2018 Quilt, Craft + Sewing Festival

When the Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival was in Phoenix earlier this year, I went with my official quilt/sewing expert – my mom, Cyndee – to see what was new since the last time we went.

The textile-arts-focused expo moves around the western United States throughout the year. It features a mix of local and national/traveling exhibitors, demos, and seminars. Some exhibitors offer open make-and-take projects for a small materials fee (usually $3-5).

Here is a sampler of who and what we saw at the Festival…

Fabric and Patterns

Elkhorn Quilt Company – Based here in Mesa, Arizona, Debbie Dominy specializes in modern quilts and a curated collection of contemporary fabrics. You have to catch her at an exhibitor booth, since she sells exclusively at quilt shows and festivals.

IG: elkhornquiltcompany

African Everything was founded by Mary Ogwel (a.k.a. “Basket Mary”) to help women lift each other out of poverty. Her imports span the continent and include coiled bowls, hand-painted batik fabrics from Tanzania, beaded wire bowls from Kenya, and artisan baskets from Ghana and Tanzania.

Online shop.
IG: @africanbaskets and #basketmary
IRL: Saturdays at Downtown Phoenix Public Farmers Market (8am – 1pm) + Uptown Farmers Market (9am – 1pm)
Extension of Maendeleo Imports and Thank You and God Bless (TYGB).

England Design Studios – Designer/owner Cynthia England developed her own style of quilting called “picture piecing” for her beautifully detailed quilts. The technique allows you to reuse your pattern, does not waste fabric, and makes it easy to fix mistakes. She now sells her patterns, kits, and books to help others learn picture piecing.

Spirit of the Artisan – Formerly Stitch in Time, Gale Carson continues find and import gorgeous artisan textiles from Southeast Asia, including vintage Hmong embroidery and Thai silk batik, as well as hand-loomed silk, Ikot, cottons, and wools.

the-sampler.com’s booth is covered with day-glow quilts and vibrant All About Color fabrics! They also sell patterns and quilt kits.

FB: AllAboutCColor

Rochelle’s Fine Fabric and Quilting had all kinds of odds and ends, but what really caught our attention was the woman with the scissors through her head! It’s just one of the gag headbands they offer – you can also choose from options like cleavers and plungers. They sell other novelties, as well as handmade aprons, mesh totes, and patterns.

FB: rochellesfinefabrics

Embellishment + Decoration

Chenille-It: Nannette Holmberg invented a type of bias tape that allows you to easily get a chenille-edge effect. She had examples of it lining quilt squares and embellishing sweaters.

Laura Murray Designs– Just as we were visiting this booth and puzzling over a product called “Paintstiks,” we heard Laura Murray was about to give a workshop about them. So we rushed into the seminar building and slid into some seats. After watching the demo, Paintstiks seem pretty neat – kind of like a sophisticated crayon that you can use to make patterns on fabric (or other porous surfaces like paper).

FB: lauramurraydesigns

Taylor Made Iron-on designs has all kinds of bling for embellishing fabric. They also had a t-shirt with a U.S. map captioned “Been there, done that,” so you can decorate the states you’ve visited with iron-on rhinestones or embroidered RVs, etc.

Jewelry

Bob Miller continues making rad steampunk accessories! He also does custom craft-themed jewelry with teeny scissors or sewing machines or knitting needles. You can make a fob to decorate your keychain or claim your favorite crafting scissors at his booth’s make and take.

Karen and Chuck Nolke – It was great to see these artists again and talk to them about their team process for creating the one-of-kind jewelry pieces in their collection. She chooses colors, he fires them, and she then adds paint, which creates a unique layered look.

Etsy: karennolke

Guilds

The Lacey Ladies of Arizona (chapter of the International Organization of Lace, Inc.) were super excited to show off their different types of lacemaking, often talking over each other!

Their annual Lace Day event this year will be on November 17, 10am-4pm at Beatitudes Life Center in Phoenix.

