Road Trip - Indiana 07-20-14

I am on the road again, but not by much.  I dawdled around this morning, sort of dragging my feet and recovering from the three days of festivities.  It is much warmer than it has been since I have been in Indiana, at one point my car thermometer read 89F.  A bit humid, but not bad.  When I finally got going I meandered around deciding which way to go, taking pictures, stopping to buy some bottled water, talking to a California friend on my cell phone.  The roadway was a two lane through farming countryside, so I pulled off and parked to talk as I think it is dangerous to be distracted when a tractor might pull out from a side road at any moment.  Just about when we were through talking my phone died and it was already plugged into the lighter socket.  Guess the charger was bad.  Soon after I came across a Walmart, where I stopped and bought a new charger.  Can't be without a cell phone whilst traveling - not in this day and age.   I checked the map and decided it was time to stop and I am still in Indiana!  I drove fewer than 100 miles today, but it was enough.  I have been working on the Surfside QGuild newsletter, which I hope to have completed by the time I get home.  Whenever that might be.  Tomorrow I will head for Chicago, but take the circle route  that avoids the downtown area and perhaps stay in Wisconsin tomorrow night.

One of the quilts on display in Marion is "Sap Buckets" (at lower right) which is part of TCQC, but I have not shown it on my blog.  Here is a picture of it hanging at the Marion Library along with "A Rash of Flamingoes" (also part of TCQC) and "Two Bridges" which I think is still available for sale on Ruth's website.  And the photo of "Sap Buckets" on the website is much better.  See it at: http://www.ruthbmcdowell.com/clients/rbm/ShowQuilt.cfm?Quilt=sapbuckets

 

I've seen the five-pointed stars on buildings on previous trips, but couldn't remember what their purpose is.  Apparently they are strictly decorative, although some think the stars mean prosperity and good luck.   Check out:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnstar   Here are some examples I saw today: 

 

An organized project to place quilt blocks on barns and other buildings covers quite a bit of the mid-west.  Some areas provide a driving map of the quilt blocks in a certain county/counties. 

This one is at a crossroads near Wabash, IN., on state highway 15.

 

 As  you can tell in the top picture the blocks are quite large.  You can Google Barn Quilt Blocks or check this Wikipedia site:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quilt_Trail

I stopped at CVS in Wabash, it seems to be in slightly better shape than Marion, but it is a much smaller town.  I didn't investigate, but wonder why a town out in the boonies would be the first to be lighted with electricity.

Across the street is the courthouse, so typical of those found throughout the Midwest.

I am staying tonight near Logansport, IN.  Their main street is hung with beautiful pots of the same colored petunias - except when a few "foreigners" accidentally appear.

This metal sculpture is in the "art scene" area of Logansport.  It is very tall - compare it to the young woman and her vehicle in the background.

 

It is only 10pm Eastern Time, but I am going to bed and hope to sleep all night.

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QHOF Gallery of Ruth Quilts 07-19-14

The Quilters Hall of Fame weekend ended tonight at dinner with the presentation of the medal and praise for Ruth from many different people.  It was a tasty dinner and a happy, proud group of ladies.  And a few guys. 

 

Prior to the dinner there was a gallery walk through with Ruth which was very well attended - too much so, it got terribly warm with all the bodies and the lights.  And it was hard to hear.  But I think most everyone enjoyed seeing the quilts and hearing her comments about them.  The veggie quilt looks especially great with perfect lighting on it.

 

The quilt on the right is "Kin Can Can-Can" which was based on a picture taken at Leah's wedding rehearsal dinner.  It is permanently part of Ruth's collection.  I'm not sure I have her sister's correctly identified, but starting on the left (just as in the quilt) are Ruth, daughter Emily McDowell, daughter Leah Lofgren, sister Susie, sister Nancy, sister Marilyn.

 

Here are daughter Leah Lofgreen, Ruth, daughter Emily McDowell.

 

I'll be off tomorrow for points north and west and will try to keep you updated.  And as I have time I'll post a few of Ruth's quilts from the exhibit.

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QHOF - Luncheon, Lecture, Dinner 07-18-14

A very long and busy day for everyone.  I was too tired to compute last night, so here I am at 7:30am on Saturday trying to catch up with myself and get ready for another long day.  I'm going to have to fit a nap in somehow.  Heavy overcast this morning, wonder if we will have some rain - always makes it harder to get around. 

 

I missed Ruth's gallery walk yesterday afternoon.  We got involved in visiting the local quilt shop, Sew Biz, which is a rabbit's warren of fabric and goodies.  I purchased the rest of two bolts for the philanthropic projects at Surfside QGuild - $3/yard and bright colored, quality fabric.  One advantage of driving is one can find room for anything on the way home.  I also bought into the Row by Row "Shop Hop" - a row of hearts.  The  shop owner said the patterns and kits are flying off the shelves.  Check it out at http://www.rowbyrowexperience.com/

 

Ruth McDowell ready to give her talk at the luncheon.

Ann Shaw ready to be the audio-visual assistant.

 

This is one of Ruth's latest quilts.  Granddaughter Pippi being pulled in the sled by the late/great Harvey.

  

 There is a small quilt show with both new and vintage quilts along with a few vendors.  I really enjoyed this yoyo quilt; beautifully done with perfect yoyos as you can see below.

This is what they are supposed to look like - flat with a small hole in the middle.  If you get a volcano in the middle your stitches are too small. 

 

Dinner at The Mill restaurant with Ruth and friends.  

