David Cook For Third Place

Okay, Amurica, it's time to vote. David Cook MUST go out third. Third is the AI Sweet Spot. You're not Clay Bacon, I mean Aiken, AND you don't have to give all that cheddar to the Simons. Archuletta - I don't care if it's spelled right - can win. Rat's Nest Boy (Jason) can have second.
The Indy Mini Marathon is THIS Saturday. Last year I had no idea what to expect, so I was nervous. This year I know exactly what to expect, so I am nervous. Wha? Now, you gotta know, I am a slow runner, but I have taken two minutes off my mile since I started running in January '07. That's progress. A little bit, anyway. I have a certain pace in mind as a goal. When I get there, I am training for a marathon. I am thinking it will take me two years from now to get there. How's that for a longterm goal?

I had a couple of disappointments last week - nothing major, just a crack in my

heart, not a full-fledged break. I haven't really talked about them to anybody much. For a couple of reasons. I don't want anybody to tell me I deserved them and I don't really like to share this kind of thing with people. I'd rather be the Happy Art Teacher.

In case you were wondering, I got an A in creative writing. Here are a couple of my latest quilts. The green one is my favorite so far. I am in love with Kaffe Fassett - his fabric anyway.

Have you seen www.sublimestitching.com? THE best, most unlamest embroidery patterns EVUH. I'll give you the skinny when I get my patterns next week. The only downer for me is that my local craft store - the Supercenter - does not carry embroidery floss. I will have to go to Bloomington or Mitchell. Can I afford to embroider if driving is involved?

My Reading-for-Fun Brain has recovered. I read all of Paula Deen's memoir Sunday and Monday. It was good. I liked the part where she talked about writing her first book and how nutty it was working with editors and having to really measure things and write it just so. I could relate. Mixed media art is a lot like cooking.

You'll soon see just how similar they can be.

Creative Writing

My creative writing class is over - HALLELUJAH! One of my classmates shared this poem with me and it is too good not to pass along:



Introduction to Poetry

Billy Collins

I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide
or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,
or walk inside the poem's room
and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore.

But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.
They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.

Earthquake!

And a happy Friday to you, too! What a rude awakening we had this morning at a little after 5:30. My husband said, "What was THAT?" And I'm like, "It's an earthquake." Totally calm. Nothing damaged.

I am in complete disbelief that Chicago was an entire week ago. The Series of Fourteen and Accompanying Display Piece is almost done! I keep coming up with more and better ideas for it. Need to quit and call it done. Maybe begin on the 2.0 version. Nope. I have a few other projects to chew thru first. Speaking of projects, I haven't been showing you my dreaded 6" quilts. Not into it. Still doing it, but not into it.

The Series of Fourteen has really challenged me to create content in the books. I used to think that my books had to be transcendent on purpose...that I had to come up with some Grand Truth and share it. I have recently decided that it's not the case. I have decided to say whatever I need to say without worrying over it's importance. It will resonate with some, not with others. Some people like Nicholas Sparks; some people like Henry James.

My hills and hollers have started to wake up green this week. I took a few snaps for one of the books. The next photo is a limestone bench. I love the swag and tassle detail. The last picture is the "logo" for a retirement party. I made it for the centerpieces, t-shirts and buttons for the guests. They are two ladies I teach with. They plan to do a lot of shopping in their newfound free time.

Back

I'm back from Chicago! My mom and I spent a whirlwind two days at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center. I taught at CPS's MIU and demo'd in Open Studios and my mom made friends with everybody there. I saw some familiar faces from last year and met lots of new, sweet people who said very nice things about my work. That always completely humbles me and I appreciate every kind word more than you know. My class was full and everybody produced a canvas book. I hope my students enjoyed it as much as I did. That hour flew by! I also taped a little seggie for Pokey's TV show. I was a nervous wreck, but I think it went okay. Here are the fabrics I bought, all fat quarters. I was a pretty good girl, considering the amount there was to choose from. I also bought some super fine glitter and a bunch of fibers. My mom bought me the Alison Willoughby book and I cannot wait to get started on some skirts. A great book and the skirt pattern is included!

Since I gave you a snap of Whit at track, here is one of Court high-jumping.

Track is wack!

Whit's first high school meet was Tuesday and it was fa-reezing! She didn't own navy compression tights. Could not wear her blacks because of uniform color. She did 4 events, was a nervous wreck and had a mini meltdown. My feet did not feel warm until 5:30 Wednesday morning.

We spent Wednesday evening searching Bloomington for the above-mentioned navy blue compression tights, size extra small. I was NOT going to have her suffering cold again! Found 'em finally, with one small problem - they only had mens. The extra small worked okay and Thursday night's meet went much better!

Today, all three of us ran a 15k - 9 point sumthin miles! The girls were fast and I was faster than usual. I take that as a good sign for the way things will go in the upcoming week.

Art Show Monday - set up all day, visit with parents in the evening for a few hours. Assorted track meets and practices, a couple of soccer trainings and two matches.

CHICAGO FRIDAY AND SATURDAY!!! I am getting all my kits ready for my MIU class and scrambling around, but I know it will all get done and everything will be fine.