It finally got me-

The crud that has been going around, I mean. I started feeling like I was getting a cold Wednesday- by 4 pm, I left work. Thursday and Friday I spent mostly in bed. Yesterday I made it to the couch downstairs, but all I've done is knit and watch the inauguration coverage. I've loved every minute of it, and am rather peeved that I'll have to figure out a way to leave work long enough to see him take the oath and speak on Tuesday. No way I'm missing that. I can live without the parade, the balls will be on that night, but I won't miss seeing his speech live.

The other good thing that has come from being sick is the knitting. I've got a sweater about done! I completely ripped out a vest I'd done over a year ago and wasn't happy with the result. This time, I decided to do a raglan short sleeve sweater knit from the top down. I've decided it's long enough, I'm ready to start the ribbing. Then all I have left to do is pick up the neckband stitches, and do six rows of that.



Hopefully I can get this done before my appointment with the orthopedist Wednesday, for my elbow and thumbs. Both have been bothering me, although I started taking Motrin and that helped. But if I'm going to be told to give up my repetitive motion activities for awhile, I want this done first.

Hope you are keeping warm- it's winter here, but at least we aren't in the deep freeze like Chicago and the rest of the midwest. I don't miss that weather at all!

HOPE WINS!!!

Totally contrary to our expectations, the polls were steadily busy all day- then dropped off in the evening. We were dead the last hour, so we were able to finish our reconciliations and break down the machines earlier than we'd thought, and quickly. I was home by 9 pm, which meant I was able to share the joy, watching Obama give his speech from Chicago. Being in that huge crowd at Grant Park must have been an awesome experience.

I've had competing images floating in my brain recently. I was a teenager during much of the Civil Rights movement, so I experienced it via TV in southern California. I remember feeling youthful outrage when I saw the videos of Bull Conner using hoses and dogs against African-Americans who were only asking for the same rights I took for granted. Seeing the crowd at Grant Park- multi-colored, multi-ethnic, all celebrating his election- it was an emotional experience. It really does feel like we have turned a corner in this country.

I can't remember ever feeling so much emotion around an election. I am hopeful, happy, energized. For the first time in so many years, I will be looking forward to listening to what my president has to say. I can once again be proud to say I am an American.

Happy Halloween, to all who celebrate and love this holiday--

I'll admit that I'm not a big fan of Halloween, but I can't escape it entirely since I live in Utah. It is a huge holiday here, as big as Christmas and definitely bigger than Easter. And Utah county has grundles of trick or treaters. Oh well.

I did, however, get this wonderful Halloween fibercard from Miles- I love it! Love the colors, the stitching, and I still haven't figured out how he cut out that dinosaur skeleton so accurately. Thanks, Miles, it has a place of honor on my postcard wall in my studio.



I went to my poll worker training this morning, the fourth time I've done this. I'm expecting this to be a late night- polls close at 8 pm, but I bet we have a line and then it takes time to do all the tallies and pack everything up. I'll actually be at the same school I was at for the primary in February.

As fixated as I have been on this election, I will be glad when it is over. I remain hopeful, but I'm not counting any chickens before they hatch- I also remain leery of and suspicious of problems that could compromise the outcome. If the outcome is still unclear when I get home, I'll be looking at returns from Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. I have been harassing my son in Tampa mercilessly to VOTE EARLY! And tomorrow is his last chance.

My pollworker training reinforced an observation from my trip to Colorado a couple of weeks ago. In the previous elections I've worked, my coworkers have all been boomers or older. There were at least four young workers in my class today, one looked barely old enough to be out of high school. And, the group in Colorado had a large percentage of volunteers in their twenties and thirties.

I've not seen this level of political involvement by a young generation since I began voting in 1972. I'm thrilled that they care enough about their country to volunteer, and to educate themselves on the candidates and their positions. While we were driving back from Colorado, Jeff played a podcast from NCR about the causes of the financial crash. I learned about financial dealings I'd never heard of before- including the fact that much of what was going on in Wall Street was nothing more than legalized, unregulated gambling. And it was a kid in his twenties who helped me with that bit of economic education.

I came away from that trip with much more respect for the generations after me, and the feeling that it is time for us boomers to pass the torch. We had our day, we made great music- but we screwed a lot of others things up. I'm hoping kids like these will do a better job with their lives and their families than many of my generation have.

So, I leave you with this photo of the giant poster along the wall of the Obama headquarters in Montrose. I will be following their election night returns also- I have a personal investment in that outcome!



As my friend Judy says on her blog,

Peace, Love, and Obama '08!!

