Monday, February 21, 2011

Rincon Country West RV Resort Quilt Show





I can't keep up with these ladies!!! Their quilts are amazing and they actually get them done in a timing fashion. I like the smaller table toppers because I can get them done in two or three days. I must say though, that they are inspiring me to go bigger. In fact I have my fabric for a kaleidoscope quilt that I plan on making. There was a class on this that I couldn't go to because I was hiking. I went in and checked out what they were up to and then found the directions by Googling it. I have the best of two worlds.

The Cactus Quilters have three projects that they work on throughout the season. Comfort quilts for anyone sick in or out of RV Resort. They make blind baby quilts for the School for the Blind. Some of these quilts go to Phoenix and Flagstaff AZ. The third project is making dog beds for the Humane Society, here in Tucson.
I've helped with all but doggy beds. Well, that isn't true. I have donated scraps for them to use and this morning I found seat cushions I thought would be good for dog beds and gave one to them.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show






For two weeks, from Jan.29-Feb.13th the city of Tucson is a mecca for gem and mineral collectors, wholesalers, jewelery makers or anyone else wanting to buy, sell or just browse among a bazillion gems, minerals and huge boulders. Vendors came from all over the world. I wonder how much it cost to ship a boulder from Africa!! There are tents set up in parks and parking lots, hotel rooms are taken over, with beds removed or stacked in a corner, so the dealers can display their treasures. The final weekend was in the convention center for retail sales. That cost ten dollars to get in, so after browsing around for two weeks we passed on that. Needless to say we bought some gems and minerals. It really is addicting and just amazing what nature can produce.