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!

 

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!

CREATING ON THE ROAD

We've taken a road trip this month...three weeks in Guadalajara and a week exploring in the state of Colima. Our goals were to see more of Mexico and to study Spanish. Both objective accomplished! Tomorrow we head back to Mazatlan.

But I can't live without my fabric and needles and thread, etc. etc., so I packed along a basket of supplies to keep me going on my quilt journals and "bird signs". I brought along 10 small pieces of batting and I'm happy to say I have filled them all up. I don't have a sewing machine with me but I did complete all the raw edge applique - and now I'm just waiting for TIME at the machine.
Here are a few of my half-finished creations.

 

 

DYE DAYS 2012-13

Rosemary brought a "show and share": her quilt from last year's hand dyes.



That's it for this year...17 days. Midst my travels to and fro, I squeezed in 17 good studio days with new and old friends who wanted to have some dyeing fun. Here are a few shots from our time together this winter.





Laura and Susan dyed these
 lovely cotton shawls.



Dora Alicia created this tie dye on manta
 and then took it home and
made a very fun apron!



Barb produced this at a collage workshop.
 

 

Nat, from Comala, created this fantastic shirt.

This is Joyce's lively collage.

DYE DAY #2

Another Monday session at Cynthia's produced these beautiful overdyes. I once again prepped and packed them into the pint canning jars and headed over to Ashland for a fun afternoon of dyeing.

I used lots of binder clips, coins, and some hair rollers today.

 

 

And I just finished the initial ladder stitching on a collage produced at Christine's class on Sunday.