art Quilt Invitational is nearly completed as far as the pieces being cut out. It is really looking good. Good fabric; good colour, good abstraction. And I am really enjoying working on it. One complication is that I have limited pin-up space and my Italy piece frequently gets covered by the Shibori piece started in Jan Myers-Newbury class. I have also made progress on it and am looking forward to completing it. Sue feels it is a VERY ambitious piece...I'm glad I am making it for myself....

I have decided to sign up for Sue's Master Class again next year. That will limit me to that class, the Mayflower retreat at Pictou and the Fabrications retreat for 2009. More than I had planned on but a lot less than I have done in the past.

I just can't give up QSDS- if nothing else, the social aspects of it are irreplacable.

Now, I just need to dig out my card reader to download pictures.....maybe tomorrow.

teri

QSDS

2008-06-13T21:46:00.003-04:00

Well, I made it safely to Columbus, OH and to the University Plaza. It was a bit iffy on the way down as I ran into some pretty nasty thunderstorms on the way down- nothing new for Ohio in June.

I am so geeked about this class. Betty Ford (not the late President's wife, the OTHER Betty Ford) and Floris Flam and MANY very talented artists are in my class. I KNOW I will absorb so much this 9 days!

I will hope to post many great pictures this week. Right now, I have had 4 double shot vodka (Skyy) and tonics thanks to my good friend and the best bartender ever, Andy, with only a salad for a meal (ok, I confess, I stopped at Mickey D's and had a burger today- shame on me) so I am well buzzed.

Alarm is set for 7am. I am SO ready to get to work!!!! First on the agenda- the piece I started in Jan's class. Then the W. MI Challenge.

I am still debating next year.....do I want to be in Nova Scotia in my own studio in early June or take a class here???? Just seeing so many people I LOVE here makes it SO difficult.

Stay tuned.....

teri

Stolen Quilts

2008-06-12T08:01:00.004-04:00

A valued member of the quilting/ art community has had multiple quilts stolen from her car while at CQA in Newfoundland.

Val Hearder, of Mahone Bay, was at the convention teaching when the quilts were stolen from the trunk of her car. One of the quilts was borrowed back from a collector specifically for the show.

Val is still in Newfoundland so doesn't have a full inventory of what was stolen but among those missing are:

Flamboyant

Nndebele Fertility Skirt

Tropic of Capricorn

If you see these quilts ANYWHERE, please contact Constable Coady of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary in St. John's Newfoundland immediately (709-729-8000) - they have ways of tracking down the sellers. Const. Coady said her best hope is to spread the word.

Let's show those crooks what a bunch of quilters, WORLDWIDE, can do!!!!

Whoa

2008-06-08T23:30:00.004-04:00

Can't believe I am up this late. I have a house full of testosterone and it must be throwing me totally off. School is out for Joey and his buddies Max and Derick are here and Austin, my former billet, is here from Wyoming visiting. I thought I was ready for an empty nest so I could spend more time on my art but, frankly, I just love having these guys around.

Jamie (my oldest) has asked for my help fund-raising for their team this year. Some of the boys have plenty of talent but their families are hurting financially. Good grief, like he HAD to ask?? When he was in middle school I paid for some of his friends to play hockey and baseball even though I had to put in OT to do so. At least I had a job that allowed it. So, of course I will help out the team. I have always felt that we ALL are a team- the HUMAN team. I guess that is why I like Obama so much.

Ok, time for some pics. Thought I should show you how the Michigan house turned out.

Ok, this is the dining room. It had these silly columns and a top thingy that just looked weird so my artist friend came up with this great idea to make the top thingy look like stone. He wanted to cover the columns with wood but I couldn't see it- stone held up by wood, so we went with stone look the entire way. It is so cool.

This is the fireplace. I need to get a better shot to show you the colour and texture of the paint. It is awesome! This painting by the marvelous Melody Johnson looked great in here with the old fireplace and beige paint. It looks SPECTACULAR with the new fireplace and paint!!

Ok, this is how bright I am. Yesterday I decided I was in the mood for frozen Margaritas (it's really hot an humid here) so I bought tequila and was SO SURE I had the mix at home. I pulled out this bucket. Guess what? It's NOT Margarita mix. I put friggin' Setacolor paint in it. So, we had regular Margaritas last night. This morning I went out into the garage to get the Belgium waffle maker out and guess what I found?? Yep- a bucket of Strawberry Margarita mix. I KNEW I had it!!!!

Back to Work

2008-06-06T11:44:00.005-04:00

Well, sadly, the hockey season is now over, sort of. The NHL may be done but my son, Jamie, is off to Detroit with the AAA Midget Major team he coaches for a tournament this weekend.

I am so proud of him. He's only 24 and has already moved well up the ladder. He's been invited to his second year at the USA Hockey (the US's development program)camp in Rochester, NY as a coach and he went to Chicago over Memorial Weekend to coach a team of '93's (refers to age of players- those born in 1993) in the Selects Camp. He also was the track throwing coach for Portage Northern High School for 3 years and one of his "kids" took first in state in Division I for shot-put. There was a great write-up in the Kalamazoo Gazette with multiple quotes from Jamie (or "James" as he likes to be called professionally). But hockey is his first love and he announced his resignation from PNHS. His kids were not happy but they understood. Hockey really is now a year-round sport, for players, scouts and coaches.

Jamie

Jamie also informed me I will be billeting an older player from their team this year. Last year we billeted Austin, who ended up not finishing the season due to an elbow injury. But he is still a part of our family.

Austin

Joey spent Christmas with Austin and his family in Casper, WY and I am picking Austin up in Grand Rapids tomorrow afternoon. He is also coming to see us in Nova Scotia in August- he's looking forward to being of legal age (he's 19 this month). Just what I need, another drunken male to keep track of! Austin's room was taken over by Ben, a 16 year old with a lot of promise. Very intelligent, hard working, clean living- a real anomaly for us! Unfortunately HE broke his foot when he was home visiting his mom so there went another billet. Anyway, I look forward to meeting our new billet. I love still being a hockey mom.

Now Joey thinks he wants to play again but he's going to have to wait until we get his medical issues resolved. He sees a rheumatologist on the 20th- I will be in Columbus so his dad has to take him. Anyway, his MRI and bone scan were both abnormal at the left SI joint and a marker in his blood for inflammation shows a possible auto-immune problem. No wonder the poor kid has been in so much pain! But, he's a gamer. Still wants to play baseball and hockey.

As for MY work, wow, spent 5 fabulous days at the Nancy Crow Timber Frame Barn taking a shibori class from Jan Myers-Newbury. Jan is the best!! And I'm not just saying that because she's from Pittsburgh either. She is a lot of fun. We had the best group of people I have ever met in a class- and I've taken a LOT of classes. Not only did every one pitch in but no one was worried about being asked to do someone else's work. We had to mix dyes in big buckets every 15 minutes among other things and you never had to worry if you couldn't get to your assigned bucket at the designated time- there was always someone willing to cover for you. Rinsing out and unraveling fabric is a big job but there were always more people willing to help than were needed. And there were no slackers at clean up time either. What a total pleasure!!

And the food. Well, if you have ever spoken to anyone who has gone to Nancy's you have heard them rave about the meals. Let me tell ya- it is NO exaggeration!! As a faithful "foodie" I can tell you, Margaret Wolf is a Goddess! The food was delicious, healthy and plentiful. Have a special need or allergy?? No worries, Margaret takes care of you. So, if you EVER have the opportunity to attend a class at Nancy's DO IT!

I have to get back to work here. I am packing for QSDS AND to go back to Nova Scotia AND I am scanning pics for my dad's 80th on July 5th....

Au revoir!

Rest in Peace, Luc Bourdon Reste dans la Paix

Stanley Cup Finals Game 5

2008-06-02T22:58:00.002-04:00

Oh my, sorry about the no posts. Will post more tomorrow. Right now, the WIngs and Pens are in OT thanks to the most wonderful Max Talbot. I kept saying he needed a goal and, normally when I say that, he comes through. The last two games he had an assist but no goal. Tonight, with 32 seconds left, he scored the game tying goal.

Max....you are a god......

teri

House Stuff

2008-05-21T20:51:00.006-04:00

Work in my Michigan home is moving right along. So far I have: had custom cabinets built, had the basement finished into a bedroom suite, entertainment/home theatre area and utility room/dye studio, new floor through out the upstairs, the guest bedroom painted blue and the guest bath painted yellow.

We are down to the big jobs- right now my kitchen/dining room/ living room and hall are being given "the treatment." I can't just say painted because that does not do justice to what is going on. The walls have been textured and are now being painted. Then they will have a glaze applied. Select walls are getting a faux treatment to look like stone. Once all of this is done, the finishing touch will be granite counters in the kitchen and matching windowsills (because the dog has torn up the wooden ones so I might as well replace those at the same time as the kitchen so it all goes together).

Anyway, here we go:

These all show the texture that has been added to most of the walls.

And here we have the base coat of colour going on. The gold in the kitchen and hall are closest to the actual colour. It's called "toasted sesame seed." Leave it to me to pick a colour with a food name.

You can see the texture portion of the faux treatment in some of the pics.....doesn't even begin to give you the feel of how it will look when it's done!!

The Good, The Bad...so far no Ugly

2008-05-21T10:26:00.001-04:00

Well, the WONDERFUL news is- I was able to score three tickets to Saturday's game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals in Detroit. I had to buy 3 separate tickets because there were none available together. Thankfully I was able to get two in adjoining sections in the upper bowl of the Joe (Joe Louis Arena) so MY Joe(y) and his buddy, Derrick, will sit there. The third ticket is in the other end of the arena BUT, it's lower bowl- row 9!!!! Hot dog! That one is mine!!!! (for $350 and a bargain at the price). I haven't been to a Red Wings game in probably 10+ years and haven't been to a playoff game since I was a little kid and we had season's tickets. Neither Joey nor Derrick have ever been to an NHL game, much less a playoff! I tried to get tickets to later games (5 and 7 if necessary- and I'm think this one is going to the bitter end) but they were already sold out. Jamie has a friend who is friends with Chris Chelios of the Wings so he is going to see about getting tickets through him. Not that I'm trying to be greedy but I am really looking forward to seeing the Pens play and to see Chris Osgood (Wings goalie) again.....

