My Latest and Last Pics of Houston!

And now for the last Houston pics that I am going to post. I am going to burn a CD for all my studioQ buddies and my daughter who also quilts. It was really difficult to pick out just a few to post!!

This is yardage of Indigo fabric at the "Indigoes of China" exhibit. Just beautiful!

And this is one of the many displays of the "Indigoes of China" that were in the exhibit.

I don't remember the name of this small quilt but I found it to be fascinating.

This exhibit was "Festival Gallery of Quilt Art: Fabric Forest". It was organized by Groebenzellar Quiltersgruppe. I am not sure what group that is but it kind of sounds German. And I was as the INTERNATIONAL Quilt Festival...many things from many places!

I love this quilt "Forces of Nature". It was not only beautifully made, it reminded me of the new Native American Museum in Washington, DC., a new museum dedicated to the American Indians...beautiful and impressive...inside and out.

This small quilt showed the versatility of all the quilts...and I love the thought it presents

And last....not a quilt...but I titled this picture "The Hunks of Houston"! As our bus was taking us to the Convention Center, we were stopped at a red light when one of the gals saw this building under construction and commented on the guys, lined up on each floor as though posing for a calendar. I, of course, had my handy camera ready and leaned over to take a pic through the window!!

More Houston Pics

We have just had the greatest rain fall!! We had about 3 1/2 in the gauge and now this morning it is cool and sunny...great fall day. Had a few friends who are interested in our trip to the great North over for dinner Tuesday and gave them our information about the ferry, etc.. Then tonight we are getting together with our poker buddies for dinner and games! Tomorrow, we are picking up the grands from school as their parents need to attend a funeral.

And come the weekend, we are staying home, not going to see anyone!!! We need a little "alone" time..I plan to get some sewing done...I had signed up to do a swap of "Inchies" of Christmas ornaments so need to get them done...I have done one set...not too crazy about the project but will get them out by the first of the week.

Now for some more International Show pics!!

This is a wonderful little quilt..I overheard a lady looking at the quilts make the comment, this is just like being in an art museum! And I agree! This is a technique I would like to try.

This Quilt was in a series called "West Coast Wonders II"; a group of several quilts from California.

This is a closeup of the above quilts...fascinating how it was put together...very dimensional looking.

And this quilt was in the Series on"Tactile Architecture"; another fabulous set of quilts from all over! Again..I am inspired!

This little guy who stands about three feet, was made by Hasbro to emphasize the fabric by Mary Fisher who is very involved in an orphanage in Africa...she had many quilts on display of photographs of several of the kids and adults she works with.

And now I am going to take a walk while the sun is shining!!

More Pics of the Quilt Festival in Houston

I am just going to add pictures for my next few blogs as I "told it all" in my blog of yesterday. I have over 700 pictures of the show, but will pick out just a few of my very favorites!! This quilt won the grand prize..it is by Caryl Bryer Fallert: "On the Wings of a Dream". She is so-o-o-o talented!!!

Also a Caryl B. Fallert..."Feather Study: #23".

A quilt by Alex Anderson: "A Wedding Quilt", made for some friends of hers...again a very talented lady!! Totally different style, but I still admire her work.

And another Caryl B. Fallert..."Feather Study #1"...a smaller quilt than the first one and much smaller than the "Best of Show" quilt.

Houston Was Great!

This is a close up of the drop of water on the following picture.

Water tap ....wonderful appliqued fabric and thread painting.

This reminds me of an Andrew Wyeth painting...the quilt were hung on black curtains so it is hard to see where the framed edges are.

This quilt was done by one of my favorite quilt artists, Katie Pasquini Maopust, "Adante"

I really enjoyed the 2009 International Quilt Festival in Houston. The whole experience is pretty awesome...Our bus left Ft. Worth about 8:30; had a box lunch on the way down to Houston. We got there about 1:00..were left off directly at the door of the Convention Center. We decided to just look it all over on our first day, Thursday. The quilts are so fabulous, we wanted to savor the moment....so we hit the vendors first...and that in itself is an experience. There are vendors from all over the world (hence "international")...very interesting stuff...demos, etc. I had told myself I would not be swayed to get any "gadgets" as they never work nearly as well as the demos! And I kept to it...I got only fabric and books! We were on the bus at 6:00, to the hotel to "detox" from being overstimulated and to get our rooms. Out to eat with my great roomies, then to the room and bed...after laying out our plan for the next day.

Friday, got to the convention center at 10:00.....terrible lines but finally got in. We proceeded with our strategy...found where we had "left off" the day before. We finished looking...by then it was noon so we had lunch, decided after to split up to do our shopping as we had specific but different interests. So we met at the bus at 3:00 which was making its first run back to the motel with those who were ready. We had planned to leave our stuff on the bus and go look at quilts, but when we got together, we decided that five hours was enough for the day so went back to the motel with most of the others. Friday night, our tour trip included a buffet style meal all together in one of the ballrooms...excellent meal...excellent company. We drew to see where we sat and most people were not with the ones they came with, including me and my two buds. A good way to meet more people....after the meal, we had a "show and tell"...everyone got up and showed something they got from the show...a fun way to see even more vendors stuff!!

Saturday morning, we had to be packed up and ready to go before we could go to the show. We ate, checked out and then were at the show a few minutes after 10:00....not nearly as crowded at the entrance. As we had until 3:00, we decided to split up and do whatever we wanted...getting together only for a little snack and rest about 12:30. I headed for the quilts and spent all my time there, looking and taking pictures...the only pictures I could not take were of the Russian display which was breathtaking, the SAQA (Studio Art Quilts Association) display and a couple of other private collections by professional quilters. I was a woman with a mission as I buzzed around taking as many pics as I could in the time frame while still absorbing all I could of the fantastic display before my eyes!! I had told myself I was not going to buy anything else, but I couldn't resist getting the SAQA book of quilts on display and picked up another book they had at their table. I am going to join the organization next month...it is something I have been thinking about for a long time and after seeing the quilts yesterday, I have decided for sure that is what I want to do!!

I wish I had room to download all my pics but that would be impossible so I will just do a few at a time.

Going to Houston!!!

I've been a little negligent of my poor blog! Have gotten several little projects either finished or on the way to being. I haven't been able to download pics of what I have done, but will have them next writing. And my big news right now is that I am going to Houston for the International Quilt Festival....I plan to "be seen on the Quilt Scene"!! (This is a phrase I needed to put in my blog, print off and drop in a box at the Quilting Arts booth...#1244...for a drawing of all kinds of stuff!) I have never been before so am excited to see what it's all about. Two of my studio Q buds and I are rooming together...going on a bus from Fort Worth Thursday and will be home late Saturday. Woohoo!!! Will have much to write about then, I hope!!

And here are a few more pics of our wonderful Northern trip!! After we left Alaska, we planned to do a repeat drive down the Alcan Highway...very much like what we had seen 45 years ago, but much better road, and more populated areas. We also wanted to visit the Canadian Rockies, Banff and Jasper Parks....very beautiful and we had great weather. I think the Canadian Rockies look even more rugged than the USA Rockies.

Dick standing at the edge of Lake Louise in Banff Park.

Lake Louise from a distance; we took a tram ride overlooking the valley.

One of the many reflecting lakes in Jasper Park. We liked Jasper even better than Banff because it doesn't seem to be as well known, therefore, not as crowded or "touristy".