Tucson, El Charro Resturant

Well, after all the colorful ceramic pieces, and the hot desert. I checked out the AAA book, as we came into Tucson.  And they recommended El Charro. With GPS it was easy to find, even with all the road work being done in downtown.

Every where you looked are amazing pieces of art and design.

Love these 3 sombreros. Great atmosphere! Fantastic service.

So many of my friends take photos of the food, so I thought I would share what we had to eat also.
I ordered a Taco Salad, not knowing it came with delicious soup.

Ralph always tries the Huevos Rancheros in all  Mexican Restaurants that we visit.
His dish was
 beautiful with rice and beans on the side.. Not sure he found the eggs. But look at all the colors of reds and greens... oh, yes, corn and flour tortillas.

This grilled chicken Salad was delicious, with the soup, I felt I was waddling out.
We watched as each fantastic dish came out of the kitchen.
I had an opportunity to talk with the manager, a delightful lady, who is also an artist. And told us, the museums are closed on Monday... as we thought.  Onward...Back on the 10.  How far will we go?

Hang in there with me,,, I am a bit out of order on my postings... and a bit behind, because some of the places we are stopping do not have WiFi..  

Museum of Art, and Branigan Cultural Center, Las Cruces, New Mexico

We had the opportunity to go to the Museum of Art, before our lunch. There is a lovely permanent exhibition about the animals and land of the area.  I am not much on the skeleton of a rattle snake, but is worth looking at. The teeth are really impressive.  Glad we didn't live in the period of the dinosaurs.  I am always surprised that the imprints of so many animals can still  be found on the rocks.

This is the photo I posted when I could not post anything but a test.  It is in front of the Museum of Art. Impressive sculpture.

Across the arcade is the Branigan Cultrual Center. The buildings in this area seem very new, the one thing is seemed to lack was shade.. but here at the entry is a quiet place to sit.

On any other day it would be fun to sit here, but not at 100 degrees. Oh, yes, I know it is dry heat!

My friend Peggy, loves tatting, and this display caught my eye.. such delicate work.   I mentioned that these building seem new, but the Branigan was acutually built in 1935 as a public library,  The architectural style is Pueblo Revival.  It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

They have a permanent exhibit Las Cruces,,, Crossroads of History, which is an overview of their past.. We found it facinating to look at all the photos and items that were collected.
Admission is free, but donations are always appreciated..

I also enjoyed seeing mothers and groups of well behaved children visiting and asking questions.

Las Cruces - Bernina and Fabric

As we drove down the freeway 10 in New Mexico, what to our surprise it said Quilt Store.  Now, that is really a draw. I mean who could pass up finding a quilt store that spent all that money advertising on a bill board.
 Also it is open on a Tues.. which the other one was not.. Most museums are closed on Mondays, and I never thought a store would be closed on Tues, So we were really extra happy to see this one is open on the day we are  in the neighborhood.

The owner is delightful and we had a wonderful chat about the area, art quilts and fabric dyeing.
We told were we are from, and then to my surprise she gifted me with a fat quarter.
What a nice way to treat a guest from out of the area.
Oh, yes, I did buy some wonderful colorful fabric.

 I love the colorful displays.
They have lots of Bernina Sewing machines in the front of the store, but lots of fabrics toward the back of the store.   The colorful table setting above caught my eye, as well as these delightful bags,, Lots of patterns, and fabric to chose from.. I also was interested in place mat forms,, Had never seen those before, but did not take a photo.

This was just one corner.. Loved hearing the Southern twang, guess we are getting closer to the south.
If you are in the area, be sure to stop in, everyone is very friendly, and also the shoppers were helping telling us how to find the local museums.  Thank you. One word of caution,,, if you have a GPS, which we used.. be careful, there are lots of one way streets, and I guess our GPS did not get the info..and one ways are not very well marked.

So look twice before hopping into traffic. 

Closer to Mexico... no it's Arizona

Love the fun, brightly painted Frogs.

Love these ceramic, Suns.

These are all metal flowers. What restraint, just bought soda drinks and chips. Well maybe that was not restraint!

Still in Arizona.

Arizona Desert, Is amazing

Sorry, at this point I can't look up the different names of the vegetation.

It seems when you drive in the desert the whole world has turned to sand, and you wonder how these wonderful plants can survive.. Adapt.

You see every type and shape, soft and "fluffy" to sharp and stickery.