Arizona Desert Weavers and Spinners Guild demonstrates traditional spinning and handweaving techniques. They have monthly fiber artists’ meetings October through May.

FB Group: Arizona Desert Weavers and Spinners Guild

More Info

Quilt, Craft + Sewing Festival

Upcoming 2018 shows:

Orange County, CA September 27 – 29
Puyallup, WA October 18 – 20
Tucson, AZ November 15 – 17

Phoenix event

January 31 – February 2, 2019
Admission: $10 for all 3 days.
Largest of the Quilt, Craft + Sewing Festivals.
Held at the Arizona State Fair Grounds.
The closest parking is the South Lot at the Fair Grounds. Enter through the McDowell Gate at 17th Ave and McDowell Rd.)
Parking $8.

We were guests of the Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival.

September 8, 2018May 23, 2023

5 Museum Day Picks in Arizona (+ a few elsewhere)

On September 22, many museums across the U.S. are offering free admission and/or planning special events as part of Smithsonian magazine Museum Day. You can search their list and then download a ticket for a free general admission (good for 2 people) to the participating museum of your choice.

I found 5 Arizona museums – 1 in Tucson and 4 in the Phoenix area – that I’ve visited and would recommend. They’re listed below in alphabetical order, followed by a few bonus suggestions from Indiana, Seattle, and Washington D.C.

1. Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix

While not a museum in the traditional sense, the Desert Botanical Garden participates in Museum Day and was actually where we went last year.

There are cactus and succulent galleries, a wildflower trail, a contemplation garden, exhibits on historical peoples of the Sonoran Desert, cafes with patio seating, and art sprinkled throughout. Located in Papago Park near the Phoenix Zoo, it beautifully showcases the plants of the Arizona desert and is one of the top places I recommend to Phoenix visitors.

2. Heard Museum
Phoenix

Another place at the top of my Phoenix must-see list is the Heard Museum!

It’s an extensive museum of American Indian art, culture, and history, focusing on the tribes of the Southwest. They display both traditional and contemporary art, including jewelry, ceramics, katsina dolls, and textiles. There is also an immersive exhibit on the Indian boarding school experience.

3. i.d.e.a. Museum
Mesa

Formerly known as the Arizona Museum for Youth, the i.d.e.a. Museum is an art and science museum with interactive activities and exhibits for kids.

It’s also where I’ve given my journal workshop during Southwest Maker Fest the last few years.

4. Museum of Contemporary Art
Tucson

Tucson’s MOCA hosts rotating contemporary art exhibitions in an airy space converted from an old fire station. They also have a fabulous little gift shop with jewelry, prints, and gift items by local artists.

It’s located in Downtown Tucson, just across from the Tucson Convention Center (and Tucson Music Hall, where we saw Riders of the Purple Sage).

5. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
Scottsdale

SMoCA is an art and event space with a permanent collection and exhibitions in the areas of contemporary art, architecture, and design.

Bonus non-Arizona recommendations:

Fishers, Indiana–

Conner Prairie

Conner Prairie in Central Indiana is a living history museum that I loved visiting as a kid! I remember candle-dipping demonstrations and sitting in on a lesson in an old-timey one-room schoolhouse. Even though I haven’t been there in years, it made me smile to see it on the Museum Day list.

Seattle, Washington–

Museum of Pop Culture

The Experience Music Project (EMP) was recently re-named the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP). It makes sense, because, while they do have an atrium devoted to constantly-playing music videos (“Sky Church”), a towering guitar sculpture, and galleries for Seattle legends like Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana, there are also exhibitions on sci-fi, video games, fantasy genre archetypes, and other subjects besides music.

Housed within a striking building designed by Frank O. Gehry, MoPOP is located at Seattle Center, near the Space Needle.

Washington, DC–

I think DC’s lesser-known museums can sometimes get lost in the shadows of the more imposing, free-admission Smithsonian Museums on the National Mall. If the cost of admission is what’s keeping you away, then Museum Day is a great opportunity to finally visit!

