On Tuesday, January 15, we drove up the coast to the next guild. I enjoyed the redwoods so much, we decided to do a little more sightseeing by driving through Big Basin Redwoods State Park where some of the trees are up to 375 feet high. I don’t think I will ever get tired of marveling over these towering giants.
From there, we took a winding, “white-knuckle”, backroad out of the mountains and made our way to Moraga where Sally graciously consented to be our hostess while I was speaking and teaching at the Diablo Valley Quilters. Sally gave me a tour of her studio and showed me some of the quilts she had made. I always love seeing where other people work, so it was a real treat, and she had some great stories to tell. Thanks, Sally!
On Wednesday evening, I did a trunk show for the guild, including a PowerPoint presentation of a variety of artists who also make quilts featuring people or portraits. I enjoyed speaking to everyone afterwards, too, because it gave me a chance to answer lots more questions about my quilts and my techniques.
Thursday I taught a “Making Faces” workshop at ThimbleCreek Quilt Shop in Concord, California. This quilt shop had a wonderful classroom with plenty of room for everyone and really good lighting (and I just happened to find quite a few pieces of Marcia Derse fabrics to bring home with me, too).
The “Making Faces” workshop is always a lot of fun for everyone, especially that moment when each person finally recognizes the person in the portrait they are making. Then you hear excited chatter, gasps, and applause as we hold them up for all to see. It’s very satisfying for everyone involved.
This particular trip was two years in the planning, and it did not disappoint. We felt so welcomed the whole time we were in California, and I am grateful for each and every person who made it possible!