Two months have passed since I last posted. I’ve had some fabulous experiences and some not so. The major “Not So” occurred pretty much after my last blog.
I had just finished an amazing one day trip to Yosemite National Park (an incredible photo op!) followed by a fun workshop at the Sierra Mountain Quilter’s Guild just outside the park. This was immediately followed by a full day of classes at the Quilter’s Studio in San Carlos, CA. Now, my son doesn’t live too far from there so I stopped in for an overnight before flying home the next day. We’re coming to the “Not So” fabulous part. When I opened the trunk of the rental car in the morning, my jaw dropped as I saw that my suitcases containing all of my quilts and displays and retail items had been stolen. Years of work had disappeared. It has not been found.
I had a workshop scheduled at the end of that week and didn’t know what I was going to do. So I called Marsha Cowan owner of the Bernina Sewing and Design Center (Las Cruces, NM). After explaining my situation, Marsha paused, then said “We’d love you to come. You can still teach. They didn’t steal that”. Now, I might be paraphrasing a bit but that comment was the beginning of the “Fabulous” part. Her confidence in me gave me just what I needed to pick myself up by the proverbial bootstraps. We had a ball. Great workshop with a great group of gals, employees as well as students. I can’t wait to go back.
Since then I have managed to get together some projects. Create some large photos of my work for dispays and done some exciting consumer shows like the Fiber Arts Fiesta in Albuquerque. My daughter came to help me run my booth there. That was “Fabulous”since we hadn’t had a chance to visit for a while. The “Not So” part was that she had lyringitis so the only way we could communicate was by notes. We still had fun.
Recently, my fourteen year old granddaughter joined me to work in my booth at the Martha Pullen Market. We made it a driving trip for “Us” time. Fourteen hours each way. I think I must have heard the David Archuletta CD at least eight times and I can pretty much tell you anything you’d like to know about the Jonas Brothers or Miley Cyrus. The show was HOT. My classes were full and I ran out of stuff. All said, it was a “Fabulous” experience – even the part where, after our long journey to get there (arriving at 11pm), the hotel manager said he didn’t have a room for us. It was a learning experience for my Michelle as she watched her grandmother “deal” with the “nice” manager.
Two months yields lots of stories but now I must answer the door. The exterminator is here. Seems like I have an abundance of flying ants invading my sewing room. That’s one of those “Not So” fabulous things.