Our Art Quilt group met at the Arboretum on the campus of the Univeristy of Kentucky to take pictures. Mainly ones we think might be turned into quilts. I loved this one with the reflection of the tree from the other side of the pond. 

FOR YOU ????????????????

OK I AM GOING TO THROW OUT SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU AND I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY FEEDBACK.

My friend Cindy and I were discussing the Paducah show as we were returning home.

The topic of conversation was the Long Arm machines.
Especially the ones with the stitch regulator.

It seems all the top winners are either using the LA
or are having the tops quilted by someone else.
I have a problem with this. #1 is it fair to have your quilt, quilted by someone else and only have to acknowledge that someone (no name) worked on the quilt?
#2 Is it fair for those of us who have home machines without stitch regulators to have to compete with the LA? I know there is a separate catagory for LA but that only applies to those quilters who enter that catagory, and the rest just have them or do them on the LA and enter into the regular catagories.

There seems to be an inequity somewhere.
Also I am seeing quilts like the two quilters from France who always win top prizes. These quilts are done and acknowledged that two people work on them. Shouldn't that fall into the group catagory?

The winners were exceptional this year. The Best of show was almost mind boggling. Someone said it took her 4 years to complete and she invested $6,ooo.00 in crystals applied to the back.

So, anyway, let me know what you think on these topics and perhaps if enough people are thinking along the same lines we can get the shows to make some changes.

This is a picture of the new Four ??? something perforning arts building. I think they held the fashion show there this year. 

Another view of the wall. As you can see it was raining. Seems like it is always raining when we visit Paducah. Doesn't dampen our spirits just really makes the hair a disaster! 

This is a picture of the flood wall along the river. If you have never visited before each panel has a historical painting. 

Obviously this is the front view. 

We visited Caryl Bryant Fallert's new studio. Still not finished but open. She was there and we had a nice chat and bought some things. 

This is by Inge Mardal & Steen Hougs, from France. They always win. But back to my ranting. Shouldn't this be in the catagory of group. More than one person worked on it. Maybe I need to ask exactally what the rules are? 

What to say? 

This was my favorite. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but the colors and the design were the greatest.  

Sorry#########

I just couldn't seem to find the picture of the best of show. I think I am too tired this evening and will look for it and post it tomorrow.

This is me with my Free at Last 2. 

I just liked this because I am working on something with similiar techniques 

Here is the front ! 

This is the backside of one of the winners. I will try and post the next picture with the front.  

This was done by the French person that won last year for Tweet! Extraordinary. 

This is my quilt hanging at the show. What a thrill to see it in the show. 

This was in the teacher section. Done by Kati Pasquini 

Beautiful 

This is one of the winners. Unfortunately I don't remember what prize it took. Just enjoy 

New Pictures

My friend Cindy, and I took a trip to the Arboretum on the University of Kentucky last week, and I tried to take some pictures that I could possibly use as ideas for future quilts. Here's a couple, but Hello is not cooperating this morning and I guess some of the others I posted are stuck in limbo. I will try later to post the rest of them again.

I am working on several other things but they are not at a point that I can photograph them to share. Will do so soon. Cindy and I are also going to be going to Paducah next week, and I am so excited to get to see my Free at Last ll quilt hung in the show.

Dogwood branches at U.K. 

Gazebo on University of Ky. 

taken at University of Ky. 

taken at University of Ky. 

Taken at University of Kentucky arboretum.  

IN THE NOW############

These are my two babies. Just love them to death and wanted to share with those of you who visit my site.

I Do not have any new quilting pictures yet, so I thought I would share some thoughts about being mindful.
I am taking some Yoga classes, and at the end of each hour the instructor reads some thoughts for us to take with us during the day.

Last week he spoke on being in the now, and one of the things he mentioned is that the past is set in stone. It can not be changed, only learned from. The future is only in our imagination. I had never heard it put that way, and I know as a quilter and a creative person, I spend a good deal of time imagining! Necessary if you are going to create quilts, or paintings, or whatever. However, I find that I have a hard time just being in the NOW. So this is my new resolution!

When you finish an hour of Yoga, and experience the relaxation period, it provides you with a quiet mind. When in that state you think clearer, feel clearer, touch and taste clearer, and at times it makes me feel as if I could do ANYTHING. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be in that state all the time? So, if you have never experienced this, I highly recommend you give it a try.

Have a great day!!!

TURKISH DELIGHT

TURKISH DELIGHT

This is the quilt I have been working on and had some advice from "Give me your 2 cents" I named it Turkish Delight, to make a long story shorter. Several years ago a friend and I took a trip to Istanbul, Turkey and exhibited a quilt in a show there, as well as taught a class. We had a wonderful time and the quilting group was so hospitible that I have stayed in touch with many of them. Turkish delight is a candy. It is made from fruit flavors and come in the most delightful colors then dusted with powered sugar. Well, this quilt is made with hand dyed fabrics that remind me of the colors in Turkish Delights. Also, it is a tribute to those wonderful ladies that acted as hostesses during our trip and a special thank you to Berrin Yazici who we stayed with.

TOO LONG!!!!!!!!!!!

I just wanted to share my good news!!

This quilt was accepted in the Paducah show that will be held in April. It is called " Free at last 2" but in talking about it I always say my Butterfly quilt.

I have been a busy bee these days. I have finished another quilt and started a new one. Will be posting the first one as soon as I get the binding done and some pictures taken.

I also have been taking some computer classes at the local library, and the last one was about Web design, and hopefully that will help me with this site also. It was only a two hour class so plan on taking the second class which will deal with adding pictures and other things.

I also started taking some Yoga classes. I used to practice Yoga often but it has been a number of years since I really paid attention to anything but the relaxation part. I'm going twice a week for an hour each time. If any of you have not tried Yoga I really recommend it. The hour goes in what seems like 15 minutes. For that time I am completely in the moment. I'm not thinking about my next quilt, or that I have to go to the bank, or anything else except for what is going on in my body. I had forgotten the benefits and feel like I have really given myself a gift.