Twining ~ rags to beads

Day 5 of AZ to NH Trip

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We left Torrey UT with plans to see the pictographs in the Capitol Reef National Park.

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RAGS ...

However, a stop in the Visitor's Center changed the plans. I bought a book on rag rugs and wanted to see the demonstration at the Gifford Homestead. I knew how the technique was used in basketry, but had not seen how it was used in rag rugs.


It was a joy to drive out of the stark rocks into this canyon pocket of lush green growing things dotted with fruit orchards. I'm sorry I didn't take more photos of the area.

Gifford House Kitchen


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Rag Rug in simple pine frame
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Detail of warping on nails

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Detail of rag twining in process
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See my next post for why I found this exciting as the technique gets swapped to beads on a Versa Loom.
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The other rather nice surprise at the Gifford Homestead was finding fresh, home cooked pies and bread. We took a break from driving and sat under a tree, listening to the quiet country sounds, savoring the still-warm strawberry/rhubarb pie with fresh bread and jam for desert. Shut my eyes and it brought back childhood memories of my Grandmother's Missouri farm porch when the spring rhubarb came in.

AZ to NH Vacation - #1

I have about 300 photos of my trip from AZ to NH and it's going to be hard to select just a few things to show you. I didn't work, I didn't bead, I just looked and visited......


The trip started in the hills of Tombstone with bright blue skies and almost 90 degree sunshine.



Tombstone was celebrating Wyatt Earp Days and was boisterous, loud and a lot of gutsy cowboy fun.

A bunch of us went to the Crystal Palace for a farewell dinner and did a bit of playing as well.

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The car was packed with beads and sundry other necessities and we took off for the long drive to the East coast.

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We were very lucky to have a personal tour of Payson, Arizona. The husband of a friend acted as tour guide and showed us things we never would have found on our own. Chuck is a dear and the very best tour guide I have ever encountered.

We saw the Mogollon Rim country from low to high as well as indigenous ruins and an watched an active forest fire.

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Payson has some beautiful scenery as well as being where some of my very dear beading friends live.

The next stop was the North rim of the Grand Canyon. To my mind the views from that side beat the usual tourist stop at the South rim.

Spring was showing itself in the bright green of new growth on the pine trees. No wonder this is one of my favorite colors.

Bryce Canyon was worth the whole trip. Yes, I shuddered as we drove roads that turned curves and looked straight down.... and down and down! I had been through this area when I was about 14, but I really don't remember the spectacular views.

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Mother Nature can sure put on a spectacular show.

Arches National Park was a bit of a disappointment as the arches looked more spectacular in the photos than in person. However, the tall, narrow, flat sandstone rock formations were formidable and I couldn't stop looking at the variations all over the place.


Driving route 12 through southern Utah was one picture post card after another. However, my co-driver accused me of putting my foot through the floor when riding shotgun up and down the narrow switchbacks. The heights gave me the willies, but I couldn't help looking at the sights that kept unfolding.


Even the motels in the area had unbelievable views - witness this one from my motel window.

We finished the first segment of our journey at the Mesa Verde cliff dwelling ruins. It's hard to believe the age and preservation of these houses. If you shut your eyes, you can almost hear the people going about their lives tucked up under the cliffs.

Next stop (post) will be home made pie at the Gifford House that led to beading experimentation in Albuquerque - stay tuned......

Bead Journal - June progress report

After driving 5,000 miles from my winter studio in Arizona to my summer studio in New Hampshire .... I've not had time to actually bead my June page. However, I did do my backing card, which talks about a Trip or Journey - the focus of this month's journal. The bead backing is cut and outlined and I collected all of these neat things on the trip to include. The problem is going to figure out how to fit them onto a small format with some being on a cord embellishment. I guess I'd better get the needle flying now.

5,000 miles ~ AZ to NH

Mexico, Canada & U.S.A. in 20 days

I'm back in NH for the summer. This trip I took a vacation - no workshops, no beading - just sightseeing and visiting. I hadn't had a real vacation in almost 30 years. Once I organize my photos and thoughts, I'll tell you about some of this great country that I got to see.



In short.....
I started in the dry, hot, sandstone rocks of the South West.

Cringed at Gas Prices.....




...well this was taken in Canada!

And ended in the granite hills of New Hampshire with nice weather all the way ~ only three very short spells of rain.

note - well to be completely honest it was 50 miles short of 5,000, but I like nice round numbers.