I Got Them Sewn Together.

Last time I posted,

 I shared

Running Man's 50 mile trail run.

I haven't been out running on a trail,

but it has felt like I was doing an ultra ultra

sewing challenge.

I had been working on two 

Sew Together Bags by Sew Demented.

These were very challenging.

I am a visual person and

the pattern has few pictures to help to

understand the construction.

Even with years of sewing

under my belt, 

I was left feeling a bit challenged.

But fortunately,

Heather and the Barn Chics did a 

Sew-a-Long for this bag just about

a year ago.

It was a fabulous resource.

I couldn't have put this bag together without 

their easy to follow steps by step construction.

I wanted each bag to be super scrappy.

That meant it required 11 different fabrics,

a different one for each of the different sections.

It also meant finding

4 zips per bag, in the right sizes to 

coordinate perfectly.

I found those at

Jeni at Zipits on Etsy

Oh, it just makes you want to buy zippers.

She has a wonderful deal, especially for this bag.

4 zips for $2.30 with a fabulous assortment of colors.

Going to this site is wonderful if you're making

this bag or for something else that might require zippers.

 Okay,

it was a lot of work, but

I'm glad I finished my race too.

 Until Next Time-

The Everglades Ultra

 My little R & R to Florida 

did include one more activity.

Well, actually one more event

for Running Man.

Yes, another one of his
50 mile ultra runs.

This time he was familiar with the
lay out of the course.
 He had run this one
a couple of years ago.

Here we are at 5 am.
Ready to start running through the
Everglades in the pitch dark.
Oh, boy.  That's what I call excitement.

I settled back in the car 

until the sun was out.

Here's the goal.

No band, no fireworks, no huge crowds.

Here's what a 50 mile 

trail run looks like on a map.

There are aid stations about every 4-5 miles.
It's not a course where a crew can follow
their runner so that meant
 I stayed put for the day.

Here's what I did.

Took a couple of walks.

and did some sewing.

Sitting at an ultra race and appliqueing

is a unique conversation starter.

(This is my nine patch swap quilt.)

I also watched the vultures circling and

 waiting to swoop down on some unexpected runner
too pooped to make it.
Not really, I hope.

But this trail run is not without dangers.

So that is why each runner
is equipped with bright orange whistle to
summon help in case you encounter

this or
a bear, or panthers, or some coiled up
 huge snake.

The only danger the orange whistle

can't protect you from are

cypress knees,

which are these woody projections that grow 

out from the base of the cypress trees.

I think every runner came in with a bloody

knee or two after being tripped up by these.

It was a beautiful day in the swamp,

but

I was glad when Running Man finally

saw this sign.

He was not the fastest person on the course,

but he was the fastest one

in his age bracket,
Males, 60 and up.
We affectionately refer to it as
"the Ol' Geezers"

 Way to go, Running Man.

I was his cheering crowd!

 Until Next Time-

Bands of Patterns and Color

 I didn't have much time

to search for quilt shops or even

to do much stitching during my little R & R.

This trip was more about

 

 visiting with our daughter Kate and

having fun.

This is who Kate works for:

She is the Collection Manager

overseeing the preservation and

 curating the Seminole Tribe of Florida's 

archaeological collections. 

So while we were there

she invited us to attend

a very special ceremony.

It was the installation of the first judges

for the tribe.

It was held near the Council Tree.

This awesome enormous oak tree is

 located in Hollywood, Fl.

The ceremony was attended by people representing

all of the clans of the tribe.

And what a special treat to be surrounded by

everyone wearing their 

beautiful traditional Seminole patchwork.

Men's shirts with colorful
symmetrical patterns.

Small intricate pieces carefully stitched
and then sewn together with other
bands of pattern and lots of tiny rick rack trim.

Look at all the different designs included in

these beautiful skirts.

Each of these patterns begin with strips of fabric

sewn together to create a strata of color.

This larger piece is then cut into different width increments

to create smaller segments.

These in turn are repositioned
and stitched into patterns.
 I don't know how someone is able to sew on
all of that rick rack so straight.  Beautiful.

These patterns have

 many different names

such as alligator tracks, panther eye,

 diamond back and scared fire.

At the ceremony, there were lots of preschool

children all wearing  their beautiful clothing.

This little girl wanted green shiny fabric

and this little boy must love 

Mater and Lightening McQueen

from the movie "Cars"

There was a recent exhibit at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum 

 called "It's Not a Costume -  Modern Seminole Patchwork"

Co-curator, Rebecca Fell said,

"We're focusing on the idea of everyday wear and the 

importance of patchwork to culture and history-

that is what ties all of the pieces together.

But our real emphasis for non-Tribal visitors is to

help them understand that the clothing is not a costume.

It is what is worn as part of daily life."

"Patchwork is for everyday wear.

It's Seminole fashion. 

 It's identity."

Until Next Time-
 

A Little R & R

While snowflakes have been falling at home,

I have been hanging out 

in South Florida.

The weather there was unseasonably cool,
(cold for those who call Florida home),

but at least no snow.

We started and finished our trip

on the west coast, the gulf side.

We stayed in a cottage yards away from

the beach and slept to the sound

 of the waves.

 We searched for prehistoric shark teeth

along the beaches,

 

and

 did the shell seeker stoop.

We visited with friends who

thought the best way to get to dinner

 

was via their boat along the 

Intercoastal waterway.

It was the most interesting way I think I've ever
 

gone to a restaurant.

You couldn't worry about what

your hair looked like when you got there, though.

Our daughter met us over in Naples over the weekend

and it was fun to act like tourists.

First we visited

Thomas Edison's and Henry Ford's Winter

Estate and Gardens in Fort Meyers.

Really lovely gardens.

One of Edison's lab

These were two very interesting men

who changed the world.

And what else do you want to see when you're in 

southern Florida?

Why the Everglades, of course.

And what do you find in the Everglades?

Why alligators, of course.

Sometimes you have to wrestle them
into submission,

and other times just
quietly walk around them

when they're blocking the path.

The most exciting new thing we got to see

were the manatees.

Well, in reality
we saw their noses
and a shadow of their bodies.

But if I were underwater

 this is what I would see.
Aren't they cute?

 You also need to be constantly searching for
the illusive flamingo.

Boy, were we ever lucky
we saw a whole flock.

Until Next Time-