Waiting for the Thaw.......

We heard we would get more later on Tuesday through Wednesday night, but you know down here in the South you really learn to take that with a grain of salt.....well....after the recent Atlanta Snow-apocalypse it seems everyone heeded the warnings.  Everyone around us stayed put yesterday as sleet fell for most of the day, then sometime after dark the snow did fall.  We are grateful that the wind seems to have died down here because with the weight of ice and snow on the trees we could have a real mess.  Also grateful that we retained power throughout this mess.  Saying that, it sure is pretty to look at....so long as I am "not" required to go out in it....

 I can say nothing is getting done....no orders can be shipped, no product that was due in can be received, we did wash out everything that was sitting in dye for fear we would loose power; however it is not drying in the dye studio (more on this is a minute) and unlike the day before I'm not sure where to hang it.  At this point we are worried about how much we will have for our upcoming month of shows because we had set this time aside for just that reason....to pump up the numbers.  

Now about that dye studio....we had discussed putting in a wall unit heater I must say I looked at my DH and wondered if he had lost a screw, this is the south we never get that cold to warrant an expense like that.....can you tell I'm eating crow!  Honestly I figured a portable electric space heater would do the trick, wonder how many layers I'll be wearing today to cut up burlap and I will be working around all this.

Cabin fever isn't just affecting the "humans" in this house.....

and this is a dog with taste, that's silk she is wearing....hmmmm.....wonder what she got into...?

This one is watching reality TV.....the kids sledding down the street are better than nothing!
Guess we will keep waiting for the thaw....hoping that 70% rain Friday doesn't fall when it's 31 degrees!

Wintery Weather Mix & Proud Mama Moment.....

Here in Atlanta today we have had rain, sleet, snow and apprehension over what will come tonight.  I'm a little slow in posting today, because we were dyeing and washing out fibers till late last night, because....now don't laugh....we went to the grocery store in the middle of the day.  Not necessarily for milk and bread, even though we did come home with some bread.....no 1% milk where we were....honestly it was for Costco chicken salad, then soda, Margarita mix(essential if iced in) and Color Catchers.  You know the important stuff!  This morning I went to the hand specialist so I can keep these old hands ticking....as my sweet sister says....it sucks to get old.  Now for the good stuff, photos of new stuff and what happens in cold weather.

We usually heat the dye studio with a space heater, however it just does not seem practical during yet another cold snap.....so here is how "creative thinkers" solve the problem.     

And when "all" the door frames over tile are full, what do you do.....

When these came down and got twisted they certainly look like "candy", eye candy that is...

Shhhhh! Don't tell DD, but here is a peek at our newest product line....how yummy is this.....as I was dyeing it I kept hoping the color would remain as vibrant as when I put it on....think I got my wish.

Now drum roll please.......DD will be teaching 2 classes at International Quilt Festival-Houston this fall.  She had a moment when she realized that the first time she attended festival she was 18 years old and now 18 years later she would be teaching there.  Okay that dates both of us, doesn't it?

She will be teaching around the country this year.  First she will be teaching Watercolor Landscapes (photo of the tree) at Mancuso's Quiltfest Destination-Savannah the last week of March.  Then at their Denver National Quilt Festival IX in May she will be teaching Watercolor Landscapes and her Mixed Media Collage class.

In June she will be teaching both the Watercolor Landscape class and her Mixed Media Collage class at the International Quilt Festival-Chicago June 19th through the 21st.

That's all for this Proud Mama for today!

Come back on Thursday to see how we fare tomorrow, they are telling us to collect flashlights, candles, extra blankets and more due to the coating of ice that will be on power lines and trees.  In our neighborhood we have underground power but that doesn't always save us from trees coming down on major lines supplying us, so we await what this crazy winter has in store for us once again.....I thought we lived in the Deep South!

From Sun-Up to Sun-Down......

We left Tucson on Sunday morning before dawn, I do have a saying for that but I am refraining at this time, to say mornings are not my favorite time of the day is an understatement.  However, DD is a morning person, thank goodness or we would never get anywhere before midnight.  Somewhere in Arizona...just a touch of light....

 

Finally somewhere in New Mexico it finally lightens up even more, maybe I can keep my eyes open now!

  

Whoopee! The lights of Atlanta are calling my name, I may be tired of sitting in this car, but I am wide awake.  This skyline is a welcome sight.

 

Now for a little sneak peak at our creative collaboration first DD put together the panels and a little stitching to hold everything together.  Then she is passing them off to me to add texture and embroidery stitches.

 

Time to unload the car, take a count of things so we know what to dye, put everything away and get busy prepping for our upcoming shows.  We also made a long "To-Do" list during all those road hours, so stay tuned for new pieces, patterns and class announcements.

Next stop Sedona......

Heading out of Vegas the view of Lake Meade, NV is a spectacular sight...from there we head south toward Flagstaff, AZ and our bed for the night in Sedona.

The next morning we were in such a hurry to do a little sightseeing that we didn't take any photos of the "red rock" that Sedona is famous for.  Trust me the colors of Sedona are truly unbelievable.  We almost missed our stop at the "Golden Arches" because we were looking for the typical "M"....this is what we didn't expect.

 

 

 

 

Our plan was to visit Tuzigoot National Monument out side of Cottonwood, AZ.  The pueblo sits on a long ridge above the Verde Valley with views from the roof to die for.

Here's where we climbed to the roof.

After enjoying the morning outdoors it was time to hit the road again, final destination Phoenix and set up for the show.  The one thing I kept looking for as we drove were the Saguaro cactus the state is known for.....

next thing I know I see thousands of them standing on the sides of the hills/mountains like trees in the forest....okay maybe hundreds.

It official now.....we are in the Sonoran Desert.

We'll be home soon.....but for how long....that is the question.  Stay tuned!