Some of this, some of that--

I had a hard time coming back to reality this week. I stayed home on Monday, and left early on Wednesday. I think I mostly have my head back in my own life, not in Colorado. And I will be glad to have the election over, the other residents in my home are heartily sick of CNN. Me, I just want to have it officially announced that he has won the presidency.

I did engage in some art and quilty activities this week. Friday, our WAQ group met at Julaine's. We played with watercolors on fabric, and making them permanent with textile medium. I think I'll also try it with my watersoluble wax pastels- it has potential for small works where the hand of the fabric isn't as important. I took my camera, but then completely spaced off taking any pictures. Oh well.

I now have three strip sets done.



I've been wondering why I'm finding this so enjoyable- I dont' usually work in monochromes, but I'm enjoying this one. I even have a tentative name- Seasick. My next design decision will be to determine if I continue with curved lines, or include some straight. Right now, I'm thinking I'll use straight lines to join the three sets, then curved everywhere else. I'm planning to try it out with a collage in my 'new' sketchbook. And, I have no doubt the piece will tell me what it wants to be.

I've also been doing some knitting, here modeled by the intended recipient, Shilo the miniature Schnauzer.



This is the second sweater I've knit her, and I decided I needed to make a cardigan, for easier on and offs. Here's the backside-



And, I just can't finish without posting a couple more pictures from last weekend in Colorado. Jenn is a graphic artist who works up at Snowbird. She made a neat piece of chalk art on the sidewalk in front of the Obama headquarters in Montrose--



And I definitely can't end without posting a picture of Dave's car that we drove all over rural Montrose county canvassing for Obama. If you can't tell, Dave works for Uintah Brewery, a microbrewery in Salt Lake. We definitely turned some heads, both in Colorado and Utah!



When I feeling a little less rushed, I'll post what I learned from the three kids I spent a weekend with. I may be back in my own life, but the influence of that weekend will linger a lot longer, I think.

Canvassing in Montrose, Colorado

What a weekend! I was connnected with a group travelling from Salt Lake to Colorado Friday afternoon, and they picked me up close to home early that evening. We didn't end up going to Grand Junction- they had enough people there, so we went to Montrose, which is about 65 miles south of there. The terrain really reminded me of Price in east-central Utah, where we lived for six years. However, unlike Price, this is traditionally strong Republican territory.

From the headquarters in Montrose, we went to the Gibson's home- a brave family who opened their home to seven Utah volunteers. Despite our late arrival (after midnight), we were up and at the headquarters by 9:30 Saturday morning.

I wish I had pictures from Saturday, when Alex and Justin taught us how to be an effective voice for Sen. Obama. The room was filled with 30-35 volunteers, and about 2/3 of them were from Utah. We were students from the U, young professionals, and baby boomers like me. We were white, black, brown. It confirmed everything I'd read about the ground organization the Obama campaign has built over the past two years.

The group was smaller on Sunday morning, but no less determined. Here's Alex (or Justin, they are brothers who look a lot alike!) giving us our marching orders. We'd just finished watching the video of Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama- a powerful statement that was everything politics should be about. It had meat, it was positive, and by the end I was close to tears.



Here's more of the group. I'm in between Jeff and Dave, two of the people I rode up with. Jenn, the fourth person in our car, is sitting to Dave's left. We had a ball, but that will have to wait for another post. Sorry this picture is a little fuzzy.



They had all kinds of posters around the office. I especially loved this one- which anyone who has lived in the west will understand. It references McCain's stated wish to renegotiate the Colorado River pact, which governs how much water each of the states can take from the river. Andre was kind enough to agree to my request to stand next to the poster.



These were on a bulletin board in the office. I LOVE the Old White Women for Obama- I think I'm going to try to find a way to have this on a tee shirt.




I walked more those two days than I have walked in ages. I'm calling it the Obama weight loss program! I spoke with lots of people. Yes, I encountered my share of McCain supporters, most polite people and some friendly despite our differences. Not one door slammed in my face, and I was only told to "take a hike" once.

On the other hand, I met people who were eager to talk about Sen. Obama and his positions, who were hungry to know more. I was able to talk about why I was supporting him, even that I'd given up a weekend to travel to Colorado to volunteer. One gentleman honked at me and gave me thumbs-up while I was walking, then turned his car around to talk with me and ask if I needed a soda. He helped me out with some directions, and thanked me for helping in his state. It was awesome!

And we went to homes of people that were frankly shocked to see a volunteer, because they lived so far out of town. No, we didn't walk it- when we had done our walkable parts, Dave, Jeff, Jenn and I piled into Dave's car and drove to houses that were out there- small ranches, and the kinds of rural "neighborhoods" I'm familiar with from my time in Price. We canvassed in trailer parks, older neighborhoods, and brand new subdivisions. We met turkeys, chickens, more dogs than I could count, horses, goats. But the best was captured by Dave and Jeff- the Obama Llama!!



