Houston

Okay, so here's where we start to talk about Houston. Why? Well, in 2007 I had the privilege of being a Bernina Fashion Designer. Then, I was privileged to be invited back for 2008! So, on the 28th Oct. I am going to the International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX so I can be there for the Bernina Fashion Show on the 3oth Oct., where the ensemble will premier to the public. I am not allowed to show photos of it, but the theme is Rendevous. What comes to your mind for that? My idea seemed to be the only idea there could be, so I hope no one elses is too similar. I am thinking I will wear this to the reception after the show. I found the fancy handbag in a charity shop last year, but didn't have time to make the skirt for last year. Here is a detail.Last year, I went to Houston when "The Epic Quest of the Last Dragoness" showed. I went at the end of International Quilt Market, where the garments are shown to the trade. It was Scary! I wore this last year, and will probably wear it for the "Meet the Designer" talk I will do Friday 12:00 - 12:30. Okay, the photo is rubbish.This year it is still a bit scary, but at least I know what happens. I was there from Sat to Sun last year, but this year I am only going on the Tuesday to the Sunday. It makes a big difference in the hotel rates, even though there are special rates for the quilt show.

Last year, all my sisters came to meet me there! That was fun. We had never been all together w/out the parents in all our mumpty-mumpt years. (There are 4 of us. 2 in Maine and 1 in Alaska, and me in England.) My friend Gabrielle went as well, so she became a sister for the week. The youngest sister stayed in the hotel room with us, which was fun, since we hadn't done the girly things together growing up (I'm the oldest. 2 boys are in between us as well.) And since she is in Alaska, we have rarely been visiting our family in Maine at the same time. So we often talked late into the night! Anyway, she is coming again, but the other girls can't do it this year, nor can Gabrielle. Our mom wanted to come, but she couldn't. So, Lin and I are looking forward to more girly time.

Both of us decided to sign up for several classes, and were surprised to be able to get all the ones we asked about. Lin didn't do sewing when she was little, like us older girls, so is taking some beginning quilting type classes. She has a creative brain, too, so she is already making costumes for her kids using her ingenuity. She had just made an Alice in Wonderland costume for her teenage daughter before she came last year. She lives on Kodiak, so doesn't have much chance for classes or even a wide range of supplies. And of course, this quilt show is the biggest, so if you have to leave the island, why not go there.

Me, of course, leaving this Island 2 times in 2 years is beginning to be 2 much! I prefer to be here, thank you very much.

One of the classes I will take is Hollis Chatelaine's Painting Images with Dyes. (very top prize quilter for IQF 2007) I feel sure I could use the techniques learned there to enhance my own work. Well I won't do it as well as she can! But there are some ideas in my head which could actually come out if I knew how to do some of these things.