The show!

Unfortunately, I didn't manage to get any pictures of the opening reception myself as I was busy chatting it up with the good folks that were able to make it out, but my good friend Richard did and he gave me permission to use them on the blog!  Thanks Richard!

Shakti Project danced in the directions of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.  

Dancing with these ladies is pure bliss!

Jason did shoot a video of both performances, so if the other girls of Shakti are agreeable, then I will share it and Killick is patiently awaiting me getting the video of him uploaded to share.

 

As Above, So Below...

 Killick played some wild music and whether you like it or not, you can't help but to experience it.  Each piece he plays is original.  It's a wild ride!

A small group of folks checking things out.

There was a great turn out - better than I could have hoped for and SO many nice words about my quilts.  I even met a male quilter who makes his own wool fabric with lint.  Sounds so cool.  I hope he hunts me down and we can connect again since I didn't get his name!

The show is up through August.  You can drop by when the space is open or make an appointment to get in to see it OR you can go all out and take a class.  There is a lot of wonderful movement happening on that floor with some great teachers!

I am FINALLY ready to start starching my next background.  I've been stuck on colors, but I think I'm just going to jump in with both feet this weekend so stayed tuned! And hopefully, next week I will have a slide show of my latest quilt from beginning to end for you! 

Until tomorrow!

First Photos from the Photo Shoot!

I GOT THE DISC!!!  

With all the new photos and the detail shots!!!! From the photo shoot!!!

I can go on and on about how great they are, but instead you can check them out for yourself!

Today, we start with the Shakti belts!

  

Need great photos too?  Get in touch with Chad HERE.

Preparations for the Quilt Show

I did NOT manage my time well yesterday and I did NOT start cutting fabric on Ashley's pillow.  (Don't worry Ashley. It WILL get done.)

What I did manage to do is get the Shakti Belts ready for the quilt show.

I'm so excited to have an opportunity to hang them up in this years Cotton Patch Quilters Guild quilt show, Hot Threads, Cool Quilts.  As far as I know, no one else has ever entered Belly Dance belts into the show. but there was some work involved in figuring out how to hang them.

We were only allowed 3 entries in each category this year and there are 6 belts.  How was I supposed to make 6 belts into only 3? 

I entered them as 1- with the understanding I would come up with the presentation.

Naturally, I had to figure out ON the day all the paperwork was due what my presentation would look like. They needed to know ahead of time so those wonderful women who are in charge of figuring out where everything is going to go when the hanging begins could get to work before they had the quilts themselves.  There is A LOT of order to the chaos the day the quilts go up and A LOT of behind the scenes work in preparation for the show.  It is really astonishing the amount of work that goes into those three days.

I laid them out on some felt to photograph them, then I measured around them and thought to myself I could apply velcro to the backs of them and they would just stick to the felt.  I thought I had it all figured out.  I sent my measurements in and all was well.

Now, they are due on Saturday (I'm not waiting until the last minute or anything - Saturday being tomorrow and all.).  I had to reattach chains and glue new sparklies on in the places where they have fallen off and I have NO velcro.  I went to the store.  I looked at it and decided to try safety pins because they would be a lot less work and a lot less sewing when I want to be sewing on NEW projects - like Ashley's pillow.

I still have to make a couple of labels for other entries.  This should have already happened. Turn in is tomorrow and all will be back to normal in my world - that is until I read the judges remarks at the end of the show and I wander off into my cave to lick my wounds...

Here are the Shakti Belts almost ready for the show...

AND because I didn't sew on Velcro I can move that one on the bottom a little lower and center it a little more. (Thank goodness for those safety pens.)

New Belt...

I am always busy and working on something it seems.

I have had to put the piece I was working on to the side temporarily in order to knock out a couple of smaller projects I have promised folks I would do in either trade or gift.  Normally, this would throw my creativity into a total tail spin where I was unable to do anything, but instead I am getting it done and having a blast in the process.  I am trying to work fast so I can get back to the what I'm calling YabYum.

Right now, I'm working on a dance belt like these for for a bellydance teacher, friend, and one of our favorite librarians...

Except I'm making hers in greens and yellows.  I am most excited to see her dance in it.  (I am not quite ready for her to see it yet, so stay tuned for when I am!)

When I danced in the one I made for myself and the other girls in Shakti Project danced in theirs we were all on the stage together, so I want to get to see them in action without me.

Shakti

I love these women with all my heart. These are my sisters in dance. I am taking a break from dancing to try to catch my breath in life. I'm working diligently on clearing my calendar so I can better appreciate the time I have with the people I love. Life is so busy and I easily get swept into the whirlwind and then it throws me out and the only way to catch my breath is to wipe the slate clean and start over. I ask these wonderful women to be patient with me as I work my life back out and to please understand my need to not be committed to anything other than my family as our dancing is a large time commitment. I was super nervous about this as dance is such an important part of who I am now, but they all embraced me and said once a shakti always a shakti. The door to return will always be there and I know this. I am constantly reminded what a wonderful community of people we share our lives with. I am a truly blessed woman to have sisters who understand life's needs and embrace for me for taking care of myself and celebrate with me what this new space will bring into my life. I know this circle awaits my return and I know I will dance with them again very soon.