ONLY 31 DAYS?

FRED, our beloved neighborhood cow--lookin' like autumn

Have you noticed? Everyday seems perfect--the air is cool but not too cool. The days are long but not too long--and the moon! Big, beautiful and orange. Wow! There is something about October--it is the perfect month of twix and tween.

After enduring the intense heat of this past summer, we Texans embrace October's lower temperatures and harvest moon amid the bonus of pumpkins and scarecrow decorations. In addition to the natural bounty is the month's saturation of quilt classes and shows, antique fairs--even gourd festivals--oh, and don't forget to add the writing workshops and contests. Everyone and every organization seems to thrive with energy. What a glorious season of the year.

                                           Kaffe Fassett and Day 1
                                                                      --it's all about diamonds

Embracing the first half of the month I worked to captured quilting and writing every possible way. First, Creations of Kerrville www.creations.com offered an exciting educational opportunity with famous guest teachers Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably hosting 2 1/2 days of class and lecture. They focused on their amazing fabrics, using simplistic traditional patchwork to show off their bold prints.  Discussion of borders to flush the complimentary accents helped each student strengthen her color choices. And of course, fat quarters flew around the room (via Creations store!) as we all tried to find the perfect accent.  We learned from each other and I, the rebel, worked in less brights, learning from my more traditional palette. Two days of uninterrupted sewing time--just perfect.

                                          Cut one more for the design wall....

And serendipity, Kim Buchmann of Quilting Adventures www.quiltingadventures.com dropped by and we talked and laughed until driving home demanded deer lights. She and her partner/mom Debby Walters have ENDLESS great ideas for their spring 2012 seminars. Each year they host national teachers the first two weeks of March at the comfortable TBarM resort in New Braunfels. It is such fun to stitch and learn 'til you drop--especially while someone else prepares meals. It is saturation plus, learning while playing. Barbara and I hosted  QA in years past, so now it is SO-O exciting to see new energy pushing the venue of the unending potential of quilting. Wow--check out their faculty--12 stars--your choice. I'm going for Laura Wasiloswki www.artfabrik.com   and Sue Spargo www.suespargo.com . Man, did I struggle to make that decision. ...and I can't wait to see you. Send me an email of your teacher choice.

UPTOWN BLANCO--Mary and Donna ready the show

Next my calendar provided the opportunity to engage in Blanco's first quilt show.  Blanco, TX is developing a fabulous new area on the square called Uptown Blanco www.UptownBlanco.com.  They decided to christen the beautiful new ballroom with a regional quilt show. Their entries were delightful, beautifully designed and sewn. I predict it is the perfect beginning of Blanco tradition. Thanks, Mary and Donna, for letting me get a first hand look.

In-between, new writing opportunities keep appearing. My friend, Sally Clark constantly updates the local WOW group http://hcwomenofwords.org  to writing contests, workshops, etc. She just told us of the San Antonio Writer's Group  www.sawritersguild.com and their October contest. (deadline just passed-but watch for their future events)  Another is Abilene's www.abilenewritersguild.org contest with a November 30 deadline. Cash awards too!  The contests work for me. They help push my procrastination out the window and encourage a "get with it" attitude-- a perfect venue for growth in the writing arena.

In between hubby and I found time to attend the annual Texas Gourd festival in Fredericksburg this weekend and hit several antique shops so I could droul over endless "old stuff." I can never get enough of the old textiles, stoneware and handhewn wood pieces. Lucky for me, George likes old more than I, so he is perfectly content walking the aisles of old.

Well, the calendar says it is just the 16th, so we still have two more weeks of this glorious month.
Go play and let me know, WHAT YOU FIND!

Best,


Alice

a great read: ONE THOUSAND GIFTS by Ann Voskamp, Zondervan,2010.
--written by a 30-something talented young mom, ...in essence, be thankful.
My sweet daughter gave it to me.

a great scripture: Luke 24:29-30 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as sat at meat with them, he took bread and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

a great blog: http://hillcountryhouse.blogspot.com