Now the bad news....got an email from my brother that there's a leak in the basement of my condo in Nova Scotia and they can't do the drywall or flooring until it's taken care of. The place was inspected and passed by the inspector, before I bought it so I am thinking the cost is on his shoulders. If not, because it's a structural thing, I think the condo corp has to pay for it. Regardless, it has to be fixed because I am on a time constraint since I have a class being held there starting July 10th! I'm just happy the problem was discovered before the basement was finished or I would have one hell of a mess to deal with!!

teri

Woo Hoooooooo

2008-05-20T12:14:00.005-04:00

The Wings are IN, game 1 is Saturday.......

AND I HAVE TICKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I get to see:

Sid

Geno

And Mad Max!!!!

Plus all the rest AND Pavel, and Z

and OZ the Magnificent!!!

I am GEEKED

I am one VERY HAPPY Hockey Mom!!!!

Waiting for Painting

2008-05-19T08:35:00.004-04:00

We're getting down to the deadline here. I leave Sunday for Baltimore, OH for a week and my painter knows he has to get the living room, dining room and kitchen done before I go. 98% is masked off and the young man (Chris, yes he has a name) doing that part of the job will be back tonight to finish. He's bringing one of those fancy-dancy ladders that you can put into all kinds of contortions so he can reach the crown molding over the stair case.

In the meantime my main living space is a disaster area. Paintings are down and in the guest bedroom as is my arch-shelf and area rug and a bunch of other stuff. A lot of stuff got taken to the garage and more is piled in the middle of the living room and on the dining room and kitchen tables....Moving into a smaller house is a pain but at least it's forcing me to get rid of stuff. Just wish I had done that BEFORE I moved in.

So, here are some pictures of what I am living with right now:

Had to throw in the shot of the iris....they came up beautifully this year. The only problem is, they seem to be clumped by color! I deliberately tossed all the corms in a bag, gently shook it up and pulled them out at random specifically to avoid that. Sigh- when I divide them in a couple of years I will have to be more methodical about mixing them up. Anyway, they still look nice. But my poor fireplace looks so lonely without the beautiful painting from Melody (Johnson) over it. I am SO looking forward to coming home from Baltimore and putting my house back together- just in time to leave for Columbus!

Oh, and the Penguins kicked butt last night. Now if the Red Wings could just finish off Dallas tonight we can get on with this Stanley Cup business. I hope I can find a sports bar in Baltimore that is carrying the games!

Beautiful, Sunny Day

2008-05-17T12:22:00.007-04:00

Of course it has to be....and the Red Wings are on in 1 hour. Not enough time to get my stuff I bought yesterday planted. But, the game will be over early enough for me to get out and plant after the game and after I run up to the store for some chicken to cook on the grill for dinner. Ended up with an extra kid for the weekend (and 2 extra last night after the Mustard Plug concert) so I had better get something to cook....

Quick look at some pics from the Italy Challenge and a fond Aloha and safe travels to everyone on the Picton Castle as she sets sail today for Ireland.

Ok, first we have here multiple images of the village in Italy I am using for my challenge piece.

Here we have the cartoon I made of the village to size for the finished piece.

Then I blocked off the approximate size and shape of the sky using release paper. It's larger than the actual sky in the cartoon but, gotta have that over lap (or, in this case, underlap).

Here's a few of the fabrics I pulled to find sky, water, rocks, etc.....

Ok, off to watch the Wings and maybe even see my son in the stands (heaven forbid he take his MOM to the game- no he takes his roommate!).

Busy, Busy

2008-05-13T18:27:00.008-04:00

I know, it isn't much of an excuse. But it IS true. I have painting going on, and I'm trying to get everything rounded up for my class with Jan Myers-Newbury at Nancy Crow's Barn the end of the month. Add to that I am working on my challenge piece for the West MI Art Quilters and taking two on line classes! Yikes...my days are full up! Today I spent the day running errands and still didn't get everything I needed so I will be road tripping again later this week. Joey has a bone scan on Thursday so that will be a lost day.

Nights, oh, you think I should be able to keep up by posting at night??? You forget, the conference finals for the the Stanley Cup have started and both the Red Wings and Penguins are playing so every night is hockey and knitting (I have to do something with my hands). Right now I am hiding out in my basement while my kitchen, living room, dining room and hall are masked for preliminary paint tomorrow. Versus is showing a repeat of last night's Wings-Stars game which is fine with me. I can watch my Wings win over and over. But, at 7:30 the Pens meet the Flyers in Philly- always dicey and exciting.

Oh, weekends? Well, last Saturday we (Joey and I) spent the day in Bangor, MI for the Bangor Invitational. Joey's team, the Delton-Kellogg Panthers (JV) ended up playing the Gull Lake Blue Devils in the championship. Kind of weird that we go all the way to Bangor (over an hour away) and end up playing the team from the school closest to us. Actually, Joey and I live in the Gull Lake school district but he wanted to finish high school at Delton so he uses his dad's address. It's a short drive to school. Anyway, Delton won 14-9 which is a very big deal. We didn't get home until late- I had to listen to the first two periods of the Wings on XM but I got to see the third at home.

And don't even ask about Sunday- it was Mother's Day which means I slept, sipped coffee, read the paper and stayed away from the computer.

Ok, I know I owe some pictures.

This is a memorial to fishermen and sea farers lost at sea from Lunenburg Nova Scotia. It is very cool but also sad when you read the names and realize how entire families were destroyed when all the men, fathers and sons, brothers, served on the same ship and that ship went down.

The Picton Castle. She sets sail in 4 days. She is so beautiful; I wish I could be there to see her and the crew off. I am making it a point to keep track of where they are so I can be there when they return.

This is a house in Lunenburg. See that "turret" in the center?? That's what is known as a "Lunenburg Bump." I have no idea how they started or why but they are an architectural anomaly peculiar to Lunenburg. If you enlarge the picture (click on it) you will see the house to the right and behind it also has one. I have not found a single house in Lunenburg with a widow's walk though.

Naughty Girl

2008-05-02T10:28:00.003-04:00

Ok, I didn't post at all while in Nova Scotia. To be honest, I was so very busy during the day, lining up and interviewing builders, picking up fixtures, choosing floor tile...at night all I wanted to do was watch the Stanley Cup playoffs. I thought I was going to have to miss game 3 of the Red Wings- Avs game because it was in Denver and, being in Nova Scotia, I was yet another time zone away. I watched the Pens beat up on the Rangers (yea!! too bad the Pens lost last night) and, around 10pm I got a phone call from United that my flight the next morning (April 30) was canceled due to severe weather. Ok- meant I could stay up and watch the game. I went on-line to see where the "severe weather" was....nada. The only warnings I could find ANYWHERE on the North American continent were the flood warnings for Quebec, Ontario and parts of New Brunswick. I think the "severe weather" was a code for "not enough seats sold to make it worth flying." No problem. One more day in Nova Scotia was dandy with me.

But, I'm back in Michigan for now. The weather is lovely- high 60's to low 70's and my tulips are blooming like crazy! I need to take pictures. I planted a lot of new ones last year and it's fun seeing them come up since I forgot what colours I planted.

While I was in Nova Scotia I made a trip to Lunenburg to visit the crew of the Picton Castle and take them the quilt "Vagrant Gypsy Life." Captain Dan and his crew were so wonderful and thanked me. What I wouldn't give to be healthy enough to sail with them. I talked to Joey about signing on for a trip in a year or so but he has no interest. Sigh.

Anyway, I will post some pictures later since they are all on the laptop.

Back to work....

teri

Happy Earth Day!

2008-04-22T08:12:00.004-04:00

Earth Day is one of the few "holidays" that I think is really worth celebrating. Instead of useless clutter, we can give a useFUL gift to our Mother Earth. As the Dalai Lama said at U of M this past weekend- She is home to ALL of us so we need to care for her as we do our own homes (well, I have seen some pretty un-cared-for homes but you know what I mean).

Anyway, generally I spend Earth Day puttering in the yard and planting stuff. But today I am off to Nova Scotia for a week and I need to finish packing and cleaning up. Joey is home sick with the rotten virus he caught from me. Sore throat (I'm past that), general malaise....I have laryngitis. Pretty typical for this time of year. My allergies lower my resistance and make my sinuses produce mucus like a Chinese noodle factory makes noodles. Lovely thought, eh?

So, I am looking forward to seeing home although I wish Joey and Kaiser were going with me. I have to meet with my landscaper, interview and hire a builder to finish my studio in the basement, attend a guild meeting (my first since I am never there when they meet) and drag my brother to a singles Sunday Brunch. Then I come back to Michigan to face moving stuff so my kitchen/living/dining rooms can be painted.

I will leave you with a nice, Earth Day picture- it's amazing what Nature can do:

Swamped

2008-04-17T10:04:00.002-04:00

For those of you who don't know, I have some rather, er, quirky idiosyncrasies (why does that word sound suspiciously like "idiot" to me?). Among them, I am a pack rat. Not a casual one, either. I am a serious, "oh, I know I can find a use for that" collector of the most useless items ever made. Not only do I collect "things" I also collect information. I cut newspaper and magazine articles out (must go back to my days working in the "morgue" of the local paper), I print out articles from the internet and I collect quotes. Yep, quotes.

So here's today's:

Don't wait for your ship to come in. Row out to meet it.

--Anonymous

Now, I have to tell you, the reason this quote resonated with me today is, the way my day is going, if I did this, my little boat would be swamped. My studio needs cleaning. It always looks like a volcano erupted in here when I finish a project but I can't start the next one until I clean up. Sigh. The room designated "dining room" is going to be having some work done in it so I have to empty it out by Monday. Where I am going to move all that stuff is the question of the hour. Then there's the trip out to Coloma I have to make tomorrow to see a friend from Indy who has a summer home there. She's bringing up a quilting machine I bought from another lady in Indy. I have no clue where I'm going to put that but I suspect it's going to end up in Nova Scotia. And, speaking of which, did I mention I'm going to Nova Scotia on Tuesday?? I still haven't finished catching up on the laundry from Squaw Valley and I need to pack this weekend.

Here's hoping the boys don't make a mess of the house while I'm gone.

Yeah, right......

Ouch

2008-04-15T09:24:00.002-04:00

Almost 2 weeks since my last post. Slap me silly. I have been cleaning my studio after finishing my taxes. Now, I need to be honest- I do NOT do my own taxes. But I DO have to round up everything my CPA needs and that is not always easy. For 2008 I have a box and anything that is vaguely business related goes into it.

