Fiber Arts Fiesta 2017

I was thrilled to be able to make it to the fiesta twice this year!  My 2nd visit was with my girl Claire, who, at age 17 now, is a wonderful companion on outings and sweetly patient as I introduced her to the many customers and friends we came across as we marveled at the exhibits.  I'm sure it was not her most exiting outing to hear over and over, "this is so-and-so, who's a rughooker/knitter/quilter/photographer/" and have to hear how so-and-so and I know each other, but she's a trooper and joy to me.

I gave her my cell phone and instructed her to take pictures of quilts that SHE likes.  I wanted this documentation to be about what her eye was drawn to.  Some quilts we both loved, some she loved and I was so-so about, and vice-versa.

She learned that she is drawn to ombre/spectrum of colors.  We both loved those that spoke of social justice.  And we both agreed that we need more hours in the day to do some creating of our own.

She'll be a part-timer at Hip Stitch this summer, as well her sister Jane.  I couldn't be happier.

Here's what she took:

 Katherine is a Hip Stitch customer, and I ran into her after seeing this quilt - she talked about her nervousness about having her quilt at FAF with all the other magnificent quilts.  To me, THIS was magnificent:

Rod Daniel's quilt, Pulse, made after the Orlando nightclub shootings:

Renee Hoffman's winning quilt, which Hip Stitch was proud to be the sponsor of this award:

(and for those of you who wonder which girl is which, here's Claire with her friend Will:)

We'll see you soon at Hip Stitch!

Traveling

A trip to Baltimore in late April brought me to a reunion with best childhood friends, visiting my hometown, and quilt shops!  I love to see what the local flair is in fabric, and Bear's Paw Fabrics in Towson, MD, had these goodies that I couldn't resist:

Bought the kit to make a crab table runner.....have childhood memories of the Chesapeake Bay, going the beach, eating crab cakes!

Judy, the owner of this gem of a store, was wonderful.  We talked shop, compared notes, and she was so very sweet to take time from her busy Saturday to meet with me!  The staff were equally kind and helpful - I had brought in my friends with me, who oohed and aahhed over the fabrics and projects.  They are not sewists, but picked out fabric for me to make them pajama bottoms!

 ('cause friends do that for friends!)

(look at the gorgeous Elizabeth Hartman quilt behind us!)

I rented a car my last day there and drove up to Amish country, Pennsylvania.  Went to The Old Country Store, where I, well, shopped some more!  A great gift/fabric/kitchen store.  Was neat to see a mix of traditional and modern fabrics.

Back to New Mexico, back to Hip Stitch and our beautiful new location!