Mount Rushmore

One of the side benefits of teaching for the Black Hills Quilter's Retreat was hanging out with quilting colleague, Sue Nickels. The conference organizers arranged for a lovely afternoon at Mount Rushmore National Monument.
Our guide, Celia, kept telling us that it looked much different than when I saw it as a child. However, although I know that I WAS there, I have no memory of it. My only memory of the Black Hills of South Dakota was throwing up in the car on the winding roads.
Rapid City is a beautiful, small town, and there are statues of many of our past presidents as well as other famous explorers on every street corner in the downtown area. Here, I got to sit right next to Abe Lincoln.

New Quilt by Lindy Filz

Hi Gail,

I took your Goose is Loose class in Mar/April 2008 at the Empty Sools seminar in Asilomar. Attached is the quilt I just finished from that class, inspired by 2 cute little kittens we adopted. Thanks for the inspiration and lessons on color and value. My quilting will never be the same!

Lindy Filz
Blacksburg, VA

LIfe in the Desert - The Middle of Nowhere!

Photos by Jenny Lisignoli

The little blip of a human in the top photo is yours truly, taken just yesterday when coworker, Jenny, and I were conducting avian surveys at a geologic site in McKinley County, New Mexico. Immediately adjacent to our worksite, we found an abandoned open pit mine that just begged for a photo using a human to demonstrate scale.

During our surveys, we observed many different species of birds, but the most interesting of all were the Turkey Vultures. We observed a few vultures during the morning soaring overhead, and I began to get curious when they all seemed to disappear into one particular canyon. It was as if we were being teased and tested by the big black birds. On one of the final transects, located in the canyon where the birds had disappeared, at the dead end of box canyon, five vultures simultaneously took flight from a cave high in the cliffs.

Below the entrance, which was coated with whitewash, a lone vulture sat perched on a rock. He/she seemed unconcerned with our presence, for how could we possibly have gotten close enough to threaten her. It was as if she were the watch sentinel, standing guard over precious objects hidden out of view? The bird graciously posed for photos, taken by Jenny with a long zoom, as she preened, then stretched, then preened again. Finally, when it was apparent that she was not interested in leaving her lofty perch, we turned our backs and headed out of the canyon. After about thirty feet, I turned back to see only a rock where the bird had been. If it weren't for the photos, I might have thought it was a mirage.

LIfe in the Desert - Ojito Wilderness Area

Memorial Day 2008 was memorable in many ways, mostly for the good friends that share their world with me, and the wonderful places that we explore. On this day, we investigated Ojito Wilderness Area, northwest of Albuquerque. Here, we found fantastical geologic shapes, dinosaur bones, petrified wood, and great photo opportunities. For more fabulous photos, check out my friend, Steve Elkins', website. Once there, click on Ojito Wilderness Area. It was an incredible day. Many thanks to Jan Cummings, geologist, for arranging and leading this trip to a seldom seen jewel of the southwest.

Empty Spools Seminar - 2008

It was a week in Paradise, or more specifically, Quilter's Heaven. the As a teaching experience, the Empty Spools Seminars, held at the Asilomar Conference Center on the spectacular Monterrey Peninsula in California, cannot be topped. My students and I worked together for five consecutive days. This gave me time to present new information in a way that could be more easily absorbed and retained, rather than trying to cram as much teaching as possible into one six-hour class. Students were able to take the time to develop their designs, as well as time to stitch. As the projects progressed, we were able to trouble-shoot technical stitching problems relative to individual designs, and everyone learned from this experience.

Plus, I got to meet and get to know eleven new quilting friends. We often dined together, and sometimes I even went back to the classroom after dinner to chat with them while they sewed. It was an incredible experience, and the three women, Diana McClun, Gayle Wells, and Suzanne Cox, that run these seminars are organized, take care of every detail, and are remarkably gracious. I can't even think of a better teaching venue. As a student, the ability to study with one teacher for five days must create a wonderful, interactive learning medium, one in which the teacher actually has enough time to give individual attention to each student.

The above photos show the view from the beach, a curvaceous strand of kelp washed up on the beach, my classroom, and two student projects, "Olivia Octopus" by Marsha Cardwell, and a sunset in progress by Mary McLaughlin.

Check out the Empty Spools website! The 2009 teachers will be posted on May 21, 2008.

