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.