Please join me in welcoming today’s guest blogger Lindy Weber. Her story warms my heart and I’m thrilled to have played a small part in her dreams. Lindy will be a regular guest here as she embarks on her adventure of a lifetime. She’s giving away a beautiful framed piece of her own art work too.
Once upon a time, not so very long ago, yours truly was quilting, fiber arting, fabric dyeing and quilt blogging.
Through a Hansel and Gretel breadcrumb approach to web-surfing I came upon a friendly, informative, fun web site – the Quilting Gallery! I registered my blog, ‘liked’ QG on Facebook and signed up for the newsletter.
One day Michele, QG web developer extraordinaire, shared an offer from Jamie Malden, owner of media business, Colouricious. There would be a series of free tutorial videos from Jamie’s Talking Threads DVDs. They would arrive in my email box on a weekly basis. I signed up for what turned out to be a life-altering experience.
Through these presentations, I was introduced to some of the UK’s top fiber artists; Gilda Baron’s sumptuous landscape embroideries, Myfanway Hart’s creative dyeing of fabrics, Jill Kennedy’s stunning silk painting and Fay Maxwell’s elegant slash work. I began craving (fiercely) to take workshops from these ladies, but I live way out in the woods of Washington state, USA. “Dream on,” I told myself. “Can’t hop in your car to cross the Pond.”
Meanwhile, my very bright, focused, preacher/husband, Rick, was online day and night researching for a book he is writing on wisdom. He was finding theological colleges with stellar libraries that he would love to loose himself in – all in the UK. He attended a science/theology seminar, 2009 & 2010, in Oxford. I went with him the first trip and loved it there!
Every time Rick found some wonderful library he would turn from his PC, mournfully sigh, tell me all about it, and go back to searching. This went on for months…at the same time I was silently longing to attend all those workshops. About eight months ago Rick began his “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to go and research?” I replied, “Let’s do it!” His jaw dropped, his eyes lit up. “Really? Really!”
We are not rich. We are not poor. We just have a dream. Because Rick is receiving a letter of appointment from Black Friars College, Oxford as a Visiting Academic, we will be able to stay for one year. Mere mortals are only allowed 6 months. We will sell the house, the truck, a car. I’ve parted with one antique sewing machine and oak table through the want ads. I’ve donated books to the library, clothes and household items to the women’s shelter and stuff to the Senior’s Center. I’ve already found a good home for our dog. I still need to place two very spoiled felines.
I don’t know if all artist types are like me, more dream than reality, but thank good husband Rick is Practical, with a capital P. I was going to pack all my batiks and hand-dyes. I would take my cutting mat/padded ironing surface and rotary cutter. Hmm…should take the huge one and the little one, as well. I need my PC, printer, monitor, my faithful sewing machine, and what if I wanted to make some clothes ‘over there’? Throw in the serger. I will need paints, printer fabric and canvas. My ribbons, trims and beads. An entire roll of batting, three bolts of PFD fabric, dyes and supplies.
All this impracticality came to a screeching halt when Mr. Practical announced his research on the Ex-Pat sites suggested packing very, very little, as the cost of shipping is prohibitive, around $125 per 3 cubic feet box. “30 cubic feet?” I asked. “No, 3 cubic feet.” he reiterated.
But he didn’t leave me in tears. Instead, he did more research and found a 7 year old Viking sewing machine for $150 US on the UK version of Ebay. My current machine is 34 years old. Hmm…I am being forced to buy a newer machine when I get there? I can live with that. What about fabric for the workshops I will be taking? I will have to buy what I need? Hmm…I can manage shopping for fabric. What about my PC? Santa brought me a Kindle Fire for Christmas with a purpose in mind. Thank goodness for Cloud storage!
So, we have our flight tickets for June 18th. (Mr. Research found a tremendous deal – we are going first class! My first time ever to escape the cattle car section!) I have registered for a 5 day workshop at Missenden Abbey with Gilda Baron on felted landscapes beginning July 29th.
I am on a waiting list for a one-day class on silk painting/embroidery flowers with Alison Holt, in Oswestry, which is close enough to Wales that Rick will drive me to the class August 11th, then into Wales for a couple days. On the way ‘home’ to Dingwall, Scotland we will stop at the large quilt show in Birmingham, August 16th. Mr. Research found that one, too. He is a keeper, yes?
I am already ‘over there’ in mind and soul. My body just has to make the trip to catch up and then the dream begins. Friends and Family are in one of two camps; “How exciting! An adventure of a lifetime!” or “Are you guys nuts?”. I think it is both. Thank you Michele, Jamie Malden and serendipity!
Give-Away
Each month I will be giving away a prize to a randomly picked someone who answers my question in the comments below. Since I will be taking a class from Gilda Baron, this month’s prize is a 3″x5″ framed piece that I was inspired to try after watching the Colouricious tutorial.
The question? If you were adventurous/nuts, where would you go on your Great Adventure? Winner will be chosen March 28, 2012.
Winner selected: Congratulations to #21 Louisa Lawson.
Wow! I really loved that guest blogger post and am already anticipating hearing more about Lindy’s adventure! If I could go on a dream trip, I would likely go to Hawaii, or Italy. I’ve also played with doing a real African Safari in my mind. That would be adventurous!
I would go to Australian, New Zealand, Hawaii and Janpan. AND INdonesia. Aw, heck. I would do the whole FAR EAST after going down under. I would visit Antarctica if there was a class I wanted to take…or a fabric store…
Our great adventure would be to see more of our own country, Canada. We’ve seen a lot of Ontario already, have a trip planned this summer for New Brunswick, and hopefully will attempt to drive across to BC one of these years also. Thanks for the giveaway.
