The excitement of folk art, quilts and new friends

Now I rarely share photos of good looking young men but this is the first person I met (at the airport) who was attending at John C. Campbell folk school. This is Brauck from Oklahoma and he just graduated from high school, is lovely on the inside, and cute on the outside and he had to leave our classroom because every woman in there had a girl for him. We later sat together at the end ceremonies. He reminds me of my own sweet son who has good morals and a great heart. This young man's Mother and Dad did a great job. He took blacksmithing and made a fabulous fireplace set and rose in a vase for his girlfriend.

This is Marilyn Wall who is well known in this area (North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia)for her quilting classes and expertise. Her quilts are fabulous! I had the priviledge to stay with she and her husband Kermit at their home in Seneca, South Carolina on the most beautiful lake you have ever seen. It was quiet and wonderful and Marilyn and her husband are two of the nicest people you will ever meet and talented too. In their home was handmade, stain glass windows, clocks that had fabulous wood, wallhangings, water color paintings, awesome quilts, all kinds of wood working things (chairs, pens, wine stoppers, holders, trims and too many to name)....everywhere was their first rate art work-plus mCCoy pottery, old linens and great old figurative pottery holders. Here Marilyn stands in front of her border which is all photos of her Grandchildren, children and their drawings. It is going to be a 50th anniversary quilt. If she teaches in your area, be sure to take a class from her.

This is Mary Lou. What fun to have another Mary lou in class! Mary Lou was a school superintendant and a wonderful addition to the fun and the color of the class. Her husband took woodworking while she took this class. That is the way to do it. Isn't this quilt great? She put flower power blocks in the middle just for fun-she does have a story to go in there.

This is Harriet who has enough energy for all of us. This is her first story quilt and she was alot

of fun and her husband was taking classes all week also. This is really the norm here.

Above is Carol who makes her own wood furniture and I mean awesome stuff anyone would love to buy. She makes clothes, weaves, does stain glass, and about everything else you can think of. Carol is a YOUNG 71 and is a real example of how to be exzuberant and exciting and creative.

Donna on the left of Carol was in the weaving class. I met her on the shuttle going from the airport to JCCampbell's. She dropped in to visit and we ate many meals together.

Above is Cathy who is funny and fun and has a million good stories and she is quick to think of funny things to make us all laugh. Her best friend is below. I am going to tell one of the stories here.

OK, this is Sara who is Cathy's best friend. Sara is hilarious too and she and Cathy met on a cruise to Turkey. They met when they found out they both quilted. Sara and Cathy both lost their husbands. Sara decided one night she had never owned a horse. So, the next day she phoned Cathy and said "I did some impulse shopping today." Cathy said "what did you buy now?" And Sara said "a horse." So that is going to be her quilt story. We all howled over this funny story. NOW THAT is impulse buying for sure!

This is Tina's blocks. I don't have a photo but Tina finished her quilt completely. She put my pattern "Sew Spoiled" into the center of this border and buttonholed it by machine and it is fabulous.

Here is Ann, finishing up her border. Isn't this a wonderful color pallette? Ann is a really experienced and talented quilter. Remember Ann because I am going to do a story about my birthday dinner at her home when I was in South Carolina. Ann's husband took French cooking while she took this class and he made us dinner. Stay tuned......

More borders and blocks for you to look at and enjoy..........








The folk art snake hangs on the wall in the studio-this studio has awesome light........

Here is a typical stash and the directions out of my book for the hoochy mama blocks.

Smiling while they quilt-isn't that great? No grumps.

Here are Ann and Carol who discuss the Hoochy Mama blocks in the book.

Here are the class comediens. I laughed so hard one day my stomach hurt that night. But I was still grinning when I went to bed.

