Asilomar...finally!

What a time I had at Empty Spools Seminars! I'm afraid I couldn't decide what class to take this year, so in a fit of something, I took two!

Sally Collins, the master of precision was fantastic. Such a gracious teacher and so many techniques that will help any piecer, even if you don't want to do the tiny stuff.


We started with drafting and making perfect little templates. Then we made a mock up of one arm of the feathered star we wanted to make. With the mirror, we could then see the finished product, which was great incentive to forge ahead.

I always love a challenge, and I also love tiny little things.


So, of course I wanted to know how big the finished 1/2 square triangles were in Sally's block you see above. they finish at 1/4 inch. OK, i'm going to try it.




Here is my mock up. And guess what.. I'm i the middle of moving and i can't find the one I made in class! I know it's here somewhere... But it's smaller than a potholder!

The feathers do finish at 1/4 inch and the center is a fussy-cut octagon,the tips of the feathers are fussy cut, too. I just loved sewing the tiny pieces. It was a great challenge. I'l have to get back in the right zone to finish it. I don't think that will happen til after my move.
Ok..it's 1 Am and I am officially tired. Ta-ta for now

But first, a message from our sponsors

This is the inspiration for the Nike Swoosh. Just under her right hand and wing is the infamous symbol. This is a piece of stone frieze in Ephesus, Turkey. A lot of work and excavation have happened since I was in high school and here with my family.

Now this is funny. Ancient advertising on the main road. If you look closely, (Click on it to make it larger)you can see a lovely lady in the lower right, a left foot and just up and to the left of the foot, a small heart (in small 'dots") This is telling visitors that up ahead and to the left, one can find a little company should one be in a lonely mood. Reminds me of that old musical "Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum".






Nothing like a real Greek salad, Spanikopita, and a Mythos beer while sitting in the middle of the Plaka in Athens. This is my mom. Her mom was born in Greece, and came to California as a young child. We were lucky enough to go back to Greece with Grandma and 2 of her sibs, to the village they came from in 1973. It was a real National Geographic experience, and sometime when I can scan some old pics, would be a great post.





Cool Border, huh? I'd like to try this one. This was very near the tomb of St John near Ephesus.


That's it from Turkey and Greece.

Next up, quilting!

I'm Baaack......

Well, what was meant to be a two-three week hiatus turned into months! There was a trip to Europe, a long weekend at Alex Anderson's quilt retreat in California, and in the last month, two sessions at Asilomar. Believe me, this is about all the vacation I'll be having for a long while! In between and since there has been a whole lot of busy at work!

For starters, I went with my mom and four other couples (the oldest family friends) on a two week cruise in and out of Rome, through Greece, Istanbul, Yalta, and Odessa. It was a great trip with a rocky start. Mom and I flew Seattle to London and there we stood....all day and into the evening. Flight was cancelled to Rome, slept overnight on a bench at Heathrow, and eventually got to Rome with no luggage. Had to go shopping for everything....got on the boat with a shopping bag and the clothes we'd put on 3 days earlier in Seattle.

This is Mykonos. I was in this same spot with my Greek grandmother 34 years ago.


Hey! A Quilt Motif!




Pretty kitty on Rhodes



Topkapi Palace in Istanbul



In Yalta, Ukraine



The Summer palace of the Tsar



I read Nicholas and Alexandra in Jr High. It was so amazing to be in the palace that they loved so much.





Such history in this very place. The famous meeting of Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin also happened here. This is the courtyard where the picture was taken.






Check out the suit!! There were wedding parties all over.



Back in Turkey...Check out the fine print...





This is a carpet. I loved the colors and pattern.





Anyway, it was a fabulous trip. The travelogue is over now. I promise to share my quilting adventures tomorrow.


Ciao for now

Kathy