We worked full days both Saturday and Sunday- we turned in our last packet about 7:30 Sunday night, then headed home. But I can't finish this post without a picture of our hosts, the Gibson's. They were wonderful hosts, friendly, welcoming, and fun to be with. Here's Cheryl and Gordon, and their daughter Katie, who's also a volunteer for Obama ad a teacher at a local charter school. I really enjoyed getting to know all three of them.



I'll have more to post, but I have to say that this was just an incredible experience. I've always been a responsible citizen- I've voted in every election sinc 1972, and tried to educate myself about the issues. But no candidate has ever inspired me the way Sen. Obama has. I've donated to his campaign multiple times- another first for me. And now I've canvassed, another first! Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks??

MORE POLITICS!!!

No, no rants this time. It appears I will finally be spending a weekend in Grand Junction, Colorado volunteering for Obama. I catch my ride in Provo early this evening, and we head out. It's a given that Utah will go for McCain-- I'd much rather work in a state where my volunteer effort might make a difference.

Never done anything like this before, but I don't think I've ever cared about the outcome of an election as much before, either. So I wanted to do something besides donate and vote.

I'll take my camera, and hopefully have enough energy Sunday night to blog about it.

Not much by way of fiber content

this weekend. Friday I was in Salt Lake most of the day, yesterday I managed to finish a blouse before taking my Bernina to the repair shop. It's sewing fine, but refuses to turn off with the dial- so I want it looked at now, before something else goes wrong. Still have the Juki if I have the energy to sew this week after work.

I'm only six weeks behind, but I actually got started on Marly's birthday present today. I'm using my Caran d'Ache crayons, like I did on the first two pieces I made her. This one will be slightly different, I'm also including some Neocolor I in the piece- the crayons that are water resistant. We'll see if I get the effect I'm hoping for. Maybe I'll have pictures after I go at it with the water.

I did get out with my camera Saturday. With all the talk of alternative energy sources on the political front, and T. Boone Pickens' plan that is heavy on wind power, we have been intently watching a wind farm close to our home be built and become operational.

We live at the mouth of a long canyon that is known for its wind, so it was a logical place to locate a wind farm. The units are huge- I can see them easily ten miles away. I find watching them mesmerizing.




Eight of the nine windmills were turning when I took the picture. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to know that my local electric company is generating at least a portion of its power from a source that is local, renewable, and non-polluting. Wonder how those windmills would look as a thermofax?

I must have spring fever. . .

of one sort or another. No blogging, because not much to post. I was gone or too busy in April to do the TIF challenge. Had a couple of ideas, but nothing that grabbed me enough to head down to the studio.

I have, however, managed to finish the puzzle that was designed by sadists, and needs a masochist to complete it.



Multiple times I swore I had the right piece in place , to find out when I tried to find the next piece that I really didn't. Look at this detail, I had to learn to quit focusing on color and sort the pieces by shape.



But, last weekend, Shannon and I got it done. It's still on the table, til I can get a piece of foam core and gel medium. Ain't no way I'm taking this apart and putting it back in the box!!

Hopefully some planned outings in the next two weeks will help drag me out of this hole I seem to be in. I'm volunteering at the Home Machine Quilting Show in Salt Lake on Friday,and will have plenty of time to wander the vendors and exhibits. Not taking any classes, nothing jumped out at me. Any my small art quilt group meets the next Friday.

I will also be serving as the next president of the Surface Design group in Utah. I love the group, and after some thinking decided it was just my turn to serve on the board. Since I don't have a lot of time to do stuff after work, presiding over the meetings and conducting board meetings seems doable. Unfortunately, I will miss my first meeting since I am out of town the entire week on another business trip!

I did spend time in the studio last weekend, painting the edges of my batting tree. Lesson learned- paint it AFTER you cut out the shape,not after- then you can get the edges at the same time, with the same paint!! Mostly I'm happy with it, just hoping I didn't botch one limb. I keep telling myself that it won't be noticeable once I get the leaves I'm planning.

That's it, I'm going to watch the rest of the election returns, and hope that Obama comes close in Indiana after winning North Carolina. Yes, he has taken his hits the past month. But nothing in my research on the issues and non-issues raised by the media has changed my mind. Also hoping for an inspirational boost from the show- but in any case, I should have pictures to post.

A little something quilty-- and more

It was a busy week at work, some late nights- so I never got anywhere near the studio. Then a lot of this weekend was spent cleaning, budget planning for the month and menu planning for the week- so I only got a little time to play today. And most of that was de-stress time from a scare this morning.