Here is Jan who amazed all of us in many different ways. Jan has a creativity coach. Jan lost over 30 pounds last year. She decided she could barely walk up 2 flights of stairs so she ended up working through this and entered a contest to run 400 flights of stairs. She came in 6th in her age group. Next she decided she wanted to be in a play (which she had never done). She is now in the leading roll. And in one year she made 40 quilts to give away at Christmas....all in different pallettes. Then she took the names of each quilt, wrote a story, had a one woman show and then gave them away. We all had our mouths open when Jan spoke. She is amazing and she is lovely at heart. She is married to her highschool sweetheart who was taking blacksmithing that week. He was a fabulous person. Stay tuned for the heart he made in class, signed and gave me. It was a lovely birthday gift. I hope Jan will send me photos of her finished quilt pallette. She made up her own blocks and we all oh'd and ah'd. I wonder what she will do next. I plan to see her in a movie someday and as a New York Times best seller author.

Below is Silvia who also had a great sense of humor and got us all giggling. Silvia was stretching and learning about choosing her own colors and values. She makes all kinds of quilts and has been a real fan of John C.Campbell for many years.

Above are Silvia's blocks. Her worm was really creative and fun! And she made up her own flower on the top.

John C.Campbell Folk Art School is an incredible and lovely place

We had 12 lovely ladies in our class this week at the folk art school. With alot of real talent in the class and some really funny girls we had a ball and got alot done too. This was a great number to really become well aquainted and friends who plan to see each other again.


This is the name of the town (above)-North Carolina -Hollywood doesn't have anything on Brasstown!

Awesome touches of red on old and new buildings is wonderful

The entry of the textile studio where I taught-isn't this sign cool?

Above is just one of the guest cottages on the large grounds


Another guesthouse (above)

This is an awesome building called the Keith House. It has a large meeting room for programs and dancing and such and a nice library, guest rooms and a coffee center and all of the office space.

AntIQUE shops are everywhere in this area. I thought this sign was cool.

There is folk art everywhere on the grounds....I loved this funny man

I don't know what this building is but the roof had the most fabulous colored roof. I wished I had had time to paint it.

I only got photos of a small number of the interesting buildings on the property. There was so much to look at and so many interesting people from all over the world there

A photo of my socks ready to be on. I had lots of compliments about all of my socks. They are available on my website-Marylouquiltdesigns.com

On my way home tonight-LOOK AT THIS!! IT IS AWESOME

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rooyt3ptNco

Rebecka from Lincoln shows off her blocks

I just happened along into a student's blog-http://rebecka-rasmataz.blogspot.com/

Here are her sample blocks. You will see that she does cool stuff. Rebecka and Cathy and I went out to dinner and really enjoyed the evening. I am adding her blog to my links.

Linda Luks shares her Hoochy Mama fun! Aren't these beautiful? Plus how to make your kids turn into tamales!

Linda took a class from me in Walnut Creek at the Bernina class on Hoochy Mama quilts and look what great quilts she made. Below are her children who told her they were going to turn themselves into tamales. Good trick! Aren't these wonderful???

Darling darling girls! So wonderful to see pretty smiles and hear the giggles in your mind....

Loved this quote

"If your Mother wasn't so fancy, we could shop at the gas station like other people"-Homer talking to his kids.

Flower Power FUN-what a way to make an office Happy!-Travel overseas?

jeanne Mills and her daughter and friends had flower Power fun while making colorful wallhangings for her new office-aren't these happy? I miss Spring....

ON another note, Jeanne is my good friend who lived in France and takes people on the best textile trips in the business! If you would like to go to France or Japan and see exciting art and textiles, check out her website.

www.jeannemillstours.com
jeanne@jeannemillstours.com

Hoochy Mama is perfect for Beautiful Baby Quilts! Chris Taylor makes a memorable quilt for Baby Dear.

So, it is always wonderful to see what people use for fabrics in the Hoochy Mama class. Chris Taylor used the softest, prettiest colors and this photo doesn't show the beauty of each block. Maybe if you click on the photo you can see each one individually. It is beautiful and what Mama wouldn't adore this pretty quilt? hey, Chris, I love the green border....very pretty.

