Although some folks might think it odd ; I generally travel with two journals. One that is strictly my written (and sometimes illustrated) personal journal & one that I bring along for taking notes on things that catch my eye, observations, thoughts to develop for quilts or felted pieces - that sort of thing. For the Houston trip this was the little beauty that I used to capture those scattered thoughts, and to hold all of the information I needed for the trip. It's a lovely notebook that's available in two colorways from Exaclair. Called the Quo Vadis Robert Le Heros this journal definitely has a lovely European flair. I love the Clairfontaine paper - works great with just about any ink I use in it - including some watercolor washes. Here I am holding up this great journal in front of one of my more traditional quilts at the Houston Quilt Festival 2008.The other two pieces that I had in the show were art quilts. This quilts, called "Butterflies & Cream" was in an exhibit called In The American Tradition. I can't think of a more quintessential traditional American Quilt pattern that these butterflies that were so popular during the last great depression. I bought the beginnings of these blocks as orphans from Ebay. There were certainly not enought to make the large quilt I wanted from them so I had to dig into my stash of vintage fabrics and construct the new-old butterflies to match the original blocks. Now, I can no longer remember which blocks I made and which were the ones I purchased. I used a bright cheerful yellow for the setting blocks. The batting is an 80/20 cotton batt and the backing is plush fleece. Warm, cheerful and traditional. This quilts is actually my hisband's. I was once offered $1200. for it, but he loved it so much that he "bought" it for that same amount so that we could keep it at home - ans till give me the money I needed at the time. Although I make a lot of art quilts now , it is traditional quilts that I always seem to return to. They brings me peace and make me happy - and there is nothing better to sleep under IMHO!
I think my lovely Quo Vadis journal goes quite well with my beautiful quilt ! Don't you agree?!
