Witch's Tea

Sunday, the 26th October, 2008, my friend Charri Hendricksen invited me to a Witch's Tea.

Here is Liane Wiley, owner of the Knitting Knook.

Doesn't she look like a natural witch!!!

The food was pot luck and as usual terrific. Charri has a lovely view of the Surry Mountain Dam area from her house.

Here are two photos of Charri's fabulous decorations. Each room is better than the other!

Teaching Textile Arts for a local Quilt Guild

Textile Arts is my passion. Can't you tell? On October 19 I had 10 marvelous students of the Cheshire Quilt Guild learn about dyeing and printing fabric, without a washing machine!

Look at these beautiful results. Printing, stamping, monoprinting, sun resist dyeing. Nancy Whitney created these fabrics for quilted and she claims to be not creative!

Yes, I am available to teach more quilt guilds. Inquire within!!

NYC - Madison Avenue

Everyone should spend a day in the Big Apple as a reality check. Do I live as a New Yorker? Sometimes! I am after all a native!

But a long walk on Madison Ave is so much fun. The New York socialites dress to out do one another. Most people wear black. But the highest fashions and most expensive everything is on Madison Avenue. Here are two photos of the scarves in Searle. Note that the scarves are either knitted or shibori - design wise, right up my alley!

After a delicious salmon salad at the Nector Cafe - which set me back about $30.00, I spent an hour at Annie and Co knitting store. There I found a fabulous selection of knitting books.

Yes, I bought two with kids patterns. Afterall, I am the expectant grandmother of twins!


Lastly I went to the Whitney Museum of Art. Crowded!!! My peaceful life in NH has eased me into liking no crowds. The Alexander Calder exhibit was terrific.

It was a long day but very invigorating. I am looking forward to my next trip!

NY Sheep and Wool Festival

Economy in the tank? Hardly! On the 18th October I took a bus trip to the NY Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY. I have never seen so many people on a buying frenzy. The lines for shopping, eating, driving, etc were never ending.

It was a great way for me to save money because I could not get into the booths to buy anything.

I so much wanted a philosopher's wool sweater kit. But I couldn't get waited upon. Therefore, I will work on my stash. The best thing was a sign which said that Yarn Stock never crashes!

Beth Lipman at the RSID Museum of Art

Upon walking along Benefit Street in Providence, RI, we tripped upon the RSID Museum of Art. It was our actual destination to see Beth's art. It was a major installation and these are only a few of the photos that were taken. It is titled After We're Gone. Beth, today, had a write up in the New York Times Design Magazine. http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2008/09/28/style/t/index.html#pageName=28lipman

October 16 is the kick off of her Steuben collection in NYC. When Steuben was on Fifth Avenue, many years ago, our cousin did a photography study of the Steuben Store. The photography collection by Sam Gottscho is in the Museum of the City of New York. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Gottscho

And here you will find the Steuben Glass Beth Lipman Collection.

http://steuben.com/acb/ss.cfm?section=24&group=142

Providence, RI

We are home after a whirlwind three days in Providence, RI. What a fabulous artsy city. We had two days of rain which dampened our activities a bit. Less walking and more driving, that sort of thing.

Providence was settled by Roger Williams in the early colonial days. Many statues and tributes to that fine ole chap! There is a canal (with lots of fish) through the city. Many times there are firelight exhibits there but the rain caused the cancellation of that activity for the time we were there.

Above is the exterior of a potter's studio. The non black areas of the exterior are clay.

Providence has many similarities to Philadelphia: brick and stone streets, old but charming houses on the historical register, narrow streets, few steep hills, vibrant arts community, good restaurants, etc.

This house is on Benefit Street. Many homes there have historical markers dating the home.

One evening we ate at Constantino's

in the Federal Hill part of the city. Also known as Little Italy.

This is part of the ambiance of the courtyard at Constantino's.

Mancuso Quilt Show, Manchester, NH

Last Saturday I went to see the International Quilt Show in Manchester, NH. Here are some of the quilts from that show.

I spent most of the day in a class with Jennie Rayment learning her origami style of folded fabric pieces.

I loved this blue and white quilt which she showed in class.

All new techniques for me - now to finish it!