Here is Chris and I. Now I want you to notice something. Chris lives in Lincoln nebraska where the cold air will cut right through you. I have on a knit turtle neck, a double lined and quilted vest, a heavy suede jacket, a warm scarf and I look like I weigh 300 pounds. Chris on the other hand who is darling and petite, has on a little v-necked t-shirt and a light weight jacket. I am a wimp. Also, Chris has incredible hair. It is like angel hair. It is soft blond with pretty grey and other colors running through it. I couldn't help but stare.
Andrew Wyeth, the artist was wonderful in his later year of capturing hair with highlights and he would have loved her hair. Andrew died this week. He is one of my most favorite artists.
Can you see why I love traveling and meeting darling people and visiting new places? Each town or city no matter how small or big has magic in it and it is always the people that make you really love the place. If you are going by Lincoln,Nebraska, you will love it.

Lincoln's Sunken Gardens-A Place I long to Visit Again when it is WARM

So, the sunken gardens are filled with beautiful art and scultures. I only made it to a beautiful domb and I took photos as there are zillions of ideas and inspirations here. Isn't this wonderful?

Sheila who is a docent at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum ( website is www.quiltstudy.org ) took me to the gardens because she knew I would appreciate the art there and I do! If you have some time and want to go and visit an interesting place, Lincoln should be on your list. Every quilter should visit the quilt study center and take at least a day or two or a week or two and use their fabulous research library. Lincoln is so lucky to have this fabulous building and the collection of rare quilts!



This is all sheet metal surved in the round for a domb over a lovely patterned floor. Each detail cut precisely....it is wonderful. Lincoln has cold wind but they have something we don't have here. They have the sunshine out most days and so though it is cold, it is beautiful and makes you giddy with the color of the sky, the fresh air, the beautiful light and the art available throughout the city. I loved it!

Lincoln Nebraska -FUN Quilters, Quilt Study Center, Runzas,Great shops and Art!

HOOCHY MAMA! Lincoln Nebraska style. I don't know why we are missing a block. :0)

Below is Mr. Wonderful. I love his size and haircut! It was too cold to sit by him so I tried something else.

The man above that is in the Haymarket center is one of my most favorite sculptures ever. Kim took me to a fabulous brunch and on the way home we drove past him and I yelled "stop!" She was lovely in that she not only stopped, but she took my photos for me too. Brunch in Lincoln is a wonderful experience and they give all of the women a lovely fresh long stemmed rose. Thank you Kim!

Above is Kate at the end of the day in the Hoochy Mama class. There were a number of over achievers in the class and NO one was a whiner or complainer which is always so lovely. Lots of laughs and lots of nice people who shared great stuff! I have some new recipes to share here!

The above wallhanging was done by Kate's friend Martha. Isn't it wonderful? Since this it has grown even more.

I am sorry that my camera battery died before the show and tell at the meeting where many students got their wallhangings done (quilted and bound), and well on their way.

I would LOVE photos if you have them please.

Here is Martha who has a great smile and is president of the guild. My photography didn't catch her smile and eye sparkle....sorry Martha.

Above were my 25 students who took two days of Hoochy fun- one day Hoochy and one day Flower Power. Pictured are two of my hostess's Meylonie and Mary.

Cathy and Rebecca took me to dinner at Fireworks (a must eat if you are in Lincoln) and we had Philly beef steak pasta...it was the best thing I ate all year...I am not kidding.

Kate and Martha took me to lunch at the Engine house for good sandwiches and lunch fare.

AND I had Runzas twice in the week. This is a german sandwich my Grandmother used to make and I made once. They are filled with onions and beef. Really good and really regional too.

Here is a flower pot I made as a sample out of my bird fabric by Alexander Henry that I sell online...I love that stuff!

The lady (talented) who made this block also finished her flower power hanging as in quilted and bound. I forget her name (Jean?) but if she reads this could she send me a photo of her wonderful Flower Power hanging please?

Above is Martha with her Flower Pot. Pretty cute!

Above is Meylonie who was my hostess. She is showing her flower pot with a black and white background. Pretty cool! Note the buttons in the middle (stacked).

The infamous RUNZA!

Mary Lou entering the establishment for a taste of Nebraska!

If you haven't been to Lincoln, put it on your list.
Stay tuned for more on Lincoln and the International Quilt Study Center and Museum ( website is www.quiltstudy.org) it's a COOL city!