Fiber Artist
I drove to La Conner, WA last week. This small town with a population under 1,000 is situated in western Washington about one hour north of Seattle on the Swinomish Channel. It has a commanding view of Mount Baker, lovely restaurants and an excellent fiber arts museum. The building itself makes a visit worth your […]
Last week we were more than tired of our own walls and decided to take a drive in the country. We packed a simple lunch and hit the road. It was a beautiful day to be outside. Our destination was the wine country, about 30 minutes away from us. Specifically, Durant Winery in Dundee. We’ve […]
When the Historic Columbia River Highway was completed in 1915, generous landowners and civic groups donated property to create scenic retreats along the route. Among the most spectacular spots are Chanticleer Point, Crown Point, Latourell Falls, Shepperd’s Dell and Multnomah Falls. I recently made the short trip to what is known as The Gorge. From Highway […]
We recently crossed the bridge over to Sauvie Island, an island in the Willamette River just 20 minutes from where we live. The northern half of the island is a wildlife refuge with 12,000 acres of state-owned habitat for wintering waterfowl, swans, herons, sandhill cranes, bald eagles and 250 other species. The southern half is primarily agricultural. […]
Beverly Cleary turns 100 on April 12th. Since her first book, Henry Huggins, was published in 1950 over 91 million copies of her books have sold. It’s entirely possible then, that, like me, you read many stories involving Henry, Ramona Quimby and Ribsy, Henry’s dog. Cleary grew up on NE 37th Street in Portland and […]
Last week I had an art date with a friend. We went to the di Rosa Gallery and grounds on Sonoma Highway in Napa. Rene Di Rosa was a passionate art collector who became equally renowned for his famed Winery Lake vineyards and his philanthropy. In 1960, he purchased 450 acres in the little-known Carneros […]
I had the opportunity to be at the La Conner Museum the day before the closing of Best of the Festival, the exhibit which featured my art quilt Nature’s Fractal. The museum occupies the historic Gaches Mansion which has been lovingly restored and maintained and is quite a treat to walk through. Sybil, the well-informed […]
Here are a final few quilts that stood out for me, starting with a hand quilted and embroidered Tree of Life by Betty Alderman. This tribute to the military by veteran Catherine Zeleny was especially touching. The Veteran’s Home depicts the architecture of the building in Yountville, California, and the machine embroidery lists US wars, […]
Thousands gathered in Houston for the 39th annual IQA Festival, most with the goal of seeing all 1300+ quilts, 1000+ vendors and taking in as many of the 380 classes as is practical. My goal was quilts first, selected vendors (I always have a short list) second, then 2 lectures. It’s always fun to find […]
The plane ride to Houston was a bit rocky and I had a 2-hour layover in Albuquerque so I was glad to have Linda Lee Peterson’s latest page turner, The Devil’s Interval as my companion. If you enjoy murder mysteries and smart women with real flaws, this book should make its way to your must-read […]
I recently experienced another birthday and received a card which now holds a front-and-center place in my studio. The front of the card has a birthday cake at the top (replacing the Queen’s crown) followed by KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON in white lettering on red background. The greeting: “Relax. Make a wish! It’s just […]
I was in Ashland, OR, recently enjoying some of the plays and the great food and I took a quiet moment for myself to do a bit of sketching and watercolor painting. This is one of three ceramic chickens that Pat uses on her dining table. This one was medium-sized and the most colorful of […]
When traveling, I like to find something that will help to bring home the fond memories of a destination enjoyed. In April I attended a SAQA conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The first day there I took a cooking class at the Santa Fe School of Cooking. Creating those recipes at home has been […]
Yes, indeed, there is gallery after gallery on Canyon Road, but there is art and inspiration that everyone can enjoy on just about every street you drive or walk down. Here are some final shots I found inspiring. Meet “MAThilda,” the first Art-o-mat installed in New Mexico. You can find it ‘. . .one block […]
Appreciating architectural details in Santa Fe can become a full-time occupation. My eye is always drawn to doors. The first two are on the front of the same house. This wall and door provide privacy. When the greenery fills out in a few weeks the house will be completely obscured under its shade. I find […]
I’m in Santa Fe for a SAQA conference and had a morning open. My friend Carol Larson suggested a class on mole at Santa Fe School of Cooking and I said, “Count me in!” David joined us and we had a great time. Chef Tracy Ritter took us through an historic background on chocolate, a […]
The Bay Area offers so much to do and see that it is difficult to make a choice! Sometimes, we just act as if we were tourists and choose to do something that we’ve never done before. For this outing, I purchased tickets for a gondola ride through Gondola Servizio. We caught our Venetian-built gondola at […]
Improvements galore are in the works right now at Asilomar Conference Center. The signs indicate that the project will take two years. Right now the work is focused in the area surrounding the Phoebe A. Hearst Social Hall, Merrill Hall, Pirate’s Den and the Sea Galaxy buildings at the far south end of the center […]
I’m just back from a heavenly four days in Carmel with four girlfriends who love to quilt, eat, shop and walk along the beach. My idea of bliss! A stop in San Juan Bautista for lunch at Jardines de San Juan begins the whole decompression experience. A relaxing lunch outside on the large patio is […]
While I was at a meeting in Sacramento, my husband was in Napa taking photographs of a particular train engine. He couldn’t help but notice this bridge and I can’t help but share it here. Such a nice warm up to Valentine’s Day.
I couldn’t wait to share these! Here are more handkerchiefs I found in Houston. This one is cotton, measures 11 3/4″ square and is in pristine condition. Another cotton one in the same colors — this one measures 15″ square. There is a bit of staining, but I don’t mind that. The edge is hand […]
Distracted by fast-moving life events, I am just now getting around to integrating the few treasures I purchased in Houston at the Quilt Festival. For years I have prowled antique shops, thrift stores and kept my eye peeled at venues like Houston where antique dealers appear. One of the dealers had a sizeable stash of […]
In the tourism trade my back yard is known as a Destination. Folks save their money and time away from work to visit the beautiful Bay Area of California. I work at not forgetting just how lucky I am to be here. One of the things I like to do is explore like a tourist. […]
There are several beautiful, well-maintained parks near my sister’s home in Boulder City. One of the parks has daily visits by a local herd of wildlife. Here’s a sign to warn you on the way. And here is the wildlife. (Click on an image to get a larger view.) These are stunning beasts. When Christy […]
I was in Boulder City, Nevada this past week visiting my sister and brother-in-law. Boulder City is proud to be known as the city that built Hoover Dam. It’s a charming small town and it’s within a few miles of Las Vegas. We attended two concerts in old town Las Vegas at the brand new […]
