dance... dance I know!

I Like to dance, and watch people dance! I love the dance shows on tv but I really loved watching these videos of how regular people like me danced in the 40's... swing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHANNkKBSNU

And this wonderful video of the early twenties faze, the charleston... so much to it! It was happy and active, it showed off a woman's knees that were beginning to emerge from their clothing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ7SNTSq-9o

now that's dance!
warning! personal commentary!: 
I don't like a lot of current dance that looks like sex on the floor, too obvious! Or showing too much skin in your clothing... more seductive to show a silhouette that's clingy, to leave something to imagine is under there than displaying side boob. ick.
I do love the clingy silhouettes of the 30's cocktail wear, bias cut and slinky silks.

When  you dance, feeling the momentum carrying you around, feeling in sync with a partner, being lifted and flying (I used to be lift-able and still remember the feeling) while being held onto.... it's a good thing!!!

IMHO there is nothing sexier than a man who knows how to be a partner!

I love history in most forms and know some of you might as well. Anyone out there like me, know how to swing dance or charleston ?

Valentine Dance Adventure

On Valentine's day we got all gussied up and went to a special dance.
The Baltimore Folk Music Society (bfms) has an all day dance on V-day each year, in a lovely church called St Marks on the Hill. We arrived in time to take the Swing dance lesson. Then went on to couple dances and an advanced Contra.

We learned some new moves and got a chance to dance with new people and long time friends.

The committee decorated the church to look very cozy and cheerful.

It reminded me of old time birthday parties growing up in Fl.



We'd go to outdoor pavilions, hang lanterns and crepe paper streamers and play music on portable record players  for parties. As a child it was magical and this reminded me of that feeling.

As the day went on, it began to snow. So pretty looking out the leaded windows and seeing snow.
We had looked at the forecast and weren't worried as it wasn't supposed to accumulate.
In Severna Park.   However...
We were currently north of Baltimore.
When we left the dance mid way at 7 pm (before the chocolate contest and evening contra) it was ramping up to white-out conditions and the road was thick with snow already.

We crept along the Baltimore beltway at 30 miles an hour instead of the usual 65+ clinging to ruts from the car in front of us.You really couldn't see the lanes. Cars made one lane out of the usual 3.

 It was nerve wracking and got worse as we went. At one point the truck we were following started to skid, and right before our eyes hit a car already stranded in front of them.

Due to Drew's good driving we were able to stop, and thankful to our angels, the car behind us was able to stop as well. It was unnerving to watch something like that in slow motion, and  hearing the sound.
We made it home,  a normal 45 min drive turning into 2 hours,   happy that we were safe.
Y'all be careful out there... it's a wily winter! 

Music & Dance & Creativity all at once! 2015 MiniFest

This blog is a celebration of Creativity!
My husband I were able to celebrate many forms of creativity last weekend at the FSGW Mini Fest.
Music, dance, handmade crafts, song, story telling all came together for a day of fun. I would love to share it with you.
The above picture is a fabric scrap coiled basket. The artist makes a lot of fabric items and  humbly said "it's just scraps"
HA! She doesn't know who she's talking to!!
The photo is a testament to cropping by the way. When you saw the whole bowl, it was beautiful but when I came in close to get just a portion of it,  the artwork takes on new meaning. Now it's about line and color.

 There were musical instruments being played and sold.

The displays were artistic and the instruments exciting. DH has just begun guitar lessons again as an adult.
He is having a great time learning.
Musical notes vibrate at the same frequency as color
It's all good, and all makes us more creative.
Look at the odd instruments here...
The blue circle thing sounds like a marimba

 There were many options for dance.
We thoroughly enjoyed the tango lessons. The band would have been worth the cost of admission alone.



I interviewed a musician who played the bandoneon.
It's like a large concertina. He said he loved it from the time he touched one.

Like I felt with fabric.

These are two friends that we often dance with at contras. Lindsey and Elliott. Such style.

Over the afternoon we also attended two contra dance segments, a cajun zydeco session, a hambo (Swedish dance form) lesson,

that was really the hardest form I tried all day

And my husband tried his hand (or foot) at
flamenco!

That's him in the white shoes, stomping, clapping posing! Ole!

The leader made a striking picture, all in black, with these red dancing shoes, flying and rhythmic. So different from other dance forms, so mesmerizing. Drew had a lot of fun. There was an 85 year old man next to him, who battles with spinal problems, nerve issues and doesn't let them stop him from the joy of dance!

Whew! We had to rest our widdle feet for a while after the flamenco!

to rest we watched these ladies doing some form of dance wearing clogs. Joanne? Seen this before?

We watched and listened to a variety of Morris Dancers jingling their bells, hitting their sticks, wearing masks or not. I skirted around them to get to a hand dye clothing person where I chose a new dance skirt in purples. It all comes down to color for me! Plus it had an uneven hemline, and was rayon which is cool.

We were really tired after 5 hours of dance and went looking for story telling, and concerts. We both fell in love with the band called The Squeezers. Three types of concertinas and a bass. The richness of sound they created entranced me totally. If I had heard in on a sound track, I would have had no idea it came from these 4 instruments. Rich. Layered. Like my quilts, it was full of light and dark, heavy and light, high and low. Resonant. Lovely. A great way to end a great day. We left tired and smiling.

Remember, my husband and I met dancing... a long time ago...

necessity is the (valentine gift) of invention

 Those of you who know me, know I make a Valentine quilt every year for Mr. Not Afraid of Color and I.
The top photo is the quilt in progress, background chosen, appliques on, stamped and painted. Waiting quilting now.
Sometimes the V-day quilt gets done a bit after the day... life gets in the way.

