It has rained so much that we have not had a day to mow the lawn. It is about long enough that we could cut and bale it! The rain started a week ago as we went to Greencastle, IN for The Fiber Event. The Fiber Event was great! Sales were up and I met many new friends and had such a great time talking with old friends. Dinner at Greencastle's restaurant, Almost Home was again a treat. A great big YUM!
After coming home from Greencastle, I taught a felting class. The class was using a resist in felting. When one uses a resist, they can make an object with no seams such as a vessel, mittens, slippers, etc. This time the student wanted to make a saddle pad for one of her horses. By making the pad by using a resist, she will be able to add padding to the hollow inside of the pad. This project is the largest using a resist. I was very thankful that I have the felt rolling machine or we would have been totally exhausted!
Late Thursday, Edmundson RV called and said that the motor home would not be ready for our trip to the Fiber Arts Festival in Kendallville, IN. (again) We loaded the truck and were on I 69 heading north. Since we had such a late call from Edmundson, we arrived with only about an hour to set up our booth, but we made it.
Friday, we were greeted with more rain and a cold that was totally bone chilling. Since my silk long johns were in the motor home, I was totally unprepared for the cold and drank more hot chocolate than I had all winter! Surprisingly enough, the die hard fiber artists came out and shopped for supplies. I was very pleased that our sales were as much as they were and looked forward to Saturday's sales since it was not supposed to rain before 7:00 p.m. and the show was to end at 5:00. Saturday's sales were also good and for a first time show, I was mildly pleased with our sales. We packed up and headed home and of course it began to rain as we approached Indianapolis.
It has rained all day and we have had a quiet, thoughtful Easter. Our California daughter, Jojo, sent me a picture of Joshua Tree. They are camping there this week end. Later, she called and we talked for a wonderfully long time. It is so hard to have a child 2000 miles away. Her phone call made the day wonderful!
The rain is supposed to continue all week. This will guarantee that I stay in the studio and get some work done. I also need to order more pottery knitting bowls and the knitting lights. I have sold about 50 lights in a week. They are truly a hit with knitters, weavers, and those who do other kinds of needle work and reading!
The end of this week we will be heading for Nashville, IN and the Brown County State Park. John will be fishing and I will be attending a 3 day crank in for owners of antique circular sock machines. This is going to be a great time. I have yet to make a second sock because I keep running into a problem when I get to the increase portion of the heel! There will be plenty of people to help this newbee cranker. So far, I have just been a cranky cranker and I plan to leave as a happy cranker!
Wow, this week is going to be really productive! I'm going to felt hats and vessels in the studio and then crank some socks! What else could I ask for other than 2 dry days to mow! Hey, maybe we will meet some campers in Brown County!
Till next time.....may the meaning of Easter bless your lives.....He is risen!
Showing posts with label felting classes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label felting classes. Show all posts
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival
This student's daughter in law is an actress in Hollywood and a member of Screen Actors Guild...My daughter is a shrink contracted with SAG! What a coincidence! But that's not all! Hang on there!
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This student's daughter is a set designer for TV and Movies in Hollywood! Now how many times would 3 strangers from 3 locations have family all in the same place and in the same industry? Go figure!
Here in the Smokey Mountains is so different than out west. What a contrast. When the show is over tomorrow night, we will take Sunday and Monday to explore and you will hear more of the RV/motorhome side.
Tomorrow brings another class day. I will be teaching a class in handbags / purses. Sooo looking forward to working with these students.
In the meantime, God Bless and stay safe everyone!
Friday, March 11, 2011
On the Road Again
Returning home is not as exciting as heading out on a trip. But Everything has a cycle and this is just part of it. We have started our list of what we missed this trip and hope to make the things on our list our plan of "attack" next year. We plan to start earlier in order to have more time on the road. Since my show season begins with the Smokey Mountain Fiberart Festival, I will always have to be home for that event. The next week end is the Black Swamp Market Day in Bowling Green, Ohio. I sure am going into these events rested and totally relaxed. That won't last long since the push is on for the Hoosier Hills Fiberarts Festival the first full weekend of June, located in Franklin, Indiana - Just south of Indianapolis. I will be teaching wet felting classes at two of these shows.
As we have driven through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, I have seen so many abandoned homes, farms, businesses. Some appear to be ghost towns along the side of the road. Here in Texas, many are in the oil and gas fields. This coupled with the dry grass, some pumps not in operation tells a story of hopes and dreams of the future. It is a history lesson of families who gave it their best, some had success and some failed. But failing at one thing, most pushed on to find success in another realm. That's life, isn't it. We don't give up with a failure, we push on, an on until we reach our goals.
We boondocked or as they say in California, drydocked in another Wal Mart at El Paso, TX. This one had a security guard that pointed the spot for us to use. Now that's service! We did some shopping, returned to the motor home for dinner and played more Nabbit. John won both games last night. I'll get him tonight.
The border patrol is and has been out in force. We passed 2 inspection sites in California, one in Arizona, and two in T. We could have had a motor home full of Mexicans as they looked in the driver's side window, asked how many were traveling in here and if we were citizens.