They serve open face "gourmet hamburgers".  This is the "Goober" - hamburger patty on Texas Toast topped with bacon, peanut butter and mayo (on the side).  The diner thought it was good.

 I stuck to something I know.  The "California Burger" has Texas Toast, burger patty, mozzarella, tomato and avocado.  It was delicious but I ate it all and was uncomfortable.

 

Another of my table mates had a lovely salad and a quesadilla - also delicious.

 

Now, off to another busy day.....

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QHOF Gallery walk with Ruth McDowell 07-17-14

Ruth's quilts are hung in the Marion Public Library until Monday and then will be moved to the QHOF house one block over.  I don't know how they are going to squeeze all these quilts into the house.  In the library they look great and I was busy taking pictures when Ruth told the crowd that picture taking and sketching were not allowed.  So, this is all I have.  Somehow I will be in the room alone and will take pictures of all the quilts.  It will be accepted or I will take my quilts and go off in a huff!!  Not really, but I will take the pictures.

 

"A Rash of Flamingoes" above and "Sap Buckets" below.  Both are from TCQC.

Ruth explaining something about "Flamingoes".

The quilt in the lower left is the one with the lovely fairytale about Ruth's daughters when they were young.  It is in her personal collection. 

Showing the "Bison" quilt at lop left.  Below it are "Pumpkins" and "Baron von Ruffhausen" (Harvey), both part of TCQC.

As far as I know these are the people that came from the west coast to attend this event.  Left to Right:  Sherry (from Cotton Patch), Ann Shaw (who is also teaching here), Carolie Hensley (owner of Cotton Patch), Phebe Smith (volunteer at QHOF).  The lady on the right lives in Indiana, but once worked for Carolie at the Cotton Patch in Lafayette, CA.

 

Sherry (Cotton Patch), Nancy (Cotton Patch), Ann Shaw (teacher), Carolie Hensley (Cotton Patch).

"Mullein" one of Ruth's early quilts and one of my personal favorites - in the collection of one of Ruth's sisters.  On the right is "Miner's Lettuce" part of Ruth's collection.

The young lady who is videotaping the exhibit and Ruth's presentations. 

Quilters Hall of Fame reception 07-16-14

Between 6pm and 8pm there was a reception at the Quilters Hall of Fame Museum (QHOFM) in honor of Ruth -  a chance for people to get a little bit acquainted and, of course, to meet Ruth.

They had a table full of hats that attendees could wear if  they chose.  This is the one that Ruth picked.  Very un-Ruth, but pretty cute.  You will see other hats in the pictures below, I think I was the only "natural hat wearer". 

This is the marque they had erected on the front lawn to server the refreshments and to let people rest out of the sun.  We are very fortunate that the weather is unseasonably cool, only about 75F today.

Quilts from the The American Quilt Study Group 2012 Study of Early 20th Century Colonial Revival Quilts are currently on exhibit at the house.  They will come down on Monday and the Ruth McDowell quilts will be hung.  The Ruth quilts are on display for this week at the Marion Library, about two blocks down the street.

 

 The lovely and delicious cupcake "tree" which also held some extra yummy brownies.

 

We were entertained by a harpist and a violinist who played well together.  This little girl was there with one of the volunteers - does she have long legs, or what? 

Helen Carter, Phebe Smith, Debi Geyer (Museum Manager)

Ruth McDowell

Ruth McDowell with two fans.

Debi Shepler (Treasurer for the Marie Webster Guild), Mimi Dietrich, and Ann Shaw (who is teaching Ruth's techniques).

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Road Trip - Indiana Columbia, MO to Marion, IN 07-15-14

This was just a driving day - and drive - and drive - and drive!  I did stop along the way to take a 20 minute nap which did wonders for me.  It always does and it always surprises me how much difference it makes.  Today was a 454 mile day, but I arrived in Marion, IN, before dark.  Of  course, I'm further north than I usually am, so it gets dark much later than in CA.   No weather today - just blue skies and white clouds, some with black bottoms, but no rain.   

I  drove right through the middle of St Louis, MO, so that I could see the Arch again.  It is the most amazing structure, but has to be see with one's own eyes to believe it.  Awesome.
 

As I recall from previous trips the view from I-70 is better if one is driving west.

There were about six of these large flatbed trucks hauling bags of onions.  They are not Vidalia onions, which  grow only in Georgia, but I saw the trucks near Vandalia, Missouri, an odd juxtaposition. 

Mostly I saw corn today.  Miles and miles of it.  I thought maybe there is so much grown for Ethanol, but my friend Mary says it is because it is a subsidized crop.  Makes sense!

And I saw road construction.  Again, miles and miles of it.  Annoying at times, but not so bad on I-70East. 

 And I could not see the westbound traffic because of the trees planted between the two sides of the Interstate.

 But there wasn't a lot of traffic headed east.

 

 However, the westbound traffic when I could see it was mostly one lane and stretched for at least twenty miles!  I think I won't take this route when I head home - the construction will surely be continuing through next weekend - and probably all summer. 

 

Tomorrow I have a day of rest until the Welcoming event from 6 to 8pm.  Until that time I hope I will bump into some quilting ladies - that I already know or some new quilting friends!

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Monday Browsing (found it!) 07-14-14

Taking the idea of the Barn Blocks a little further:

http://www.vivianhelena.com/index_86FO.html

 

Hand making scissors:  http://vimeo.com/98953952

Going on a road trip?  I am on one and I think I will give this a try:

http://www.artisticartifacts.com/about_us/rowbyrowexperience.htm

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