National Museum of Women in the Arts

My mom and I loved participating in a National Museum of Women in the Arts community day. I hope to visit again and check out more of the artwork!

Newseum

I very much wanted to visit the Newseum while we were in DC, but I just couldn’t fit it in. It’s a museum about the news, specifically how breaking stories are covered and the importance of a free press.

For more exhibitions and museum events, check out this fall’s Happenings List!

At the Museum of Pop Culture/EMP, we were guests of Visit Seattle.

May 17, 2018May 17, 2018

Library on Hold: Burton Barr’s Borrowed Art Space

You have just over a week left to see the “Gems from the Burton Barr Library Art Collection” at Phoenix City Hall!

Yes, there’s a gallery inside City Hall. And, yes, there’s an exhibition of art from the library.

Library Unavailable Due to Water Damage

It was almost a year ago that a burst pipe in the central library wreaked enough havoc in a matter of minutes to require months of reconstruction.

With repairs in process, a selection of the library’s art was transferred to Gallery @ Phoenix City Hall. Located in a walled-off corner of the main lobby, the Gallery is only open during the work day.

Art to Check Out

The eclectic collection features work as varied as a series of paintings by Ed Mell, a piece by Joan Miró, and a traditional Navajo rug.

Previously, the works on display had been scattered throughout the five-floor library building – including in tucked-away spots like the rare book room.

Reshelving Books

Since the unexpected shutdown, staff and programs have been on intralibrary loan to other branches. Many items are back in circulation thanks to a “pop up” library in a mall basement.

The temporary Phoenix Public Library branch in the lower level of Park Central Mall has books, computers, The Hive (co-working space), culture passes, a seed library, and lots of free parking.

It’s a way to provide services for downtown patrons until Burton Barr can be opened again, hopefully, sometime this summer.

– More Info –

Gallery @ Phoenix City Hall

Free admission.
Open to the public from 10am to 2pm, Monday through Friday.
200 W. Washington St., Phoenix, ground floor, just to the left of the metal detectors at the main entrance.
Light rail: Washington/Central
Parking: Street parking (metered) or 305 parking garage at 305 W. Washington St. ($4/hour)
Pick up some free Phoenix public art postcards after you see the exhibit.

Phoenix Public Library @ Park Central

Open Monday through Saturday 9am to 5pm (or later), 1-5pm on Sundays.
3110 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, basement level. Take the elevator beneath the big outdoor clock (between Jimmy John’s and Jamba Juice) down, and you’re there!
Light rail: Indian School/Central
Parking: free lot.

April 30, 2018October 17, 2023

Pup Tales

Part of the the reason we chose our current apartment was so we could get a dog.

And then we didn’t.

It’s something we’ve thought about on and off for years. But there’s always been some reason the timing wasn’t right or that Phillip and I weren’t on the same page.

Then the conversation unexpectedly re-opened.

Chiquita

My friend Anne has repeatedly told me I should get a chihuahua, that the shelters are full of them.

And I’ve repeatedly dismissed the suggestion, saying I don’t want a dog who is constantly barking.

Then, during Art Detour weekend, I was walking around – with Anne, actually – and we passed by a house with a couple chihuahuas in the yard. Even though we were basically on their turf, neither barked. One just went back to napping in the shade. The other came over to the fence as if to greet us, front paws on the chain link, just looking up, sniffing – and melting my heart.

Phillip felt the same way when I showed him a photo later that evening. I also did some googling and learned that not all chihuahuas are prone to a lot of barking. The ones that are can often be socialized to handle new people, objects, etc. more calmly.

We started talking again about getting a dog and now small dogs were an option, which made the whole thing feel more manageable.

In the meantime, we’ve stopped back by to visit our sweet pint-sized friends and have managed to resist the urge to dognap them.

The time Phillip went, they both ran up to the fence, tails wagging, so he could scratch their ears and they could attack his fingers with licks.

Another time, one of their humans was outside, and I said hello.

