Hopefully the girlz are winging their way back to the good old US. Things are quiet here this morning and that usually means a higher level of concentration for me...usually...

While we were in Chicago at the Quilt Festival, we were lucky to spend a wee amount of time with two amazing talented sisters, Deb Silva and Judy Coates Perez. I believe we all met in Chicago a year or two ago. They both do extremely beautiful work that is well worth checking out!

Deb went home with one of our new Big Bags and sent me this photo the other night. I love seeing what comes out of someone else's head, heart and hands! She did mention that she raided Judy's felt stash...but that's what it's all about! Thanks Deb for your inspiring work...thanks to both of you!

It is raining! I am so happy for the garden!!

Greetings from Artgirlz World Headquarters! The girlz...Midge and Allison have been in Paris for a week and will be back on the scene, in some spaced out shape no doubt, tomorrow evening. Sue and I have been holding down the fort. I managed to call in the payroll, answer the phone, did a bit of stitching, photography and direction writing, and even made a few decisions by myself. We look forward to the safe return of the bosses of everything!!


I was caught passed out in the garden last weekend, but this weekend Sue and I had a very busy time frolicking around the estate! It was the first A++++ Day this spring. We wanted to plant eight little lettuce plants and ended up sifting mulch, moving shrubs, rebuilding a small stone garden edge, moving just about everything in the area, and finally plopped in the lettuce...it took most of the day, but I'm sure that we will have a few wonderful salads! We continued to ADD around the garden today...put the bunnies in their play pen, checking the pond for a leak, trimming and transplanting trees, cleaning leaves, edging, moving shrubs, digging up weeds, checking the bees for babies and found them (yea!!)...I actually pick up my own piles and deposited in the compost pile...

This week will bring a flurry of activity as we prepare for our trip to Portland OR for Quilt Market, getting orders out, learning about my social networking tasks, and most importantly Sue's Birthday next weekend! Hopefully the girlz won't take too long to get back on the planet...they sent and email today and said they've had it with butter, sugar, excellent chocolate and coffee...

Oh, I just remembered that we have a very nice profile this month in Cloth Paper Scissors! We are very grateful for the time, energy and support they have given us over the last couple of years. If you are not familiar with the magazine, this would be a great time to pick it up! You will not be disappointed!!!

FAMILY FUN!
So much has been happening, that I can hardly keep up with it! Let's see, wanted to mention that we had a surprise party for Midge's 60th birthday a couple of weeks ago...Beth, her daughter, flew in from LA and 4 long time friends drove up from NY, and we managed to find a Wii to top it all off...friends and family and meatballs!!

Then it was off to St. Augustine for Sue and Me for an Emergency Vacation...see below...




QUILT FESTIVAL

Then Allison and I went to Chicago for the International Quilt Festival. Our two hour plane ride turned into 7 hours...the good news being that we arrived and didn't have to catch another plane from O'hare...the next day, American started it's cancellation thing!

We had the greatest class! Everyone brought a piece of clothing to embellish and everyone did an amazing job!! Al and I both felt very gratified and energized from the experience! This is Gigi the Amazing..."I don't sew" she said. Well, she brought a denim jacket on which she had painted colorful rectangles...We were lucky enough to have Bernina machines with the Bernina Stitch Regulators and it took her about 3 minutes to get the hang of it and at a very high speed, 7 bobbins and 4 needles later, she had transformed her jacket and a pair of overalls!!


It was a joy watching Jeanne move from the world of straight lines to making up her own thing and loving it!
Everyone in the class was successful! It was fun to see them on the show floor with their goodies. Thanks so much!

Also a huge thanks to Barb the Bernina "Ambassador". She spent the day, helping people change bobbins, needles, explaining the BSR (Bernina Stitch Regulator) and generally making the whole day go smoothly!

Things went well on the show floor...seemed a bit slower than last year, but considering the state of the world, it wasn't a surprise! We still loved seeing friendly faces from the last couple of years, new fans and our buddies selling their goods!



THE RUNWAY...
I was having a lovely discussion with one of those women when my sis called down the aisle and gave me a big wave..."They need you at Make it University!"
Little did I know that I had been recruited to the ever popular "Runway Challenge" organized and pulled off by the clever Pokey Bolton...editor of Cloth, Paper, Scissors and Quilting Arts!
My initial response was to pummel my sister after the show, but it turned out to be a fun filled hour of slapping paper, doilies, paint, record covers, matte medium, fake flowers, records, together, parading around for prizes and fame!

The President on the Last Morning of the Show!

Now, Midge and Al are off to Paris....Bon Voyage!
Sue and I have the house and garden! Checking on the new bees, cleaning out the pond, raking leaves, watching plants burst out of the ground...Yea for everyone!!!

Sue and I had an emergency vacation in Florida for a couple of dayz last week. I just couldn't take it any more! We had 3 sunny, warm, beautiful dayz and had a glorious ride on the most beautiful beach in St. Augustine! A couple of cloudy, wet dayz of cruising around shopping and eating...

Now it is serious crunch time...Al and I leave in about 3 hours for Chicago for the International Quilt Festival. We set up tomorrow, teach all day Thursday and haul in the cash Thursday night through Sunday. We also have a couple of make and take thrown in there in the Make it U section of the show! The info is on Pokey's Blog. We will have our pewter charms, Artgirlz Rubber Stamps and our wool felt beads, cone, kits, bags and more...like the rockin' bag pictured above, needle felted by our little hands!!! It will be a wild week no doubt!! If you are there, please stop by to visit!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
TO MIDGE
THE ROCK MOVING
NUMBER CRUNCHING GENIUS
HERE AT ARTGIRLZ NATION!!!!