I am still cleaning. I promise I will post some "before" and "after" pics this week.

I am flying high because the Pittsburgh Penguins are 3-0 in the first round of the playoffs. Woo hoo!!!!! Even my little sweetie, Max Talbot scored last night! I always say Max and Jordan (Stall) are due for a goal and last night they got them.

Wish the Red Wings had performed as well....they were up 2-0 in the first but ended up losing 5-3. They looked flat. Although all the slashes to Hank Zetterburg's and Pavel Datsyuk's (top two scorers) hands didn't help...an no calls!! The refs are asleep. I would rather see them ignore the occasional hook or holding but anything that has a real potential for causing injury needs to be called.

Ok, sorry, you come here for art, not hockey.....

"Vagrant Gypsy Life" made it home safely. I don't usually enter quilt shows and was not expecting a judging form back with it, but I received one. 72 out of 80....not too bad. They liked my binding....surprise!!!! (really, I hate doing traditional bindings- can't mitre a corner to save my life). I used the method for French Binding that Alison Schwab posted on her site. I need to practice it more....maybe on some of my postcards.

Later!!

Squaw Valley

2008-04-03T15:39:00.009-04:00

Is beautiful! Of course, I knew that from two years at Art Quilt Tahoe but this is the first time that I have been here when there has been snow on the ground at this elevation (approx. 6000 ft above sea level). All I can say is everyone should experience this place at least once during the winter or spring. Today the sky is absolutely cloudless and the most beautiful shade of blue. It is so warm out that I am walking around in a t-shirt and, up on the mountain I could ski like this (well, IF I could ski). The boys had to come back down Monday after only an hour to change clothes because they were too warm (and too cheap to pay for locker rental in the Village). It's easy enough for them to go back and forth. Right outside the building where we are staying is a chair lift that they take up and then work their way over to the lifts further over (would tell you the direction but I'm not 100% sure- I think it's south) or they can catch the free shuttle that picks them up right by the lift and takes them to the Olympic Village and then go from there. They all bought spring passes for $179 that allows them to use all the lifts from 9am until 4pm except the cable car (which is extra). Unfortunately the second night here (they didn't go out on the 29th because we were all too tired) was the last night of night skiing for the season. Actually I wasn't too upset- I was not crazy about them being out at night since they are all novices out here in the mountains. In Michigan a 400' vertical drop is about the best they can do in the lower part of the state and 900' in the UP. Out here you are talking several thousand feet and the drop is STEEP. I wish I had a picture of them when we turned into the driveway at the resort and they got their first look at the mountains. But, the comment was "oh shit." They did finally find the terrain parks and superpipe and have been spending their time over there enjoying snowboarding themselves and watching the locals who are REALLY good.

I made the trip to High Camp today (8200') to take photos. I only lasted and hour at that elevation before I started getting dizzy but I got lots of great shots that I will share over the next few days. I got a LOT of stuff that will show up in future work!

So, here's a couple of shots for now:
At breakfast this morning there was a woman who was determined to find something to complain about. She didn't like her french toast. So, no big deal. It was made with the wrong kind of bread. The waiter was more than happy to take it back and have it made the way she wanted it. Should have been no big deal but she went on and on and on. I felt sorry for the man with her. I considered asking the hostess to move me because the negative vibes were just rolling off her (she complained about multiple other things through out the meal but I finally just had to feel sorry for her). The big reason I didn't want to move was this group of gentlemen sitting to my left. I could not understand a word they were saying but they were all so happy that they completely over-rode the unhappy woman to my right. Later I ran into 3 of them while I was waiting for the shuttle to the Village. They are from Brazil and a nicer group of guys you would never want to meet (and easy on the eyes, too).

And how could anyone be crabby with THIS as your view at breakfast??

High Camp. This is actually a shot taken as I was going back down. I missed it going up- I was too wrapped up in taking shots of the rest of the view. I am so scared of heights but this didn't bother me at all. I think it's because I was IN a cable car. Although the bouncing when you go through the towers is a little disconcerting.

The boys want me to buy a condo here at the Resort at Squaw Creek. We are actually staying in 1/2 of someone's 2 bedroom condo. Going to take a tour later. It's tempting even though I don't snowboard or ski. In the summer they have golf and swimming and horseback riding. And there's the lake too. And in November there's AQT. And a distinct overpopulation of really good looking people. I am really enjoying taking pictures.

This is Wesley and Doug. Wesley is from Lahina, Hawai'i and has been here for years. Doug is from New Hampshire and must be fairly new because I think I would have remembered him. There are people from all over the world working here. Our first night our waiter was from Transylvania (that's in Romania for those of you who don't know) and my waiter at breakfast this morning is also from Romania. One of the waiters is from Bulgaria (I remember him from last November) but yesterday was his last day- he says it's to cold here and he is transferring to a Destination Hotel in South Carolina. Hope he likes it. He's very intelligent. Was explaining to me all about the Euro Group- the countries that are on the Euro and how a country has to go about applying to join and all the criteria. It was mostly over my head but it makes a lot of sence that a country has to show a stable economy to join so they don't drag the entire group down into a recession. But, once in the Euro Group, the stability of such a strong base will help prevent recession. No wonder the Euro is so strong! Anyway, a more fascinating and friendlier group you would not find anywhere.

Later!

DONE!!!!!!!

2008-03-27T12:02:00.003-04:00

Yes, it is finally done. "The Vagrant Gypsy Life" is complete and, as soon as I finish this post, it's getting packaged up and ready to ship to the UK.

Bound and sleeve attached.....it's ready to go. Whew.

Down to the wire

2008-03-26T17:46:00.009-04:00

Still plugging away. I realized today that no where in the paperwork for the show in the UK does it say what type of hanging device to put on the quilt. I emailed the orgainiser but haven't heard back. I am ready to put on the backing and facing and don't want to delay any longer as it IS going to FedEx tomorrow or it isn't going at all. So, a sleeve it is.

The entire quilt- just needs the backing and facing.

Dedication- and yes, it's serving another purpose too- we won't go into that.

Detail. I could have put in a LOT more but the image of the ship serves as it is and I didn't want to get too bogged down in details. If you know a lot about tall ships and barques in particular I am sure you can find a lot wrong; please don't bother to point the errors out. I wasn't going for photo-realism. Really.

Detail of the quilting in the water. Just wanted to emphasize the flow in the fabric.

Part of the poem and the image of a whale's tale (fluke)- refers back to the poem "to the gull's way and the whale's way..."

The poem in it's entirety.

Whew.....

And yes, the poem is difficult to read since the thread colour is very close to the colour of the sky. I did this intentionally. First, I wanted people to have to come close to read it and second, I didn't want the poem to be the focus of the piece; Laura and the Picton Castle are the focus. Did I succeed??

Progress and What Happened to Spring??

2008-03-22T12:24:00.015-04:00

Today is my eldest son's 24th birthday. He was born at 2:43 pm in Hastings, MI during, of all things, a spring blizzard. Go figure. I can remember calling the doctor at a little after midnight, 24 years ago to tell him my water had broken and I was having contractions about 4 minutes apart. He told me to have my husband drive me to hospital. I asked if he had looked outside lately....it was snowing horizontally and wouldn't he please do a home delivery (he lived less than a mile down the road). Nope, I had to stay home or go in.

We went in at 1am. The nurses were going to send us home because I was only slightly dilated. They called my doctor and he told them to keep me there- he didn't want me in labor in a ditch somewhere. Besides, it was a 30 minute drive in good weather and he was NOT going to deliver the baby at home.

Well, that "baby," who was 22" long and 7# 11oz at birth is now 6'4" and 280#. Ouch. He was supposed to go pheasant hunting today. Can you hunt pheasant in 12" of snow??

Yesterday when we first received warning that the weather guys might have a clue.

This morning. Ok, they were right this time. Wonderful......

Trying out thread colours for the poem on the quilt.....

At first I tried freehanding the writing but I was worried about size and placement so writing it out on tear-away was a necessity. Additionally, my natural handwriting is a hybrid of cursive and printing but, to make it easier to stitch (fewer stops and starts) I tried to make it all flow.

Finishing touches on the Picton Castle

Poem in place

Finished ship...still trying to figure out what to do about the distortion from the stitching. May have to resort to a couple of tricks Ellen Anne Eddy taught me. If I had been smart I would have done the ship on meltaway and then just edge stitched it down. Too late now.

Knee Deep

2008-03-21T22:21:00.001-04:00

Well...not quite. But we have about 10" on the ground and it isn't showing any signs of letting up. Yup, nothing like a spring snow storm......YUCK.

teri

NO, NO, NO

2008-03-21T10:57:00.001-04:00

NO! It's SNOWING. Crap. I knew we had a winter storm warning out but I was really hoping they were wrong. Sigh....no such luck. Glad I don't have to go anywhere except the PO and store (both within walking distance) and Joey is grounded because he is serving a 5 day sentence, er, suspension for getting into a fight at school. Double sigh.

Back to the quilt.

teri

Working Hard

2008-03-20T09:10:00.003-04:00

Really. I am. Have been working away on the quilt to ship to the UK. I wanted to have it sent by Monday. Didn't happen. It WILL be sent by the 24th but now it's going to have to go expedited. Oh well. Life happens.

Anyway, here are a couple of "in progress" pics of the quilt just to prove I have not been slacking.

Back to stitching!

teri

New Book Case!!`

2008-03-12T12:43:00.007-04:00

Ok, so I missed a few days....the weekend was busy and so was Monday since my beautiful new bookcase was installed. Tuesday and this morning was spent cataloging and shelving books. Guess what? Could have used another 12-14" of height. Oh well, I have listed some books for sale on Amazon and put some others in a box to be donated to the library. And some will just have to stay in the sunroom, especially the weaving books since that's where the loom is.

Any way....here's pics (I hope- Blogger has been stinky lately)!

What it used to look like when you walked into the living room from the front door. The old bookcase stuck out and took up a lot of walking space. The couch couldn't go any closer to the fireplace or there would be no room there and the rug would stick out from the back.

It also didn't help that the dog figured out (in less than a week) that, if he pulled on the railing the gate at the top of the stairs would pop open. Kind of defeated the reason I had the gate installed in the first place.

So, the railing was removed....

Here's Will, Larry and Mike (behind Larry) moving the new bookcase into position.

