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I had an amazing day today, and met another amazing fiber artist - another Quilt National fiber artist - I'm such a groupie!
Today a friend and I took a trip to Reading, about an hours ride due west from Philadelphia, to visit the Goggleworks. The Goggleworks, named after the factory building it inhabits which used to make, you guessed it, goggles - is a gallery and artists studio cooperative. There is nothing like the Goggleworks in the Philadelphia area. Washington DC has the Torpedo Factory which functions along the same lines, but personally I think the Goggleworks is far superior.
Goggleworks is currently hosting a fiber exhibit which ends April 18th. You are welcomed into the gallery containing the fiber exhibit by an absolutely amazing work by Mary Stoudt, a past participant in Quilt National at the Dairy Barn. I love Mary's work - her sense of color and her ability to capture light make her compositions electric.
Mary actually has studio space in the Goggleworks and much to our delight was in her studio today. Meet Mary! My friend Nancy Cosmos and I had a delightful visit with Mary - we saw many of her works up close and personal and had the opportunity to discuss her technique and quilting philosophy. Mary's quilts are raw edge, never fused, and typically quilted on a grid. She paints and dyes much of her fabric. She has a wonderful new piece hanging in her studio of a cityscape. In addition to her quilts she showed us some felted pieces, beaded works and even pottery that she's been working on. She informed us she is typically in her studio on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I'd love to return to visit with Mary and watch her construction process - hmmm - wonder if I'll be invited --- Mary??? 
This is another quilt of Mary's from the exhibit - it is made of layers of wools - very 3-D.
I've been having a number of "coincidental occurrences" lately - I find them a smidge unsettling and creepy - well it happened again today. We found this beautiful woven piece by Karen Henderson in the gallery - I just love the way the path draws you into the trees. 
When I got home this afternoon I went to my computer to up load my photos only to find this postcard on my computer. I put the postcard there yesterday - I found it in my sewing room and I wanted to make a point to find time to look the artist up on line. The postcard, from Karen Henderson, is from November 2009 when she was showing at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. The photo on the postcard is of her piece, Perseverance - same quilt I saw in the show today. See - unsettling, right? 
I think this piece is interesting, Float by Amanda Salm, woven from horse hair.
This "playful" little piece is special - Le Sudoku de l'Artiste, by Barbara J. Walker - a woven sudoku game using found objects for the numbers.
Faye Youse created this beautiful 3 dimensional, felted piece titled Survival. It reminds me of my walk at French Creek this past weekend.
Apparently the Goggleworks made more than just goggles. Ladies - don't leave the house today without your Saf-T-Bra - - - Protection For Women in Industry! At least they had perforations to allow for air exchange - you know how uncomfortable it can be when your breasts sweat! Now, come on - who thought of this, and more importantly, who wore this???? 
An interesting observation about the Goggleworks - it's in Reading, PA - a town which has suffered from a lot of bad press as a result of their significant issues with rising crime. The establishment of the Goggleworks in a "difficult" area of Reading created an opportunity for people to return to Reading for entertainment. The Goggleworks neighborhood now boasts an Imax theater and an indie theater (in the Goggleworks). A hotel has also moved into the area, as well as multiple other businesses. Folks - this is what art can bring about - - - It creates a reason to gather, creates discussion, and enlightens all of us.
Last year I ended my stint as program chairperson for my guild, Calico Cutters Quilt Guild of West Chester, PA. Let me tell you - I took the opportunity to fill the schedule with tons of fantastic speakers and the person at the top of my list was Sue Benner - I have loved her work for years. Well this is Sue Benner week in the greater Philadelphia area. I convinced Sue to visit by coordinating numerous venues for her - guilds, a historical society, and the Wayne Art Center.
Meet Sue, quilt artist extraordinaire. 
This morning she was the speaker at my guild - her lecture described the jurying process for Quilt National - it is an amazing process. I saw her again this evening at the Chester County Historical Society for the lecture on her design and construction process, again, amazing. She's hosting a two day workshop tomorrow and Friday at the Historical Society which still has openings - they did not do a very good job publicizing her events. She will be the keynote speaker this weekend for the opening of Art Quilt Elements at the Wayne Art Center in Wayne, PA. She lectures in our area so seldom that you really should make every effort to see her if possible.
