Day at the Museum

Over a month ago I made an appointment to view some quilts at the NC Museum of History and yesterday the day finally came! I was so glad to get to share the day with Bonnie because, well, we have fun wherever we go and it's always more fun to share an experience like this will someone who gets just as giddy over old quilts as I do.

We were blessed with a gorgeous spring day so we parked the car and walked to Sitti for lunch, then a little walk down Fayetteville Street. Things have changed a lot since I lived and worked in downtown Raleigh 14 years ago. I'm not sure I'm cool enough to live there now!

(No, I didn't steal this photo from Bonnie. We just took the same pict!)

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So, after a brief tour, we headed to the museum to meet the textile curator who led us to the underground. She had all the quilts laid out for us to view. I took lots of pictures, looked up close, speculated and pondered why. They were all so very unique and wonderful.

So, why did I spend a day in the dungeon of the museum? Well, I'm hoping to make something of it. It's time to do something I've always wanted to do, right?

It's time to climb through that window that opened when that door was slammed shut.

Stay tuned...

(I DID steal this pict from Bonnie!)

Letting Go

Just over a year ago, I met Aretha. I was familiar with the program she had started because the Women's Fund gave her a grant. My group of women (the Sophias because we are all wise women) was especially taken with Aretha's program, The Djembe Project. Her plan was to get a group of up to 18 at-risk girls together on Saturday mornings and teach them to respect themselves and others, teach them about responsibility and community service, teach them that there is more to the world than what is happening in their neighborhood and that they have options.

So this beautiful woman, who has in her own life faced adversity and risen above it, who has and is making things happen, inspired me to do a crazy thing. When asked what could we do for these girls to commemorate their success in the program - well, we'll make them all quilts. Of course we will. I do it every day.

But 14? In a year? On top of everything else?

Sure.

This is where my friends come in and rescue me from myself.

Mrs. Goodneedle and Quiltkeemosabe helped me cut out all the symbols.

Then a whole slew of quilters helped applique the symbols to the blocks and assemble the tops.

Bonnie quilted them all.

Women at the fall retreat sewed sleeves on the backs.

They've been done since November but between the weather, the holidays, crazy schedules and so forth, we weren't able to get together...until this afternoon.

David and I met Aretha and some of the girls to give them their quilts. Not all the girls were there but I gave all the quilts to Aretha to pass on to them. I have to let it go.

Were the girls appropriately astounded and appreciative?

No. Not really. They are 11 - 14 year old girls. I expected no real appreciation.

I have to let it go.

Am I disappointed?

Absolutely not. One day, one (or maybe more) of those girls will look at that quilt and remember and realize what she was given by strangers.

Absolutely not. I learned that no matter what crazy idea I have, my friends rally around me and will pull me out of the hole I've dug.

Abolutely not. It was a challenge and it was fun and they are beautiful.

But I have to let it go.

Do I have to do it again?

Absolutely not.

Calling It a Night

This is early for me but tomorrow will be a long day. Laura and I are leaving at the crack of dawn and heading to Asheboro for the NC Quilt Symposium Board meeting.

So, did I get everything done?

No.

I did get the borders on the birds and the backing pieced and I got the sleeve on one quilt and mostly on the second quilt.

Maybe Sunday night I'll get to work on that new pattern. I'm chopping at the bit to get started on that one but I'm glad I got these less than exciting things done tonight.

Now I'm off to bed so I can stay awake tomorrow!

Locking the Door and Unplugging the Computer

That's what I'm doing tonight.

It's Friday Night Sew In!!

I have all the non-sewing stuff checked off today's list (well, except that clean the house thing and that's just going to happen tonight. I have my priorities after all).

I have a chicken pie ready to slide in the oven when David gets home.

I have treats by the sewing machine for Miss Shelby.

I have Harry Potter in the CD player.

I have popcorn and diet coke ready for the 9:00 stretch.

I have a list of projects to work on:

1. Put borders on the bird quilt

2. Piece the backing for the bird quilt

3. Put sleeves on two quilts that need to be hanging at Chelsees

4. Cut out pieces for my next pattern...

If I get that far, I'll be doing good.

But...before I put on my fuzzy slippers, Miss Shelby and I are going to walk around the block because

IT IS GORGEOUS OUTSIDE!!!!

Rock Stars

Nane and I are working on our own rock star walls for our quilt studios.

You know, like in restaurants where famous people are spotted and get their pictures made with the common folk and the restaurant hangs the photos on the walls?

So far we have Alex Anderson and John Flynn. Plus I have Ami Simms without Nane (because the night she was in town, Nane was busy getting engaged to Go Postal - an excellent reason to miss out). And of course, we have Bonnie (who I imagine will read this and laugh her hiney off).

No, they aren't really rock stars but in our quilty world, they are.

So last night we got to add Pat Sloan to our rock star wall when she visited our guild.

She may actually be a rock star. She has her own roadie - Greg, her husband who perfectly synchronizes the hanging of her quilts as she gives her lecture. They were both very entertaining.

(p.s. I look so lovely in this photo because I had 5k training right before guild. At least I didn't have on my day glo reflective hat with the flasher on the back. )

Three Days in Newport News

Hanging out with the Director of Technical Happiness

Plus Pappy & Mariellen from Chesapeake

Looking at stuff like this

Do I look smarter than I was three days ago?

My head's so full of new stuff, I'm surprised I found my way home actually.

Y'all!!

I won!

I never, hardly ever win.

Look what I won.

I'm just a bit giddy.