So we had a great time in California but as the saying goes "there is not place like home". We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful place! If you happen to forget how beautiful home is grab a pair of comfy shoes and head out to your local nature trail, park or if you are in the big city maybe take in a gallery exhibit. I firmly believe that everyone's home town has that view or place (architecture maybe) that makes it special.
My question to my fellow challengers - What makes your hometown special?

I am also happy to say that all of this walking on the beach has finally given me my inspiration for my "island" themed piece. Happy to say I am finished!
How are your projects coming along? I can hardly wait to see them!

I thought I should add a few comments of my own reference Asliomar. Gladys is right is was wonderful! The food was great, I really enjoyed my class & classmates. We really did have a wonderful group of ladies. I took a fabric painting workshop with the amazing Hollis Chatelain. To get our day started out right Gladys & I went for an hour long walk along the boardwalk among the sand dunes. We met some fellow walkers who were having breakfast on the run.

There were also some beautiful plants, tough and tiny! They had to be to live in the sun and sand.

And it wouldn't really be a trip to the beach without seeing someone lying in the sun!

Empty Spools Conference

I've died and gone to heaven!  Yesterday I got a ride with my friend Karrie and her husband to Nanaimo, where we caught a plane to Vancouver, then from Vancouver to San Francisco where we stayed for the night in the San Francisco Westin Airport Hotel.  It was a fabulous place to stay, seconds from the airport and had a pretty fountain with PALM TREES that were healthy and tall and beautiful!  My camera didn't capture their beauty in the dark.  Karrie and I had arranged to meet at the place where the shuttles for the hotel take off......unfortunately we didn't know there was four of them.  Of course I did not end up at the one Karrie did, but she found me....Good idea to travel with someone younger than me....! 

This morning we got up at some ungodly hour in order to catch the last flight of our journey.  A 20 minute flight from San Francisco to Monterey, California.  But it was worth it.  Upon arriving here.....here being the Asilomar Conference Center.  The Asilomar Conference Center where the "Empty Spools Quilting Seminar" is being held.  I'm taking a week long class here!  What a wonderful and unexpected break from my daily routine!

Once settled in our room we went for a tea and then a walk on the beach.  It is so fabulous I want to live here!  We walked for almost two hours and I didn't want to go back!

 Now, later in the day, all the other participants in the Quilt Conference are arriving and the "Meet and Greet" is happening in a few minutes. Off I go! 

Announcing our First Theme

Good morning to everyone reading this.  It is a snowy, windy, rainy miserable day outside here on the west coast, so what better thing to do than get going on our challenge theme!  Everyone has checked in and we're ready to go. 

Here are the rules:

Size:  12 x 12 inches square
Construction: 3 layers
Deadline:  June 30, 2012 (not worrying about time zones)

And the theme is "ISLAND".  Whatever that means to you, however you interpret it. 

It will be fun to see thirteen different posts on June 30th! 

Kathy Kerstetter Introduction

Hello everyone from Kalamazoo, MI!

My husband and I were married almost 16 years ago. We built a home and were decorating it; I had an interior design company come in to quote drapes for our Great Room.  They wanted an enormous amount of money.  I told hubby that I would be able to sew a straight line and set out to purchase a sewing machine....and that was the beginning of my sewing/art adventure.  AND, we still do not have drapes to this day!

I spent 20+ years working as an engineer in the Medical Device Industry. Seven years ago, I found myself tired of working exorbitant hours and had very limited time to explore art; so, I left Corporate America (yeah!) and now teach mathematics part-time at our local community college.  I finally have the freedom to play and experiment with my art.

My work is driven by materials, medium, and process.  I am an explorer that likes to try new and different products and techniques; there is nothing better than dipping into the unknown.  My work is also very compartmentalized: Is there a different process?  What is my material?  What do-dads can I add?  In my head, it is like checking off boxes on a list.

As you can see from my work, I usually play in Jewel-tone colors; nothing excites me more than fuchsia, violet, and citrine.  I often will rip color schemes from magazines or pull out my color-wheel, but most often go back to those jewels!

I am currently exploring wool felting.  I have never been a saver of scraps, but it is now becoming an obsession.  I am love the challenge of using these bits and pieces to create new and unique fabrics.  

I am looking forward to the challenges!

Hi everyone - Joan Darling here!

With greetings from the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island.

 I received my first sewing machine for my sixteenth birthday, and have been messing about with fibre ever since.I made clothes, knit, cross stitched, needlepointed, embroidered, and started quilting in 1996. I have made traditional quilts but I am more than ready to jump with both feet into the art quilt world.  I have been trying different techniques, love them all, but so far am drawn to bead embellishment. Thanks for the invitation to join the group. I look forward to the forthcoming challenges, especially the sharing of ideas, thoughts and processes.

Introducing Miz Rosie

I love ART! Experimenting is my middle name. I think I have every fibre art tool that exist. My love for photography hopefully will turn into some unique Fiber Art Quilt pieces with this Up for a Challenge Art Quilt group. Making clothes since I was in the 7th grade helped my designing Art Dolls easy. This was one of the last dolls I sculpted 8 years ago. I want to use my portrait photography now in making Art Quilts. Fabric Postcards have been a good way of experimenting with many of my art supplies too.

Check out my website for some of my photos: web.mac.com/mizrosie

This is going to be fun!