Will at one end

Mike at the other

And Larry on the stairs behind the case checking placement.

And here's the beautiful new bookcase (in a lovely, natural maple to match the rest of my cabinetry) with a few books on it. It's nearly full now....

So, I am off to run errands. Let's see Kaiser get by this!

teri

Something More Traditional

2008-03-08T14:47:00.008-05:00

Since I can't show the piece I am making for the show in the UK I thought I would show you a piece I am making for my sister. She has a beautiful home in Chester, Nova Scotia (where I live in the summer) and it is very Victorian (tho it is a rather new home). So I am making the following for her. I didn't want to do the "predictable" layout so I tried something different.

This is the first arrangement I made. Nope, not working for me.

Yep, that's better....

Does anyone else who has Neocounter get excited by seeing where visitors to their blog come from?? I just love checking it, especially "recent cities." I hope at least some of these people enjoy the blog and will come back from time-to-time.....

And we have our tickets for Lake Tahoe at the end of the month. I am taking my son and two of his friends to Squaw Valley for 5 days of snowboarding. We will actually be there a week but there won't be much snowboarding the day we get there as we arrive in Reno at 3pm and probably won't get to the resort much before dinner time. And the day we leave our flight leaves at 8am so we will have to catch a really early shuttle to the airport....I figure 5 days is plenty. My son wasn't happy we were coming home on the last Friday of spring break but I think we are all going to need Saturday and Sunday to recover.....not to mention do laundry. Still, I am looking forward to the trip more than I thought I would. I will take some hand quilting with me and some knitting, a few books and I will make myself at home in the lodge or in front of the fireplace in our room. Maybe a dip in the heated pool....we are staying at the Resort at Squaw Creek where AQT (Art Quilt Tahoe) is held and it's a beautiful place. Thankfully the lodge is only at about 6500 feet because I get an instant altitude headache at 7000......

teri...off to do more data entry for 2007's taxes- yuck.

Slipping

2008-03-06T21:20:00.002-05:00

I must be- I could have sworn I posted yesterday. What can I say? Swiss cheese for brains. I have been so tied up working on my entry for the show in the UK and trying to get caught up in Quickbooks so I can send my business accounts to my CPA (I hadn't entered anything since March- not gonna make that mistake again). So today, same stuff- working on the quilt and entering data, looking stuff up, etc.

I feel like I need to post something but all of my pictures are on my other computer. Sorry- I promise to post pictures tomorrow.

Back to watching my Penguins getting beat by the Panthers---blubbbth*&^^$&%$##$^$^* as Bill the Cat would say......

teri

Oh My- Two in One Day!

2008-03-04T19:00:00.012-05:00

Yes, I am posting again. I was just finishing up quilting some small pieces that I started in an abstraction workshop with Sue Benner. Of the stack of photos I took with me I ended up using one from Race Week in Chester. We were to work quickly, use a limited palette of fabrics and simplify. In one piece Sue asked us to evoke a feeling or word. So, here are 3 pieces that are pretty much done. Two still need facings and all three need to be mounted on black foam core and then I will have them put in simple frames for my home in Chester. These pieces were "practice" for a larger piece I would like to do.

So:

The three that are quilted. The little one was the last one I did; I am not sure how it ended up smaller than the rest. But, the feeling I was trying to evoke was "ominous."

This is the first one I did. I like it but, as Sue pointed out, it feels somewhat static.

Detail- white caps

Detail- wind; the sky fabric is a netting that I have no idea where I bought it or why but I'm glad I did.

The same idea but much more simplified and less static. Again, a really neat fabric that I purchased with no reason other than I liked it.

Detail

Again- the "ominous" one. I believe that sky fabric is one I got from Desi Vaughn. At first I thought it was one of mine, dyed with "Stormy Sky" but it is painted, not dyed and the metallic in it really makes me believe it's a Desi....

Detail

Christmas in March

2008-03-04T08:26:00.007-05:00

At least, that's the way I feel when the mail arrives and there's lots of "stuff." Now, granted, I paid for that "stuff" but half the time I forget what I ordered so opening the packages really IS like Christmas. And, even when I remember what I ordered it is still exciting to see it in person and be able to hold it, play with it, etc. Ok, I need to get out more. Regardless, yesterday was one of those days.

First, Brenda from UPS arrived. She is Kaiser's buddy. He goes absolutely crazy when she drives up. I always know when the brown truck is in the neighborhood. She brought me part of the order I placed with Staples Friday....Quickbooks for PC (groan- because I need to get all my info typed in for the accountant), MS Office, a new wireless router so I can hook up my wireless printer in the other room (it uses cheaper ink than the HP B9180 so I will use it for documents and save the fancy HP for the good stuff), and a wireless laptop adapter. Of course, some of you may be wondering why all this stuff....well, it's to go with the very inexpensive Dell laptop I had to order that should be here today. Yes- HAD to. So I can do my accounts on a PC so my accountant can actually open them. Even tho Quickbooks says it works across operating platforms, it doesn't. At least WE (my accountant and I) can't get it to despite HOURS on the phone with tech support at Quickbooks and Apple. So, this computer will be dedicated JUST for business accounts.

Ok, now to the fun stuff:

Mail's here!!

Oh yes- the butter warmers I ordered. The 32 qt lobster pot, 12 qt corn steamer and shell fish tools are already here and waiting to go to Nova Scotia.

The 1916 printing of "Salt Water Ballads" by John Masefield. This is the book containing the poem "Sea Fever." I was incorrect tho- the book is not a 1st printing but the third. The book was originally published in 1913. Pretty good- 3 printings in 3 years. And I should have knowing I wasn't going to get a first edition for what I paid for this ($5). Still, it's in very good shape for it's age and it will be happy in it's new home in Nova Scotia.

More goodies- a shirt from "a Muse" as well as a lovely card and bookmark (which is now in the new book, sitting on my bedside table). And, BEST OF ALL- the new SAQA Journal!! The piece on the cover is spectacular. I took it with me into the bedroom when I went to lay down for a while (sore back- needed the heating pad). I read every single page (it is that good) up to the midpoint when the pain pill kicked in. I will read the rest of it today. Some really great articles.

If you are an art quilter and are not a member of SAQA (Studio Art Quilts Associates) you need to join. This is the first organization of it's type where I felt like I was not only getting my money's worth out of my dues but MORE than my money's worth!!! Go to SAQA!!!

Ok, off to wash out the sails and see how they look. I will try to post more later with the pics of the sails but....sonlet wants mom, AKA the Springer ATM to take him clothes shopping after school. And the Penguins play Tampa tonight at 7:30 and I am NOT gonna miss that! Pens are in 1st in their division and Evgeni Malkin is in a points duel with Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) for the scoring title....right now Sasha (Ovechkin) is up by 2 due to a hat trick (3 goals for you non-hockey fans) last night. So here's hoping Geno nets three tonight!

Later!

t

Woo Hooooo

2008-03-03T13:12:00.001-05:00

Not only am I celebrating 4 years of blogging here but, according to my Neo-counter, I have now been visited by people from 100 countries!!!!!!

Thank you all. This really makes my day!!

Now, if my sails turn out and I can put my version of the Picton Castle together tomorrow and start the quilting I will really be in 7th Heaven!!!

Later!

t

On a Roll......

2008-03-03T11:01:00.005-05:00

Yes I am. After the nice comment from Joshua in South America yesterday (I think he's in Brazil) I just have to keep it up!

I was sure that spring was never coming and I was really jealous when I received my emailed "muse" letter from Laura Cater-Woods who is not only a wonderful teacher but a great facilitator and creativity coach/cheerleader. She is in Montana and she showed photos of snow melting and the open water near her home and here it was cold and still snowing. Well, this morning I woke up to outdoor temps in the 40s (about 5C) and now it is almost 50. It is also grey and raining but at least it's warm.

And yesterday's work?? Well, I rinsed it out and washed in synthropol and here they are:

Not too bad. The pearl grey with blue wisteria is definitely my choice for most of the shadows. Now I need to trace my sails onto the piece of bamboo fabric that I pretreated with a soda ash soak and then paint on the shadows. Then, it needs to batch over night so, while waiting for that I will go back to working on the little abstracts I started in Sue Benner's class at AQT. Here is one of them:

Fair Wind in Mahone Bay sounds like a nice title.

Finally, my dog, Kaiser. I made him lay down on his "bed" in my studio....see how insulted he looks! You would think he would prefer this to laying on the hard floor but no- it's too far away (maybe 5.5 feet).

Off to my sails!!

teri

Three Days in a ROW!!!!

2008-03-02T13:50:00.011-05:00

Yeah- don't go raising expectations too much. I finished my "experiments" for the day and have about an hour to blow before Pittsburgh faces off against Atlanta so, rather than do something really dumb, like laundry, I thought I would post again.

I have been trying to figure out how I want to add the shadows to the sails on the Picton Castle in my quilt. Now, if you read the Ragged Cloth Cafe (or, if you don't) you need to read June Underwood's essay on shadows. It never occurred to me that quilters don't put shadows in their quilts most of the time. I DO know quilters who do- using a variety of techniques including darker fabrics, dark tulle overlay (one of the techniques I am still considering), or paint/ink/dye. When I did my logo of the Dancing Loon I did put in a shadow using Tsukineko Ink. I may yet use that here but I am thinking, for at least the sails, I will use dye painting so I can put to work something else I learned at AQT, this time in Hollis Chatelaine's class. We have been discussing the finer points of sodium alginate as a dye/paint thickener so that made me think of this. The reason I can use dye on the sails is the white bamboo fabric I am using has been pre-scoured in preparation to be dyed. So- I decided to play a little this morning. Unfortunately I did not think far enough ahead to pre-treat the fabric I have cut out for the sails with soda ash (dye fixer) so, I did dip a small piece of the fabric in soda ash and let it dry. I also got out some white cotton that was scoured but not pre-treated with SA.

I was going to mix up a small amount of all of my blue dyes as well as a pearl grey and silk black. I use a plastic thing from an old refrigerator that eggs are supposed to be stored in. I never use those but they make good paint palettes; I have numbered each little well. Of course, there are only 12 of the little wells and I had 12 blue dyes so I only mixed up 10- I skipped Intense Blue and Bright Blue (both from ProChem). The ones I did mix were: lapis, azure, midnight, royal, cerulean, sapphire, ice blue, cobalt, navy and blue wisteria.

