Creative weekend in VT

Finally, Michele and I made wonderful visiting Frances Holliday Alford who is an excellent fiber artist is living in VT.
How lucky am I?? I was invited!!!!

I was wondering we still can go to see Frances after Irene (Hurricane ) hit VT.
Her town had a lot of damages. However, Frances said, "Still our plan is ON." (9/ 9. 10 11)

I picked up Michele in CT where she lives. I drove two hours. We were heading to VT. Michele drove 2 hours. Good deal, Perfect!

We were late to start because of me. I was late to start!
I started packing for three days in the morning. It took a couple of hours to decide what I should bring.

When I picked up Michele at her house, she had so many things to bring.
She prepared for this weekend.
I didn't know what was Michele's plan or Frances's plan for that weekend at all.
We arrived at Frances's was around 5:00.
Because I wanted to spend time with Michele's mother for a while at Michele's house.
We wanted to be together with Michele's friend Jan for a while at her store.
It was all great meeting!!!

Guess, their plans were CREATIVE! What a great plan was!

Michele's idea was Felting!!! She brought a bunch of yarns in her red suitcase. Huge pink board.
We went to the restaurant, I think, the restaurant is part of the inn. (The Old Tavern at Grafton)
Her studio is located next to the inn.
We were in her studio after dinner and made ..... this artwork.
Frances's sister Sallie was there from Maine. So four of us's ARTWORK!

PUNCH IT!ROLL IT! WET IT! DRY IT!MOUNTED IT! Two days work!

We did other experiment art work at the same time. Ice Dye
Frances did snow dyeing last winter.Many fabrics (Cotton, Linen, Nylon, Chiffon, more) were under ice cubes (with Soda Ash water) . The Old Tavern gave us all ice cubes.

Best part! Frances has all colors. We could choose any colors.
Her studio was like a craft store.Wait next morning until ice melt!Wonderful surprised!
This is linen. I have it. Are you jealous??Second day 's ice dyeingFrances Dress, T-shirt material (knit) Black checker printed Cotton Korean linenThis room is my favorite!Frances' sewing room
Second day's night, Frances, Michele and I were working here until 2:00 am
Michele brought her quilt work. She learned new method of quilting from Frances.
She did excellent works in three days.

I was making sentimental memories of this weekend by our leftover materials!

• The fabrics from practiced felting machine
• The fabrics in the Box from Frances's leftover
• The fabric from practiced Sweet Sixteen machine
• Our Ice dyeing fabric
• Buttons from Frances's color button's drawers
• Felted ball from our experiment (I sliced it)
  

Click picture to enlarge.
Chicken is Frances (She was born in the year of Chicken).
Fish is her boyfriend who is Pisces.
Three girls are Sallie, Michele and Hoodie. A dog --- Zoe, Daisy and Daphne .
I'm going to prepare my sewing projects when I will come over Frances's!
So far the event scheduled beginning of DECEMBER and I'm invited!
Ha, I'm still lucky!

OOPs, one more great things of Frances. She is having the art show at her town's Art Gallery.
The Gallery is located in front of the inn.
She does Postcard Art. She has million of the art postcards that she made!
She is constantly making these amazing artwork.
One postcard should be mailed 5 to 6 times. She or friends add artwork on it each time.
Here, at the show, 15 x 15 = 225 postcards were displayed.
One more postcard was next to her profile.
My son's name was on it. The meaning of the character is "All" "Perfect"
Besides Ski and Skateboard were on it. Frances gave it to my son! Amazing!Her butler, Dante Falcone's photographs were beautifully displayed at the Gallery, too.

I have been in Quilt market (The trade show) since 2000 with Michael Miller's as a house designer. I do design for cotton fabrics since I moved to US, 1993.
I did the work Cotton print work in Japan, but it wasn't for the quilt market.
I have learned about Quilt World in US. I didn't know Quilt world as an artist. I'm in now. I'm very happy to know all creators and share creativity.

How wonderful and excellent!!!!!

Delectable Mountain Cloth

Jan Norris's store - Delectable Mountain Cloth
On our way to go to Grifton, VT where Frances Holliday Alford is living. Michele and I stopped by the town calls Brattleboro where is Michele's favorite town. It was very cute town and very arty!
Jan and Michele became good friends since Michele found this store. She uses Jan's fabrics into her quilt work.Gorgeous fabrics were allover. See the buttons, beautiful.
She has many antique hats. I don't know they were sale or decorations.
I found a cabbage hat (Bottom left corner). It was really cute. Other hats were gorgeous as well.
The cabinet couldn't move and open in this time. I have to come back and try on all.
Jan put this fabric on her work desk. Just beautiful.
Jan is a store owner, a quilter and a pianist. She is a one of talented artist.
She gave me her CD. "A Little Heartbreak" 2005.
Wow, excellent music. I can listen every day.
Her music reminded me Enya that I used to practice myself.
I opened my piano, and started to play "Watermark" but I couldn't play well.
Need practices again.

Hoodie's Aprons on Simplicity Catalog!

Hoodie's aprons re-instructed from Simplicity. Then two styles are in a package.
Wow, Good deal!

Instant September Calendar

Click the image!

Print it out and put it wherever you want.

Stuffed Mushrooms

• 12 large fresh mushrooms, stems removed
• 1 (6 ounce) package chicken flavored dry stuffing mix
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 pound imitation crabmeat, flaked
• 2 cups butter
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• salt and pepper to taste
• garlic powder to taste
• crushed red pepper to taste

Directions

1. Arrange mushroom caps on a medium baking sheet, bottoms up. Chop and reserve mushroom stems.
2. Prepare chicken flavored dry stuffing mix according to package directions.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
4. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Mix in garlic and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
5. In a medium bowl, mix together reserved mushroom stems, prepared dry stuffing mix, cream cheese and imitation crabmeat. Liberally stuff mushrooms with the mixture. Drizzle with the butter and garlic. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and crushed red pepper.
6. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven 10 to 12 minutes, or until stuffing is lightly browned.