PORT TOWNSEND TRIP

 Darrell, Jelly and I headed out early for Port Townsend.  Darrell needs a lot of hardwoods for upcoming projects.

First stop was on Bainbridge Island to visit with Pia the Peacekeeper.

Then, after I dropped Darrell at Edensaw, Jelly and I went to Fort Worden for a damp morning walk.  There were lots of trees down from the strong winds and rain last night.  We crawled over and around three that were across the road on the way up.

It wasn't raining in Port Townsend, but it had rained all the way until we got here.  And it was raining as soon as we got back out to the road home.

It's nice to be home.

WEEK 8 OF PLAYCATION24

 Its nice to be back home.  It's Tuesday and time for another Quilter's Playcation 2024 with Cheryl Arkison.  

HOME AND UNPACKING

 Got in late last night.  Plane landed a bit early at 9:30pm.  I had to wait a bit for the luggage to come down.  Then I Ubered home.  Jelly greeted me at the door.  Darrell was sound asleep.  I was a bit wound up and it took me a while to fall asleep.

This morning, I unpacked and started laundry.  Then I gathered all of the stuff I had accumulated at Quiltcon and lined it up for a photo.

I know I didn't really need anything, but it was really fun!  All of the fabric needs to go back downstairs to be pre-washed before I use it.

Then, I got to work catching up on the Sunrise blocks.  I had six to make, including today's.

Here is eight weeks completed:

QUILTCON SUNDAY

Stood in line to get my breakfast and coffee at Starbucks, with everyone else.  Then it was off to a lecture with Carole Lyles Shaw entitled Geometric Abstraction.

I met up with Claudia and her friend Anita.  We all went to Durham.  Anita was meeting up with an old friend for brunch.  Claudia and I went to some art museums.  First was a wonderful Art Deco Hotel, 41C, downtown Durham.  They had an electic collection of interesting art.

The Art Deco Lobby

The restrooms, with see thru walls.

But, luckily the glass would become opaque. 

Then we headed to Duke University to their Nasher Art Museum.  It was a very interesting building, too.  It was five-sided and the structure inside was a marvel, connecting the five 'buildings' which contained various exhibits with an open atrium.

I didn't take many pictures in the exhibits, but really enjoyed them.  We all headed back to Raleigh for a late lunch.  Claudia had found a great little place where you could get breakfast biscuits with egg, cheese and added bacon for under $9.  I splurged, it was delicious.

Then Claudia was nice enough to drive me to the airport.  I arrived a bit early because I was getting nervous.  I walked back and forth in the small airport, then sat and sketched the others waiting for the flight that wouldn't leave until 6:50pm.  It was the only non-stop flight I could find.

Good-bye Raleigh. Good-bye Quiltcon - until next year!

 

QUILTCON SATURDAY

 I started the day, early at 7am, volunteering a shift until 10am.  I worked in the ticket booth.  People came by to pick up their prepaid tickets or to purchase a day pass.

We started out by tearing the bracelets sheets apart.  I was told they were expecting to sell 1700 today!

I gave each a bracelet for their wrist which would get them into the show.  I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of husbands and companions that were accompanying their quilter.

Then I was off to a lecture about writing Artist's Statements by Robert Bosscher.  It was more informative than I thought it would be and I'm glad I took it.  I will look at artist's statements differently now.

The Featured Speaker this year is Jacqui Gehring.  It was amazing.  The whole house was brought to tears by her emotional talk.  Amazing.

Me, Ethylene and Claudia sat together.

Then, I took another spin around the quilts.  But, somehow ended up in the Vendor Mall, again.  I might have a bit of room left in my suitcase.

Another of the patient but bored companions that was dragged to the show.

QUILTCON FRIDAY

 Today started with an early morning Tour of the Show with Mary Fons.  She talked about the Special Exhibit of Jacqui Gehring's quilts, she is the featured speaker this year.  And, we looked at the Maximalism quilts and a few others.  Mary is always very fun, enthusiastic and full of information.

Mary Fons in front of one of Jacqui Gehring's quilts.

Jacqui Gehring's quilts

Some of Jacqui's quilts in honor of her father.

Then, we all met up for a walk-thru with Sherri Lynn Wood and the BravePatch folks.  We made it a priority to find all of the members quilts.

Sherri with her award winning quilt, "Joy Bubble"

Sherri with Charan's quilt.

Me, Sherri and Claudia with Mickey's quilt.

Afterwards, I attended a lecture, "We Need to Talk About Bertha" with Mary Fons.  

The Brave Patch crew met at a local restaurant for dinner.  There were 18 of us.  This time the restaurant wasn't so loud and we were able to visit and chat.

QUILTCON THURSDAY

 First day of Quiltcon in Raleigh.  There were so many people!  I was volunteering at the Merchandise Booth from 8am to 10am.  It was non-stop.  I heard they ran out of tote bags before the show opened at 10am.

The big award winners - Ethylene's is right there!

Here is the Best of Show quilt.

"What We Will Use As Weapons:  School Supplies" 
made by Ginny Robinson of Chapel Hill, NC

The back of the quilt

It was so wonderful meeting up with my BravePatch Friends.  We mostly just meet on zoom every week.  Some of them I had never met in real life.  I met Claudia for the first time.

Some of us went out to dinner at a great Lebonese restaurant, Sitti.  The waiter had better things to do, but the food was excellent.  They gave us a postcard with the history of the restaurant and I included it into my sketch.

Dinner with Ethylene, Kim, Robin and Maggie.

GOING TO RALEIGH

 I left Seattle somewhat early for a non-stop flight to Raleigh North Carolina for Quiltcon!  There were lots of other quilters on my flight too. 

I made it to town in time to go to the Awards Celebration.  I sat with my friend Ethylene.  It was so much fun to be there with her when her quilt  won Best Hand Quilting.  Yea Ethylene! and she totally deserved it.  It's a great quilt.

WEEK 7 OF PLAYCATION

 I tuned in a little late to today's Quilter's Playcation 2024 with Cheryl Arkison.  So I missed what her sample block looked like.  I thought I was following directions, but alas, I didn't hear things correctly, I guess. 

My block didn't end up like hers, which is fine by me.  I like mine.

VALENTINE'S DAY FLOWERS

 Here's my portrait of the flowers my sweetie gave me for Valentine's Day this year.

It's been a while since I've painted.  I need more practice.  

7TH ROW OF SUNRISE

 The end of another week.  That means another row on the Sunrise Quilt.  Here's how it's looking so far.

FIRST BLOCKS OF SEATTLE BOM

 Here are the first blocks I made for the SeaMQGBOM2024.  These are six separate 8" blocks.  They are made with ebond's Ravel fabrics.