I've been interviewed

Al and Connye Griffin came to Osage Bluff a couple of weeks ago to interview the quilter and the blacksmith.   They are a sweet couple from Lake of the Ozarks (about 25 miles away) who are writing the lives and stories of local people. We met them through a cousin who gives tours of the old Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City.

Connye and Al, like to stay in the area of Highway 54 that goes across the state of Missouri and beyond. By reading their blog you can find some very interesting people and places, including some fine dining establishments. Al is a professional photographer and Connye was in the language department in Moore Oklahoma's schools.

So I hope will not only go and read the post they did about me: Osage Bluff Quilter, but read their other stories too. You will find lots of interesting things!

I love this picture Al took. I didn't tell Connye and Al, but this isn't all of my quilts, because they won't all fit in there!


Better yet, the Osage Bluff Blacksmith's story will be coming soon!

John C Campbell Folk School 2015

We did it again, a return trip to Brasstown, North Carolina to attend John C. Campbell Folk School. The blacksmith was taking at class on 18th century lighting. I was just going to relax and enjoy my week there. 

We've been 6 or 7 times, we can't remember. It never gets old, the area, the music, the wonderful people, the way of life, the list goes on and on.

Here is a recap of the week. 

The dining hall looks amazing with all the oak tables and white table settings. This particular evening we had eggplant Parmesan and warm olive bread with a hard crust, my favorite. Dessert was Tiramisu.  

 The mushrooms I found while walking the campus.

I walked this path nightly. The scene is one of my favorites. 

Smoke in the mountains. Actually it's coal smoke from the forges of the blacksmith shop in the distance.

 My blacksmith is on the left.  On the right is another Missouri blacksmith, Bob Alexander.

The meeting of the minds, teacher Jerry Darnell of Mill Creek Forge in Seagrove, NC shows Bob and Bernie a technique.

 Thought I'd do a little house hunting on campus. 

Since I didn't take a class this time, I would spend my mornings in the Casita sewing away. I was surprised at how much work I could accomplish without the internet and TV. 

One night, upstairs in the blacksmith shop, there was a little jam session.  Music is a big part of the Appalachian area. In the eight days we spent in the area, we went to 3 jam sessions and 2 big performances. 

 Here I am watching my smith from the second story of the beautiful timber frame shop.

Friday at Folk School is always show and tell. Here are some of the quilts completed in just 4 1/2 days. 

 My friend Bryanna Alexander made this box. Can you tell she is Bob's wife?

All the materials in this basket were harvested Monday and finished by Friday in a natural basket. 

Bernie made a lot of projects this week. His are on the bottom left side. 

 This timber frame stage is new since we were here last year.

I stumbled upon this in the museum. Doug Hendrickson was a founding member of the Blacksmith Association of Missouri (BAM). He passed away in 2007 from Lou Gehrig's disease. 

On the last Friday night at John C. Campbell Folk School, the Chuck Nation Band performed. 

My friend Pattie (love that name), who is the resident basket making instructor at John C. Campbell, made a beautiful little pin cushion for me.

On both Friday evenings we attended  jam sessions at Clay's Corner. It is well known for it's possum drop on New Years Eve. We also enjoyed hand dipped ice cream cones every time we were there.

Last but not least, I got to pick up another order of mugs and steins from Rob the potter. Smoke in the Mountain Pottery Shop is always a stop I make, some times twice! 

If you want to read some of my post about previous trips there just click here. Be sure and click on the link at the top to check out the John C. Campbell Folk school. It's a wonderful place.