Interestingly, I had thought the blue wisteria would be a little too purple but, when I mixed a little of that with a little of the pearl grey I got a great shadow color. The fabrics are batching right now. I also presoaked another piece of the white bamboo fabric and it's hanging in my bathroom to dry. I have a sneaking suspicion I will end up wanting to use pretreated if for no other reason than the dye that was put on the fabric that was not pretreated bled when I painted the soda ash solution over it and I want more control than that. But, that piece of fabric will give me a general idea of what my blues (all but the two) look like. I was surprised by how dark and purply the Ice Blue was. I was expecting something bluer.....well, we will have to see what it looks like after it has been batched and then washed out.

A note to all you dyers or wanna be's who don't like wearing a mask....do this little experiment for me (I have done it and was floored). Go into your dye studio or wherever you do your dyeing. Put on your mask and gloves. Take out two very different colors of dye- say, Chinese Red and Bright Yellow. Standing at your work surface, open the first color and set the jar and the lid on the table. Then, pick them back up and put the lid back on the jar and put it aside. Now, repeat the process with the second jar. Ok, now....take a spray bottle of water and mist up in the air over it and let the mist settle onto the work surface. Now take a white paper towel and wipe the work surface off. Don't just wet the surface right where you set the jars but in about a 6' radius (that's right- 6 feet- not inches). Now, I'll bet you never open a jar of dye again without having on a mask and never bring an open drink of any kind into your studio again while you are mixing dye.......

Ok, PSA over- photos!!

My work area.....

My set up. Egg thingy I use for a paint palette. Note each well is numbered so I can keep track of what color is in each.

I have put print paste that I mixed up about an hour before hand into each of the little wells; I fill each about 1/3rd to 1/2 full. Then I add a MINISCULE amount of dye (about 1/16th to 1/8th teaspoon) to each, one at a time. I stir the dye into the paste with a bamboo skewer. Use a different spoon for each color. Oh, and a trick I learned from Hollis (that I forgot to do here) is to place a damp (not wet) towel under your work area as this will catch and hold dye powder that gets scattered. Oh, and I would normally premix the colors with the dye in individual plastic cups to prevent contamination and THEN put the colors in the wells but since I am mixing such a tiny amount and this is not for the actual work, I did this. Trust me, there is cross-contamination in each of the wells and that's with no breeze in here (door closed, heat ducts closed).

Here they are, all mixed. The cotton fabric is above, covered in plastic wrap.

Here is the scrap of bamboo I presoaked in soda ash and painted on. I had forgotten how much I like to do this.

Here are the two test pieces in the oven (set to warm, preheated, then turned off) wrapped in plastic wrap to batch. The top one is the cotton with the 12 dyes that had soda ash solution painted over them. The little one is a piece of the bamboo that was presoaked in soda ash, dried and then painted on. the image on the left side of this is the actual outline of one of the sails with the shadow painted on it in a mix of the blue wisteria and pearl grey.

I tossed this one in to show you that I really DID clean out the bottom drawer of my storage cabinet and have put stuff back in it in a neat and orderly fashion. I figure this will last until the first time I need a sheet of paper that is in one of the pads on or near the bottom.

Back Again

2008-03-01T10:21:00.011-05:00

Ok, don't expect DAILY posts because I often just don't have that much too say. And, right now, what I SHOULD be doing is working on my entry for "Quilts in the Garden" in the UK (it has to BE there by April 1st) but I am almost done with the design itself and then have to move on to the quilting so I am taking a quick break. The piece I am making is not for the main theme but is in the "Special Category" the theme of which is "Water." I was sent a piece of "water" fabric to use in the piece. No where did it say how much I had to use but, as it turns out, I ended up using most of it. However, I suspect my piece will not be quite what they were expecting. I am doing a piece in tribute to a wonderful, vibrant young lady by the name of Laura Gainey who was absolutely in love with the sea and sailing. She sailed with various "tall ships" for about 9 years before being lost at sea during a storm off the coast of Cape Cod in December of 2006 at the age of 25. I never met Laura but have spoken to many who knew her and I feel such a connection to her that I had to do this piece. It has been floating around in my brain in a nebulous form ever since I heard about her disappearance. While the fabric I received reminds me more of a garden pond (which I imagine was the intent) I just could not get Laura out of my mind so the fabric will be modified somewhat (they didn't say I couldn't). I gave serious thought to over-dyeing it to make it darker but I thought the manufacturer, who is the sponsor of the exhibit, might not appreciate it and I didn't want my piece pulled. So, I will just add some shadows with tulle and paint/fabric inks. As the piece had to be made especially for this show I don't think I can show it to you but I don't see a problem with showing you pieces-parts (one of the favorite expressions of one of the trauma docs I used to work for) of in-progress work.

The title of the quilt is "The Vagrant Gypsy Life" which is a partial line from the poem "Sea Fever" by poet John Masefield who just happened to have been the poet-lauriet for the UK until his death in 1967. I fell in love with this poem as a small child- I suspect because of 1) my lifelong fascination with the sea and 2) the fact that part of it was quoted by William Shatner/ Captain Kirk on an episode of the original "Star Trek." I don't remember hearing it there but, considering that I NEVER missed an episode of the show when it was originally on, I am certain that is where I first heard it. Years later I searched for it in the library by going thru books of poetry where the first lines of poems are quoted in the index and found it in a book I think was titled "America's Best Loved Poems" which is weird since he was a Brit BUT he did live in the US and I believe the poem was published while he was in the US. Anyway, I have on order from Abe Books a 1916 printing (so first printing) of the book "Salt Water Ballads" in which the poem apparently originally appeared (if Wikipedia is accurate).

I will quote the first stanza here because I am sure many of you have heard it quoted (or misquoted) before. It often appears mistitled as :"I Must Go Down to the Sea Again" but the real title is "Sea Fever:"

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and sky.
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.

The last of three stanza's begins:

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,....hence the title of the piece.

Anyway, here are some photos of a part of the process.

Kind of an overall view of what I am up to.

Photo of the "Picton Castle," the ship Laura was on. You might recognize the ship from that "Pirate Master" reality TV show (reality was used pretty loosely there- I never did watch the show- I hate reality shows....I get enough reality in my day-to-day life. The only reality I want on TV is hockey; otherwise I want pure fantasy). Anyway, the photo is being used with the permission of the association that owns the Picton Castle which, ironically enough, has it's home port in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia- about 40 minutes from my home in Chester. And yes, I have seen her in person.

I converted the photo of the Picton Castle to black and white and bumped up the contrast a bit. Unfortunately the body of the ship is in so much shadow that I am having problems "seeing" it- the detail. Now, while I want this to be abstracted I DO what to remain true to the image of a barque (which is the class of ship that the PC is). I have managed to get the number of sails visible correct but I'm just going to have to wing it on some of the details. I do have other photos to reference tho.

Anyway, I then outlined the "crucial" bits with a black sharpie and then taped the picture to my sliding glass doors (because I STILL can't find my light box) and layered a gridded sheet of velum over it; traced the sails and general outline of the ship and then used a highlighter to mark the larger squares out for enlarging. Yes, I could have done a transparency and used my overhead projector but I was not looking for THAT much accuracy and besides, I was too lazy to go down to the basement to use the projector- mostly because I still haven't put up the sheets of ceiling tile on the wall that is my design wall downstairs.....

I then divided a sheet of gridded paper into the needed number of boxes (4 wide, 6 tall) to match the tracing but, of course, the final sheet had larger squares so I was transferring the lines from one sheet to the other one box at a time and this resulted in a larger image. I gave each sail a different color so I could see where they overlapped and also tell what was sail and what was sky. I then referred back to the original photo and made corrections. Then I took another sheet of velum and, after numbering each sail, I traced the sails one at a time to make templates. I have now (not shown) cut out the templates and traced them onto a scoured but undyed/unpainted (ok, it's white) piece of 100% bamboo fabric which I am next going to do some dye painting on and then fuse to some Misty Fuse before assembling the ship on to the back ground/canvas. I refer to it as a canvas because that is what Sue Benner called it when she showed us how to do it in the abstraction class I took from her at AQT. All those 8" x 8" images of sail boats are now being put to good use in the design of this piece.

Thank you Sue!

Friday Post

2008-02-29T12:00:00.010-05:00

I said I was going to try to post more often and I am. I had forgotten how many pictures I had taken in the last 2 weeks (well, not THAT many- but plenty to post).

So, here we go.

First we have....my studio. Now, the room itself is only 10' x 12'. Into that I have put 2-4' tables and one 8' table and a Koala Outback II and a small book case. To say space is tight would be an understatement. While it's a pain as far as storage goes it's also very convenient/efficient as far as working. The wall on the west (outside wall- all window) has the 8' and one 4' table along it. This is my main workspace. My ironing board (literally- a 4'x4' piece of 1/2" plywood, covered with 2 layers of batting and the silver ironing board fabric) sits on the 8' table. If I am facing it my cordless iron is on the pull-out from the Outback to my left by 90 degrees. A 180 turn puts me facing my machine. I have to roll my chair very little as there is only a little over 3' from the ironing table to the sewing machine. To my right when facing the ironing table are the 2 4' tables in an "L" with slightly 6' from where the iron is to the table on the N wall- this is where my computer is. The 4' table to my left has one of my printers on it, telephone and a lot of my tools. My other printer is under the table holding the computer. It sits on top of a plastic storage drawer full of "odd" fabrics. The rest of the N wall is my beautiful storage cabinet that was custom built into the space that was meant to be a closet (this was supposed to be the third bedroom but was used as an office by the developer of this neighborhood- my friend's mom- who lived here first, used it as a TV room so the French doors into the living room were left and no closet was ever built). There are pictures of this beautiful cabinet in my blog somewhere.....I will try to find them later and put in links for those of you like me....too laz...er busy to go hunting.

Ok, the top half of this cabinet, which is 5'6" long, is like a china hutch- glass fronted doors, adjustable shelves (7) on each side. It's about 3' deep. The left side has my hand-dyes (both ones I have done and those purchased) and a large part of my antique kimono silk collection. The right side is all commercial fabrics.

The bottom half of the cabinet is drawers- 5 of them. The top-most is the shallowest, the second drawer a little deeper and the bottom 3 about 5.5" deep. I keep my threads in the top two using adjustable silverware organizers from BB&B. The other three are currently being emptied and rearranged but hold fusibles, unfinished projects, paper pads, a mat cutter (never out of the box), embossing gun (same deal)....you get the idea.

