Rooted in Mississippi

Well, I survived the TVR Board meeting and seminar. It was a lovely venue, the class was interesting, I got to meet with friends old and new, and have some alone time with my husband. I even got to go to the infamous Baer Fabrics, but miraculously I managed to walk out of the three floor wonderland for just $20.

Thanks to my friend Karen, I knew to look for a crazy quilt on display in the airport. So on my way home, I made a point to search it out and was rewarded with the chance to see and study a truly exceptional antique Crazy Quilt before boarding my plane. Thankfully, my husband had his camera and took lots of great photographs for me.

This particular quilt is titled “Daisies Don’t Tell” by Lizzie Holliger. I thought it would be cool to include a legible photo of the placard, as well as the quilt. If you are ever in the airport in Louisville, Kentucky…do not miss the opportunity to examine this incredible quilt for yourself.

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We made a trip down to the Gulf Coast together, ostensibly to pick up a loom, but I also wanted Ben to see the damage Katrina left behind in the area where he spent so much time as a young man. We went to see the cabin and it was in surprisingly good shape, but there were a ton of trees down all around the property. This is a photo of my husband ahead of me, trying to find a way through the debris.

If you are interested in all the pictures, then you can check the Katrina page on my website.

We tried to get to some property that my husband owns co-jointly with family in Henderson Point, very close to Annie’s restaurant. My husband has very fond memories of Annie’s, but it was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. There is a Before and After on the Biloxi Sun Herald website. We both wondered what the property looks like and where exactly it is situated. It was just too close to the washed out bridge to Bay Saint Louis and the road was blocked, so we gave up on the project. Henderson Point was one of the hardest hit areas on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and only a handful of houses remain and there are all sorts of new building regulations that will hamper rebuilding. Apparently, there was another way onto the peninsula, but we gave up long before finding it.

As I mentioned, the reason for the trip was to pick up a LeClerc basic floor loom from a potter and sculptor in Saucier. Checking the LeClerc Loom History page on Camilla Valley Farm, I think it is an “Initiation” model just based on the photographs. Right now, it is still in the back of my station wagon, but it is very basic with a minimum of parts. It is just a guess, since I have never seen it assembled. It was pouring rain when we got back to Jackson, so I left it there when we got home.

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I did the EDM Challenge from week 65: Noses for a second time. These definitely look a little more realistic. I did these before I left for Dallas, but forgot all about it. I decided to post it today.

It was a crazy, busy day. First was oil-painting class, then the drug store, the vet, the sewing center, Hancock Fabrics, then I came home and cooked corned beef and cabbage. And minutes ago, the doorbell rang, and FedEx delivered the educational materials for the Tennessee Valley Region of the EGA. I guess it is a official, I am the acting Chair.

The studio is still a wreck, but I have made significant progress. Eventually I will have everything back in its place and will be ready to sew some things. I did pack my kit for the TVR Seminar, Share-A-Stitch XXVI, in Louisville. I am really looking forward to my class with Catherine Jordan. I better go find the brochure and make sure that I have everything I need.

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I am home! I have been rearranging my studio to better take advantage of the natural light. Now that the back yard is clear of Katrina debris, I am ready to spend more time upstairs with the blinds open. I have moved most of the fabric, threads and ribbon to avoid sun damage. I bought a few more storage bins and some plastic coated wire rack shelves. They are meant for shoes, but I thought they would work well for folded fabric. I stuck one under each cutting table. I use the second table for ironing, but my husband does not like using it, so I decided to put an ironing board back up there.

The irony is that despite adding more stuff, it seems much bigger. I am even thinking of buying new sofas for downstairs and moving the stuff I have now up to the studio. When it is cleaned up and looks nice, I will take a few photos to post here.

Oh, and I have a picture of the sneaky Mr. Squirrel on the widow casing and on the lower level roof. I also have a photo of a dumb-founded Louie trying to find said Mr. Squirrel. He always runs in the wrong direction; so much for his hunting instincts.

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I just wanted to stop in to say that I am doing great and really enjoying myself in Dallas. Shay is the best possible hostess. She and her husband have made me feel very welcome as usual. Of course, she is going to need a vacation to recover from my being here for a week!I have been taking great classes from Susan O’Connor from Country Bumpkin of Australia. Monday was a Stumpwork crabapple project and Tuesday was Madeira Embroidery. We shopped all day Saturday and again today. On Sunday we went to the Treehouse to visit with BarbE and the Texas CQ/tatting gang. Tomorrow we have a class in Broderie Anglaise. Shay and I signed up for it at the last minute, after seeing the class sample.

I have probably checked the clearance section in every Hobby Lobby in the DFW area, checked out the Half Price Book Stores, Bally Beads and Kay’s Fabrics. Plus, Shay and Jim have plans to send me home with more goodies, so my car will be loaded down for sure. I know my husband and the dogs will be glad to see me again. I am very excited about stitching and can’t wait to get home and start working in the studio.

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I decided to give wordpress a try to see if I like the categories.

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