Sky High in Colorado

Hello friends - I am finally back with a long overdue blog post...you know how it is - take a short vacation and spend weeks playing catch-up with work. We had a wonderful trip to Colorado - fresh mountain air - nature - time with friends....beauty in the journey. It was a lot of driving, but I enjoyed the quality time with my husband...and I came home refreshed and a little lighter - spending time outdoors always gives me a feeling of calm and helps me see "the bigger picture." I took a million and one photos (what's new??) and gained some perspective, while finding inspiration for new creative projects! The breathtaking autumn colors were just starting to appear...and even though there is currently snow on the ground, it was unseasonably HOT during our visit.  I will let the images do the talking (I'm just posting a few favorites) - and then post a short update at the end....

I hope you enjoyed just a glimpse at the beauty we encountered during our trip! For now, it is back to work with all sorts of holiday orders in the works. I have over one hundred project bags cut, fused and ready to sew (although, I am still waiting to get my fancy machine back from the shop - they are waiting on a part) and I have been doing all sorts of needlework finishing...the Christmas rush is on! I will be posting a few updates soon with images I can actually share. It is slower going with my older sewing machine, but I'm doing my best to stay on track. Another slow down (and partial reason for the delay in this post) - our Internet was out for over a week while we were waiting for a new router/modem to be installed - yeah, that was challenging...but things seem to be back to good again. With my husband's travel schedule, life continues to be insane here (especially with a possible move on the horizon)...but things are humming along and it is a joy to be creative/artistic every single day. Thanks for visiting with me today...and I hope you'll stop back soon...

Magical Masterpiece - Desert View Watchtower

Today I (finally) have more photos to share from my recent trip to Arizona/Utah...I don't want to be that annoying person that shares a million photos from a trip that no one has much interest in; therefore, it has taken me some time to decide how much I want to share and the context. I took in an unbelievable amount of artistic beauty...and this location definitely deserves an entire post of it's own - the Desert View Watchtower, located on the South Rim near the eastern edge of Grand Canyon. These are, in my opinion, extremely inspiring images...and while I tried to capture the incredible details and artistry with my camera lens, these photos don't even begin to give this stunning stone tower justice.

First a little about the architect, artists, and history of this grand landmark...

The Desert View Watchtower was designed by Mary Colter (if you don't know who she is, Google her!), a prolific American interior designer and architect...and if you've been to the Grand Canyon, chances are, you have seen her breathtaking designs (Hopi House, Hermit's Rest, the Bright Angel Lodge complex, Phantom Ranch buildings, and Lookout Studio, to name a few...and yes, she decorated the famous El Tovar Hotel). To me, her style was admirable - blending her buildings into their surroundings mixing multiple styles, elements, and materials...she beautifully combined Native American art, Spanish Colonial Style, Mission Revival Style, and Southwestern elements. The more I research her history and her work, the more I am inspired...she has given me a new found love of Native American craftsmanship and motifs.

The historic Watchtower is a four-story, 70-foot stone building completed in 1932. The carefully arranged texture mixture of stones, rock, mortar, and concrete somewhat resembles an over-sized Ancestral Puebloan tower...and it overlooks the south rim of the Grand Canyon with spectacular views of the Colorado River and the Painted Desert. The tower interior is decorated with bold and beautiful murals painted by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie and detailed petroglyph-style motifs by Fred Greer. I could go on and on (and on and on) about this marvelous structure and the picture perfect details inside and out (like the vast array of irregular window sizes - bringing in the optimum amount of light and providing amazing views...and the fireplace that left me speechless) but there is plenty of written information, if you wish to study it further. For now, I will share a selection of my favorite photos...and just maybe, you will find them as magical as I do...

Just a note...
Long time readers of my blog may remember a post I did back on August 31, 2014 when my husband I visited the Grand Canyon and the Desert View Watchtower...back then, the tower housed a large retail shop and it was like a tourist market inside (very crowded and uncomfortable and you couldn't see any of the brilliant wall murals). In 2015, the National Park Service took over the tower and has worked hard to restore the structure to Mary Colter's vision, removing the commercial marketplace. On this visit, we arrived shortly after 8:00 AM when the entrance opens and before the crowds arrived, giving me the prime opportunity take photos and admire the magnificence.

Finally, for those who have 10 minutes and would like to learn more about Mary Colter and the Desert View Watchtower, here is an excellent video from the National Park Service...
If you can't see the video here, visit this link: https://www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm?id=6AF7C29B-155D-451F-67ED6E0546596E5B

Making Memories

Once this is posted, I will be on my way to Arizona to hike the Grand Canyon...and I am beyond thrilled/excited/giddy! Dan (my mommy's husband) started planning this trip for us over a year ago and has an entire week of excursions planned for us...not only are we hiking the Grand Canyon (which is a dream in itself!), we are also headed to Monument Valley for a Navajo Spirit Tour...then driving to Sedona, where we will take a Pink Jeep Tour, a train ride, a hot air balloon ride (yes, I said a hot air balloon ride), and go horseback riding...so I will have wonderful photos and things to share with you upon my return.