Ok, the east wall is where the French Doors are. They abut the south corner but take up a little more than 1/2 the wall. The rest of the wall has black felt that is mounted on velcro (hooky side) that is attached to the wall- I have three strips- top and two sides- to keep the felt fairly taught. The south wall, as noted before, has the Outback cabinet against it. With the back portion elevated (and it is) this leaves less than 4' to the door. I managed to find a little bookcase to shove in there to keep my most frequently referenced books there.

As you can imagine, EVERY available surface is in use. Under tables, under the Outback, etc. I have to keep the space in front of the cabinet clear because, as I have discovered, within 30 minutes of setting anything in front of it that will interfere with the opening of a drawer, I will need something out of one of those drawers. The only thing permanently in front of it is Kaiser's (my dog's) fleece blanket (it was purchased as a lap blanket for my friend's mom who lived here because she was always cold- it was too nice to get rid of but way too warm for me- queen of hotflashes). Now, does the dog use it?? Well, occasionally. Usually he just finds a spot that I am most likely to need to occupy in the next 15 minutes and stretches out there. Of course, when I ask him to move he becomes quite offended.

Kaiser in one of his favorite spots- right in front of the computer. If I am at the computer he likes to be behind me, blocking access to the sewing machine. This placement assures maximum attention from me.

To the right is the ironing table- I forgot to mention that I have a cutting mat I store between the table and the window- it's a simple matter to grab it by the top edge and slide it out on top of the ironing board. Originally I had visions of sliding the ironing board off the table when I needed to. Let me tell you- not gonna happen. I did that once and it's heavy and awkward. Much easier to just move the cutting mat.

Another view of the work area- sewing machine to the left. Yes, I could have cleaned up before I took the pictures but, what-the-heck, you might as well see it as it normally is.

View from the door looking in....complete with doggy butt. Heaven forbid I should get up and move and Kaiser not follow. The only place he goes without me it into the bedroom to jump up and lay on MY side of the bed (he has his own side) because he knows he isn't supposed to be there.

My lovely little bookcase- crammed into the corner. There was a bunch of stuff piled in front of it but I needed to rearrange some stuff while looking for the still-missing light box, so I have moved that stuff elsewhere so I can get at the books.

I had visions of continuing this post with photos of some current work but, I have spent enough time here for now and need to get back to my current "gotta-get-it-done" work- a special entry into the "Quilts in the Garden" show in the UK.

Later!

teri

Hello Gretchen, Are You Out There??

2008-02-29T10:41:00.002-05:00

Gretchen Huggett- I need you to get ahold of me regarding a woman in Ohio (this side of Cleveland) with lots of weaving stuff to get rid of.

Thanks- hope you still read my blog.

teri

Enough Already!!!!

2008-02-28T10:38:00.003-05:00

Ok, I love winter more than most people but, good grief, someone PLEASE turn OFF that snow machine!!!!!

Currently working on wrapping up a piece for a show in the UK that has to BE there by 4/1 so I had better get cracking.....

And, after reviewing my counters and seeing how many people have stopped by I feel like I have let them down not posting more. So, I hereby vow to try to post at least 3 times a week. We'll see how I do.....

teri

Dyes Used

2008-02-15T10:32:00.004-05:00

Thought I would share the dyes I used. I mixed them in 12 oz plastic "party" cups (the opaque ones) that I had left-over from my class with Heide Stoll-Weber. I mixed about 3-4 ounces of each. I used:

Rust Orange (Dharma)
Sunrise Red (Dharma- will strain next time)
Maroon Brown (Dharma)

The rest are from ProChem:

Cantaloupe
Hot Chocolate
Sage
Stormy Sky (my favorite)
Terra Cotta
Barn Red (also will strain next time since I don't know which of the reds was the one that left blotches)
Black 602A
Burnt Orange
Chocolate Brown (not the same as Hot Chocolate)
Havana Brown (a greeny-brown that I just love)
Dusty Purple

My goal was to get very earthy colors that look like rocks, shaded rocks, rocks at dusk, etc. The result was too "tie-dyey" for the project I wanted them for but that's ok, I can still use them for other projects. However, now I need to make the fabrics I need for the current project. Thankfully the majority I already have; it's just the rocks I need!

teri...off to find the light box to make my transparency for the pattern

Ice Dyeing- Soda Ash Presoak

2008-02-15T10:01:00.005-05:00

Ok...now THIS is more like it! The soda ash presoak made a big difference. The dye strike was, of course, faster and that allowed the ice to act as a resist. I also can see areas where the snow that had fallen and wasn't entirely shaken off acted as a resist also. Still not sure I would want to do this on a larger scale. Maybe when my studio in Chester is done and I have direct access from the dye studio to the outdoors.....Now I am on to other things. My challenge piece for the West MI Art Quilters.

teri

Happy VD & Ice Dyeing Results

2008-02-14T12:38:00.004-05:00

Sorry- old joke (you reading this Rita??). Hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's day. I received tulips from mum & dad (my stepmum remembered I LOVE tulips).

And here are the fabrics from batch 1 of the ice dyeing experiment. This was the batch that was not pretreated with soda ash but had the soda ash solution poured into the bucket after the dye was poured on. Not spectacular but not bad either. Don't think I would go to all this trouble again for this result. Could have done this in the dry, warm studio. I do know that I will be straining ALL red dyes from now on!

The batch of fabrics that was pretreated are in the washer right now having their second cold water rinse. After this rinse I take a piece out and run it under cold water in the bathroom sink (I can't see the water coming out of the washer because there is no sink in the laundry room- it drains into a pipe). If the water runs clear I then wash the fabric in hot water with the Synthrapol. If it does not run clear I keep repeating the cold water rinse until the water IS clear. I find I use a lot less water doing it this way (as opposed to hand rinsing in the studio sink) because I have an "ecosmart" washer that uses less water than a normal top-loader. This method is also MILES kinder to my bad back!!

I will post pics of batch two after they are ironed. Sorry about the pictures but I just didn't have room to get proper photos and was too lazy to do them one at a time by hanging on the cabinet door as I did with the one piece of silk noil I dyed.

Yes- I HAVE been Working

2008-02-13T19:03:00.004-05:00

Amazingly enough. First, I am trying to get all "business" stuff out of the studio. It's tough because I listen to the radio on my computer (only way to hear CBC radio here) plus my email is in here.....any way, here is what I spent part (read: most) of my day doing:

Yep- shredding. Tomorrow is recycling day so I thought I'd get a bunch done to put out. As it turns out I have a lot more to shred than I bargained for. I am not even close to done but have put out what is done. The rest will have to go out next recycling day.....

But I have actually worked on some creative stuff too. I am working on a piece for the West MI Art Quilter's Challenge- the theme is "Italy" this year. Never having been there I went looking for photos that screamed Italy at me. I found one of the northern Italian coast and a week later I received a brochure in the mail for cruises and a picture of the same spot was in the brochure! Different angle but the exact same spot. Anyway, I emailed the person who took the first photo and she was kind enough to give me full use of her photo as long as I show her the finished product. Hey, no problem!!

In the meantime I have been working on a series of wholecloth pieces that I am hand stitching (yes, I am crazy but hand stitching is the only way it felt right). I don't want to show any until they are done. BUT, I did give "ice dyeing" a try today. I don't think I will do it again unless the results are REALLY spectacular (meaning, not again).

First I scoured fabric. D'uh. Second, I soaked all the fabric in plain water and wrung it out. Some fabric I put in one bucket, untreated. The rest I put in a second bucket after doing a soda ash soak. I put both buckets outside.

Now, it's been darned cold here so everything froze solid. One thing I didn't think of, all the pieces of fabric froze together (d'uh again). The fabric that was not treated wouldn't come out of the bucket. So today I went out with my dye and started dumping and pouring (I didn't mix up a lot of each color but I did use about 12 colors). The untreated fabric got a soda ash solution dumped on it (in it, as it was still in the bucket) after the dye.

Ok, brought it all inside. As it S-L-O-W-L-Y thawed, I separated the batch that got the soda ash dump (which helped it thaw faster than the pre-treated fabric). squeezed out the excess dye and made fabric burritos with plastic wrap. The burritos were put in a disposable roasting pan and placed in the oven, preheated to 170 degrees F. Those have been in there since 10:20am.

The pretreated fabric took a tad longer to thaw enough to separate....those burritos went in at 1:30pm.

So, now we wait until tomorrow for the wash out to see what the results were. I really hate waiting but, since the Pittsburgh Penguins are playing in 12 minutes, I will manage.....and if I am down in the TV room I can't hear the *(^&^%^%$^*& snowmobilers roaring by the house.....stinky noisy things.

Yes We Can!

2008-02-08T19:35:00.001-05:00

Customer Service is an Oxymoron

2008-02-05T09:54:00.000-05:00

Yes, it is. Oh, occasionally you come across the freakish person who actually believes in treating the customer like they matter. VERY seldom do you come across someone who acts like the customer is their reason for being in business. Lately it seems more that businesses treat the customer like they (the business person) is doing them (the customer) a favor by even acknowledging that they exist.

Then there are the companies that just need to polish up their customer service a little.

Sears is in the first category. I ordered a jewelry armoire on line because I gave up on JCPenney's sending me one in a decent box so that it did not get damaged in transit (to JCP's credit, when I returned the first one and refused the second one they immediately credited my account). Anyway, I ordered the one from Sears in early November so it would get here before I left for Nova Scotia for Christmas. On-line it said "in stock and ready to ship." Well, they lied. You're getting the Reader's Digest version here. They stalled and stalled. Then they said they shipped it. Then they said, no, it hasn't shipped yet. Finally, it had shipped but, since it came directly from the manufacturer Sears had no way of knowing when it would arrive. When it didn't show up in 14 days I canceled the order and asked for credit. I was told I would have the credit in 3-5 days. Two weeks later, still no credit. I called. Was told "oh, sorry but we have no control over how long it takes for the manufacturer to issue credit." Uh, excuse me?? I didn't order from, nor did I pay, the manufacturer. The VISA statement quite clearly shows that Sears was paid on November 16th. Since I paid Sears then Sears should be giving me the credit. Nope, doesn't work that way. Sigh. Ok, called VISA and asked that the charge be reversed. This was in later January. The credit was on my statement in 48 hours (January 28th). So, order placed 11/9, charged 11/16, finally got my money back on 1/28.

