Emptyspoolsseminars-dates for 2010

http://emptyspoolsseminars.com/
Now I keep getting letters from people asking how to get into my classes for Emptyspoolsseminars.com for next year. Keep watching this month and any day now, they will post the full schedule and photos for 2010 workshops. This is also know as Asilomar. If you haven't visited Asilomar, you are missing out as it is the BEST quilt happening out there for five full and wonderful day where you too can make your very own story quilt in my workshop. I have new tricks up my sleeve and many wonderful people who come and would love to meet you. There is also two spaces in the workshop this summer in the end of August,beginning Sept. (2009). The quilt above just got it's copyright and will be in my new book out this october. Isn't it wonderful? I look at color and your stash in a different way and hope to work with you on making your quilts more exciting, more fun and more creative! NOTE-we are still selling alot of these fun fabrics and the alphabet too on my website at http://www.marylouquiltdesigns.com/
The borders are always done with the Hoochy Mama technique found in my book and the Flower Power book that is available on the website also.

Getting stuff out of the drain-great tip!

http://www.familyhack.com/2007/08/29/drain-tip

LITTLE ROCK ROCKS! AND PETER MAX AT THE CLINTON LIBRARY

This is the coolest hand mural I have ever seen!
Below is my hostess Shirley who stood in front of the rose bushes to show how lovely they were and she got rained on. My goodness if you don't live in the South, you don't know thunderstorms! Scared me to death....I almost crawled under the bed like a dog. Haha

Below I am hiding a private part of a statue to make this blog G rated. Shirley above took me to her daughter's house for a Mother's Day dinner. It was cooked by her husband and it was german food and fabulous. Plus the added bonus was the house was a virtual museum. My camera was out of juice in the battery, so you have to imagine how wonderful it was.

I am always talking about gestures-look at this kid below on an ad- isn't it wonderful?

I took a photo of this because it would make a great quilt too! Lovely color & design!

Shirley told me about this wonderful fish place in downtown Little Rock and it is wonderful. Every kind of fish you can imagine (I am not kidding) and the Southern Fixin's to go along with it including banana pudding and key lime pie for dessert. Thought you would love seeing the walls as much as I did- lots of fun and laughs....

The fish was fresh and wonderful as was the pickled green tomatoes and the coleslaw!

if you travel much you notice that in the South people are genuine, lovely and polite and men help a lady with the door, the luggage etc., and everyone smiles and greets one another- it is wonderful! Below is a good example of Little Rock and why I love it. My camera battery ran out and I went into this store to purchase a battery charger. My battery fit so snug in the holder I couldn't get it out so I told the man I would just wait until I got home. He said "if you would like, I can charge it overnight and then you can pick it up in the morning and I would be happy to do that for you." I said "you're kidding." Anyway, he did this and was so nice that I had to give him a HUGE plug for being so wonderful and such a good example of the generosity of Little Rock.

If you live there please visit his shop-it has great frames, albums, cameras and tons of wonderful things and he is a doll!

So, on Mother's Day, Shirley picked me up at the airport and asked me if I wanted to visit the Clinton library. I said "sure!" I don't miss a Museum chance. And I was so glad because there was a huge Peter Max show there. When I was studying art, he was IT. I had all kinds of articles and I read everything I could about his art and I had a Peter Max clock, bedspread and lamp in my bedroom. How pathetic is that? Haha. Anyway , I thought you would enjoy his art. I did.

So, I try to be politically void on this website-politics divides and I don't like that. I want us all to be one. :0) Anyhow I took some art photos from the library and there was wonderful history there and all kinds of things to overload your senses and make you exhausted and wanting more. The dishes, the dining tables, the gifts they received, the papers all catalogued (unreal!), the other things there are all interesting and fun to see. I highly recommend seeing it if you get to Little Rock. The people who work there are wonderful (of coarse).

These two dolls were fabulous.

Chihuli anyone? I have seen alot of his work since I am from Washington but this was over the top of his tops....it was fabulous.........

This picture is what I love about kids.....it was my favorite thing there...even better than Peter Max.

Flowers in My Garden and the Bugz Show-Children's Art Makes Delightful Quilts-HINT HINT

Today was a beautiful and sunny day and my Grandkids and I took a tour through the yard. There is so much work to be done! But there is alot in bloom and it is very pretty back there.

My Aunt bought each of us girls a lovely rose bush to plant in memory of my Mother for Mother's Day. How is that for something wonderful? A living tribute. :0)

There isn't alot out there but I did capture some color and beauty.

OK, now that the flower show in my yard is over, I want to share the picnic play my Granddaughter's first grade put on this week. I adore kids art! This was so incredibly fun and wonderful. Each child was a different kind of bug and it was all bug songs...one after another and all darling.

Below can you see the paper butterflies dancing above and the light behind them went on when they sang the song about the fireflies....darling in every way-I grinned the whole show

Tomorrow I am off to Little Rock,ARKANSAS for a lecture and a self portrait class! Prepare for fun, adventure and laughter while we enjoy each other and the sunshine!

Isn't it amazing that simply by repeating something you create wonderful art?

Just thought I would show you an example that I talk about in my new book. One way of being really creative and creating something wonderful is by repeating the same thing over and over. Isn't this cool-so colorful and visual too! This works well with quilts, paintings and collage....so, repeat!

Today is Mom's funeral and this poem is lovely for anyone wanting to express this in a great way.....

Ada Dransfelt has long been a friend and student of mine and she is incredibly talented. Her daughter Pam sent me this poem she wrote and I put it in the bulletin today they will hand at out at church at the funeral for my Mother. I wanted to share this with you.
FAMILY REUNION
I used to dread the change called death
It bothered me a lot
To think today I might be here
Tomorrow I might not.
Since then my life has shown me
That God is always near.
If I’m His child and live in Him
What change have I to fear
For somewhere in His universe
A door will open wide,
And those I loved, and thought I’d lost
Will welcome me inside.
Ada M. Dransfeldt
Love to each of YOU