Battery Recharged

The week back has me in perpetual motion.  Tuesday Sewing Group (which did very well without my help while I was gone) a private Paper Piecing Lesson, Free Motion quilting class, and sewing, quilting, sewing.  Several quilting commissions have come in this week, as I guess folks are preparing for holiday gift giving. We love this bustle of business and the creative work it involves.  Mary brought back lots of interesting new materials from Quilt Market in Houston.  My favorite gadget for our long arm work is a series of rings that interchangeably give quilting control at specific distances from the hopping foot.  She also continued to quilt in my absence.

I missed being there, but tel aviv took precedence this time.
I met so many amazing people while I was away.  I want to share this.  Picture walking out of your house, going to either corner, turning left or right and landing in the middle of the most amazing craft fair every Tuesday and Friday. Stop for a cafe at a sidewalk cafe.  Buy fabric at any number of delightfully crowded shops. Meet accomplished artists from around the world, sitting on folding chairs at their tables, selling the most amazing artwork (and some, not so amazing, but nevertheless, full of the flavor of the city.)

Kashi Textiles – where we found African-inspired fabrics.

to be a kitchen curtain



the best frozen coffee drink, ever!

I bought the photo he's holding.

Sandu Mandrea is the photographer.  His photos  (and his son’s) are amazing.

 

Inspired by the Sea

I’ve been home for two days now, but still go to bed early and wake up earlier than I did before I went on Israeli time.  I have bunches to catch up on at
The Quilters Alley and lots to report from the other side of the world, as well.  It’s good to be getting up early.

I went all over the city of Tel Aviv, mostly on foot, and saw many interesting things.  The colors are especially intriguing to me and so for this round of colorful vintage objects, I’ve chosen turquoise, with a smattering  of green, because orange is still the most popular color in recycled objects.

First, my inspiration:

and it was beach weather, for sure!

I look forward to sharing more of my beautiful trip in upcoming posts!  Enjoy!

 

When I return

Now that I am a day away from my trip to Israel and a fortnight’s visit with my beautiful daughter,  I am prepared, packed and poised to board the plane.
I have imagined being there for several months now and almost am.  So my thoughts jump ahead to preparing for  my return in several ways.  I know how short a week is, how fast it passes.  I know that before I’m ready, I’ll be heading back.  (I have considered staying more than once, but the Quilter’s Alley and my Stu, need me, not to mention the pups.) I have to adjust to the fact that I can’t be near Shara, for now.  I also know that, as seductive as foreign culture is to me, it is not my reality – yet.  So what’s up at the shop?

Well, we missed Quilt Market because of my trip, but we still placed a HUGE order for Westminster,  Free Spirit, Art Gallery Fabrics, M & S Australia and all the associated designers.  It was actually a more relaxed, three-hour meeting with our favorite sales rep  and she came to us.  I am excited to start receiving the goods!  They will ship anywhere from NOW to January and we have big plans to reorganize the shop to feature our favorite designers.

I have selected several new groups that will take all the guesswork out of making a successful quilt.  Many of the fabrics are perfect for garments.  PS.  Shara just moved to the Tel Aviv Fabric District and I will be shopping knits, while I’m away.  I want to make some comfy dresses for the winter.

As a side note,  Oliver + S’s Husband, Todd visited our store today.  He honed in on our vintage buttons and I’m excited to be seeing some of them show up on Liesl’s  samples.  I’m happy to report that there are only the two new patterns missing from our stock — and I will have them shortly.

I just finished another (last-minute) quilting project for the Art Gallery Fabrics Houston booth.  We will ship it today.  I can now say I have quilts being shown in Houston.  It’s kind-of a joke because I didn’t bother to enter in the “real” show.  Who has time?  But it’s nice to be experiencing the excitement, vicariously, through my stitching.  I will however, miss seeing Patricia and Walter.

Now for photographs…  I can’t promise, but if the Mediterranean breeze is just right, I may post some on Flickr while I’m gone.

 

Holiday Season

I received the most pleasant gift today, via email.  All the free and downloadable, beautiful illustration work by Marliyn Scott-Waters.  It has inspired me to prepare the shop for the holidays with some of her incredible work. Her children characters, one of whom is named Pip, will enliven our paper doll theme in the Kid’s Corner of the shop.  Pip, short for Pippin, is the name of our lovely old (15) Jack Russell Terrier.  Pip paper doll will be dressed up as a pumpkin-skeleton. The rest of the characters  in an assortment of adorable illustrated costumes.  I printed them on matte photo paper so they would be more lasting.  The colors also show up better on photo paper.

Our circus them, ala Brimfield’s vintage fabric find will be enhanced by a mini circus book.  I love that Marilyn’s circus has dogs in it.

And yes, I’m also working on quilts and will be up until the time I board the plane for Israel.

Commissioned by Art Gallery Fabrics

Alexa's Quilt

My newest pattern is finished! Weave Gauche

I know how much work applique is...

 

Where am I?

I know where, but some of my loyal followers are probably wondering where I’ve been.  That’s because I’ve been spending (too brief)  time with my Israeli daughter,( and my New England daughter, ) learning a new language, quilting, entertaining textile dignitaries, sewing, flea marketing and resizing all the photographs that document these activities.  Not time to post until now.

