Florence is a grandma!

Welcome to the world, baby girl!

* * * * *

Happy Birthday, Ben!

This little guy is one year old tomorrow!

I spent the morning at the show and then met up for lunch with five of the loves of my life and here are three of them.

I met my my sobrino y familia for lunch at City Place and it was short but sweet. I felt like I could sit there and look at those faces for six more hours.

But, duty called and off I went back to Key Largo and the girls. I arrived around dusk on a Friday night to the sounds of my neighbors down from Miami for the weekend. I love when the neighborhood comes alive with salsa music and the smells of barbeque.

Don't read on unless you want to see some more of the fabulous quilts from the World Quilt Show.

These next five quilts are by Gloria Loughman. I was wait listed for her class but didn't get in, alas. She teaches how to paint a landscape with fabric. Just gorgeous. Maybe next year I can learn from her. 

 There was no light source on this next quilt. It is all shades of fabric and thread. Amazing!

This quilt was titled, Mount Dogmore but I thought it should be called Mount Ruffmore. haha

This quilt was super well done but it gave me the creeps - I think it was the photo face or something - not sure . . .

I think a man did this next quilt. I would call it an exception to the rule of creativity.

 
Called, Waiting for the Mail, and one of the winners.

I had so much fun and with the added bonus of seeing my family, well I am filled up with gratitude.

What a luxury to stay as long as I wanted to at a fabulous quilt show. I am spending almost two whole days at the World Quilt Show in West Palm Beach. I got here at about 11:30am and the next thing I knew, I looked up and it was almost 6pm! Never even thought about lunch. Great show; beautiful quilts. It is inspirational but also wicked humbling to see the work of such amazing, creative women. AND, I get to go back tomorrow morning. I am practically giddy with joy!  Woohoo!!

first glimpse of the show   . . . oh yeahhhhh. . . my people!

Also, feeling the love from my wonderful friends, Katrina and Sue, who are looking after the girls while I'm gone. Here's the look I got when I left this morning . . .

Lucy: anxious.  Sophie: pissed.

I'm staying at the Marriott right across the bridge from the convention center; they're offering a great rate for us quilters and a shuttle - awesome. What a treat to stay in a decent hotel with lovely linens and a nice mattress (and check it: I'm only here because there are no doggies with me (my life screams out for an RV, right? right? Am I right?)

oh la

And now for a few of the quilts:  Just say oooooooooooohhhhh and aaaaaaaaahhhhh - You know you can't help yourself.

Look how fabulous Neptune is and now look below for a detailed look at his abs. Seriously? Just fabric shapes, raw edge applique - amazing imagery, ingenious - wow!

I think the creator was absent due to a seizure disorder - kidding..haha

The next five are titled The Florida Keys Experience. I was a little miffed that a Miami guild was representing the Keys and I think the Florida keys Quilters might need to STEP UP GIRLS. Anyhoo, they did a really nice job - these are just a few  .  .  . 

Key West chickens

We ARE the "dive capital of the world" dontcha know 

mangroves 

And a special Kaffe Fassett exhibit- oh oh oh one of my fave designers.

Can't believe this is a Kaffe quilt. Such bland colors for him.
The next few are much more in character. I have the book - so cool to see them in person

And some wonderful purples

- loved these!

fabulous curves

 The next few were to do with mental illness, thru the eyes of caregiver, friend, family, etc.

Titled "Moody Blues"

This was done with gauze, sort of pulled apart and stitched - v. cool.

And on a lighter note: 

Ok, I just loved this one. So sweet, so cute, so creative. 

 Being in the presence of all of this talent is inspiring and I can hardly wait to get home and get sewing. So grateful for this opportunity - thanks again Kat and Sue for making this possible!!

. . . and I have something even more wonderful in store for tomorrow . . . stay tuned

We're still waiting to hear how Florida voted. As you can see, voters turned out in large numbers.

11/8 Update: Romney conceded Florida! Yay for Florida - we squeaked through for Obama!!

Did you?

new abode

Sophie immediately found her niche and this is undoubtedly where she will spend most of her time this winter. At high tide, she has an easy in and out. For low tide, there is always the boat ramp. Doggie paradise.

tiki hut 

I'm on the second floor while the first floor awaits my mum and daddy

View of boat basin from the balcony

upstairs screened porch 

 I've got the kitchen and the bedroom unpacked and hope to finish everything else today. As you can see, Havana Harry has place of honor, as usual.

It's nice to be back in the Fabulous Florida Keys. The weather today will be a perfect 80 degrees with no humidity, water temp is 81. Lovely.

Moving in and moving on . . .

So, after a long day of doing battle with palmetto bugs, centipedes and spiders, trekking up to Fla City and emptying my storage unit, dragging innumerable boxes and bags up a flight of stairs (yes, I am on the second floor this year), I have finally succumbed to exhaustion and am in bed with the faint odor of cat s**t lofting in the window, or perhaps it is in the soft exhales of the sleeping girls. Hey, what can I say, exhaustion brings out the poet in me. . . Anyhoo, after all of that, I have come to a Major Decision.

I am ready to get rid of stuff. Yes. And, not jut any stuff; I'm talking photographs too. Into the fire or the trash or whatever gets them out of my life forever.

So, that is that and I will say codladh samh and sweet dreams.   xoxo LizzieAlone