On the Road: Empty Spools 2016, Part 2Susan2019-09-23T13:42:34-04:00
Another year at Empty Spools is over for me. The second session ended just two days ago. Now I’m home, having traveled about as far across the continental United States as it is possible to travel: Pacific Grove, CA to Harpswell, ME. Pacific coast back to Atlantic coast.
Empty Spools 2016, Session 2 students, and me (missing two who had to leave early).
Teaching twenty students at a time is always a challenge. This session I had the added pressure of having two respected and popular quilting teachers take my class: Jan Krentz and Mary Lou Weidman. Nothing like having your colleagues watching every move you make! No, really, they gave me no trouble at all and were very gracious.
Well, there was some silliness. I guess every class has their own personality….
The lovely Jan Krentz, donning the glasses and eyes borrowed from Elaine Swatniki’s granddaughter and the laughing mouth from her own daughter’s portrait.Intent and hard at work, surrounded by piles of fabric and drifts of creative mess.
Once again the class made wonderful progress on their quilts. The slideshow below displays their work, with early versions first followed by more complete ones. I may have worked my students too hard, they got a little punchy toward the end and decided that the titles of their pieces needed to end with “Carlson.” As one visitor noticed, I have a few more members of my family now. I don’t mind at all.
Ann Harris
Ann Harris, “Warthog Carlson”
Bonnie Shaw
Bonnie Shaw, “Chief I am Crow Carlson” (*below)
Carmen Goldstein
Carmen Goldstein, “Tonka Spirit Carlson”
Carole Shumaik
Carole Shumaik, “Drago Carlson”
Corky Blanco
Corky Blanco, “Rosa Carlson”
Dianne Decker-Houser
Dianne Decker-Houser
Elaine Swatniki
Elaine Swatniki, “Sloanie ‘I can dress myself’ Carlson”
The Asilomar conference grounds and surrounding area are so beautiful I can’t help but take a few (e.g. hundreds) of photos. Lucky for you I edited them down to a couple (well, maybe three) dozen. They also include my venture into Monterey, home of Steinbeck’s Cannery Row (often my travel read when I visit the area), and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Session 2 began with a beautiful sunset.
Rainy weather moved in.
Dunes and sea at end of Asilomar boardwalk.
Morning walk to Point Joe in the distance.
After storm surf.
Along 17 Mile Drive on Monterey Peninsula.
Point Joe.
Back toward the sunrise and a class day.
Deer abound on Asilomar grounds.
First time I saw deer on the beach!
Stormy weather made for great clouds…
… and foamy surf…
… and interesting things washed ashore.
Anyone know what this creature(?) may be?
Final morning walk on beach in a light sprinkle.
Damp walkers ready for breakfast.
A side trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
“Tentacles” exhibit, octopuses were unusually active and mezmerising to watch.
Exhibit included octopus pop-culture and art.
“Contessa with Squid” by Omar Rayyan
Had to see my favorite, the jellies.
Could watch them for hours too.
From another exhibit of re-purposed trash art.
This exhibit demonstrated harm of plastics to marine life.
“Gyre” by Sayaka Ganz
detail of “Gyre”
“Leatherback Sea Turtle” by Sayaka Ganz
“Laysan Albatross” by Sayaka Ganz
detail of “Laysan Albatross”
Back to the real birds, puffins…
… and local California birds.
Cannery Row, but not as Steinbeck knew it.
The real-life lab of Steinbeck’s Doc Ricketts.
Final toe wiggle in the Pacific ocean.
Farewell to Asilomar until next year.
And to add a little ambiance to the blog experience:
Wonderful work, Asilmar has always been a magical place to spend a week on the beach, hang with other quilters , make everlasting friends, create and quilt !
Love your posts, a huge fan !!!!!
Keep on blogging and creating.
Love the pictures………..!
Wonderful work, Asilmar has always been a magical place to spend a week on the beach, hang with other quilters , make everlasting friends, create and quilt !
Love your posts, a huge fan !!!!!
Keep on blogging and creating.
Looks like so much fun with beautiful results. Thank you for sharing!
Took classes from both you and Gloria in Alberta, Canada, in past. Would love to have been there too. Wendy Greber
Was a dream come true for me. A fabulous week with an extraordinary teacher. Thank you!