Umpqua Valley Show 2016

The Umpqua Valley Quilters' Guild Show is in April every year, they reserve a space for the Fyber Cafe textile arts group to show our yearly challenges. This year's challenges are "She Flies With Her Own Wings" which is the Oregon state motto, and "The Path Less Traveled" which has a continuous path routed through all 12 wall hangings. My "Flies" entry is a raw edge collage of my cousin's granddaughter, sitting on the lawn with her pet chickens. I put real feathers in her hands, and I can just see her pretending to fly with her pets. Previous post photos did not have the quilting/thread painting yet. I use a lot of close stitching with matching rayon thread, sometimes accent colors for more detail. The hexagon background had wonderful texture, that you could really see best from the back.

My "Path" entry was shown in this previous post, click here, it is a collage of my own photographs printed on fabric and raw edge applique to outline and accent.

The entire "The Path Less Traveled" display, fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. It was suggested when we choose the theme, to have wavy edges. I don't think everyone realized it would create some challenging sharp points on the individual pieces, many of us used a facing to finish our art pieces, instead of traditional quilt binding.

The "Flies" display took two sections, but had a few things scattered thru the rest of our display, Vi's two stuffed dolls hung on either side of the aisle. Our info table had two 3-D bowls made by Amy and some 3-D vessels by Lorraine.

Cheryl's sculptures in needle felting are truly wonderful little characters. They have so much personality! She teaches needle felting classes at Knotty Lady on Jackson St. in Roseburg. To see the complete display of the Fyber Cafe show exhibit, click here. I am linking this to Nina-Marie's "Off the Wall Friday" click on the badge in the right hand column to see what other textile artists are doing this week.

Vacation is Over

After being on the road for 3 1/2 weeks, I have finally returned to Oregon. Me, myself and I, took the RV across country, thru Yellowstone Nat'l Park, thru WY, NE and KS and finally to a big family reunion with all the cousins and Aunts and Uncles in Missouri. Lots of good family time, BBQ's and sitting around the fire pit, and several friendly rounds of poker. Celebrating my birthday and two cousins and my brothers all in one week. Fireworks and a concert at Fort Leonard Wood on the Fourth of July. The next route took my sister and I up to Illinois to my brother's for a few extra days, and the first of the right out of the field, Del Monte sweet corn, yummm. I took I-80 straight back across the West to my brother-in-laws house in California, more time with nieces and nephews and family. I had planned out stops along the way to get free "Row by Row" patterns at quilts shops on my route, but I did a lot of driving before 10am and on Sunday and I did not want to get off the Interstate in the BIG cities. So I only managed to stop at about 12 shops, in smaller towns in the Midwest, but I got a few more around my brother's and in California too. I've got lots of photos to sort thru, Old Faithful, baby buffalo, wildflowers, Dinosaur Museum, and various scenic views. I got a sewing machine just for the RV and there is a little vanity table in the bedroom, just right for it, with window, electrical and lights.

I managed to get 3 Row by Rows made on the trip. The theme for this year is "Home Sweet Home." Of course I had to buy fabric at every shop that I stopped at, even tho I REALLY DON'T NEED anymore!!

My "Pile" of new fabric acquisitions.


I also got my self a 7 speed cruising bicycle to mount on the back, it is purple with a purple plaid seat and gear cover, and turquoise spokes :) I'll need to wear my red hat when I go riding around the camp grounds. I'll get some pics posted with this soon. I'm linking with Nina-Marie's Off the Wall Friday click here check it out and see what other talented textile artists are doing.