Virtual Reality

I had the most interesting virtual experience today! 

I belong to an online discussion group.  We are an eclectic group from all over this country, Ireland and England.  This means quite a diversity in time zones.  We discuss books, cooking, life, philosophy, pets and anything else that crosses our thoughts.

Today was our England member’s birthday.  Early in the week I proposed we have a party today and I offered to bring champagne, lemonade, iced tea (sweet and non) and asked one of our other members to bring the cake (she makes cake pictures with punctuation and symbols).  Everyone took to the idea immediately and started offering other items they could “bring.”  There was quite an assortment of dishes and shared recipes, decorations and even an offer to make dogs from balloons if someone else could blow up the balloons..  And because so many people had other commitments today, I suggested we make the party an open house so people can come and go instead of all meeting at the same time.

The day dawned with our birthday girl pronouncing the fun she was having with the champagne and the cake – after all, she is 5-8 hours ahead of most of us.  Throughout the day I checked in on the forum and discovered that everyone was indeed having a marvelous time at the “party.”  All discussion was in the present tense and it was so inventive, it felt like we were all together, eating, drinking and dancing.  Yes, there was even music!

Everyone agreed it was the best party ever.  Now, this was my first experience with an alternate reality but I found it quite intriguing.  I think it stretched my imagination.  I haven’t played “pretend” for over 50 years.  It got me to thinking – how would it be to make a virtual quilt?  A quilt solely out of descriptive words. 

Of course, it probably works best with a group.   Anyone game?

The Pressure of Deadlines - "I need a wife!"

Do you find yourself with deadlines and then get frazzled over them?  I sure do!  In fact, sometimes I think I need a wife.

A wife often keeps the house, organizes the family activities, does the laundry and the keeps the larder stocked and food prepared.  If I had someone to do all that for me, I’d be able to meet my deadlines.  I’m sure of it!

Between the block of the month I’m stitching for the shop, my own designs and keeping up with class samples, I am falling behind.  Oh, don’t get me wrong – I’m not complaining.  Oh, maybe I am, but I certainly don’t mean to.  Being too busy is a far sight better than having nothing to do!  And there is so much fabric and so many patterns and so little time!  Maybe that’s all I need – MORE TIME!

Where do you feel pressure?

Painters, Quilters, Color

I went to an art fair and met a painter by the name of Kathy.  (I’m tellin’ ya, there is something magical about the name Kathy and how it correlates to creativity!)  We got to chatting about her work.  She asked if I paint so I explained how I used to work in oil and now I work in fabric.

Kathy told me of her first experience of going on a Shop Hop.  She was so taken by how visual quilting is and how colors are used.  She got so excited by it, in fact, that she, while not actually making quilts, is rather quilterly in her color choices.  She loved the idea of choosing a focus fabric and then pulling colors from it to create a painting’s pallet, something quilters do regularly.

Kathy teaches and says she now uses the exercise of choosing the focus fabric and coordinating fabrics as one of her ways to teach color to her painting students.  Isn't that an interesting concept!