No wonder Sears is on the verge of bankruptcy.

Ok, then there is firstStreet which falls in the latter category.

In early November I ordered a "Tiffany-style" floor lamp with full-spectrum bulb (think Ott- light but more attractive). It was perfect for my living room so I could do hand work at night in front of the TV. Again, order placed, confirmed. Was supposed to be "in stock and available to ship." It was ordered so that it would get here before 12/20 when I went home for Christmas. It didn't make it. I emailed. "Oh, sorry but our computer shows that this item is backordered and won't be available to ship until 1/15/08." Ok, I responded, did it ever occur to you to send me an email to tell me this? No response. I got home on 1/4. On 1/11 I was notified that the lamp had shipped and should arrive within 10 days (good grief, how do they ship this stuff? slow boat??). 1/21, no lamp; 1/22, no lamp; 1/23, no lamp. I emailed again. Oh, it didn't actually ship (then why did you tell me it did). They are still back ordered and won't be available until February. And you were going to tell me when?? I noted that good customer service requires communication, just like any relationship and that I did not appreciate being charged for an item and told it had shipped when it had not. I suggested they try emailing customers whose orders were delayed for any reason and that most people (me included) didn't mind waiting for something we really wanted as long as we knew why we were waiting and how long the wait might be. Their response?? They canceled the order and credited my VISA. Did they email me to tell me they were doing this? No; I found out when I checked my VISA statement. The credit was issued 1/23. On 2/2 I received a letter in the mail telling me they had canceled the order. Gee, thanks. But, at least I didn't have to go to the manufacturer to get the refund.

Will I ever order online from Penney's or Sears....no. At least, not from Sears.com. However, I have not had any problems with Sears.ca so I am debating that one. How about firstStreet?? Well, I already did. I ordered a different lamp since the Tiffany style is still back ordered. I was charged for the new lamp on 1/31- I'll let you know when/if it comes.

No wonder the US economy is in the toilet. If one more person tells me it's my patriotic duty to buy American and shop in American stores I think I will scream. I am finding the US stores (both in person, via catalog and via the Internet) have the worst customer service. And the larger the business the worse the service.

End of Rant.

If you are in a Super Tuesday State please go vote!!! and vote Obama!!!!)

teri

No Rant Tonight

2008-02-04T17:48:00.000-05:00

I know I promised you all a rant but it will have to wait until tomorrow. Just remind me to tell you about "customer service."

Anyway, I am not in the mood for a rant tonight. Possibly it's the effects of the Vicodin I took an hour ago for my sore back. Hard to rant when you are "comfortably numb" (which is, ironically, my current ring tone....).

I am sitting here in the studio and I can actually see counter tops! Not all of them but, hey, it's progress. I pin basted two whole-cloth pieces to hand stitch and my Janome is set up and ready to go tomorrow so I can finish the small pieces I started in Tahoe. Yes, I am actually working! My depression still makes it difficult to keep moving but I am making an effort. Mondays are good for me. My friend and housekeeper, Connie, is here on Mondays and she gets me moving. When she cleans, I clean. I think I need her here 5 days a week to keep me moving. Wish I could afford that! But I think her other customers might not like it.

So, my living room is looking more like a living room ( am inspired to clean it up to show off my beautiful new fireplace) and now I am waiting for my painter to find the time to pop over so we can discuss color and texture. I had chosen some shades of peach but they just are NOT going to work with the look of the living room- too "prissy." Now I am thinking a warm gold maybe; either in a sueded look or Venetian plaster. The bedrooms are no issue- I KNOW what I want in there. I'm going to leave the studio alone for now; the off white I have works just fine.

So, I guess that is it for now. I can't wait for tomorrow. Go Obama!!!!

teri

Sigh

2008-02-04T09:26:00.000-05:00

Ok, now that I have moved those two most recent posts.....

I was without my beloved Janome 6600 for over 2 weeks!!!! Yikes. I tried to free motion with the Viking (I know I used to use it for that) but I just couldn't get it to work so I gave up and started filing, shredding, etc. I am trying to move ALL paperwork to the desk in the bedroom but it's difficult since the computer is here in the studio. I will set the laptop up in the bed room once I get the desk cleaned off so then it will be an office! I did get a wireless printer for in there. It is just a printer, not a photo-quality since I don't need that kind of quality in the office. If I do anything on the laptop that needs to be in the studio I will just use a jump drive to switch computers.....Now I just need to redo ALL my QuickBooks files on my Mac......sigh.

Ok, I am finishing up cleaning the studio so I can get some work done. I got on a roll last night but was interrupted by the Super Bowl. Normally, as much as I like football, I don't watch the Super Bowl unless Green Bay or Chicago are playing (don't have to worry about Detroit getting in). But, many years ago I did very well financially thanks to the Miami Dolphins and I wanted to see if the Pats would pull off the 2nd undefeated season in NFL history. I was torn as to whether I wanted them to do it or not. But, in the end, it was Eli I had to cheer for. I just like that kid. And somehow it seemed fitting that, just like last year, it was a Manning who ruined the Pats season.

Great game kid!!!

Ok, I do have a rant I will save for this afternoon.....I am off to put some fabric away that has been sitting in a bin since I got home from AQT.

teri

Just Another Snowy Day in Michigan (2/1/08)

2008-02-04T09:25:00.000-05:00

Anyone who has visited Hawai'i should recognize the title as being "borrowed" from a ubiquitous bumper sticker (well, ubiquitous if you live in Hawai'i) that declares: "Just Another Shitty Day in Paradise."

Yep, it's snowing here. Again. Still. Once again the boys don't have school. That means Joey will be in bed until noonish and then want to go snowboarding (let's see, the roads are bad enough that the school buses won't go out for a school that is 8 miles away but HE wants to drive to Bittersweet Ski Area that is 20 miles away.....and he doesn't understand why I won't let him). Ben is up (at the crack of 10:15) and making his breakfast. He'll study and watch DVD's all day.

Me, I'm still without my sewing machine so I guess I will clean my studio. But, before I go, here are some pictures of the view from my front AND back porches!

The actual view from the front door (you didn't think I was actually going to go OUT, did you??)

My pretty new Highlander Hybrid. Only 500 miles on it. I had thought of a name for it but, since I was in bed at the time and half asleep, of course, I can't remember what I decided on.

The view out back. I DID open the door for this one and yes, I have been out. The dog demands it. Thankfully a couple of local snowmobilers (I'm guessing kids with no school) had already been by this morning so, once I waded my way out to their tracks walking was a lot easier. Now, I want to know HOW those kids parents got them out of bed so early on a snow day!

Oh, and the smoke detector is still cheerfully bleeping away. I finally bought yet another new 9volt so will climb up there today and try to get it to shut up before I rip it out of the ceiling.

teri

Moving

2008-02-04T09:22:00.001-05:00

No, it's not ME moving but my blog posts. I just can't keep up with two blogs and it really seems silly to post some stuff on one and then not post anything on the blog most people have come to associate with me so, I am going to just one blog. I was going to make this blog strictly work/art related but, since I am trying to force myself to get stuff done, photographed and to my web mistress, I said "ta heck with it" and am using this blog for everything. So, here's a post from 1/23:

But now it's one of the smoke detectors in my Michigan home driving me crazy!!! It's been beeping the last week; telling me I need to change the battery. Of course, it just HAD to be the one in the living room- the room with 12 foot ceilings! So I have put it off and put it off....Today I backed my dad's car out of the garage to get to my 8' ladder (that my ex got me for Christmas- no, he's not trying to knock me off- I asked for an 8 or 10' ladder so I wouldn't have to keep borrowing his 6' one). So, in comes the ladder:

Did I mention that I'm scared to death of heights?? So, I set up the ladder. Problem, the batteries are in the laundry room- on the OTHER side of the ladder. Ok, so I climb over the box of wine that needs to go down to the wine cooler, get the battery, climb back over the box. Climb the ladder, hugging the wall on my left because- oh my, the steps to the basement are just to my right so, not only am I near the top of the 8' ladder but I also have a full story drop down hard wood stairs to my right. Goody.

So, I climb up and realize I have the top of the ladder under the lower ceiling of the hallway, making it necessary for me to lean back to get to the smoke detector. Nope, not gonna happen. I climb back down; move the ladder.

Climb back up. Open the smoke detector and remove the old battery, forgetting to note which way it was facing. D'uh. I try to get the new 9 volt in. Won't go in. I try and try. Ok, finally I reverse it. A couple of pushes and it goes in. Oh YEAH! I close the smoke detector and climb down. Then I go to toss out the old battery and wash my hands. Go to put the ladder away.

"beep"

Crap. That's a brand new battery. It's dated 2012! I climb back up the ladder. Make sure the detector door is closed properly. Yep. Test the detector (yikes- in my house, when one goes off they ALL go off!) yep, it works. So, WHY is it still beeping?

At this point I have given up. I am downstairs (in the basement) waiting for the Toronto game to start and I can still hear the ^%&*%% thing. Too bad. There's nothing I can do. I will go buy another battery tomorrow and see if it works. If not, I guess I have to call my electrician. Usually the detectors last about 10 years (did YOU know that the ones that are hard-wired into your homes electrical system need to be replaced??) and this one is 8 years old so maybe I need a new one. If I'm going to get one replaced I'm getting them ALL replaced (I'm not paying the electrician to come out to replace just one smoke detector).

Ok, it's time for hockey.

teri

Foiled Again

2008-01-23T18:52:00.000-05:00

I was supposed to go to Carol Myers' home on Paw Paw Lake to play with monoprinting. Sigh, but I had to be home to take delivery of an overnight package. I was expecting it no later than 10 so I could be on the road by 10:05. No such luck. So, we're going to shoot for next week. In the meantime, I will spend time tomorrow and Friday trying to coax my Epson R2400 printer to work with the Lyson Cave Inks system. If I wasted $300+ on this system I'm going to be really PO'd. The folks at Lyson have bent over backwards to try to help but what I need is someone here who know what they are doing. If I can't get it working tomorrow I will have to disconnect it and switch to the HP because I must get some "save the date" cards in the mail by Monday.....

And I need to get some work done on the pieces I started at AQT. I'd like to get 2-3 of them done before this week ends. My poor webmaster must think I'm NEVER going to get her enough images to finish that site!

