Wonderful stuff: City Map Quilt

Earlier this week Apartment Therapy had a link to this wonderful item.

Fort Greene Crib Quilt: white dupioni, $300.00

I would love a queen size with a map of San Francisco.

Another Sneak Preview - Women of Letters

P is for Poppy, floated on mat board in deep black frame

Favorite Artist

On one of my email lists, QuiltArt, Kay Sorensen asked

"Who
is your favorite artist?

s."

My vote goes to Hung Liu, China born but living in California. I love the way she uses runny paint and an almost collage-like use of image and color. Here is a tapestry which looks like her paintings.

Three Fujin of a Prince, 2008

Jacquard tapestry

78 x 79 in.
from Magnola Editions

Hung Liu's website

Great Blog: Eileen Goldenberg Encaustics

Since I am work on encaustic collages today, I thought this blog was pertinent.  I really like her work, particulary the Tea House series. 

Tea House #102 by Eileen Goldenberg

I'm very new at encaustic and need a lot more practice but am forging ahead.  Today I had to heat and scrape an entire work off a wood panel.  It just wasn't working.  I'm trying to get ready for my show in June, mentioned below, so every setback just adds to the stress.  Here is the mess and the 3 pieces I'm working on.

A Day with Friends

Today I went on a jaunt with friends, 3 of whom are in my Quilting Crit group, Tina, Kate and Cathy. Tina invited a friend to join us, although Tina and her friend thought we were going someplace else.  This, of course, caused a brief stop at the side of the road between Bedford and Concord, MA until we figured that one out. 

We went to Quilters Way in West Concord, MA

image from Quilters Way website

Of course, there wasn't any snow, actually it was 90 degrees.  I bought a book on making pincushions.

image from Amazon.com

Next we drove to Nancy's Airfield Cafe in Stow, MA.  I had to soup of the day, creamy mexican flavored soup with corn and beans.  I also had the Ploughman's Lunch - A hunk of bread, Vermont Cheddar, Wild Blueberry Chutney and a small garden salad.  Yum Yum.

Then we drove down the road to The Quilted Crow where I found crushed walnut shells for the innards of pin cushions.  I can't wait to start making them.

Then we went back to Bedford to have ice cream at the Bedford Creamery.

A very nice day.

Sneak Preview

I have a collage show in June at Ayers Loft Gallery in Lowell, MA.  It's called "Women of Letters" is is all about the alphabet.  I showing with one other person - Mary Hart of Winchester, MA. 

Here is one of my images from the Abecedarium in the show, "F"

And our postcard:

What I'm reading right now

Dance of the Dead, Thomas Perry

I was just introduced to this author and his books about Jane Whitefield, a guide who helps people in trouble disappear.  I just finished "Vanishing Act", which was great.  I'm a big mystery fan and always happy to have another series to read.

Pack up the Moon by Anna McPartlin

This book takes place in Ireland with a lot of humor and some sadness.

Red, Passion and Patience in the Desert, by Terry Tempest Williams

This is an extraordinary book by an author recommended by the book I read about "The King's English" Bookstore.  It is part history lesson, part poem and part elegy to the desert, particularly Utah.  I hghly recommend.

I just finished Hungary Monkey by Matthew Amster Burton.

I finished this book in less than two days, it was so funny.  It is about a home husband and Dad (restaurant reviewer), who attempts to teach his very young daughter how to love gourmet food, with limited success.

Great Blog: Posie Gets Cozy

This is wonderful blog and today's post is my very favorite:

We have strict rules around here.

I would love to be in a hammock with a dog right now, but sadly, no hammock, no dog. I have rules for my cat but she does not pay much attention to them.

Last Night - Margot Stage

After work last night I rushed down HWY 495 from Lowell to the Indian Hill Music Center in time for an artist reception. The reception was for my friend Margot Stage,  who is showing a lot of her recent work in the theater space at the Music Center. 

I made it in time, thankfully, and the reception was great fun.  Margot and I used to members of the Lowell Fiber Studio.  The group shared a studio on the 5th floor of the main building at Western Avenue Studios in Lowell, MA.  A year and a half ago, I moved into my studio on the second floor of the "A" Mill.  Just recently, Margot moved into her own studio on the second floor of the main building.  Margot is a fiber artist and you can see more of her work on her website  One of my favorite pieces is on the home page of her website:

Her work revolves around flowing shapes in sand, sea and nests.  The piece shown on her home page is from a series called "Great Blue".  Bravo Margot!

Great Store: Sundance

Sundance is my very favorite online store.  I have purchased more from that site than from any other I think: earrings, necklaces, bags, shoes, tumblers, and gift certificates.  It all started when the site first went live and continues today. 

1. Rain Tumblers
2. Journal
3. Earrings
4. Shoes

I own a pair of those shoes and the Journal.  I own tumblers and earrings very like the items shown in the image. 

In 2003  was driving back across the US (west to east) and made a reservation at the Sundance Resort to stay overnight.  It was an extraordinary experience.  My "room" was a little cabin surrounded by woods.  The bed extremely comfortable and the towels amazingly soft.  The stores in the main building were fun and really turned me on to the Sundance sensibility.  There were statues and art everywhere. Dinner was excellent, but my "comes with the room" breakfast the next day was wonderful.  I could have stayed forever but had to leave after breakfast to continue my way back to Massachusetts.  At some point I'll find the photos I took and share them.  It's a rather expensive place to visit, but I will never be sorry I had at least a one night stay.

Great Blog: Simply Natural

This blog is one of my favorite Australian blogs. Catherine has such great images and projects included in her blog.  Since we have similar taste in home decor and images, I'm always interested in what she has to say or show.  Recently she had a post about scissors in all sizes, some really huge, included in home decor.

If you have a chance visit her here

Favorite Stuff: Bin Bin Waste Paper Basket

I love these waste paper baskets.  You can get them here at Zwello  At $54.00 each they are a bit past my budget right now, perhaps later.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

A digital collage created for this day.

Great Blog - Textures Shapes and Colors

This week I'm featuring a blog I just found recently called Textures Shapes and Colors owned by Leslie Avon Miller a collage artist from the Pacific Northwest.  I love her soft neutral colors; they really speak to me. 
 
This piece is called Big Rocks (perhaps),