Well, we are heading to Dallas, Fort Worth. See you on the road!
As we have driven through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, I have seen so many abandoned homes, farms, businesses. Some appear to be ghost towns along the side of the road. Here in Texas, many are in the oil and gas fields. This coupled with the dry grass, some pumps not in operation tells a story of hopes and dreams of the future. It is a history lesson of families who gave it their best, some had success and some failed. But failing at one thing, most pushed on to find success in another realm. That's life, isn't it. We don't give up with a failure, we push on, an on until we reach our goals.
We boondocked or as they say in California, drydocked in another Wal Mart at El Paso, TX. This one had a security guard that pointed the spot for us to use. Now that's service! We did some shopping, returned to the motor home for dinner and played more Nabbit. John won both games last night. I'll get him tonight.
The border patrol is and has been out in force. We passed 2 inspection sites in California, one in Arizona, and two in T. We could have had a motor home full of Mexicans as they looked in the driver's side window, asked how many were traveling in here and if we were citizens.
Well, we are heading to Dallas, Fort Worth. See you on the road!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Joshua Tree & Borrego Springs CA, Tuscon, AZ
It still amazes me how the scenery can change in a matter of a few miles. In Twenty-Nine Palms, it was flat and there were, of course, many palms. We had planned to stay at the RV park there, but when we arrived the girl at the counter said they no longer accepted Passport America discount cards. Then as my disappointment showed, she says, well, if you will stay two nights, we will honor your Passport America for one night and charge you full rate the second. Sounded like a scam to us, so we left and went on in to Joshua Tree National Park.
We were fortunate enough to find the Jumbo Rocks camping area. The camp sites were arranged in, out and around huge, huge "jumbo" rocks of granite. This was a nice change from campsites that we in the desert sand. The granite does not track into the motor home like sand. It is a mecca for rock climbers and photographers and a bargain for $6.00 a night. Finally, I was able to work with my circular sock machine. I was also able to show another camper how much fun it is to knit socks on the antique. John and I enjoyed ourselves at Jumbo Rocks for2 days then moved on down to the other end of the park to the Cottonwood campground. We were to meet Nancy Jo and Cathie there for the week end. Jojo was to take part in a photography seminar with famed photographer, Ralph Nordstrum on Friday Saturday and Sunday. We had the evenings to sit around the campfire and do more catching up. Sunday, Jojo was smooth enough to talk her dad into staying another night. Yeah!!!!!!
It was a blessing that we did stay Sunday night. The National Park Ranger came around to warn us that we were have a wind storm (another one) with winds gusting to 60 and 70 mph. He said that the Interstate 10 has been closed around Palm Springs, which was nearby. This time, we were parked into the wind and did not feel as much motion as we did during the windstorm in Ridgecrest, CA.
The extra time allowed us to hike to the Cottonwood Desert Oasis. I had seen an oasis in a movie and on TV, but to experience this in the middle of the desert was way cool. Yes the oasis was named Cottonwood because there are actually Cottonwood trees there. Another thing we saw was a rock the Indian women used when grinding grain. It has been used for so many years by the Indians that the round hole(mortar) in the rock was about 12 inches deep. Their "pestle" would be another rock or a sturdy trunk or limb of a tree.
Monday morning came and we had to say our good bys. I fixed breakfast for all and John prayed for safe travels for all of us and thanked God for such a wonderful time with loved ones. It was so hard, I would have stayed if I could. I will have to be content planning next year's trip. And to be sure, it will be longer!
We were off to Anza Borrego Desert and Jojo was off to work. This commute was a 3 hour commute for her compared to a 30 minute one she would have had if she had gone home Sunday night. We all had wind during our travels. Jojo said it was pretty frightening for her and we experienced a dust storm that cut the visibility to about 50 yards.
Arriving at Borrego Springs, we went directly to the state park to register for a camping site. Oops! they were booked until May! It is time for the wild flowers to bloom in the Anza Borrego desert. We did find great camping at the Borrego Springs RV and Hotel Resort. We splurged a bit and went to a nice Mexican Restaurant that also had a Mexican Grocery. More tacos for me! After dinner, we drove around a bit then went back to the RV and played one of our favorite word games NABBIT. Shortly after dark, we went to bed, continuing the habit of up with the sun and to sleep with the sunset.
Yesterday, Tuesday, we were up and off to find wildflowers and Big Horn Sheep. The wild flowers, but no luck finding the Big Horn. The park ranger said we probably would not because this has been such a wet winter and the sheep are not coming as close to civilization as they usually do in search of water.
This morning we were up and on our way towards home. Our stop tonight will be in Tuscon. We are not going to be able to stop much on our return trip due to the Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival in Townsend, Tennessee where I am vending and teaching wet felting classes. .
