Ozark Folk Ways fiber arts festival

This was a beautiful cooler morning! My friend Suzanne drove us to Winslow, Arkansas (population 300+). It was the day of their fiber arts festival at the Ozark Folk Ways center. It is in this large older native stone building, once a home and then for a brief time, a convent....but the focus today was fiber, glorious fiber!

The building is in the back of this photo....which shows how the trees were "yarn bombed" with knit and crochet!

Suzanne taking some photos too!

The sign out by the road had this hexagon beauty!

Inside there were antique quilts.

And some peddler dolls made in the 1940's. I know that collecting those baskets of merchandise for the dolls is part of the fun of making them! I once worked on making a peddler doll, myself.

This was a quilt called a wedding quilt, which featured interesting textiles from Japan...

It is a wonderful example of sashiko stitching, the white thread on the indigo.

Spinning and weaving are local crafts represented...

Hand spun yarn knits up beautifully!

Visitors were often wearing beautiful textiles too!

Lacemaking is demonstrated!

There was a room of quilts offered for sale!
Basket makers and painters also had their work for sale!

Vines and bittersweet decorate the ceiling for the season!

We had a very good time, I am so glad we took the time to go!

[The Ozark Folk Ways center is right next to the Our Lady of the Ozarks Shrine]

Almost through April...sewing and baking...prom time too!

My grandson (who made his first soccer goal...and then played goalie...)

 

asked for an outfit...Naturo, some kind of Ninja anime character...

So I set to work to collect some orange durable, but inexpensive fabric(s).,,and to find a pattern which I could adapt...

Cut and sewed...to get it to him before he outgrows it....

He got it today....and I got this photo!

Looks like it fits!

*************************

Granddaughter went to junior prom...beautiful!

*************************

I tried a recipe for Japanese cheesecake....

Soft as a cloud, but still has the cream cheese, butter and egg taste! Oh, and I used coconut flour so it is gluten free! Not too sweet, either!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This quilt came back from Sonja Koch the long arm quilter!

It is for my great nephew, Lane also a junior in high school! Blocks were started by Mom. Lane is her first great grandchild!

**************************************

Check my painting blog to see how I am struggling to do a double portrait....her is a rough sketch...

And a background....

 

April art times! And recap of life!!!!

This is now finished and hanging in my studio! Influenced by artist Faith Ringgold!

I am working to add patchwork and stitching on this art piece too!

Using a sashiko needle, I am able to embellish the painting with per level cotton stitches!

The patchwork border will come later...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week I have been able to do other art too!

Friends came and we did watercolor....

Featuring a fabulous tulip bouquet from the local farmer's market.

Moving from watercolor to acrylics ....

These are finished now....?...I think!

And 2 smaller ones...which may still see some finishing!

The store where I have a part time job is closing....so I will have even more art and creative time.

I have plenty of fabric, and am making scrappy quilts and quilt tops for various family members and for charity!

And sewing for grandchildren!

Sophie in a dress I made!
**************************

moving towards grey hair....saving $$$$ as we are on Social Security!
I thank God for my many dear friends, especially those with whom I share such good times!

With Karen at a birthday for Tracie!

With Gayle and her granddaughters, friends Sally and Liz, at a French restaurant in Carthage, MO.
April is great, and today is friend Sally's birthday!
Our lilacs...on a windy day!

Hope to be back with more good things soon!