Virginia Greaves

I am an avid reader, and during the summer months, when I have no free time in the studio, I turn to books for comfort. As a child growing up, they were my means of escape, and I probably use them in the same way today. A library card is free, so as far as escapism goes, it is one of the best means available.

While I was sitting at the pool the other day, unable to read because the teenagers from the community had descended en masse and were blaring heavy metal music, I decided to start a list of my favorite books. I generally keep lists of books that other people find interesting as I’m always looking for a good read. I like to think that all books are magical and enchanting, but the sad truth is that there is a lot of bad fiction out there.

Although this list is numbered, I couldn’t begin to prioritize them. Many I’ve read in the last couple of years, but Tess has been on my list since childhood.

1 -The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

2 – Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

3 – The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audry Niffenegger

4 – Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

5 – The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

6 – The Secret History by Donna Tartt

7 – Harry Potter (all of them) by J. K. Rowling

8 – The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien

9 – The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards

10 – The Pilot’s Wife by Anita Shreve

11 – The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

12 – The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

13 – Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

14 – Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

15 – Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire

Although all of these will probably not suit everyone’s taste, they represent what I enjoy — and so this may find some other soul looking for a place to rest.

Oh — and by the way — I oftentimes read all of the books that an author has written — although you will find that no author made my list twice (with the exception of the Harry Potter & Lord of the Rings books which — as a series — must all be read). Some authors, in fact, seem to only have one good book in them — others are able to write well many times, but only once greatly.

The opening reception for the Fiber Art Fusion group exhibit “Transformations” was last night at The Art Place at Mountainview in Marietta, GA. The exhibit will be available for viewing though August 22.

I took several pictures that I wanted to share. Some of them are a little distorted as I am a relatively short person and the pieces were placed higher than my eye level — but you can still the inspired design and wonderful use of color.

This is my piece, Keeping an Eye on the Garden. It is currently for sale $250.

I tried to take pictures of the artist with their piece when possible.

Ann Quandee’s piece “Colors of My Life” was used for marketing the exhibit:

Denny Webster posed with her piece:

Sharon Ahmed’s “Upside Down”:

Julie Kokan’s “House Book”:

Hellene Vermillion’s “Untitled” on the left and “From Eternity to Here” on the right:

Heidi Miracle-McMahill wasn’t there to share the joy with us (and I for one really missed her), but I snapped this of her piece “Free Woman Dancing”:

Rebecca Reasons Edwards has been trying to move this summer (with an unbelievable amount of difficulty that I won’t go into — only add that she needs us to send positive energy her way) and wasn’t able to finish her Barack Obama quilt (which is incredible), but I caught her in front of Helenne’s piece:

This is our group shot. A few members had left by the time it was taken, but this is most of us:

I have to include this shot of moms & sons. There were a lot of supportive family members that came out to cheer us on:

These are just a few more I took.

Ruta Wilk”When I Behold Thy Heavens”:

Mary Martin Akers “Universe”:

Carmen Beggs “Anega Da Vida, Baby”:

These are all of the participating artists:

Sharon Serrano Ahmed
Judy Alexander
Mary Martin Akers
Ellen Apte
Carmen Beggs
Margaret Betz
Wendy Blanton
Paula Coplon
Suzanne Freed
Virginia Greaves
Barbara Korey
Julie Runyan Kokan
Heidi Miracle-McMahill
Janet O’Brien
Ann Quandee
Rebecca Reasons Edwards
Kristin Rodriquez
Deborah A. Smith
Hellenne Vermillion
Denny Webster
Ruta Wilk
Karen Zimmerman

By the way, I picked up my machine this afternoon. I also spoke with the mechanic again and he said that he thought that the machine had enough lint buildup that that could have been causing the sensor problems. Hmmm. Now why didn’t he say that before he tried to charge me $1,000? Once the kids are back in school, I’ll spend some time with it and let you know if it is, in fact, behaving any better. I was surprisingly relieved to get it back home. As discouraged as I’ve been, I still felt warm and fuzzy to see it. Let’s hope that that lasts.

Quilters have an intimate relationship with their sewing machine. They learn what it needs and how to use it to create amazing works of art. Many quilters are experienced in using their machine to free motion quilt, use difficult metallic threads, and play with tension. Every machine is different, and knowing your machine and what it needs to do something amazing is part of the talent of each quilter.

A couple of years ago — 6 1/2 to be precise — my husband bought me my dream machine. A top of the line Viking — a Designer I. I had been sewing for a year on a Lilly — which I traded in — and I was ready to do more. It has embroidery capabilities and hundreds of stitches. I knew that it was a machine built to last because it was made by Husqvarna Viking. There was no point in considering a low end machine with plastic parts that would just break in a couple of years. Husqvarna Viking has a reputation for high quality products. Besides, I was given a 20 year warranty on the machine. What a wonderful investment.

Do I sound bitter? I’m getting rid of the last of it — bear with me. Because it isn’t a dream machine. After less than 7 years, the sensor on the motor head is breaking down. Because it is an electrical problem, it only has a 5 yr warranty — and thus is no longer covered. The repair costs $1,000. Right.

When I asked the repairman what caused this problem — he said that it was just age. It is like a computer that isn’t designed to last more than 5 years.

So I bought a 5 year machine. It isn’t a total paperweight — yet — so I suppose from their point of view, I’m lucky.

The new top of the line Viking is $9,000. The top of the line Bernina is $12,000. I thought that the sewing machine dealers were starting to listen to us — but I was wrong. At this point, they are catering to embroiderers that buy patterns to put on towels, clothes, burp cloths, etc. Interestingly, when the local Viking dealer told me the cost of the new machine & I gasped, she said that I needed to look at it like a car that only costs $200 a month. I would be very surprised if most home sewers are willing to equate their sewing machine with the expense of a car. The reason that longarm machines cost so much is that the buyers inevitably start a commercial business quilting for other people.

So rather than be negative, I think that there is a better way that I can spend $1,000. Interestingly, at this point in my quilting career, I don’t know if there is a dream machine, though. I would like a great straight stitch, at least a 9 harp (although more is always better), and a zigzag for machine applique. I used to love the sensor lift system on the Viking — no presser foot lever to constantly flip up & down — but it’s the electronics that won’t last over time.

I suppose even if I spend my $1,000 (and a little more) on something like the Janome 6600, the 5 yr limit on electronics (they have this limit too) won’t seem as bad as if I had spent $9,000.

I would love a long arm too (I even have a frame waiting for one)– but I still have to have something to piece & applique with.

My machine has been gone almost three weeks and I’m expecting it home on Friday. I think that it will be difficult for us to work together. “The thrill is gone baby.”

I was cleaning up my studio the other day and found a quilt that I had finished in February of last year. I decided that  even though it was completed, it really looked boring and needed some beading — which is wonderful because I have a lot of time on my hands in the summertime in which I can bead.

This is what it looked like before:

This is what it looks like now:

I don’t usually change something after I’ve “finished” it — but it just didn’t feel done to me. The smaller pieces are always nicer, I think, with a little bit of glitz on them.