By all means visit her website - her fused and quilted collages are bursting with color and movement. More on the Wayne Art Center Elements exhibit next week - it opens this Saturday.
Spam - I'm not talking about junk e-mails - I'm talking about the infamous canned ham-like meat-like substance.
It can be all yours if you jump in the car and head to Oley, PA, home of the Oley Diner, where this week it's all about SPAM! I admit, being the dietitian I am, I jammed on the brakes when I saw this sign - I just had to snap a photo! Now that's home cooking! I've heard Spam is a huge hit in Hawaii, but we're not in Hawaii- they even make a Spam sushi in Hawaii. Honestly how can you eat Spam and then head to the beach in a bikini - it's just not happening.
They may go for Spam in Oley and Hawaii, but tonight I was craving something super spring-y for dinner. I made this great risotto primavera, topped it with a poached egg as well. Here are my healthy changes to the recipe as written - 1. used olive oil instead of butter, and only used half the amount, 2. used only half of the Parmesan cheese, and, 3. poached the eggs instead of frying. It was delicious! I served it with a simple salad of mache, grape tomatoes and cucumber dressed with a simple vinaigrette. 
Make sure you take a minute to check out my links - I've added a few I think you might like. I am slow at adding links, but I want them to be special.
One of my fondest memories growing up was laying across my Mom's bed and looking through her button box - it was a big, old greeting card box, bursting at the seams full of buttons - for me, it was like a treasure chest. I loved running my fingers through the stash of buttons, listening to the tinkling noise the buttons made - hoping not to hit a rogue pin in the process - this button obsession is not without risk you know! Mom had buttons of every shape, size, and color - diamonds, pearls, bone, glitter-y, glimmer-y jewels. And, most of the buttons had a story - what garment they fell off of, and so on. She still keeps her button box today - maybe some day I'll get it. Fortunately for me I now have my own button box - o.k. - plural - BOXES, and tins and jars, and more. What can I say - I love old buttons. A neighbor of mine heard I was a button-aholic and decided to share her stash with me. She's not a sewer and saw no future for her buttons in her possession. A year ago she bequeathed the first installment to me, and just last week I received installment number two. I have a very generous neighbor - take a look:
Check out this little Scottie dog - it's Bakelite - chemically know as polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride - now that's a mouthful! Bakelite was an early plastic and most button collectors will do anything to get their hands on these little gems.
This bouquet of metaled petaled pearled buttons needs a little TLC, but there's potential. 
This strand of rhinestone buttons is in perfect condition - the rhinestones are some of the biggest I've ever seen. 
These amazing yellow buttons did not photograph well - they are luminescent - they actually glow around the perimeter.
Welcome Spring - This collection of yellow buttons just reminds me of spring - buttercups, lemons and the sun.
Here's a colorful little stash - a few Bakelite and bone added for interest.
Tangerine anyone??? Love these little gumdrops!
Bakelite at it's finest - this is a substantial offering. In all fairness, I did tell my neighbor the market value of her stash - she wasn't looking for money - she wanted someone to "look after" her collection - I understand completely!
Did I mention she threw in a few buckles as well - Bakelite buckles!
As beautiful as these little gems are I am always reluctant to use them - what if I lost one. There just aren't many things I make that are "Button Worthy" of this caliber button - you understand, right?
I've been working diligently on the design for my Layers Tweets Challenge - it can be a frustrating process - arghhhh! I've been spending a lot of time sitting at my kitchen table drawing, and just as much time erasing. I do all my drawings freehand from my photos or from photo inspiration I find on-line. I never trace an image, other than when I work with portraits.
I'm happy to report that I'm sticking with my original concept - of course I can't tell you - that would spoil the reveal. I was afraid that once I started drawing I would lose my vision - it's a spacial thing for me - this 28 x 24 inch requirement is rectangular, only slightly so - it really feels very square to me. The drawing is nearly complete, still have a small section that needs "something" - not sure what that "something" will be.
Thought I'd share this lovely photo from my garden of barren wort - these flowers are so delicate and small - you need to see them up close to appreciate their beauty. They are the loveliest yellow of yellows. Once the blossoms are spent the beautiful foliage is left to be appreciated all season.
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