One Fabulous Quilt Show

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Betty Jo's Blog / Posted in quilt shows / 2 Comments

I just got back to the hotel, and am tired, but inspired. I think you might be a little disappointed when you learn that I didn’t get many pictures. Last evening when I got to the show I discovered my camera battery was dead. I took a few with my phone, but that is slow and clumsy. But I will see what I have when I get home next week and process the pictures. Today was shopping day, lunching with friends, and I even recorded a video with Quilt Alliance I in front of my quilt. That was an interesting experience.

From my perspective, however, I have had a blast. I finally met many of the friends I have had from The Quilt Show and Facebook for years. What a treat!!!

I bought a lot of threads, some hand dyes, and quilting gloves.

But mostly I have been inspired by the quilts, the classes, and the people.

I’ll tell you more about it when I get home and to my computer. There will be some pictures.

Sew happy everyone.

Blogging with my Kindle

Posted on October 25, 2014 by Betty Jo's Blog / Posted in quilt shows

Well I’m about ready to leave on my trip on Monday. Since I am hoping to be able to keep you up to date while I’m gone, I wanted to see if I could write a blog using this kindle. I see it works, but is slow. Still I can write little snippets, though they won’t have pictures probably. I plan on putting together a gallery of pictures when I get home.

I hope to see you there. But I think that many of my friends won’t be there, so I want to share the fun as much as possible. I know what it is like to be unable to go to Houston. This is the first time I am going.

Sew stay tuned. This is working well enough to keep my blog going while I’m on my trip. After Houston, I will be going to San Diego, and that promises to be full of neat things to share too.

Sew happy everyone!

On Going to Houston As An Artist

Posted on October 18, 2014October 18, 2014 by Betty Jo's Blog / Posted in Food for Thought, My Family, quilt shows

Detail from Sky Horse, which is in the show in Houston.

I leave on the 27th for The International Quilt Festival in Houston, and then on to visit my brother in California on Halloween. I am very excited and even a little apprehensive. This trip is expected to include some fun classes, starting Monday night, the awards ceremony, a party afterwards, and the lunch next day. Wed night, all day Thursday. and Friday morning I will be viewing the show, after which I set off to see my brother and his family in San Diego.

The plans in San Diego are also terrific. They include not only seeing my family that I don’t get to see often, but also taking in a museum exhibit on King Tut, going to the San Diego zoo (one of the premier zoos of the world), and a dinner at my nephew’s home. What a trip!

My apprehension is entirely related to “will my feet hold out?” and to flying again after years of not flying. If it all goes well, and I expect it will, I should have a trip of a lifetime. I’ve done everything I know how to do to prepare. I am praying for a good and safe trip.

For some years before I retired on 1 Jan 2012, I began to take my sewing and art that my mother instructed, inspired, and encouraged me to develop and use from a very young age, and make a new career for myself to fill my “retirement” years. It is one that fills my heart with joy and I will keep doing this as long as I am able. I love exploring techniques and experimenting with types of fabric, paints, threads, digital technologies, and just about anything else that can be used to create fabric wall art. I love most of my results, some I just learn from. Since retirement, I do this full time, though not for profit as yet, and it is an absolute delight for me.

Sew going to Houston, one of the premier quilting shows in the world, where I hope to meet many of my friends and some of the rock stars of the quilting art world, and having two of my own quilts hanging there is a big deal for me. I expect to come back inspired for my 2015 quilt year.

There are several shows I would like to go to in 2015 but I have to pick and choose, since I’m not bringing in any money with this new “career.” From the first I have planned on turning this fun occupation into a profitable business, at least to the extent that it pays for itself and allows me to keep up with good software, machines, nice materials, and new developments and go to the shows. I have some ideas on how I can accomplish that and plan to put them into action in 2015. I will tell you more about them when I get closer to getting them launched.

After I get back on 6 November, I will post pictures from my trip. I am not dragging my computer along, and I photograph using a camera rather than a phone, except rarely. I am going to have my Kindle Fire with me, so I will be able to post on my facebook and email…not sure about writing a blog, but I’ll see. But I do plan on sharing the fun with you all as much as I can.

Sew happy everyone. Take care of yourselves, and maybe I’ll see you there!

Getting Ready for International Quilt Fest in Houston

Posted on October 11, 2014 by Betty Jo's Blog / Posted in Food for Thought, Quilt Journal, quilt shows, Sewing Clothing / 2 Comments

It’s just a little over two weeks before I board that plane and fly off into the sky towards Houston. Yesterday I got my flu shot, and I’ve gotten all my tickets, arranged for the shuttle transport to and from the hotel, and even arranged to do my voting with absentee ballot because I’m going to visit my brother and nephew and their family after Houston. I’m really getting excited now.

I promised to put a pic of my brocade vest. It is beautiful, but it does kind of make me look like a semi truck. I’m going to wear it anyway. Here’s a pic of it with the black blouse I also made to wear with it.

Palace Silk Brocade Vest

Sew I have been making some little things just to finish up and then it’s back to quilt making. I made two tool rolls to tuck into my luggage..they are both alike, but one is open and the other snapped closed.

tool rolls

I hope to see many of you there. To those who are Unable to Go to Houston (UGH), I plan on taking a lot of pictures. I even bought some new compact flash things for my camera, have two batteries and a charger, so I should be able to take quite a few. I’ll share as many as I can. Not sure what the rules are about that, so I may be limited to sharing the pics of friends and the vendor booths…we’ll see.

I’ll probably post one more time before I go. I’m now making a bunch of mug rugs for my friends…some of them are made from my samples and practice pieces, so I hope they will like them anyway.

Sew happy everyone! And don’t forget to teach someone to sew or quilt…even if it is yourself!