GYPSY QUILTING

For I am just a gypsy quilter,

Needle and thread in tow,

I stitch my stories as I travel,

Across this land I go.

Yes, it's that time again...moving time. Transitioning. Packing up and heading out.
Tomorrow we head north to our summer spot in Refuge Cove. Four days later we'll arrive. There will be friends along the way to visit, and familiar places to enjoy. And lets not forget all that last minute shopping.

I have these three little story quilts from my "Signs of Life" project ready to go. Thank goodness I don't get car sick. I can stitch away mile after mile, ferry ride after ferry ride.

Refuge Cove, here we come.

AND MORE BIRDS

I just finished a job for a woman in Victoria. These pillows have been on order for almost 9 months. They've been "gestating" in my mind during this time and finally made it to cloth in the past month. They are done, finished, and ready for the drive north in a few days to pass them on to her (and to head to Refuge Cove for the summer).

 

I really can't get enough of these birds!

 

JOURNALING AND MORE JOURNALING

I've been doing a lot of that lately...journaling. Cloth Journaling. For two different purposes:
1. My Cybre Fibers group
We have 12 wonderfully challenging themes this year: Underwater,Victory, Balance, Reflections, If Pigs Could Fly, Wisdom, Finally, Ritual, Faces, Intersections, The Humble Bumblebee, and Crystal Ball. Now that's a mouthful, and a full and delicious plate of journal topics to play with. Here are some I created recently. Can you figure out which themes these are????

This is a sweet little poem about TRAVELING by James Reeves.

 

I really love this little piece, along with it's message.

 

 

My sweet little birds.

 

 

The name of this one is Glacier Bay.

 

 2. and my recent Signs of Life Project: Since November, I have been journaling my travel experiences. This gypsy quilter has been on the move this year: Jacksonville, Mazatlan, Kentucky, Guatemala, Guadalajara, Colima, Seattle, and points between. I've been journaling on cloth (in the same format as my Cyber Fibres group) throughout my journeys and telling the story behind them. It's an immensely fulfilling and motivating project.

Stay tuned!

SISTERS OF THE CASTOR BEAN

The recent news of letters tainted with ricin being sent to high officials (Obama being one) is a bit problematic for our group of traveling friends. Just because ricin is an extract of castor beans, which can then be administered in very small amounts to kill someone, doesn’t mean we’re in on the sadistic side of it.

It was just a silly passing comment, perhaps aimed at an annoying woman or uncooperative spouse, that castor beans could be the solution. After a few more references to the power of the castor bean (all in fits of laughter of course!) we quickly claimed the name for our traveling partnership: Sisters of the Castor Bean!

Each year a group of eight women (with members floating in and out with life’s demands) travels to a Spanish speaking destination. Our tie that binds us is that we all spend the winter (or longer, for some) in Mazatlan. AND we really like each other and have lots of fun together. So far, we have been to Michoacan, Oaxaca, Mexico City and surrounds, Chiapas, Guatamala, and next year to Costa Rica.

Last year we were greeted at the airport in Guatemala City by our van driver (sweet Guillermo) holding up the name of our group. It was the perfect beginning to another fabulous trip.

But now this castor bean/ricin attention is not good for our group. Do we need to hide our identity just to stay on the safe side? Is it like joking about bombs and guns when you go through security at the airport?

I think Sisters of the Castor Bean should carry their name with pride! Think of it this way…if the FBI shows up at our doors, we’ll all go down together and make it another great trip!