Pam Holland Designs and Productions

A happy place

I visited the fabric district in New York yesterday.

Actually I set out a bit early, it was Saturday and some shops are not open because its a religious holiday.... others opened at 11.00 am. I set out at 9.30.

But you know, wandering is wonderful.

You find all sorts of wonderful things.

I came across a flea market on a vacant block of land. I enjoyed watching the people as much as I enjoyed the goods for sale. Old bikes, fur coats, African wonders at hugely inflated prices.

It was a delight, just a little further down the street I found an entire carpark full of antiques and brick a brack.

The characters working in the booths were as interesting as their wares. Vintage linen.

I want one of these for my house....!

But I was looking for the quilt store. So on I went.

I found it. Its a mid size store and well set out... unfortunately I was unable to take photos but I enjoyed the visit. I will go back when I come back in a few weeks. I want to buy some NY fabric.

I found stores full of buttons, beads, wonderful design houses and by lunch time my legs were killing me. I had walked 6 kms. I had planned a different lunch, a halal lamb lunch from a special food cart, but when I came across a restaurant where I could sit and eat food familiar to me I took the opportunity.

I had a break for an hour or so and took off for central park till almost dusk.

You know, it was one of the happiest places I've visited for a long time.

People in the field.

picnicing and playing games.

I just stood and watched and smiled. It was so nice to see people enjoying themselves.

The gardens are so green, the flowers just add a sparkle and with the sun leaving long shadows it was just beautiful.

People danced with their skates on and the music encouraged the rhythm and lots of smiles.

Drummers, dancers, bubble blowers and the beauty of tango. I saw it all.

I visited the mac store that is open 24 hours a day, got caught up in a police chase and that wasn't the end of the day, but the blog is long enough.

Can you tell that this is an inspirational place?

 

Creating the quilt.

I took this photo today.

I intensified the colors... now what are the possibilities?

I've created a close up. It looks like there are a number of sashed blocks and each of those blocks are fluid shapes.

It could be created in these colors, multi colors in tones or even degrees of grey highlighted by red and white.

Will I make it? I doubt it... the Bayeux has precedence and by the time I finish that I will have something else special to do... so I create quilts in my mind and it makes me satisfied... however if anyone wants the photo to create a quilt, just email me and I will send you a high res photo.

 

Love this

 

Time to play this again.... its fun and makes me smile every time I see it.

Quilt Store in NY

The City Quilter (Photo credit: Tom Simpson)

The City Quilter (Photo credit: cmkalina)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its raining today but the plan is to visit the "City Quilter"  think its the only quilt shop in NYC. I have to walk through the Garment District  to get there.

 

I've planned the walk, even my lunch stop so hopefully it will all pan out.

I walked and walked yesterday. My Iwatch tells me it was 12560 steps!!! and my legs are telling the story today, but after 5 days of this I should be a little  fitter.

One of my favorite stores in NY is B&H photographic store.

I had researched a Leica camera and with all my information in hand I visited the store. The staff are wonderful and gave me a lot of information. In fact I was able to get the camera almost $200 cheaper than I expected.

This camera will afford a wider lens aspect to my work and although its a small camera I can use is manually and GPS the place where the photo was taken.

I also added a 2 X III extender which takes my existing 200 lens to 800 !!.

I didn't take a lot of photos yesterday, but I have a some that I really like.

    Dancing with a stranger in Times Square

Ipad Images - Times Square

free hugs - Times square

Crossing the road

 

 

New York at last.

I was just too tired to write last night.

With the expectation of an early morning I went to bed early and fell into a deep sleep, only to wake at 2.30 am ready for the alarm to go off at 3.30. You know what its like.

 

Sunset last night, the glow was due to the bush fires

My time in Alamogordo was wonderful, I had a few days down time when I arrived. The pressure of getting things ready to travel and finishing the book was intense, so a little 'me' time which was much appreciated.

My friends are like family and we don't see each other for a year and then slot right back into the same envelope when I return.

We went from one radio interview to another, then a couple of guest appearances and interviews for the paper... Its about not me, its all in the name of our Event, the Southern New Mexico Festival of Quilts.

