To blog or not to blog...

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Well friends, it has been quite some time since I have been here.  The good Lord had other things in store for me the past year; family, church, health, etc.  But, things may be settling down a bit and I am contemplating returning to my blog.  I can't really say what drives a person to want to blog - somehow it is like reaching out and touching people and hoping some good can come from it, and I must admit, I do miss it, although it can be a bit time consuming.


The Houston International Quilt Show was held in Houston recently and I, along with several friends, were front and center.  We were so honored to have a project near and dear to our hearts be on exhibit this year - WOW!

Here is a shot of the front of our exhibit, artbras circled around the back of the display as well.

 

Here are Lynnis, Jan, Barbara and me (the blonde) ready for the Hall to open.

The Way ToWomen's Wellness Artbras had a beautiful exhibit.  We had many new artbras, several of our wall-hangings, and a table set up for Artbra Calendar sales (the funds of which go to breast cancer research and awareness education).  We so enjoyed speaking to the many, many people who came to see our exhibit - we laughed, we cried, we hugged - it was amazing.  We heard so many stories of survival and yes, even grief, by those who have been touched in some way by breast cancer; mothers, daughters, aunts, friends, wives - seems we all know someone who has been affected in some way by this disease.  One of the joys was having groups of young children come through on tours and talking with them about why we create these artbras and the stories that accompany each them.  We were fortunate to sell almost eight cases of Calendars!

Here I am with my dear friend Jan, a one-year survivor, and whose Artbra made the cover of the 2011 WTWW Calendar, and Helen Gibb, a noted ribbon designer.

Here is my Positively Pretty in Pink artbra on display along with the beautiful "Roses" CQ Wallhanging behind it.  This wallhanging is being donated to the Methodist Hospital Women's Center in Houston in honor of our friend, Jan.

Here is my "Morning Has Broken" arbra on display.  It is kind of hard to see the little bird in his nest on the left who has his mouth wide open to sing as the new day breaks.

 

 

Here is the third artbra that was in the exhibit and the one that is in the 2011 Calendar, October entitled, "Now is the Time for A Cure"

   If you would like more information on the Artbras and WTWW, please follow this link:  www.artbra.org

Every year the Houston International Quilt Festival has an array of diverse and wonderfully talented teachers teaching classes from beginning quilting to the ultimate mixed media project.  My greatest joy other than seeing the beautiful quilts on display and the opportunity to shop in the 100's of vendor booths is taking classes.  I LOVE the classes.

Here is the wonderfully talented Lesley Riley teaching a class on her TAP product (Transfer Artist Paper).  I love taking classes at the Houston Quilt Show each year and this year was no exception.  Lesley is a really gifted artist.

 You can visit Lesley's blog here:  Lesley Riley

Well, I just wanted to give you a little insight into another great year at the Houston International Quilt Festival.  Check out Quilts Inc. for further information on the Houston International Quilt Festival and others that may be close to where you live.

I plan to continue to blog and share special events, projects and ideas.  Thanks for stopping by, I hope you will come back again. 
Blessings,
Jules