I'd planned to stop and drop off my HOA payment on the way home from church. After church, I realized I'd forgotten to bring an envelope. No big deal, I'm running low, so I'll just stop at Shopko on the way and grab a box. Got up to the checkout, it came to a whole $1.48. I ran my debit card, and to my amazement it came up denied. I tried again, and still no luck- so I left the store without my envelopes. Then I figured I'd go to a nearby branch of my credit union, get some cash at the ATM, and get the envelopes. The same thing happened there. Now I am scared- I KNOW I have plenty to cover either of the withdrawals, I was just checking my accounts online on Saturday!! All I could think of was identity theft, or someone hacking their way into my account. By the time I got home, I was just a step this side of panic. I got online- to find out that my accounts were intact, just where they should be. So what the heck happened?? I will be visiting the credit union tomorrow morning to find out. My son Sean called to let me know that he also had trouble with his debit card, it would only work as a credit card- so maybe it was something nationwide. I just know I was scared.

So I went into the studio to de-stress. I'd been thinking about making a covered book for a friend who just got through some very difficult times with her family. Shannon decided she wanted to make one for herself,so we pulled out my hand dyes and painted fabrics, and anything else I had in terms of embellishments. And here is what we got done today, we are letting the glue set until tomorrow to finish.

Mine--



And Shannon's--



We both used Angelina fibers and hand-dyed silk organza. I added some hand-dyed cheesecloth and some beading. They are glued onto the front covers, tomorrow hopefully we'll finish them. Unless we actually make it to the free yoga class at our Hari Krishna temple, then maybe on Tuesday!

I set the snowy mountain piece aside all week. I looked at it again, and I'm torn. I still like the idea of trying to capture this image in my head, but I've been thinking a lot about Nellie's suggestion to cut it up. Maybe I won't cut this one up, but maybe I'll try doing something like her ortwork technique. She has done such a wonderful job of capturing the many moods of Lake Michigan (or is it Superior, I can't remember!) with lots of small pieces of fabric. I have a sizeable stash of bitty pieces, so that would be very doable. I've got that idea in the back of my head. In the meantime, I'm posting a picture of the piece as it looks today, after lots of machine embroidery and some hand stitching.



I know I need to add some shadows in the snow area, it is just flat. I'd probably use a fabric pen, that would be the easiest to control. But I would love to know what you think of the piece so far. It is so frustrating when you can see something in your mind, and the efforts to bring it to life just aren't working. Ah well- it will either be successfully brought to completion, or I will have one more to add to my crap quota!!

I don't know if I will be able to stand another eight months of electioneering. I am amazed at the narrow minded stupidity that permeates some layers of our country. I am both pulled in and repulsed!!

February TIF Challenge

Sharon B posted the new challenge, which I think will be a fun one. It's 'what are you old enough to remember?' I was a history major my first go-round in college, so this is right up my alley. This will pull in memories of discussions I've had with my children about what it was like for me growing up, the incredible pace of change I have seen during my lifetime, and conversations with my parents and grandmother about the same thing.

I got out my journal book, and started writing. Things like black and white TV and all the shows I remember watching as a child, the Nixon-Kennedy debates, my first vinyl records (the Beatles, of course). I remember playing jacks with my grandmother, my father's reel to reel tape player, rotary dial phones and party lines. I wrote my term papers on a typewriter with carbon paper, and prayed that I'd calculated the space needed for the footnotes correctly. If not, you got to type the whole thing over! I remember the first manned spaceflight, and the first walk on the moon. And, of course, I remember all the political upheaval and assasinations of the 1960's.

As I looked at the list, it struck me how many of the items related to circles. And that got me thinking of other circles- like, I have lived long enough to see the hideous fashions of the 70's come around again, and heard some of my favorite songs redone by artists who weren't around for the original. In some ways, I've come full circle, from rebelling against the social mores of my parents to understanding the sense that lies behind many of them.

I don't think I will be doing anything with images from all these events and memories. I think circles will play a large role in this, and I hope to find a way to include words in the design. There are some artists whose work I love that often include words in the design, and it works- check out Rayna Gillman or Karen Stiehl Osborn's blogs.

I don't think I will be working with the color scheme Sharon proposed this time. It didn't speak to me, and I think other colors will better express my feelings about the decades I remember from my growing up years. I'm also planning to take my sketchbook and pencils with my when I work the polls on Tuesday, hopefully I'll come up with some promising doodles.

And, as close to a political rant as you are likely to get from me. If your state is part of Super Tuesday, get out and vote! We have the opportunity to select a transformational president this year, I am praying the nation recognizes this and seizes the moment. Vote!!!