Well, we are approaching Tuscon. Until tomorrow...be save and blessings to all
We were fortunate enough to find the Jumbo Rocks camping area. The camp sites were arranged in, out and around huge, huge "jumbo" rocks of granite. This was a nice change from campsites that we in the desert sand. The granite does not track into the motor home like sand. It is a mecca for rock climbers and photographers and a bargain for $6.00 a night. Finally, I was able to work with my circular sock machine. I was also able to show another camper how much fun it is to knit socks on the antique. John and I enjoyed ourselves at Jumbo Rocks for2 days then moved on down to the other end of the park to the Cottonwood campground. We were to meet Nancy Jo and Cathie there for the week end. Jojo was to take part in a photography seminar with famed photographer, Ralph Nordstrum on Friday Saturday and Sunday. We had the evenings to sit around the campfire and do more catching up. Sunday, Jojo was smooth enough to talk her dad into staying another night. Yeah!!!!!!
It was a blessing that we did stay Sunday night. The National Park Ranger came around to warn us that we were have a wind storm (another one) with winds gusting to 60 and 70 mph. He said that the Interstate 10 has been closed around Palm Springs, which was nearby. This time, we were parked into the wind and did not feel as much motion as we did during the windstorm in Ridgecrest, CA.
The extra time allowed us to hike to the Cottonwood Desert Oasis. I had seen an oasis in a movie and on TV, but to experience this in the middle of the desert was way cool. Yes the oasis was named Cottonwood because there are actually Cottonwood trees there. Another thing we saw was a rock the Indian women used when grinding grain. It has been used for so many years by the Indians that the round hole(mortar) in the rock was about 12 inches deep. Their "pestle" would be another rock or a sturdy trunk or limb of a tree.
Monday morning came and we had to say our good bys. I fixed breakfast for all and John prayed for safe travels for all of us and thanked God for such a wonderful time with loved ones. It was so hard, I would have stayed if I could. I will have to be content planning next year's trip. And to be sure, it will be longer!
We were off to Anza Borrego Desert and Jojo was off to work. This commute was a 3 hour commute for her compared to a 30 minute one she would have had if she had gone home Sunday night. We all had wind during our travels. Jojo said it was pretty frightening for her and we experienced a dust storm that cut the visibility to about 50 yards.
Arriving at Borrego Springs, we went directly to the state park to register for a camping site. Oops! they were booked until May! It is time for the wild flowers to bloom in the Anza Borrego desert. We did find great camping at the Borrego Springs RV and Hotel Resort. We splurged a bit and went to a nice Mexican Restaurant that also had a Mexican Grocery. More tacos for me! After dinner, we drove around a bit then went back to the RV and played one of our favorite word games NABBIT. Shortly after dark, we went to bed, continuing the habit of up with the sun and to sleep with the sunset.
Yesterday, Tuesday, we were up and off to find wildflowers and Big Horn Sheep. The wild flowers, but no luck finding the Big Horn. The park ranger said we probably would not because this has been such a wet winter and the sheep are not coming as close to civilization as they usually do in search of water.
This morning we were up and on our way towards home. Our stop tonight will be in Tuscon. We are not going to be able to stop much on our return trip due to the Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival in Townsend, Tennessee where I am vending and teaching wet felting classes. .
Well, we are approaching Tuscon. Until tomorrow...be save and blessings to all
Thursday, January 27, 2011
“One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art.” -Oscar Wild
Wet Felting is my passion. I love to create pieces that people can wear and feel very "special" when wearing them. Teaching classes, teaching people who appreciate fiber brings me joy and brings the student joy.
As I continue to schedule my 2011 felting classes, I think of the joy that felting has brought me and then schedule these classes. The classes can be from making a light weight, drapey scarf to window treatments. From a wonderful messenger bag to a dainty handbag ..... from a warm winter cloche to a stylish "Derby" chapeau.... from a piece of prefelt to an enchanting landscape.....
I am looking forward to teaching at the Smoky Mountain Fiber Festival in Townsend, TN in March, the Hoosier Hills Fiberarts Festival in south central Indiana (20 minutes south of Indianapolis) in June, then at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival in early September.
All these classes as we travel in our RV....the "roadhouse".... While in Indiana, we can either camp at the Johnson County Fairgrounds, or stay at our "bricks and sitcks" 5 minutes away...guess where I'd rather be.....no contest....Anyone want to purchase a home on five acres with two barns and ready for horses, etc?
As I continue to schedule my 2011 felting classes, I think of the joy that felting has brought me and then schedule these classes. The classes can be from making a light weight, drapey scarf to window treatments. From a wonderful messenger bag to a dainty handbag ..... from a warm winter cloche to a stylish "Derby" chapeau.... from a piece of prefelt to an enchanting landscape.....
I am looking forward to teaching at the Smoky Mountain Fiber Festival in Townsend, TN in March, the Hoosier Hills Fiberarts Festival in south central Indiana (20 minutes south of Indianapolis) in June, then at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival in early September.
All these classes as we travel in our RV....the "roadhouse".... While in Indiana, we can either camp at the Johnson County Fairgrounds, or stay at our "bricks and sitcks" 5 minutes away...guess where I'd rather be.....no contest....Anyone want to purchase a home on five acres with two barns and ready for horses, etc?
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