The Glamorous Life Continues!

On the 10th day of patching and painting my studio, I finished the job at 7:30 pm! Wow, it's finally done.

Day 11, is "put it back together" day.  Well, I was so tired after all the painting I decided I needed a break--so I took a nap instead. Eventually I did work at getting parts of the room back in place. The work is slow as I cleaned everything, tossed out stuff and tried to find all my rulers!  I reorganized all my patterns and book stock, so it is easier to fill orders, hooked up the TV and DVD player. My great grandmother's tea cart holds my phone, phone books, paper and pencils.  It took a long time to gently dust all the surfaces, clean the glass tray on the top and hook up the phone and answering machine. This is stuff I'm not good at: cleaning and organizing stuff. "Where did I put those rulers?"

Great grandma's tea cart, is now my communications center! This cart was formerly painted white and sat on the porch at Winona Lake--almost as long as I have been alive.  I am now its caretaker, a job I take seriously!

It was time to start dinner, so I went to the basement and got one more load of stuff to put away, and there they were. All the rulers were sitting under a huge stack of old drawings and notebooks!  I was afraid something had happened to the rulers.  Now the rulers are back in their corner stored above my cutting table.

My rulers have always been on the ledge near my cutting table.  Nothing felt "right" in my new studio until they were back in their place.

Now I can relax, I've found the rulers.  Tomorrow I will begin to hang my quilts and other artwork on my freshly painted walls. On Day 12 I'll give you a quilters tour of my studio next time.  Soon I will be back at my quilting.

Ann Fahl

It's a Glamorous Life

Recently I got back from a teaching trip in Monterey CA. They treated me very well there, and I had an enjoyable time. The students were amazing, I am proud of the work they accomplished in the 2 day workshop.  There were two highlights for me personally; I stayed with Dave and Sally who were wonderful hosts, they had a magnificent garden. Two, I took a beautiful drive down the Pacific coast on Hwy 1.  Rita and Stan were my tour guides. Here are some of the highlights.

Shore view with natural archway, it was a beautiful day.

Looking in the other direction the mist creates a mysterious view of the mountains in the distance

A hillside view of the succulent garden at the home of my hosts.  What a rich assortment of plantlife I rarely see in WI

This garden had multiple levels, these stairs lead to a view of a small canyon behind the house.

Upon my return home, a combination of events occurred and I decided to paint my studio. This is a job that is long overdue. I ripped off the dark paneling, patched, scraped and primed and textured the walls. There is probably about a week's worth of work remaining. Sometimes it is good to take time off from quilting designing and blogging. I'll get back to those things. This is just another part of my glamorous life as a quilt artist and teacher.

Here is the artist disguised as a house painter!

 Here I am dressed for a day of painting and patching, wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving.

Ann Fahl

Topstitch Needles Go on an Adventure!

For a number of years I've been selling my patterns, books and notions on the web.  When an order comes in, I am so pleased that someone likes my stuff enough to purchase it. Last year I decided to offer a 4 pack of Titanium needles on my website.  I really believe in them, they have made my work easier. 

Late in September a customer I will call Mary, ordered a 4 pack.  I shipped them to her Sep 28 in a hand addressed envelope.  Two weeks later, she hadn't received them so I shipped her another set.  This time with trackable label. Again, Mary let me know envelope #2 hadn't arrived and she was using her last titanium needle, wasn't there something I could do?  It's November by this time, and the tracking information said the envelope was undeliverable and would  be shipped back to me.  I wondered what was going on?

Here is envelope #1 as it arrived back at my studio after a month and a half

 So I sent her another package, again with a trackable label.  Finally envelope #2 arrived at her house.  It was too late, because #3 was already on its way.  Then envelope #3 arrived.  And just the other day envelope #1 arrived! Wow, all those envelopes were so late in getting to Mary's house!  Where do you suppose they went?

Do you suppose #1 made a stop in Hawaii, visited relatives, did it hide in the mail truck?  Mary wrote me again, after I told her all the extra packs had finally been returned to my studio.  She remarked, "no matter snow or sleet, the post office delivers."  So I guess it does, but we have to be patient.

Spring Gift, original quilt by Ann Fahl

So I've decided that after an early start, the needles went on a trip to Houston to see the big show and visit my entry Spring Gift, before they went on to Mary's house.  She was surely waiting for those needles, and this evening, I picture her as being warm and cozy; sewing a quilt in front of her fireplace!

Stay warm
Ann Fahl

This Really is My Last Post on the La Conner Show

Today a CD arrived in the mail from my cousin. Bravely, she took both her 88 year old father and her husband to see my show. She sent pictures that I have not gotten from others. I thought you'd like to see them. I'll keep it short.

The Gaches Mansion, houses the La Conner Quilt and Textile Museum photo by John Adams

This beautiful home is well cared for by its current occupants.  Currently there is a fund raising campaign underway for additional renovations. There are 3 floors that include exhibit space and a gift shop.  My exhibit, The Quilted Garden, is on the second floor.

A museum visitor studying a quilt on the second floor, photo by John Adams

My cousin Charlie pictured above is looking at my Coneflower Fiesta quilt which I have posted more than once on this blog. This is the first chance that he has gotten to see Indiana Memories, a quilt I made in honor of his mother!

Indiana Memories by Ann Fahl

The above swan quilt was made to honor Nelda Vibrans, my great aunt, who died in the 1990's.  Both of us loved Winona Lake IN and spent lots of time there.  The swan was a symbol of the area because there was a small swan pond downtown.  Nelda liked to sew, knit, was an artist and a singer.  She made a few quilts, of which I have one. The yellow leaves filled the Indiana autumn days when her memorial service was held.  I scooped some of them up on my way back to Wisconsin; and eventually they wound up in this quilt. The swan is sitting on a nest of magenta yarn, symbolic of her love of fiber and knitting.

End of the Season by Ann Fahl

This brilliant quilt is about autumn, a time when there is nothing left of my black eyed susans except the seed heads.  I placed them on bright patchwork to contrast the dying blossoms.  I love this piece because of all the hot colors on the patchwork. This quilt is included in the exhibit on the second floor of the museum.

Let me know if you get to see the show.

Thanks for reading once again.

Trying Something New

New tools to add to my toolbox!

Quilting has been an important part of my life since I since I walked into my first quilting class in 1978. Shortly thereafter, I started my own business, and I've been thinking, breathing, eating and dreaming QUILTING! I have made quilts numbering in the hundreds. Maybe I'm slowing down, or getting old, but I want to try something new.

Designing and making quilts will always be an important part of my life, but I no longer want to do this 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  I want time to do other things; to clear away the lint and take time to smell the roses and coneflowers!

Tonight I went to an orientation meeting for people that would like to become Master Gardener Volunteers. This is a program that is run by the University of WI extension service.  Other states have similar programs. They are looking for people that want to learn about all the facets of gardening and spend time creating new gardens in public spaces and helping others learn about growing things.  I want to learn more about growing plants and good garden design.

This could be the perfect new thing for me to try. It could be a life enriching experience, expand a community garden or two, and a perfect companion to my quilting life! Who knows what might develop? I'll have to wait and see what transpires.

Ann Fahl