Wow! Photos, too!

I am finally solving the mystery of how to put photos into the blog. I've got a lot of them saved up. Everytime I take one I am thinking, "That would sure look good on the blog!" But, until now, they have never made it. But now... I think I have it all figured out. And so... here is my first effort.

This one was taken of Audrey and me when we were inducted into the Arizona Quilter's Hall of Fame. We are just so proud of this honor that I think it appropriate that it be the first ever photo on our blog. Audrey is on the left and I'm the other one! Just wait... there'll be lots more.

Talking, Talking, Talking!

Just in case you missed us and wondered why there have been no updates to the blog... Audrey and I have been traveling. Yes... traveling and talking. Two things we do really well! We have been spreading the virtues of Quilt Camp in the Pines and Quilting in the Desert to quilters in New Mexico and Colorado. Not to all the quilters (we only wish!), but to those in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Los Alamos and Durango. We are having a ball! In between talks, we are visiting any quilt shop we can find... and we can find almost every single one in the area. And... you know what happens when quilters visit quilt shops... Yep! Shopping, shopping, shopping! We are planning on returning to Sedona tomorrow (Friday) before we are totally out of money. I am thinking I am pretty close to that now! But... I have many treasures. Fabric, patterns, ideas... all to get busy on. If you have heard Audrey and me give our talk... you would know that we hardly have any time to do any quilting. Too busy with Quilt Camp and Quilting in the Desert. But, that shopping therapy... it's great!

Happy Election Day!

I Voted... Did You?
Hope so. I voted by mail and sent it about two weeks ago so it's among those that will be counted today. Those who send for their ballots by mail and then don't fill them in have to take them to their polling place and they won't be tallied until mid week. It might count in the final numbers but by then, the decision will already have been made. At least, we hope it's over by then! Shades of long ago with the hanging chads, etc.

Hope you all have selected the project you will be working on tonight during the returns. I can't bear to watch TV without something in my hands. And... I'm ready for tonight. On our cruise through the Mediterranean, we learned a technique called "boutis". It's very much like trapunto by hand but different. Doesn't that make sense? Ha! Two pieces using this technique won awards in Houston. Beautiful...

And, speaking of awards... if you haven't already checked out the winners, you really must. Here is the web page where they are all shown. http://www.quilts.com/fqf08/enVivo/ Click on Quilts: A World of Beauty.

The big winner... Sharon Schamber! Yep... our Sharon! This is the quilt that she first showed at Quilting in the Desert 2008. She then entered it in the AQS show in Paducah where it took the top machine quilting award and then in Houston where it's the Best of Show! And... you better believe it deserves that award. That piece if fabulous! The photo is amazing but until you see it up close... you can't imagine how incredible the quilting is. If you haven't already signed up for one of her machine classes, you will be sorry because they aren't far from being filled. The stippling classes are already closed. So... don't procrastinate! Do it now!

Happy day.

Good News! Supply Lists Online...

Whew! The supply lists for all the classes are now on the web page underneath the description of the class. Just in time too. I'm off to Laguna Woods, California, to join my family in celebration of my Mom's 90th birthday. Such a wonderful time for all of us. The big party is a brunch for all the family and her friends on Sunday morning... 70 in all... and it promises to be rowdy and loving all at the same time. Maybe I'll even post a photo of us when I return.

In the meantime... don't forget to send in your registrations for Quilting in the Desert. Gosh, I hate to hear from someone, "I just didn't mail it in time and now, the class I wanted is closed." Don't take the chance... register now!

News from Houston!

Wild, tiring days. In the morning, we are up early and tearing off to classes in order to find the teachers that we think will be fabulous for either Quilt Camp or Quilting in the Desert. It's a good chance for us to "audition" teachers we haven't met before. We want nothing but the best for our campers! Of course, we see old friends at every turn in the hallway, so it's like a family reunion all day long.

After poking our heads into the classrooms, we're off to the showroom floor. We want to see what's new and who's new. Have to plan ahead for 2010 and 2011. That's how far ahead we schedule our teachers.

I keep promising myself that I'll sign on in the evening before going to sleep and write a post on the blog. Problem is that I get the sleep and the posting backwards. Falling asleep in front of the computer before I can type anything. We finished earlier this evening and I wanted to send a message before heading off to bed. I figured it was better to sleep in bed than in front of the computer. Anyhow... the early morning seminar today... was on blogs! Seems as if I really am getting in the groove and will become a true blue blogger.

For those of you who have asked... I apologize that the supply lists are still not up on the web page. I really have been working on them and will try my best to get as many up during this week as I can. At least the ones that I already have from the teachers.

The days are exhausting but exhilarating. It's hard to get settled down and off to slumber-land before the next long day. Show closes tomorrow at 4 and we're on our way home on Tuesday talking about everything we saw, all the new teachers we have discovered and all the old friends we've seen. And it's all filled with promises to meet again next year!

And... before I think any more about next year... I'll just continue planning for tomorrow!

We're On Our Way!

Speaking of “on our way”, Audrey and I are off to Houston on Thursday to International Quilt Market. It's different from the Festival in that there really aren’t the hundreds of vendors with all the fabric, necessaries, books, quilting tools and anything else that would satisfy a quilter’s addiction. Market, on the other hand, is for the serious side of the quilting business. But... we get to see the newest stuff that you will see in the shops soon, the latest fabric, and, of course, all the new teachers that we will find to bring to you at either Quilt Camp in the Pines or Quilting in the Desert. Not a bad way to spend a week! Oh... I almost forgot (NOT), we get to see all the fabulous quilts that will be shown at Quilt Festival before the awards are handed out. It's fun to try to guess who the big winners will be and then change our minds and then change them back! Unfortunately, we always have to come home before the winners are announced. We’d stay longer but, there’s always work to be done.

It's all news... and new!

We're finally making the jump to blogging. So strange... we can organize the Quilt Camp, create web pages, travel the world on our fabulous quilt cruises but blogging? Shouldn't seem scary but it just does. I hear all the news people on the TV talking about their blogs and quilters talking about theirs and then I think about ours. As soon as I post this first message, we’ll be on our way. We'll have new info about Quilt Camp in the Pines and Quilting in the Desert and, of course, our cruises and tours. Hope you enjoy crossing that threshold into “blogdom” with us.