Ice Flow

Photograph by Steve Elkins

This year, my friend, Steve, resolved to take one photograph each day of the year. He has been publishing them on his website
each day, even on days when he has been sick in bed. Check them out. I think you will find inspiration, and a very talented photographer.

San Lorenzo Keyhole in Rock

The dog and I had climbed high onto the canyon side. When we stopped to rest and admire the view, we discovered the hole in the rock with the sun's rays highlighting the grasses.

San Lorenzo Canyon

Photograph by Steve Elkins

It was a cool Sunday afternoon in more ways than one. On this day, I joined my friend, Steve Elkins, and others to explore this little known canyon located in the hills north of Socorro, New Mexico, and adjacent to the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. Starkly beautiful rock formations towered overhead as we drove into the box canyon. Along the north side of the canyon we located a small cave, which bore evidence of former human occupation in chert flakes and chalcedony. Within the canyon, a veritable maze of small passageways existed, one of which lead to a shaded alcove with a small waterfall in which the surface was frozen on the north facing wall. However, beneath the waterfall, one could see the still liquid water dripping and flowing beneath the surface of the ice. Steve took a video of this as well as another of water running beneath the frozen surface of a tiny streamlet. Check his videos out on his website.

Ultimate Recycling

This raincoat was made by my partner in quilting, Donna Barnitz, for the 2007 Santa Fe Recycle Fashion Show. It is a modified Simplicity pattern, stitched from 8 - 50 lb Purina Dog Food bags and one yellow Ol' Roy bag. The tarp-like "fabric" is perfect for inclement weather. A matching umbrella completes the ensemble. Modeled by Donna's beautiful daughter, Katy, it was the First Place winner! Way to go, Donna! The photos were taken by Paula Scott.

Squash

Hmmm! Squash is such a simple plant, but beautiful beyond many others.

Imaginary World

The Special Shapes Glowdeo is yet another other worldly experience, rather like being on drugs legally. It's a great excuse to dust of the burden of adulthood, and act like a kid again. Tonight, and tomorrow are dedicated to those fantastically shaped balloons: trees, bees, octopi, pumpkins, the cow-that-jumped-over-the-moon, and even Darth Vader. Only in Albuquerque!

Being Among Balloons

Only in Albuquerque, and only for one manic week each October, do we locals experience what surely must be the ultimate photographic experience of a lifetime. For those fortunate enough to get a ride, the thrill is almost certainly one of the highlights of their life. But, for we hardened citizens who have been through 25 or more Fiestas, our minds turn to the traffic and general state of chaos that accompanies the fiasco - er - fiesta, each year. The touristas arrive by the bucket load via car, plane, train, automobile, and monstrously sized recreational vehicles larger than my house. Yes, we hardened citizens love to complain about all of the disruptions to our every day lives, and blame it on all of you visitors. We carefully plot our driving route, hoping to avoid the worst of the traffic. Just this morning, as I was negotiating away from the field, the car traveling beside me in the slow lane suddenly decided to make a U-turn right in front of me, across four lanes of traffic. Good thing I was paying attention! Darn tourists. Oops! That license plate was a local one.

We love to complain, but deep down, in our heart of hearts, we love the balloons too. Where else can one see hundreds of hot air balloons hanging in the air, lofting above the city. The photo above was taken on my drive in to work today. Like the tourist's cars illegally parked alongside the freeway, I pulled over too, to take a quick shot of the glorious globes above the General Mills Cereal Plant. Albuquerque is a glorious place to live - but watch out for those crazy drivers! Even the locals forget to pay attention!

Katazome - Part One

What a treat I had this week! My good friend, and partner in quilting, Donna B., discovered that an amazing textile artist, Karen Miller, was to be teaching in Santa Fe! Donna, being of the creative type, and ingenious as well, contacted Karen to see if she would teach a class for our small group. Enter another talented lady, Paula Scott, who offered the use of her studio and back yard, and the class was a done deal. The result was two intense, but inspirational days spent learning the technique of Japanese Katazome Stencil Dyeing. I can't wait to see how this turns up in my future work!

A Matched Set

The Katazome Group

This is us, the newby Katazome Dyers of New Mexico. Many thanks to Paula Scott for the use of her lovely studio, and for all the photos that she took during the two day workshop.