Artistic Artifacts and friends

Having a fantastic girls-getaway to Artistic Artifacts in Alexandria, VA. Two crazy friends from my 2024 France visit joined me here for an incredible class with Julie Booth-The Storytellers Bag. We were also joined by a Tucson stitching class friend so the ripples of friendship from women sitting together, stitching, loving color, thread and shared stories continues.

This shop is incredible. Everything a quilter, mixed media artist, beader, and lots of other craft-styles could possibly want. I’ve included a pic of my first look. If you ever get to Alexandria-or anywhere close-make a visit!!! Please-for me.

Although I didn’t come to the class with any real pre-conceived ideas of what story I would tell on my bag-there just happened to be two lighthouse charms in my bag of goodies. A blue felt base seemed to need some gold fabric, yarn, threads, and a gold lighthouse to start my story. I think the quilt shop in A Stitch in Time should have expanded it’s inventory to hold some of these things!

And my reader friends have figured out by now that lighthouses are kind of important to me.

I need to find fabric for the lining today-I DON’T think that will be a problem-and we will move into more complicated ways to attach beads, stones, and shells. Then talk about how to make the strap and finish the bag at home.

Attendees are busy- busy- busy and the treasures our instructor brought for us are inspiring. More pics to come when I get home!