Weekend in Washington State and Port Moody, BC

(Photo from La Push on the coast of Washington State and very near Forks, WA...where the program "Twilight" is filmed...but we didn't see any of the "vampires"!)

Last weekend Steve and I flew out to Seattle, took a rental car to the Olympic peninsula, and went to the Wearable Arts Awards fashion show of recycled materials. The weather was picture perfect. The trails were well marked and easy. The rocky coast line included expanses of sand, sea tumbled rocks, and even a sea gull skull (which, of course, I took home!) Bald eagles soared overhead during the day. The night time ferry ride from Port Townsend was lit by a big, clear, full moon. The entire trip was a wonderful experience in the wild beauty of nature.


(Above: La Conner Quilt Museum. Click on image to enlarge.)

We also went to the La Conner Quilt Museum. Situated on the top of a hill, the old Gaches Mansion now houses three stories of exhibition space. The ground floor is refurbished with late Victorian furniture, wall paper, and period accessories. It showcases work from the permanent collection....which, at the time, were CRAZY QUILTS! I love crazy quilts and photography was allowed on this level. (I took several more images and posted them HERE!


(Above: Detail from a late 19th century crazy quilt at the La Conner Quilt Museum. Click on image to enlarge.)

The upper two levels were exhibiting embroideries by Marjorie Bachert, Sandra Little, Maura Donegan and Lisa Harkins. These women all hold a London City & Guilds Diploma in Research, Design and Embroidery from the Gail Harker Creative Studies Center. The work was diverse, exceedingly well crafted, and beautifully presented.


(Above: The Leaf Dress at Wearable Arts Awards 2011.)

The main reason for this trip, however, was to attend the Wearable Arts Awards fashion show of recycled materials in Port Moody, British Columbia. Two of my garments, The Leaf Dress and The Flower Dress, had been accepted into this international show. I thought we'd come a long way to attend...but there were other artists there from the United States and also Australia....in addition to many from all over Canada. Dancers wore the accepted fashions on a red carpet runway. Original choreography and carefully selected music complimented each grouping of four or five outfits. Thus, my floral creation appeared with other, new age or hippie inspired dresses and while "The Age of Aquarius" filled the air. It was so much fun. Plus.....I WON FIRST PLACE in the category called "Second Life", basically the "recycling award"!


(Above: The Flower Dress at Wearable Arts Awards 2011.)

Of course, taking photos of moving dancers from several feet away....at night....with a spotlight following the model...without flash....resulted in very, very blurry photos. These two were the "best" I could manage. To see these dresses better, click HERE! At the same time as this fashion show was taking place...but on the other side of the continent, I was being honored with another award! Window I won the Niche Award in the category of decorative fibers at the Buyers Market of American Craft in the Philadelphia Convention Center! I'd love to say that "I'm thrilled".... but, in truth, these two awards are so awesome that's I'm really just "stunned"!


(Above: Steve on Cape Flattery, the most northwestern point in the continental United States.)

On our return to Seattle we went to the Bellevue Art Museum to see "The Mysterious Content of Softness", an exhibition featuring the work of eleven international and very contemporary fiber artists. It was an excellent show full of thought provoking concepts.

Lastly, I've only got a couple days in which to spend in my studio because we are headed to Birmingham, England to see Mathias dance in La Fille Mal Gardee. He's second cast in the role of Alain....a plum part in which he'll be wired for "flying"! I can't wait!