On a Gurney Journey

For those unfamiliar with a Gurney Journey he is the author & illustrator of the famous Dinotopia books.   He was the Artist in Residence at A&M's Department of Visualization this week.  So when my friend Carolyn (fan/stalker) found out he was doing a public lecture she put out a email to see who would join her on this adventure to see him.  Kris and I jumped on it and away we went.  

Let me tell you we had a adventure.  It started out at Yarntopia, the local yarn store. Where wool was to be found for felting.  

Starbucks for strength. 

About half way on our drive, Kris stopped at this great road side market.  Just a bit past the beginning of Hwy 6 exit off the 290 toward College Station.  It's on the left and so worth the stop.  She was there for honey.  I found green tomatoes but took a picture of the peppers because they were so pretty.   There was great pottery as well.  

Next stop was a quilt shop called Lone Star Quiltworks.  Very nice ladies and great choices in fabric and wool.  

After that a quick time filler at World Market then much needed dinner at Rudy's Barbecue. 
  

Finally off to the purpose of your journey and that was to see James Gurney.  I put a link below so you can check out his blog.  Carolyn says he is a great blogger because he post most every day.  Good lecture on his process and how his story came about.  After Carolyn and Kris got their books signed.  He draws a dinosaur with his autograph, how great is that.  He signed my sketch book and even chatted with us a bit.  Really gracious man.

http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com

My conclusion is even if you are not on a Gurney Journey, go out in the world with your friends and have your own journey.

Back To Quilting

For me summer is over.  The kids are back to school and I get to go back to quilting.  I have a birthday quilt I started at the last retreat that I'd like to finish.

It's always nice to have a little company.

Work is piling up.

Fruits of my labor from over the week.

I made a lot of excuses why I couldn't quilt over the summer.  Had something that needed cleaning or I didn't want to pass up being with the boys when the schedule gods were in my favor.   But after this last week of on and off sewing I found a little piece of mind.  I think I might need to re-learn how to stop holding my breath for the next thing that comes around the corner and just sew. 

Finished 

Dragon fly quilting by Kris Bryson

Another close up.

Label

This quilt brings layers of love.

  A lot of it from me but some from the people you never met.  

That is a lot of love and caring.  And all of it for you my friend.

Made for Donna Bacon of Anchorage, AK

By Cheryl Johnson of Katy, TX

Quilted by Kris Brison

2014

36 x 74

Art Walk

Our art group "Out of Bounds" is going to participate in this Art Walk. It's our first time with this event. 

Come see us July 19th, 4-8pm at 2045 Space Park Dr., Nassau Bay 

Bonnie Blue and her award winning MERMAID ART CAR will be there. You know we love our Art Cars.

Decontructed Screen Play

I was on a retreat at Quilters Cabin with FiberVoices a few months back and decided to try my hand at deconstructed screen printing.  OMG!   I have never worked so hard or had so much fun.   The metamorphosis of this kind of screen printing is so satisfying.  I am going to try and not get addicted to doing this.  However anyone who enjoys dying of any kind has to try this at least once.   It will be worth it because the harvest of prints you will have to work with afterwords. 

The lines on the right side of the prints were created with box string.   Because the string is  thicker and cotton it left more of a design than a finer string would.   The negative space on the left I got using my Sizzix's to make my own stencils.

The spot coloration came from using bubble wrap.  I had a small square of it and added it at the last minute.

More bubble wrap and Sizzix stencils.

I had tried using a syringe to get a spiral drawn on but my print paste was too thick.   Ended up using a spoon.   I probably could have used my gloved hand and finger painted it on, but that again is what makes this so fun.   You can keep asking what if I…...

Now the big decision, which one do I start with.

Sunflower

It's such a beautiful day I stitched myself a little sunshine.  Sue Spargo's Creative Stitching book inspires which stitch I will use on this wool circle sampler I'm making. Today it's a sunflower.

Jewelry supplies

I have been down with the flu the last several days.  One can only take so many days lying around in bed.  So it was a pleasant surprise to recieve the jewelry supplies I ordered last week.  It wasn't a big order but I loved the attention to detail.  The thanks Cheryl sticker and the twizzler.  How cute is that. And in lime green my favorite neutral color.  LimaBeads.com made a fan of me.

Fiber Art 2014 opening

What a night.  Surrounded by art and talented women.  What more could I ask for.

The ART in Fiber 2014

Very excited about our groups upcoming show at the Copper Shade Tree.  Its the combined efforts of Out of Bounds and FiberVoices.  

There is a opening reception February 1st,  
2:00 - 5:00pm 

Happy 2014

Happy New Year Everyone.

I'd like to say I was still working on my blogging skills but that would be a lie.  The holidays were a roller coaster.  My husband Don was gone over Christmas visiting his parents because my mother-in-law had a stroke in October.  She is the one who gave me the gift of quilting.  Because of her I have the  all the friends that I do.  I love you for that Pearl.  

And welcome my mom (Frances) and brother (Jerry) who moved to Temple, Texas from Anchorage, Alaska.  They came a few days after Christmas.  The weather has given them Alaska and Texas temperatures in the last two weeks.  What a welcome.  

So thank you 2013 for the ride and welcome 2014 for all that is to come.

Had to add some of my goofy friends.  :-)
Joy, Me and Connie.

PS: We didn't plan the matching coffee cups we are just that good.