Now, the fine print...
Please note:  I will be out of my studio/office through Monday, May 1st with extremely limited communication; therefore, I will respond to all correspondence (e-mails, orders, Etsy inquiries, FB messages, comments, etc.) in the order received on Tuesday, May 2nd - thank you for your patience!

Here is a little needlework inspiration for my absense - this is "Schoolgirl Samplings" - for more information on this Blue Ribbon Design, visit: https://blueribbondesigns.com/schoolgirl_samplings.html

I will see you upon my return...when I will be blogging about my newest original quilt block in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 15...and I just may have a giveaway or two...stay tuned!!

Fresh Air and Quiet Time

Once in awhile, we all need a chance to unplug and recharge...so when my husband had an unexpected week home from business travel several weeks ago, we decided to get our bass boat out of winter storage and make an impromptu trip to Lake Fork, Texas (about a 10.5 hour drive from our home). We had about a week to get our plans in order, gather supplies, and make arrangements...which went rather smoothly, as my husband has traveled to Lake Fork for bass fishing in March for the last 15 years. I was excited to make my first trip to this fishing paradise and go radio silent for an entire week at the Minnow Bucket Marina - Big Bass Lodge...however, I was concerned a week on the boat from morning til night might be a bit much for me. Much to my surprise, I found it quite relaxing...and although fishing was slow that week, I still managed to catch quite a few (at least for me!)...most of them were small largemouth bass, but I did catch a very pretty silver carp just shy of 6-pounds (to my recollection, the largest fish I have ever caught)...and before you ask - yes, we catch and release - we didn't keep any of the fish we caught. It felt great to go radio silent and just enjoy the water and nature and I learned quite a few things...like how great my bladder is, how often sunscreen needs to be applied, when to take motion sickness pills with a storm quickly approaching, and that I NEVER want lip injections (I had a severe allergic reaction that caused me to have VERY swollen lips). Although there were a few challenges, it was a much welcomed week of quiet with beautiful sunrises and sunsets and quality time with my husband...and I really did feel refreshed when I returned home. Here are some of my favorite photos from the trip...a couple of which are inspiring some of my upcoming quilting/stitching projects...click on any photo for a larger view...

Average size of the largemouth bass I caught...

Average size of the largemouth bass my husband caught...

American Coots 

I hope you have a chance to get outside and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you, even if just for an hour or two...the fresh air and quiet time is good GREAT for the mind, body, and soul...

Back to Basics

Hello friends...oh, how I have missed you! In the many years that I have been blogging, this is by far the longest I have gone without a post...I have been spending some much needed time taking care of me and I thank you for being patient. Things have been challenging for the first quarter of 2017, but I am getting back to basics and have all sorts of fun things to share with you. I have been busy traveling, designing, creating, and trying to find balance. Life has been full of inspiration and creativity the last couple months and I'm back today to start sharing some of my joy - so, let's get caught up!

Let's go all the way back to February this afternoon. Escaping the winter blues and traveling to Florida for a little rest and relaxation has almost become a yearly occurrence, thanks to my mom and her husband Dan. This year my husband was traveling for business, so I made the trip to visit them on my own. It was a glorious week, filled with all sorts of outdoor activities -  my mom and Dan were the BEST hosts and I got to do so many wonderful things (I am blessed)! It was exactly what I needed to replenish my spirit. I was able to spend time at the ocean (Clearwater Beach and Canaveral National Seashore)...visited the Harry P. Leu Gardens (the most incredible 50-acre botanical grounds - I could have spent days there!)...hiked the Enchanted Forest Nature Sanctuary and walked the Visitor Center Boardwalk at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge...visited  Disney Springs - played mini golf at Fantasia Gardens and indulged in ice cream at Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop...explored Silver Springs State Park and took a scenic St. John's River Cruise...then had an incredible birthday dinner at Jiko (at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge). Yes, it was an incredible trip and gave me some clarity that I desperately needed. As usual, I took a ton of photos for creative inspiration and I thought I would share some favorites with you today...

I hope you enjoyed my photo journal from Florida...and just maybe, some of my photos inspired you too! Look for more posts this week featuring my latest sewing/quilting projects, needlework finishing photos, beautiful birthday gifts, and more travel images from my recent trip to Texas (I told you, I have a lot to share)...