And I'm A Year Older

Who knew being 85 years old would be such a happy time? I just turned 86 and am amazed to recall the number of causes for celebration in spite of some serious concerns. But I find joy every day and feel blessed to have another year to enjoy. 

There have been puzzles with friends (and cats), flowers in my yard, USM student recitals, Senior Readers Theatre, and art shows. I got to rehearse and sing the music of Christmas with the Meistersingers. A new gallery in Flowood, Pacesetter, asked to show some of my fiber art. I won ribbons in South Mississippi Art Association's invitational show at Lucile Parker Gallery at William Carey and their 45th annual show at the Hattiesburg Train Depot. I was honored with a solo exhibition of my fiber art, and got to spend a week in Gatlinburg in a class with Paula Kovarik and four other awesome artists. 

Losing my beloved cat Tarbaby was sad, but he left me with wonderful memories of his unique personality, and I am grateful I could provide him excellent care and comfort during his brief illness. I made lots of fabric postcards and finished The Conversation, a quilt of my three cats, Tarbaby, Rahrah, and Elizabeth from a photo I took a couple of years ago. 

I look forward to making more fiber art, gathering with friends, and caring for this beautiful world in 2022. 

Tarbaby demanding my attention

Elizabeth helping Peg Hightower 

Blue Ghost-quilted Flowers

Fabric Postcards

Fabric Postcards

Wisdom, cheesecloth picture

Arrowmont at Gatlinburg

The Apothecary Shop, 18" x 18"

Tarbaby at the Vet

The Conversation, 24" x 24"
Tarbaby, Rahrah, Elizabeth

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts-The Place

As if enjoying crisp fall weather were not enough, I got to do it last week in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, at the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains. This school is carved out of a mountainside with scenic, steep walkways joining the campus of housing, classrooms, dining hall, galleries, and offices. The town is filled with tourist shopping, amusements, dining, and a skylift that went above my cottage for a view of the area.
The Gatlinburg fire two years ago destroyed the Dormitory and woods behind it. A new 4-story dormitory has been built on the site of the destroyed one.
Enlarge any picture to see how steep some of the paths were.

Welcome to Arrowmont (see skylift above)
My housing was in Teacher's Cottage, up the hill and behind the auto on far right

My housing--Teacher's Couttage--one of the original buildings on campus
Steep drive up

My housing side view with path toward class

Work-study student housing along the path

Down the Path to class and dining hall

Down and then up--Path to class; another studio below

Map of campus; my housing was in Teacher's Cottage on far right; Dining Hall is far left.
Lots of walking up/down hill

Looking from Dining Hall toward the Classroom Building (over the hill)

Looking from Classroom toward Dining Hall (over the hill)

More about Arrowmont--The Class in next post.