We are very fortunate, that with the winds we had, the sand was not flying..
There is always the possibility of 0 viability.. Grateful, only little twisters in the distance, Blue sky's.

Maybe these plants can teach us something, adapting to our surroundings.

On the Road, Can you Guess where we are?

Saving the World in Palm Springs.

This motel was listed in one of our travel books, rooms are in trailers. Quartzsite, no we did not stay there!

Quartzite is a busy town in the Winter, and everything is open, in the summer the roads are clear, and everything is closed.  Did find some beads, however.

Ralph said, this must be the airport.

Weddings are Beautiful

Daddy walking his only daughter down the aisle. Our first Granddaughter on her big day.
It was a beautiful day with the sun shining and not too hot.

Many of the bridesmaids and ushers are her cousins.

My proud hubby with 6 of the 8  fantastic grand kids, not children any more.
They grow up so fast!

Nothing is more beautiful than a young woman on her wedding day.

These flower arrangements at each table.. I love peonies. Would like to try growing them again.
It was a perfect day.

Testing, Where are we?

Yesterday,  I tried to post to my blog, and all that showed up on my blog was my writing and little marks where my photos were suppose to be.  Disappointing, because I had to delete, and did not have the energy to write it over again... So this is why I am testing this time..
Do you know where I took this photo?

Pinterest-" Sunflower Flair"

My donation to SAQA is on Pinterest ,  this is exciting.  Hope you all get a chance to look at the wonderful art that will be auctioned off this Fall on the net.. Will keep you posted.
The Sunflower is on hand dyed and commercial fabrics, most of the petals are my hand dyes also.  It has hand beading and it is machine quilted by me.
To total size is 12" X 12".   
I will let you know when I give a class later this summer. Depends on the weather and how hot it gets.

Jacqueline Kurtt- Timberline Gallery

 

This pictorial weaving called "Ocean's Edge" by Jacqueline Kurtt, is hanging in the Timberline Gallery in Oakhurst.  It is displayed in a special exhibition called "Rhythms". Jacqueline wove this textural effect on a loom that weaves two layers at a time and makes the surface into pleats that express the waves of water.

Jacqueline is working on a series of these water expressions. "Ocean Edge" is the second of  three that she has accomplished so far. The first one was a sunset reflecting on the water, inspired by a photo that the customer provided. Jacqueline is available for commission pieces also.

The third one is "Surfin' the Sunset", and will be hanging in Timberline Gallery soon.

While I sit Timberline Gallery, I gaze around at the amazing art created  in this mountain area.
I imagine many have passed Gallery Row, not knowing the beauty that is behind each door.  It is as if you stepped into another space in time.

All the galleries have an amazing collection of a variety of art, photography, watercolors, textiles, and glass, all wonderful pieces for gifts or to take home or to your office. I should never list the types of art, because now I will hear from my sculpture and jewelry friends that I did not include them. I really should say, you can find every type of art. And if you are a visitor looking for art depicting Yosemite National Park. Look behind one of the doors, and the beauty of Yosemite will shine through.

Watch for the new Public Sculpture that marks our area off of 41. Have your photo taken  here to send to friends or better yet put it on Facebook.

Thank you Mark Heliger for the photo of Jacqueline
"Ocean's Edge"



 

Timberline Gallery-"Rhythms" Opens

Come see the Rhythms Exhibition.

Every few months the artists create new pieces with their idea of the theme.
This time I thought I would paint a 10" X 10" Gallery wrap with black paint.  I created 3 pieces with my hand dyed fabric, and commercial fabrics, added beading and buttons. Each piece is sewn to the canvas backing.
"Chili Pepper Sun Rise"

Mindful Beads, Gathering.

Over the week-end my friend Joyce had a gathering of women at our friend Maggi's home in the mountains.

Maggi has a delightful home with beautiful landscaping and interesting, 

whimsical additions in various locations.

Joyce led us in a meditation and then each of us told a little about what we want to feel and accomplish with our Meditation- Mindful Beaded Bracelets.

Then we dove into the variety of beads, there were several boxes. We were to choose what felt good to us, perhaps a feeling that the stones shared or a tactile impression we had when feeling a bead.
We then put them together into bracelets we could wear.

When we meditate we can feel the different beads, and keep focused on what our meditation means to us.

Our brain will always jump around, but with practice this is one way to have a little direction to our thoughts, or no thoughts.

Would you like to see what I made?

This reminds me each day, to be grateful, forgiving, and to live in Harmony with Life.