Tuesday 10 May 2016

ALEGRE RETREAT AND DENVER COLORADO April 2016

Fred and I finally arrived at Gateway Canyon after a great long ramble across America. The resort is spectacular, set in a valley surrounded by epic red rocks. The grounds are beautiful, the food amazing and we really enjoyed the company of the other artists and their partners.

Katie Pasquini Masopust and her team put together a fabulous event. I think Katie should be a stand up comic in her next life! Or an auctioneer...there was never a dull moment.

The hotel is owned by Maureen and John Hendricks, founder of the Discovery Channel, and they were both on site to share the excitement of their fantastic car museum and the textile classes. 

My workshop was with Rosalie Dace of South Africa. We had met last year in Portland at the SAQA conference when Rosalie asked me to sit on an International panel she was presenting. The class was called "Cross Currents" and it was superb. Nancy Crow, Katie PM, Gregory Case and Cynthia Corbin offered the other classes. (We were asked not to post photos of other students' work, and mine is still in progress.)

After that we drove to Pine and Denver to spend the weekend with Mary and Steve Wilson and their gorgeous family. They are always so welcoming and fun to hang out with!

Palisade Rock 


morning hike
Katie's work
Nancy's work 
Cynthia's work
Rosalie's work
John Hendricks



I liked the hood ornaments and the blue cars.... 












Rosalie stressed the importance of being consciously aware that we are here now. X marks the spot.
My favourite picture of the divas - Cynthia, Rosalie and Nancy - rock stars in the textile world!!
walking back to the room on our last night - uncovering the moon 

brunch in Denver with the Wilsons and their lovely young men 


Red Rocks Amphitheater with Denver in the background
Mary and I, a few years after high school!

Thursday 5 May 2016

ROAD TRIP TO UTAH = BIG BLOG!

After we attended the SAQA conference in Philadelphia, we set out south towards North Carolina, then we went west and  just kept driving... hope you enjoy our adventures. We had a really memorable time. The USA is a fascinating place. 
We ended up at the Alegre Retreat at Gateway Canyon Resort - blog to follow about that.

Skyline Caverns, Front Royal, VA





mule deer along Skyline Drive through the Appalachians
Charlottesville, VA
for my Dutch people
dogwood
redbud
Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson
hanging out with Tom
Asheville NC, Biltmore, home of the Van Der Bilts





streets of Asheville, NC






Sophia, Marijo and Kevin Simpson, our lovely hosts in Asheville. Best southern cooking ever - ribs, grits and collard greens, and lots of great conversation too.
Near Cherokee. Huh! Who knew?

wild turkeys everywhere

Bentonville, Arkansas



Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, built by the Walton family




Oklahoma
Palo Duro Canyon National Park, near Canyon, Texas - saw two wolves and a roadrunner
the office/van/home away from home


along the way towards Amarillo





Cadillac Ranch, TX








Route 66 is in pretty rough shape, but the food here was delicious. 




Salmon Ruins, Farmington NM - surprised a peacock and three hens

Aztec Ruins, Farmington NM - so amazing, we had the place to ourselves - magic!!!! 


like Shiprock



Zion National Park




rock squirrel 



Parawan Gap, Utah, near Cedar City - great petroglyphs

it snowed

Beaver, Utah - look who jumped on the window ledge when I was taking pictures of this abandoned house...
Bryce Canyon National Park - spectacular



Sunrise Point, Bryce Canyon
Kodachrome Park


on the hairy ride to Boulder Utah



windy day - drove over tumbleweed in Grand Junction Colorado!