A guest at one of the visits said, that a small country town held a huge quilt event with the likes of (famous Quilter names) as Tutors....

But ours is totally different. No one gets paid at our event.

I donate my airfare, expertise and time. A committee of like minded folk do the same and work tirelessly all year. The first National Bank and other sponsors assist and  The children of Otero county are the beneficiaries. We've been able to help countless children and families in the community.

You know, I've been given a lot in the name of quilting and this is my pay it forward.

OK, for my Australian friends who wonder why I'm doing this for children half way around the world rather than home... Quite frankly, I was asked !!!  ... but I do lend my time and name to two child based projects at home as well and to be quite frank, Keith and I have been involved with  aid programs overseas and at home for almost 38 years... its just the way it is.

The flights were great today, affording me wonderful views in the peace and privacy of my own environment. I put on my earphones, listen to classical music and float through the air. Its a nice way to spend a day.

However, it took 3 hours to get through the evening traffic from the airport.

I'm here to photograph and then meet my group to go to Ireland for the Quilt event.

I will break each day up into a genre.

People, Textiles, Texture, and pictorial.

 

Its a new hairdresser!!!, "Just color the grey honey"

This is the view of the mountains this morning. Fires in the mountains in Arizona have caused a jet stream of smoke and it led to a spectacular scene as we drove into town.

We had a couple of radio interviews,  I've done it many times now so it's a bit like catching up with old friends.

OK, so now I think the hair color is tooooo blonde in this photo.....I hope it was the reflection of the orange.

Its a new hairdresser!!!,

"Just color the grey honey"

Maybe she tried to blend it, there's not much hair there to work with, its  a bit short but great for travel.!!!!!

We had a lovely visit for a couple of hours with a room full of eager quilters at the local Quilt shop. There were lots of interesting questions and thanks ladies for the lovely emails this evening.

Then on to lunch and a planning meeting.

Our event has grown dramatically and there is so much work going on in the background to make this a success.

We have over 30 booths vending, lots of food stalls  and of course I'm passionate about the Green chilli cheese burgers served... the hotter, the better.

Visitors are vending from out of state as well as locals  and I'm glad I don't have to work out the logistics.

 

Have you ever eaten fried pickles?

So I notch up yet another amazing experience.

When it was first suggested that I try them I rudely screwed up my nose... but of course I was going to try them... and indeed they were delicious...

Before you reel at the calorie count.... I ate just four, 24 calories.

I have an apology to make, I've missed the last 3 studio blog hops, but its late right now and I have to be up early tomorrow so I will add them into the next blog.

It was delightful to have lunch with Debbie Caffrey today, she drove 4 hours down to Las Cruses to meet us and of course share the pickles.

Its a short blog tonight because I've hit the wall with tiredness and it's going to be a hectic three days ahead.

I think she has an eye problem !!!

Its amusing.

It's funny, I was in Wally World today and was greeted by a delightful young lady who recognized me and said she had breakfast with me each morning...

It seems the ads for our event were played each morning at breakfast time on the radio.

A similar thing happened in Cloud Croft today.

A lady behind the counter greeted me as I walked in to her shop.

"Oh you look like that English film star" (I think she has an eye problem)   I answered her and I ensured her that I'm not.... "Yes, you know the one in The Marigold Hotel" !!!!

No, I'm not, I said.... "but you have the right accent" she insisted.

"No", said a lady who came out from another room "she's the Quilting Lady, Pam Holland."

The same thing happened on several other occasions... I was beginning to wonder if I had a sign on my back.

However, it's heartening, it proves that the event organizers are doing their promotion job well.

We begin the round of media again on Tuesday and Wednesday. Radio interviews, rehearse and read the adverts, TV, lunch lectures, Quilt Shop meet and greet and a few other interesting events then a 4.00 am start to the airport the next day.

So we need you all to come and support us in Alamogordo at the Southern New Mexico Festival of Quilts

We've raised a lot of money for the young people of the area and we hope to give another $20,000 this year.

If you can't come to class, join us for dinner on Wednesday evening or come visit the quilt show and wonderful vendors.

I'd love to visit with you, I have a few new quilts to share that haven't been seen in public before.