Time Flies…

I once heard someone say – “Time flies whether you are having fun or not, so you may as well be having fun. This past fall was fun but it was also a brutal schedule. I would be gone on a teaching engagement and return home with just enough time to get a little caught up on other work and prepare for the next trip before I was out the door again. My husband was not a happy camper.

To make things worse, right before my last trip in November, I discovered my camera missing. I looked everywhere I normally keep it in the house and then in odd nonsensical places (in case the cat batted it under the furniture) and still no luck. Though I was distressed over the loss of the camera, the biggest loss in my mind were the pictures I had been too busy to download to my computer – they were irreplaceable.

I finally bit the bullet and bought a new camera about a month ago, one ‘smarter’ that I am and I’m still trying to figure out how to download the software to make it able to transfer pictures wirelessly. Then, of all thing, I found my old camera a few days ago and in a place I swear I’d checked several times. It had slipped into a ziploc bag of embroidery supplies in a canvas project bag. I had removed the various ziploc project bags repeatedly to search the main bag for the camera and never noticed that one was a bit heavier than it ought to be. Oh well, I was thinking of upgrading the camera anyway and at least I got my lost photos back.

So this is what I’ve been up to over the last couple of months: I started in early October with a trip to Pennsylvania to teach at a retreat sponsored by The Quilt Patch Etc. in Mt Pleasant, I taught my Garden Patch Cats & Bloomin’ Dogs class, Thread Painting and Mini Landscapes and have some wonderful photos of student work below.

Following that, I taught at the Ocean Waves Quilt Camp at Rockaway Beach in Oregon sponsored by Jane’s Fabric Patch in Tillamook OR. I taught my regular standby – Machine Quilting and also my new class on Animal Totems.

After that, I headed home for a few days then right back to Tillamook, this time to teach at the Latimer Textile Center where I offered a class on Hand Embroidered Folk Ornaments and then a class on Hand Appliqued Molas. While there, I stayed with my good friend and Starbucks Hot Chocolate Buddy, mystery writer, Arlene Sachitano. It was after this trip that I misplaced my camera so I did not get pictures of my next trip to teach for the West Sound Quilters in Port Orchard WA.

After that, the holidays set in and between preparations for Thanksgiving and Christmas coupled with playing catch-up with patterns and local teaching venues, I haven’t been at all good about keeping up with my blog. Perhaps I should make that my New Year’s resolution.

Pennsylvania Fall Color! I was a bit early for the real show but I did get a glimpse of the the first hints of color.
Garden Cat Quilt #1
When I arrived at the retreat, they had a surprise for me. A member of the retreat group had brought two gorgeous full sized quilts she made from my Garden Patch Cat patterns; this was the first.
Garden Cat Quilt #2
This is the second full sized quilt.
Quilt Patch Retreat - Mini Landscape #1
Quilt Patch Retreat - Mini Landscape #1
Quilt Patch Retreat - Mini Landscape #2
Quilt Patch Retreat - Mini Landscape #2
Quilt Patch Retreat - Mini Landscape #3
Quilt Patch Retreat - Mini Landscape #3
Quilt Patch Retreat - Thread Painted Butterfly
Quilt Patch Retreat - Thread Painted Butterfly
Quilt Patch Retreat - Bloomin' Dog (customized by student to better resemble her dog)
Quilt Patch Retreat - Bloomin' Dog (customized by student to better resemble her dog)
Quilt Patch Retreat - Garden Patch Cat: Podcats
Quilt Patch Retreat - Garden Patch Cat: Podcats
Retreat Center
This is the retreat center we had the classes at. The top story shown here was basically one large meeting hall with a kitchen; the lower level was lodging for the teachers with private rooms, shared baths and a great room with kitchenette, fireplace, pool table and even a HOT TUB (which none of us used)
Nature Trail
There was a nature trail just down the road from the retreat center where I went for a walk.
Full moon
The last night I was there, rain was predicted but let up after dark long enough to let me take some stunning photos. I couldn't help but think of a Loreena McKennitt song with the words "...The moon was a ghostly galleon, tossed upon the cloudy seas..."
OWQC Totem Class
On to Rockaway Beach for the Ocean Waves Quilt Camp. These are the students from my Animal Totems class proudly displaying their projects
Rabbit Totem
Rabbit Totem
Horse Totem
Horse Totem
Thunderbird Totem
Thunderbird Totem
Salmon Totem
Salmon Totem
Rabbit Totem (too)
Rabbit Totem (too)
Salmon Totem (too)
Salmon Totem (too)
Salmon Totem (three)
Salmon Totem (three)
Salmon Totem #4 (my, the Salmon is a popular one)
Salmon Totem #4 (my, the Salmon is a popular one)
More Salmon!
More Salmon!
My instructional Seminole display
My instructional Seminole display
Tillamook Sea Stacks
The coast north of Tillamook feature exquisite sea stacks reminiscent of a Chinese landscape.

 

 


Comments are closed.