We’re excited that crisp autumn air is bringing people to their sewing senses and creativity is again in season.  The recently added fabrics are getting fabulous feedback and, with that, selling well.  The students are flocking for pillow and drawstring bag projects and we’re please to be collaborating for another year with the Ridgefield Consumer Science departments.

With Sundays off  this summer, we have taken to making up for all the tag sales we haven’t made it to in the last four years.  Hence, Elephant’s Trunk!   Our visit to Brimfield was actually an offshoot of this favorite diversion of ours.  This week I took the camera:

Some vendors create vignettes of home sweet home.

Most just put it all out there for the viewing.

Most stuff is used.

Some stuff is unusual.  We have since added to our garden sculpture collection.  When you run out of room inside, dress outside. I was even motivated by our exterior decorating, to do some overdue pruning.  My poor, neglected garden!

Hi to (another) Roxy, our fave waitress, at the Windmill Diner, our after-flea breakfast spot.

On an indoor note: We were visited by one of the Metropolitan’s  Textile Curators.  Wow!  And she bought fabric.  ”Which fabric?”  you ask.  The reproduction of the Brimfield circus print.  How interesting.

Metropolitan Museum of Art Textiles

Shara arrived on July something, something, a bit of a blur, a few short days until she flew to Phoenix and drove to Colorado.  I am happy she finally got to see the Grand Canyon on her way to friends’ wedding.  Love the shoe shot.

Here in no particular order:

New York, former roomie

We did some super cool cultural city things like MOMA.  An Israeli artist is installed there at the moment.  ”Coincidence is the messenger of truth.”  And the coincidences just keep coming.  I love museums and am drowning in the artistic overflow at the moment.  No time, but to work.

Some of the inspiration:

Scraps of a China exhibit

What a paradox; he's amazingly disciplined!

Fiber overload!

I got to the city, said, “I want to buy something on the street,” saw an amazing artist who had original pieces that almost looked like quilts and I bought a beautiful blue and gold piece that I absolutely love, and discovered Martha Murphy.  I didn’t really discover her, but am now aware of her talent and love it.

Pieces of Israel, now in NJ

Family Reunion

Teddy Bears in my repertoire

So a few more quilts, good feedback, artistic license, stress and joy, the ever-persistent balancing act of life.

 

Israel is the site of the most ’70’s lampage and other cool facts

I actually took all these pictures in the Arab Market except for the big chandelier which is hanging from the ceiling of Max Brenner, Tel Aviv

Other cool facts… (double click)

 

Eze yom sameyach (This is a happy day)

Ally & Shara

Shara reporting in real time…

David joined them at (Kikar) Rabin Square

Don’t they look so…. happy!

And finally some more tmunot (pictures)

some beautiful place near Jerusalem

at the Wall

ah!……

 

They’re Off…

This morning  (Sunday, the 31st) I started a very short photo journal of Ally and Kate preparing for  their trip to Israel.  I am happy.  I am sad.  My girls will be together tomorrow, after nine long months.  I am not with them.   Shara will meet  Ally and Kate at Ben Gurion Airport.  As I write, they are still lifted on wings of jet power.   But soon will be landing and hugging and bringing hugs from Momma and Daddy, too.  And then, Ally will go on her tour, and Shara promises to stalk the tour, so she can be near/with her sister.  

Kate & Ally

 

They repacked their bags in anticipation

Okay, Moma, one more picture.

Okay, Deeds, one more smooch.

I documented their waking moments, the bags they will lug through Israel for the next week and hugs so-long until next week.  I had a bit of Israel for Mothers’ Day, too, but I’d much rather be on the plane with them.

 

I shall return…

The week we spent in Israel was too quick, of course, but most fabulous! Views, tastes, people, sounds and some of the most torrential rains of Israeli Winter. And don’t forget inspiration. Often, what we gain most from travel is a change of viewpoint, or at least an easing of it.   The days ahead will reveal that of course, but a brief look at the recent gorgeous past.

Rosh Pinah balcony: Looking toward the Sea of Galilee

A quilt, maybe?

New fabric from Westminster, Free Spirit arrived on Monday.  Stay tuned!

 

Until we return

I want to bring the blog up to date before we take a week off for our trip to Israel, to visit Shara.  The three weeks since we made our reservations have hurried us to this point, with loads of  projects and preparations that have kept me busy, busy.  We have continued to quilt, some of the very largest kings in the last week and I’ve finally got to record the exciting results on my camera for your pleasure and enjoyment.  

 

I have collected lots of request items to pack in our luggage to bring Shara  the tastes of the States that she misses most: cheese macaroni, goldfish and ring pops.  An entire suitcase overflows into our bags with boxes borrowing room not available in the original one bag we allocated for her treats.  It’s like visiting your kid  at sleep away camp, except they aren’t coming home in a couple of weeks.

I have  gathered the longest skirt I own,  a shade of persimmon, a kerchief (eggplant and gold), special kippot, a pad for my prayers, film and batteries for my camera, a bathing suit (!) and walking, walking, walking shoes. I’m preparing the hand applique project for the 10 hour plane ride, although we both hope to sleep through the night – not likely.

I’m putting the finishing touches on an apron for Shara, full bib and ruffles at her request.  There are a few loose ends with store projects, like the new pattern sample I finished and the Molly Story Quilt that I would like to start quilting.  But  I’m at the point when some things must now wait…