Sunday, August 29, 2010
10 reasons I haven't blogged
10 top reasons I haven't blogged
10. We have sworn off eating out for a while, too much time in the kitchen cooking and cleaning.
9. Had to (no really, we HAD to) clean out the garage.
8. School shopping, new clothes, school supplies, plus new glasses for Rubin
7. The "new" river quilt is in progress and taking up half of the downstairs
6. Faltered on the "new" river quilt and made a distraction quilt, and abstract river/bird quilt.
5. Signed up with the Youth group to join the A.C.S. Relay for Life
4. Begged all my friend on facebook and email to donate for our team, U.S.N.T. Against Cancer.
3. Started walking with friends so we'll be prepared to walk 18 hours straight (as a team)
2. Bought a pretty new car (see #9)
1. Been busy enjoying life with family, friends and fabric. Virtual life can wait.
This is the link to the American Cancer Society (not facebook) page for our team if you'd like to help our team out with a sponsor donation. We would really appreciate the help.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmain.acsevents.org%2Fsite%2FTR%2FRelayForLife%2FRFLFY10FL%3Fteam_id%3D769187%26pg%3Dteam%26fr_id%3D27526&h=75832
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Some buildings of note
Here is a link that gives the history of Standard Marine and Hardware.
http://www.amelianow.com/spring04-era.htm
I remember going here with my dad for boat parts. My dad has always had a boat, from the time he can remember. He had a little johnboat made from plywood that was tied to the cedar tree at the boatramp at Crandall, when he was young. I have a nice picture of him, his best friend Avery Crews and his Grannie holding a string of fish, standing on the front drive. He was about 16 in that picture. Later, he taught us to waterski by piggyback! YES! We would crawl onto his back and grab hold tight, he would give the go-ahead to the boat driver, and off we'd go for the thrill of our little lives! We all learned how to ski and to drive the boat for others by the time we were 12. We would have competitions to see who could last the longest, Marty Crews once skied all the way to the blue bridge (US 17) from the boatramp at Crandall!
Oh, back to buildings and history...
http://www.amelianow.com/spring98tour.htm
This is a link to Amelia Now's Historic tour, with a short description and pic of each building.
I love "Amelia Now". It's a quarterly magazine mainly for tourists, but I read it cover to cover most every issue.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Rattlesnake Jimmy
I'm pretty sure he remained there until his death in the 1950's.
I will find the information on Jimmy, but it will take a little more time and the ball seems to be rolling on this local lore thread. Maybe we'll revisit him before all is said and done.
Next up we'll look at some of the buildings of the Historic district and their uses over the years.
Monday, August 23, 2010
MaVynee Betsch
www.coastalliving.com/lifestyle/people/historic-american-beach-00400000000812/page3.html
The link above will tell you the Coastal Living's version of the "Beach Lady".
As little country kids, the best free entertainment around was the beach! We just had to find an adult willing to take us and man, what fun we could have! Main beach had a waterslide, the skating rink and putt-putt (before putt-putt there were trampolines). We normally couldn't afford all that, but we did sometimes have a quarter for an ice cold Coke. I had to reach up to grab the door handle, that's how little I was, but before I could push it, the door swung open...and there she was. She was tall and slender, the first thing I saw, though, was the hair draped over one arm and the long, twisted fingernails. I didn't immediately recognize them and it took a few seconds to register that the black mass, covered in buttons and beads was hair! And then the nails, I had never seen nails like that! Not even Mrs. Betty Jane Hagins long, squared, bright red nails were like this! By the time I had worked my way up to her face, she recognized me for the ignorant little white kid that I was. I imagine now how much fun it was for her to keep us half afraid of her. She stared down at me, waiting to see if I'd have the nerve to say anything. I did. I had lots of nerve. I said, "Excuse me, Ma'am", as I backed up and gave her room for a grand exit.
My throat was so dry, I hardly tasted that cold Coke going down.
Sara Alice Broadbent
After some research I found this info:
Her name was Sara Alice Broadbent, she lived with her father on Crane Island, which was only accesible by boat or foot at low tide. It has passed from knowledge, but he was thought to be english. After he died she lived there very much alone until her home burned in 1952. Her remains were never found and a death certificate has never been issued.
She never wore shoes, and only wore feed sack clothes that had been bleached white. She worked for some of the old timers in their fields in trade for fresh vegetables and food. She was suspicious of most everything and if someone came near by foot or by boat she shot at them. She was taken to jail once for shooting at some folks, where she refused to eat, thinking it would be accepting charity.
What a character! In today's society I'm sure she would not be left alone, someone, somewhere would feel the need to rehabilitate her.
ps. Still looking for more info on Rattlesnake Jimmy, probably in a book around here.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Isle of Eight Flags
Originally inhabited over 4,000 years ago by the Timucuan Indians, the island is the only United States location to have been under eight different flags.
Huguenot leader Jean Ribault led the first recorded European expedition to the region. Seeking freedom for the persecuted Huguenots while extending the French empire, they arrived in May of 1562, resulting in the island being named "Isle de Mai" (Island of May).
Macgregor gave it over to Luis Aury, in order to garner and maintain control. Aury, in exchange for his support, demanded command of the island and raised the flag of the revolutionary Republic of Mexico, under whose sanction he was currently acting. bedlam ensued.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
low tide
The tide comes in and it leaves again. Every day. It is a comfort to know that it will happen every day, no matter what I do or do not do.
See...there is that one thing that I need not worry about.
Monday, August 16, 2010
St. Mary's Quilt
This is one of the photos I'll be drawing from for background.
So these are fabrics I will use to interpret. The colors are actually more vivid. The lighting and my camera are both guilty of giving the impression that these are softer, mored muted than they truly are. Isn't that pinebark fabric the most perfect awesome pine tree?!? I would like to use more of it but it's pretty strong, wouldn't want to overdo, would we? I am thinking there may be a way for me to manipulate that fabric into smaller pine trees as well as the large one...
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Taking over the house
These also are prettier in person. These will also make up parts of the background, as well as some water, trees and other landscape components. The animals will come after much of the landscape is down.
If you think this is all vaguely familiar, you're right! This will be the second in what I hope becomes a series. The first is Secret of the Suwannee.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
What is best?
My best work happened when I was inspired, no... driven to create. I had a desire to fling fabric off the shelf until I came across the right one, digging through and using what was there. When the perfect one wasn't readily available, I improvised until it fit anyway! I used all purpose thread and a Brother that came from a discount store for a couple hundred dollars. My best work had nothing at all to do with the quality of materials that were used in it!
I now have a nice machine (or two), an entire shelf devoted to King Tut Superior Thread and more than a couple stacks of pretty expensive fabric. Where I used to sew at the dining room table, I now have an entire room (plus other parts of the house) devoted to nothing but making pretty things with fabric.
All of these things feel like weights to me. The cost of all the supplies make it an obligation to produce. My best work comes to me when I throw caution to the wind and have a devil may care attitude, almost in defiance of fancy thread and a good machine. In short, I work best under pressure. Take away the pressure and I go flat!
hmm...