Des Moines, here I come!!

Remember I mentioned being interviewed for Joe Cunningham's book, Men and the Art of Quiltmaking??  I submitted three quilts for inclusion in the book, and prepared a pattern for one of them.

Well, his book is now REALLY a book (a living, breathing, physical thing)!!

AQS (American Quilter's Society), the publisher is gonna launch the book at their show in Des Moines, IA, October 6-9.  Joe will be there, signing copies of his book.  One of my quilts will be there, as part of a promotional quilt show, in conjunction with the book launch.

And, I'M gonna be there, to stand near and talk about my quilt . . . I'm thinking of driving up for opening day and driving back afterwards (or maybe find a hotel along the way and sleep).

I've never been to one of these shows (no, I've never been to Paducah, either) . . . what are they like??  If you've been to one, I'd love to hear from you.

Studio Tour, 2010!!

Alright, alright . . . I told you I found my digital camera some time ago, but I haven't taken any pics of the new studio space (until this morning).

Here I am, nearing the top of the stairs to my studio, and this is what greets me:

. . . a mess, huh??  Another step or two, and I'm at the top of the stairs and you can see more of the room:

I'm facing south.  To my right is the only unbroken wall in the place; it's painted brick.  Leaned up against it are the top and shelf to my worktable, and my ironing board.  In the far corner are the sawhorses that support the ironing board.

Now, I'll turn to the left a bit . . .

Here's more of the room:  bookshelves, boxes, and a computer table that holds my sewing machine (in the case) and microwave (for fabric dyeing).

Now, a little more to the left . . .

This wall faces east.  There are two windows in this wall (one holds the a/c unit).  The only electric outlet in this room is just past the window on the left.  I have a rolling secretary's chair (which rolled fitfully on hardwood floors and this place is wall-to-wall carpeting).  There are three white plastic tables and one sewing machine cabinet (which isn't for the machine I have).

Now, a little more to the left . . .

You can't see it from where I'm standing, but that dark vertical bar at the left of the picture is the opening to a closet (I'll have to move into the room to take a picture of that).

Turning left again . . .

The opening to the closet is at the right of the picture, now.  The closet is neither very wide nor deep, and there is no door on it.

Turning left again . . .

This window faces north, and overlooks the roof of the second floor bedroom.

One final turn brings me . . .

. . . back to the stairwell I just came up.  There's a little shelf level with the floor.  I put my "Road Hog" on it:  he's a plush pink pig dressed in leather cap and vest.  When you squeeze his hoof, he dances and sings a cute little song that ends, "c'mon baby, talk dirty to me!!"

Well, there you have it . . . the start of a beautiful relationship.  I just need to put things in order.

I'll keep you updated on my progress (I promise) . . .

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