“I really like your dogs! What are their names?”

It was so random that it took her a moment to answer.

“Chiqui and Shiny.”

I wasn’t sure what else to say, since “Call me if you decide you don’t want your dogs” didn’t seem appropriate. So I just wished her a good day and got back into my car.

Charlie

One Sunday, Phillip and I took a drive out to one of the county shelters, just to see what it was like and meet a few dogs whose profiles I’d seen online. (Phillip also said hi to some cats.)

The plan was not to bring home a dog that day. Maybe we could narrow it down and then go back a couple weeks later, once we were more prepared. If our dog of choice got adopted in the meantime, then we’d be happy for him/her and keep looking.

One of the dogs I’d had my eye on was Charlie, a happy-looking guy on the larger side for a chihuahua-mix.

Pound Puppies

At the shelter, we visited rows and rows of kenneled canines before we found any on my list. A few that stood out were a teeny 4-pound white chihuahua, two nearly identical tan ones, and a little black dog with a long tongue.

I nicknamed that last one Mr. Wigglebutt, because he didn’t just wag his tail, he shook the entire back half of his body! I got a couple blurry photos of him. When I got the bright idea to capture the wiggles on video, however, he decided it was time to go lie down.

He’s Just Not That Into You

At one point, I was talking to one of the longtime volunteers and asked, “do you happen to know Charlie?” while showing her his photo on my phone.

Her expression changed, betraying a mix of both recognition and concern.

“Yes. I do know Charlie.”

Charlie was a great dog, who was getting increasingly stressed by shelter life, wary of new people, and starting to lash out.

Just that morning someone had reached into his enclosure to pet him, and he tried to bite her. Maybe he was just too amped up being inside with all those other dogs and cats. Maybe he didn’t like people reaching into his space.

The volunteer thought it would help if she walked him a bit first, so she got a leash. We followed the two of them through the halls of the shelter to a small patch of artificial turf outside and out of view of other animals.

I gave Charlie some space, sitting down on the other side of the turf, to allow him to come to me when he was ready.

He immediately lunged at my face! I sprang back just in time, but it was a close enough call that both Phillip and the volunteer were sure he’d bitten me.

So that was not a match.

I still think Charlie is a good dog at heart. He’s just having a hard time, and I hope there’s someone with the experience to help him through it.

Jordan

Before our ill-fated walk with Charlie, the volunteer had been showing us a doggie sick room of sorts with a couple humidifiers and some sneezing, coughing dogs.

I ended up holding one sweet little guy named Jordan who checked all our boxes.

“Is his condition permanent?” I was thinking do we need to get a humidifier? We could get a humidifier.

The volunteer informed me that it wasn’t. He was finishing up antibiotics for a respiratory infection and would probably recover more quickly once he was out of the shelter. However, he was getting overlooked in that side room.

By the time we got back home that Sunday afternoon, Mr. Wigglebutt had already been adopted.

We made a plan to get stuff together while Jordan finished his meds, and then go back for him in a week or so. He’d probably still be in that side room with the humidifiers.

Rescued

I called to check on him Tuesday and was informed that Jordan was no longer at the shelter. The day after we met him, he had been transferred to a rescue organization outside of the county.

I did not see that coming.

“Where is he now?”

“I can’t give you that information. You’ll have to submit a public records request.”

Okaaaaay.

She told me where I could fill out the form online. So I did, not knowing if there would be a fee or if I would hear back at all.

A lovely person named Holly got back to me right away, saying there would be no charge and the information was attached.

Turns out, Jordan was at the Humane Society of Sedona.

Part of me wanted to make the 2-hour drive and go get him right away. Part of me wanted to take it as a sign it wasn’t meant to be and wish him well in Sedona.

It’s been about two weeks, and I’ve called a few times to check in. He’s doing great, is healthy, and has made friends with another chihuahua named Tommy.

The shelter staff adore him and can’t believe he hasn’t been adopted yet.

Who knows? He might end up coming home with us after all.