It's Halloween as I write this, so I've just come home from a dinner party with the gang. Dan painted his face and we both wore our Halloween t-shirts, but all the kids dressed up...Lots of zombies and other spooky characters! Although, I used my old standby and said that I was a Pod Person, for those who know what that is...

PIQF was great this year. The vendors seemed busier and there were certainly more people at the show, particularly late in the afternoon, which is normally the slow time. I really enjoyed seeing the quilts and studied several very closely to understand the techniques and embellishments used on them.

Staying with and worked very well and the three of us had fun. I did have to make curry on Thursday night, after having drove down that morning and then spent the afternoon at PIQF, but it worked out okay. Shopping at Mitsuwa was a blast, since they're totally remodeled their store and it looks fantastic! I did miss the kitchenware shop, though.

Work at JCP has been very busy and more stressful as the holiday season approaches. I just keep telling myself, I'm just here to earn a few bucks, not get caught up in all that's going on.... My real job is quilting and I'm not giving that up! Speaking of which, I have lecture to do in Petaluma coming up soon. I'm really looking forward to doing my "Life as a Quilt Artist" lecture because I get to pick the quilts I want to share, so I never do the same lecture twice.

I think my work with Quilt Index's Signature Quilt Project will influence what I pick this time. It's really been fun to dig up old info on my friendship quilts and take new pictures of them. I really need to do all my quilts, updating the documentation and getting lots of digital images, full and closeup, so I can use them easily.

After the Petaluma trip, I do have a class that looks like it will happen at a local quilt shop. I'll get to use my new digital projector and laptop for my presentation on Electric Quilt 6 and QuiltPro 5, an introductory seminar.

Yes, things have been happening at a fairly fast pace and I'm still trying to keep up. So far, so good.... Triage is still in force.