It Was Picture Framing Day

On Tuesday I sold almost 300 packs of buttons to a button dealer so I was feeling a bit flush with cash. And this week Joann's was having a 50% off sale. The planets seemed to be aligned for me so off I went for some frames. I used to have my pictures professionally framed and matted until the cost went up to over $100 each. As a consequence pictures have been piling up for several years unframed. These five frames cost $75 altogether. This is a wonderful steel engraving from the 1890's. I bought it perhaps 7 or 8 years ago in a box lot at an auction and its been awaiting framing since then. It came glassless and the mat was really banged up. It is amazing that there wasn't a scratch on the engraving.
I would have preferred a less glaring white mat but no matter. It is at least framed and matted. The original framer had glued it to the mat so I had to use mat and all in order to not ruin it. The original frame had hand forged tacks. The white spot is from my camera flash.
This is a wonderful painting of two mola women which i purchased from the artist on my trip to the San Blas Islands of Panama in May.
This is a wonderful painting given to me by two friends on our trip to Nepal last September.
This is a Chinese Folk Art painting of the grandmother making tiger hats and toys. I have a nice little collection of tiger toys which I purchased in China over the years.

This is a painting of Mahakala, one of the Tibetan Buddhist dieties often portrayed on the monastary walls and my favorite of their dieties. I purchased it in Nepal on my last trip.
Now all I have to do is find a space to hang them all.

Fabricaholics Anonymous Here I Come!

The good times are over and I'm taking the pledge. I am seriously trying to put away all the fabric and such I took to QBL and it is a thankless job. It just seems that the remaining fabric in all the shelves and bins where I found it to take have somehow SPREAD OUT and now there is no space to put it all back. Ok, so it was jammed in a little bit. So now the stairs are all full of fabric as well as the upstairs hall. And there is still a bin full waiting to be unloaded. Why didn't I just leave it at QBL? I never would have noticed.
Nope...it won't fit in here.
Surely there is a fabricaholic chapter near here. I just hope they don't give fat quarters for door prizes at meetings.

Big Doings in Wolcott NY

I returned to find the downtown park bustling with a Living History Day! Here kids are being taken on a barrel ride around town.
Its always a good day when you catch up with old friends.
An old time Farm Market cart. The park is edged with two beautiful old brick churches. The Youngman family quilt.
A Dear Jane quilt made during the Civil War from the Bennington Museum.

Re-enactors with some historical pieces in the Baptist Church basement. There was also a sale going on to benefit the Church roof fund.

And music of course in the town band stand. A half track from 1944.

Korean War ambulance. Vietnam era MP's.

Half track again.
Vietnam MP's again.

Ambulance again. History club displays from Wolcott and the adjoining town of Butler.

My Week at QBL - Quilting by the Lake

Back home after the usual wonderful week at QBL. I didn't take photos of most of the quilt show as one was not permitted to post them without the permission of the quilt maker.



I was in independent studio with Barbara, Carol and Sally. Independant studio provides you with a great space to work in individual projects. I began by working on a kimono style jacket and am using an obi piece for the center back. The beginning of Sally's many creations.
Barbara all but finished this vest of black and lime. (Barbara informed me after I posted this that it is upside down. Sorry)
One of my students from last year modeling the coat she made in my class.


Carol brought in some fabulous dolls made from a cast.

Lynn Miller designed this vest in my class last summer. Made mostly from Laurel Burch fabrics.

And this "butterfly vest" . The beautiful back piece is discharged.


Rachel Clark's coat from a Bernina Fashion Show a few years ago.

The RAFA (Rochester Area Fiber Artists) had a special display:

Jeanne Beck's Quilt which will be seen in an upcoming American Quilter Magazine.
Liz Scott's Trees
Marcia De Camp had two quilts in the display.
Julie Brandon made this one mostly of a chenille technique.



Marcia DeCAmp's second quilt.

Pat Berardi's beauty.

Donna Patrick's beautiful scarf.

I couldn't resist taking photos of this kimono in the rest of the show made from (I think) bubble wrap.


Back in the studio Barbara worked on a second garment series. And Carol made beautiful blue collages.

Rosalie Dace's quilt.