Books Galore!

Last week I finished this book which I started in March while I was in Arizona. A few members of the AZPCGuild and I worked on some book techniques in polymer clay and this is the result of my efforts. I seem to have a lot of "blue" books in my present repertoire, so this pinky one is a bit of a diversion. I also am getting pretty proficient in the Coptic Binding Stitch, thankfully, and that makes the books open nice and and lay flat. This particular one has five signatures and the interior pages are parchment (archival) so they can be used for journal entries, sketches or keeping favourite photographs.

One thing about the books that I keep forgetting is to make ENOUGH beads for the side details. I try to make them when I am working on the covers, but don't realize that instead of making thirty or so beads, I really need about fifty or more. So this one has a few glass and metal beads included in its fringe.

This particular book is located at Medea Gallery in Osborne Village in Winnipeg, and I have a few others there too. It's a co-operative gallery and the people there are so supportive of my work. There is a real range of art there, and I love going in to browse. Lots of exciting artwork!

Presently I am working on some books using faux ivory with transfers on the front cover. I hope to be finished one or two this weekend, so may have an opportunity to post then.

Reflections on Quilt Reflections

Whew! Now that is what I call an exhausting nine days! Five days of super -intensive work making buttons at the clay table, and one day in kindergarten, followed by three very long but superbly satisfying days at the Quilt Reflections Seminar and I am spent!

The good things? There were many, but to list a few...Transporting a whole lot of buttons to the show was easy. The containers were small, very portable and with minimal display fixtures our set-up and take-down was a breeze. Working with a partner whose work was complementary and whose demeanor was compatible made for a very pleasant time when there were no visitors to the booth. We talked about everything from cuteness, to categorizing certifiability and Icelandic Tenors and their roles.

The great things? so much about the week end was great...In particular, meeting all the wonderful people, rekindling friendships with everyone from Grade Four School chums, to former teaching buddies to snowbirds from the same commune was terrific. Seeing all the wonderful, innovative, colourful, incredible quilts that were overpowering that the colours that registered on my brain wouldn't let me fall asleep for three nights; even though my exhausted body was pleading for rest. Above all, the organization of the show was probably the most efficient I have ever seen...Several standing ovations go to the Members of the Prairie Quilters Guild and all their volunteers...white gloved or not. And to all those supporters who "liked" my buttons ...thanks big time.

The down side? It's over and now it's a two year wait for the next big quilt show around here. Needing sleep and no time to "fix" unruly hair seemed unimportant.

Epilogue: After a good night's rest tonight and the day to unpack everything, I hope to post more tomorrow, including a few pictures of some of the memorable quilts that were there!

More buttons to push...am I panic-stricken yet?

We arrived home from our snowbirding to a ton of snow and work to do! It just never quits, but I guess I am happy to be busy.

I really wanted to post more, but not having a computer handy it was not that easy! And one hour a day at the library just wasn't enough to even keep up with email.

All is back to normal now, and of course, I am in the throes of getting ready to strut my buttons this weekend at the Quilt Reflections show here. It's a big deal and I am so lucky to have a space there...didn't think I'd be in it because when I had applied last fall, all the major spots had been allocated to big enterprises and the few small vendor spots were already assigned. Well as luck (good or bad, depends on how you look at it) would have it, there was a cancellation and we were next in line for the spot. Sooooo...guess who has been madly pushing buttons into the oven and working like crazy getting the labels and pricing done.

There must be four hundred buttons on my kitchen table now...Good thing buttons aren't that hard to carry around. The ones pictured above are just a wee sample of the variety and colour mixes in the buttons box...Let's hope they go well with the quilts at the show.