Now I need to pop over to my other blog to post day-to-day stuff.....

teri

What a Day

2008-01-17T13:56:00.000-05:00

I have been cruising right along, working on several small pieces including ones I started at AQT. I had progressed to doing some freemotion and, sigh, the 6600 decides to be a brat. Threads snapping, needles snapping.

Ok, I can take a hint. So, "Jake II" will be headed in to the "doctor" tomorrow for a good cleaning and tune up.

So...no problem, right? Even tho "Jake I" (the 6500) is in Chester I still have Brunhilda (my Viking workhorse). So, out comes Brunhilda. Sigh, but I can't find her powercord which is in the bag with the manual. And where might THAT be? Beats the *&^%&^% out of me.

Well, I am off to the basement to see if maybe I stashed it in the dye studio.....it's easier than moving all the stuff in front of the drawers in the studio....that will be the last resort if I can't find the cord downstairs.

teri

Flower Child

2008-01-15T10:37:00.002-05:00

You are a Hippie

You are a total hippie. While you may not wear birks or smell of incense, you have the soul of a hippie.
You don't trust authority, and you do as you please. You're willing to take a stand, even when what you believe isn't popular.

You like to experiment with ideas, lifestyles, and different subcultures.
You always gravitate toward what's radical and subversive. Normal, mainstream culture doesn't really resonate with you.

Are You a Hippie?

Thank you Gabrielle and DebR

Yes, I still burn incense and I still wear Birks and Earth Shoes and I am still a rebel and liberal as hell......And I am rereading "On the Road."

teri

New Project

2008-01-09T12:14:00.000-05:00

Ok, still no pictures. Hopefully by the end of the week.

I just started a new project (do I hear groans out there???? Yes, I know, I need to FINISH a few things. The new project is making a data base of my books so I quit wasting money on ones I already have. Also, then I will be able to look at the list and see where I have it (sun room, studio, dye studio, etc) since I can never find the one I want when I need it.

Anyway, I had placed an order with Amazon some time ago and one of the books was back ordered, and back ordered, and.....you get the picture. This is the second time Amazon has done this, kept me hanging on for months waiting for a book. Both times I got tired of waiting and went to other sites to obtain the book at the same price or less. This time it was a book called: Dreamings: The Art of Aboriginal Australia, edited by Peter Sutton and published in 1988. It's a large "coffee table" book and it is luscious. I haven't had the opportunity to go through the entire book yet but I find myself wondering why the Aboriginie's use dots. It's all dots. And then I start thinking "beads....yes, this would work very nicely in beads." And no, I would never copy someone else's work but there is no reason I can't take my own design and translate it into dots using beads, is there? I mean, Seurat certainly didn't originate the idea.

I can't try it right now as I DO have several things on the burner right now (surprise, surprise) but I am going to make a note of it.

Also received a book today called "Making Love with Light" by John Daido Loori. It isn't what I was expecting. I thought it was more or less an instructional book on using light more effectively in photography. Instead I received a lovely book of fabulous nature photography with brief musings and, while it isn't what I was expecting I am actually quite delighted with it.

Ok, now back to straightening up the studio, cataloging the books I come across and trying to find the $#%@##%@ soldering iron I bought!

teri

Check Back Tomorrow

2008-01-06T12:39:00.001-05:00

I had every good intention of working on my scrap challenge piece today. But old, ugly colitis has decided to make an appearance instead. Will try to get to it later.

teri

Happy New Year

2008-01-01T13:20:00.000-05:00

Hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year's celebration last night! I did.

Skip over to my other blog if you are interested in some non-art content.

Off to watch the "Winter Classic" outdoor hockey on CBC (hockey played the way it was meant to be!!)

teri in Chester

Christmas in Nova Scotia

2007-12-29T12:09:00.000-05:00

As you can probably guess, it's been a busy 9 days (ok, 8 1/2). I got in very late - actually arriving on the 21st. I drove out to my home in Chester, dragged my suitcases in, dumped them in the living room, dug out the jammies and was in bed at 2AM. SInce then it has been pretty much non-stop until today.

It's great because we are having snow, snow and more snow which is unusual around here. One of the effects of global warming has been that the South Shore of Nova Scotia has been getting more rain and ice than snow the last few winters. But not this winter!! It has been snowing all day today and it looks lovely. Hopefully it won't warm up too much the rest of my trip so the snow will stay and not turn to slush and then freeze. I was supposed to go into Halifax with my brother today to go to the Marilyn Monroe exhibit at the Nova Scotia Art Museum but we decided to stay put. Just as well....I have been watching the World Junior Championships (hockey) and the Cze team just beat Slovakia (an intense rivalry). Next up is Team Canada and Sweden. So far the Canadian team has beaten the CZE team and the Slovakians and allowed no goals. The Swedes will be a bit tougher although their defence is a bit suspect. Here's hoping the Canadian team continues in it's winning ways. The US team is in the other division so the two teams won't meet until the finals, if at all. Last year's final was so good with Team USA finally losing to Team Canada in a shoot-out. Ironically, the player (Jonathan Toews) for Team Canada who scored on 3 shots is now the roommate of the Team USA player (Patrick Kane) who did not score- they both play for the Chicago Blackhawks. Bet they have some interesting conversations!!

Ok, off hockey.

I have decided that, for my "New Year's Resolution" (FWIW) I am going to rededicate this blog to my art and move the day-to-day stuff to my other blog,"The View From My Front Porch" Since I didn't bring any quilt stuff with me I am now going to pop over to the other blog to post pictures from this trip. But, first, I will post a shot I am going to use for a quilt.....

This is on Hwy 329 going to Blandford, NS- this is a stream that empties into a little bay on the Atlantic.

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy, Healthy New Year!!

teri

Warning! Danger Will Robinson; Danger!

2007-12-14T15:16:00.000-05:00

Today I received a very strange email from Frieda Anderson (Chicago School of Fusing). According to the email she was in Africa and had lost her wallet and needed help. I was, of course, immediately suspicious for multiple reasons, not the least of which was the fact that Frieda has lots of friends and I am pretty sure she would not be contacting me for help. So, I called her. Sure enough, someone had hijacked her entire Google account. Sigh; is NOTHING safe?? I would expect Google to have great security....and I know Frieda didn't fall for any Phishing expedition. Needless to say, I just changed my Google password (which I hadn't done in probably 2+ years.

I highly recommend everyone do the same and come up with something less obvious than your birthday.....(and no, that is not what mine was...as a matter of fact it was the name of a good friend, a name no one outside his family and myself ever managed to spell correctly, plus some numbers significant only to us. Still......)

teri

It's Here!!

2007-12-05T11:51:00.001-05:00

What am I so excited about!!??!! The book from Deborah Boschert that's what!! I am about to take my lunch break and watch the noon news but first, I am going to go through this book of lovely work.

What a great time- yesterday I received my two books from SAQA, "A Sense of Place" and Portfolio 14- great stuff; and now this!! To top it off, we had 3" of snow last night and the sun is out so it is SO pretty outside!!!!

Yipee!

Back Later!

teri

Now We're Moving!!

2007-12-03T15:13:00.001-05:00

Today has been one of those days where I have been totally unable to keep track of time. I got 6 packages ready to ship via FedEX to my sister in Canada. Mostly Christmas gifts but a couple of things for my condo. Larger stuff will have to wait to go with me in the summer. Between shipping costs and the duty there's no way I am shipping my hall runner, mini-stereo, 13" TV, etc. As it is the cost of sending these gifts will be high. Sigh. So now I am waiting for the FedEx guy to get here. Poor dog- ran him outside for a quick sprinkle and that was it.

Then I started getting fabrics ready to throw together a Christmas table runner for my family in Nova Scotia. All are ironed and ready to be cut.

Then the mail came. I have two new knitting toys!! One is a magnetic chart thing that allows me to keep track of where I am- now that I am getting into these fancy charts and things! The other is a set of interchangeable nickle-plated circular needles from Knit Picks. I decided I needed these as I never have the right size needle for the job and got tired of having to put aside patterns I wanted to do simply because of this. The great thing is, there are two sets of two cables (23" and 9"- I think) and cable ends, so I can use them as regular needles and I can do socks using circs instead of dps (of course- I already have a full set of dps and I have no clue how to knit socks with circs- but I have directions!!). I am SO happy!! I have this throw I am working on and this will make it so much easier! I was using sticky notes to mark my place in the pattern and it was taking two notes to make it through the repeat one time!! (36 rows). Anyway, the pattern is actually for a shawl but I am making multiple "shawls" and knitting them together to make one large throw in multiple colors. It will look great in my living room in Chester.

Last project for the day...I am in yet another postcard exchange. This is with the original Art2Mail group and I feel really bad that, as always, I am running behind (wayyyyy behind). But I am printing out on "Printed Treasures" fabric some stuff to get these done and in the mail. Hopefully before I go to Chester for Christmas. Anyway, am I being too perverse by making tulip postcards???? As much as I love winter I am SO looking forward to seeing what my flowerbeds here in Michigan look like in the spring and then to doing some major planting in Chester next summer.

Ok, I'll shut up and load pictures.....

This is my ironing board- home made. 4'x3' 1/2" plywood with a double layer of cotton batting and the silver ironing board cover fabric- all stapled on in the back. Mostly I just leave it on the table top and put the cutting mat on top when I need to cut.

The same ironing board in use- ironing the Christmas fabrics for a table runner.

See, I AM perverse (ok, you knew that already) but aren't these tulips yummy? I have so many new ones planted I can't wait to see them in the spring.

Finally, the new knitting toys.

Wow, two posts in two days. I AM on a roll! Ok, back to work!!

Ok- I Know I Promised

2007-12-02T16:17:00.000-05:00

It's been one of those days. Watered plants and one decided to run over getting top of bookcase wet and the envelopes containing Joey's school pictures for this year and last. Rescued the pictures, dried off the bookcase and drained excess water out of planter. Later realized water had run on to floor. Slid bookcase out to mop up water. Moved bookcase back and a bottle of wine (yikes- an imported Riesling) fell and, of course, broke all over the floor. Pick up glass and dry floor again.....sigh.

Anyway, here is a shot of felted triangles that I knit being sewn together into a square (sort of).....

Ok, I plan to do some work tomorrow so I hope to have more to post then. Right now I'm going to see if the Bears at least can win one (since Green Bay and Detroit both lost).

teri