There are so many places in Europe I want to see, I would just have to wander there. I think I would start in Giverny to see Monet’s gardens and take it from there….the Louvre, Vienna to see Mozart’s hometown, Sweden to see my great grandfather’s homeland, Germany, England………..
No doubt about it. I would go to Ubud, Bali & stay at the little hotel across from the marketplace. Gamelan and dance groups rehearse & perform in the courtyard. The “hotel” was originally a royal compound- very unique. The people have such a sense of beauty and art. It just surrounds you. And of course, there’s all the batiks!
What a wonderful question! I’m having the hardest time deciding between Alaska and an Australia/New Zealand jaunt. Hope one day I’ll get to do them both! Enjoy your year as a Brit.
I have always wanted to visit England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Half of my ancestry comes from there and I have always loved reading historical novels about that area.
HI Lindy and Michele,
I would go to Ireland. I’ve travelled many place but never Ireland, it’s in my heritage and the landscape is stunning. Now, if I could pick time and place I’d want to be in Galway for the International Quilt Festival of Ireland, June 7-10. My friend has had 2 quilts accepted for the show. …dreaming
Ohhhh Lindy, how fortunate for you! I would travel NewZealand if the opportunity arose, the landscape leaves me breathless whenever I see it in pictures or movies, video’s and travel shows. Nature sure has much to offer in inspiration and for my likes it would be NewZealand.
Thank you for writing such an interesting and wonderful blog about your upcoming Year abroad, I wish you much pleasure while your there.
What a wonderful adventure! I have been to Scotland, and coming from WA state, you will love it!
I would love to go to Italy, and France! I am so inspired just by looking at pictures from those areas!
Love your artwork, it’s wonderful!
I have always wanted to go to Egypt, my husband has always wanted to go to Scotland and his dream has rubbed off on me, so either Egypt or Scotland!
I went to Scotand and toured for 7 days. I would go back there and live at the Isle of sky and pick up pottery shards off the beach. I came back and made walhangers with the shards and polymer clay to remind me of such a wonderful place in the world. Follow your dreams and record every minute and post it on a blog. I’d love to live vicariously through you for the next year. I would love to win your giveaway and hang it in my room to see dreams do come true. I’ll pray for you both a safe trip. God does reward doesn’t he. Don’t forget to look on the beach, you never know what has been thrown in the sea.
I would go to England, Yorkshire to be exact. I was born there and left when I was 13 to move with my parents to Canada. I’ve never been back, and my wife would love to go. Very nice guest blog by the way!
Your adventure sounds wonderful. I would love to go to Bhutan, Nepal and Australia/NewZealand.
Your guest post was absolutely enthralling! What a trip! and to have such a wonderful travel buddy is an extra bonus. Where would I want my Great Adventure to take me? Hmmm…if it were possible, back in time…back in time to the days of wagon trains and the expression “Go West and seek your fortune”. But know that it’s not possible, I go backpacking in Europe, expecially Germany where I was born. Left with my parents when I was three and have never been back. Would love to visit the town I was born in, in the Black Forest area. Thanks you again for the wonder enthralling post and for the opportunity to participate in your give away. Enjoy your next year to the fullest.
I’m living my Great Adventure having moved from England to Normandy, France in 2006 and it is every bit as wonderful as I imagined it would be!
It is so delightful to read of everyone’s dreams! I so wish for those wanting to revisit childhood countries to do so… Knowing I am leaving the states for the year triggered a photo taking drive-by of my Grandmother’s home last month. She lived on the same street her entire life. Born in one home on the block, married into a house half a block down, then retired to a mobile home across the street from that home. 76 years on Peters Street. Amazing. I have such wonderful memories of my time spent with her. I am blogging on this trip on my Art From The Heart Blog as well as here (see link at top of this blog) if you want to know more. Keep Dreaming!
I’ve never been to Europe or Australia, so it’s a toss-up! Can I pick both, and do back-to-back dream adventures!?! lol (Yeah, I know! I’m kindof of a “I want it all” girl when it comes to fun and travelling! :o)
I want to go to Austria and run up the hill that Julie Andrews was on when she was singing from “the Sound of Music'”
Patty, you made my day, and made me laugh! What a joyous dream!
Regan, it’s your dream. You can be as greedy as you want!
Lynne! Love your living the dream. Yeah!
Renate, what a unique dream, going back in time…
Elizabeth, you don’t have to tell me twice to scour beaches. I am addicted to finding beach treasures!
Michelle H, you are funny! :?}
My dream would be to firstly take a class with Sue Spargo and secondly to go to the quilt show in Houston -perhaps one day I will be able to do both. I am hoping to retire in two years’ time so I will start saving up. An even more improbable dream would be to go to the show in Japan and see something of the country as well.
Wouldn’t it be just so glam to take an ocean voyage like they did at the turn of the last century and tour Europe???? Oh to have oodles of money, a svelt body to dress in luxurious clothes and just idle your time away! I’m pretty sure I was born in the wrong century!!!
I would love to canoe the Yukon River to the Bering Sea. Adventure!
My daughter attended University of Oxford, Keble College her junior year a year ago. I took her over to get her settled in. I was blown away by the town of Oxford, the buildings are so old and beautiful. It was hard for me to leave!
An adventure I’d like to do is take the train through Eastern Europe for a few weeks with same daughter! I also would like to attend the Houston Quilt Show some day.
wow! What an adventure! I can’t wait to read more about your journeys. There are still so many places in the US that I want to visit (as an adult…I’ve been to 42 states but most occurred under the age of 6…) that I would start there – east coast, west coast are definitely on the top!
Germany…the homeland of my Grandparents. I did get to visit Italy and it was wonderful. The opportunity to visit Germany escaped us at that time. But I still dream of Germany.
WOW!!! I know you are about to embark on a lifetime dream!
I’m in the woods in WA too. I wonder how close?