"The Bean", Chicago

We visited Millennium Park in Chicago to see Anish Kapoor's incredible 110 ton stainless steel sculpture called Cloud Gate. This huge reflective art piece, inspired by a drop of mercury, has been nicknamed "The Bean".

My friend Jean Boyd took these photos because I forgot my camera! Looking into the sculpture is like being inside an interactive landscape painting. The sky, the city architecture and the viewer are one image that changes with the viewer's movement.

Public sculptural installations often cause a great deal of controversy and conflict. However I strongly believe that it is the mark of a great city when visionary politicians overcome their usual planning for the next 10 minutes to commit to a project of this size (literally and financially). Congratulations Chicago!

Chicago Quilt Festival 2008

These are some photos from Quilt Festival. Despite the poor economy in the US, there were lots of shoppers from many countries. We had trouble squeezing through some of the aisles on Friday.

Chicago Quilt Festival - bird's eye view

Beautiful booths and lots of shoppers

Quilting Arts Booth

My Leaf Magic Little Quilts in the Embellishment Village booth

The next Quilt Festival will be held in Long Beach, California this July. Many people that I spoke to are planning on going. It sounds like an amazing event.

The following photos are of the Friday Sampler. We paid a fee that gave us a booklet of one page instructions from each teacher, and we visited each of their technique demonstrations over a 2 hour period. These were my favorites:

Kathy Kansier

Mary Sorensen

Karen Kay Buckley

Karen Kay Buckley again - isn't that a gorgeous quilt?

Spring

I stood at my kitchen window this morning and felt the sun. Spring has come to the north. If you live in a warm climate, you can't imagine how it feels to walk outside without gloves and see the birds building their nests. It's such a gift.

Quilt Festival in Chicago was an amazing experience. Chicago is wonderful; I had no idea how beautiful the lake front is. I'll post some photos tomorrow.

Pulsatilla vulgaris

Pulsatilla vulgaris, or Pasque Flower

The robins are back and the geese are massing in the open water areas of our lake. Spring is here!

The Pasque flower is one of the first perennials to bloom in northern gardens. The ferny leaves emerge as the snow melts, and the beautiful bells open before many other plants begin to grow. These photos were taken in late April and early May in my previous garden. When I make new gardens this year, the Pasque flowers will certainly be included.

Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Alba'

Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Rubra'

I'm leaving tomorrow for the Chicago Quilt Festival, and will return in a week.

Ancient Sitka Spruce

Sitka Spruce, Hanson Island, Johnstone Strait, British Columbia

"The wonder is that we can see these trees
and not wonder more."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dandelions

This is how desperate I am for spring. I'd even be happy to see a Dandelion.

Thimble Faire Distributors

A new company is born! Thimble Faire Distributors is a brand new wholesale needlework pattern and book company from Texas. Thimble Faire carries my patterns, as well as those of many other needlework designers.

This is very good news for our industry!