So last weekend we went to a Festival near DC.
We had the best time and danced our tootsies off.

DH asked if I could make a dance bag to hold his shoes so they won't get scuffed or dirty other stuff in the larger dance bag.

I had the last of the guitar flannel, the fabric I taught my 17 year old nephew to make a pillow case on, the fabric I used for dh's mug rugs, and thought it might just be enough.


I've never made anything like this. I didn't let that stop me!
The scrap of flannel was about 11" by 24" and the black notes flannel was 6" by 24"
Perfect.
Flannel frays badly so all seams needed to be finished off. I'll try and remember how I made this.

I know one can buy shoe bags but not shoe bags for dancers... so here goes...

I folded the white piece RST and seamed with a 1/4th in seam to within an inch of the top, backstitching.

I cut the black into two 6" X 12" pieces, hemmed the short ends simply by folding over twice and stitching.
Then I folded each one in half lengthwise, seamed the long edge and turned the finished tube RS out.
I now had two of these tubes.

Fold one side of the bag out of the way.

I placed the tube down on the table, laid the raw edge of the bag about quarter inch down from the tube edge and sewed a seam. When this seam is opened up, the finished tube edge covers the raw bag edge.
Topstitch this finishing it off.
Repeat on the other side.
Sew about an inch down from the very top of the black to form a tunnel for a shoe lace to go thru.

All the way across, then turn and come back along the other tube's tunnel until the shoelace ends are together.
Overhand knot.
Voila! It's a drawstring!

The tubes are free, open on the sides but all edges are finished so they don't fray.

The shoes are in there and my work to find a gift for my beloved is done! One he actually needs and will use. Win Win!

Swirling Midwinter Ball 2015

 Do you wanna dance??
                                        We do! We do!
Mr Not-Afraid-of-color, Drew to his friends, and I met over 21 years ago at a Contra dance.
It's the most fun you'll have while wearing clothes!
We went to the Ball last night, and both of us are feeling the physical reminders of all that swirling and twirling and fun.

I studied ballet, tap, and modern dance. I also belonged to a Cajun dance group in Tampa so I enjoy a good fais-do-do.
Drew and I have been known to Swingdance, Tango, waltz and zydeco together, but our real love is Contra.

If you've never done it, run to find one in your area.

So many nice people, laughing, enjoying the Giant Robot Dance band, playing live music.

 This is NOT me!! The 20-somethings have really added a lot to the mix, luckily with each other! I think my upside down dancing days might just be behind me but it's fun to see.

For those who don't know this style of dance, it's addictive. You find a partner for a dance, the movements for that dance are walked thru, you dance the whole song with that partner working your way up the line dancing with each couple as you come to them.  After the song is over you find another partner. There was one dance a month in Tampa. There are nearly 5 dances a week in this area.

Who knows you might meet the Valentine of your dreams at a dance! I did!

I still do...

Contra dance
stolen kisses
leads to love
and marriage
This is for my dear husband Drew on the occasion of our 20th wedding anniversary. I still do... love you.

These photos are from dusty framed snapshots that sit on our shelves every day, so please excuse the graininess or reflections. Look at the love shared.

This in on the coast of N. CA

We met at a contra dance in Fl, and spent the week basking in each other's company.(check out a contra post here!) Despite Drew telling me he wasn't good at letter writing, we kept in touch. So much so that we were engaged within 3 months and married within a year.

Ah San Fransisco, look at those newlyweds! So glad the wedding is over and they can start their lives.

 Both relieved to find the person who wants and supports and cares for them so very much. A place to belong. A family. These two didn't think about 20 years from that date and all they would go through together in the mean time. They just knew it was good to be together.
We still prefer each other's company.

We've traveled many places, including this birthday trip for me to Newport RI when Cole was an infant.

We have experienced loss and wins and daily life together.
Drew is the one I want to tell my story to at the end of each day.
During our courtship, which was long distance MA to FL, we spoke nearly every day, wrote letters, one of us received flowers regularly, and saw each other when we could. All looking toward the day when we would live together.

We have a few pictures on shelves, but we have many more mental pictures of the moments that make up our life together. We have many stories to share at the end of the day.
I am continually grateful for our love.
 Love, LeeAnna
look at this cute picture from last year  click here!

We went to the Ball

painted by Ken Mayer,

 The theme was "Green" at the annual Baltimore Mid-Winter Ball. There were some very interesting outfits among the finery. You were encouraged to dress up, and I saw interpretations of green from Bacchus complete with grapes around his head and a toga, to a green cheese wedge hat, to a green Afro, to my green eye shadow.

 Drew is wearing the musical vest I made him years ago, and his new bow tie. I managed to tie it without the aid of youtube this time, so some of my memory bank is still working.
The live band was fun, with different than usual instruments, and the caller was entertaining, the music a mix of blues, bluegrass, Celtic, and pop. We even had a chance to Tango!

One little shot of the dance floor doesn't show you the lovely mood set by the twinkling lights, carved architectural details of the Scottish Masonic Hall, flowing smooth moves of the dancers and low lighting.
 I waited to get this shot til the lights came up, and the group was still waltzing, reluctant to leave the dance.



My word of the year is enjoy, and I did enjoy laughing and dancing with friends, swaying to the live music, twirling so fast that gravity had no hold on me!

Love, LeeAnna
you might enjoy other dance posts and pictures HERE 

Happy 2014!

We have a whole new year to spend!
gold seta shimmer paint, hand beaded, metallic binding& corners

Long ago I  substituted goals for resolutions and would write a long list of goals for the year. Then I began choosing a word to explore along with the goal list. 2012 was "release" 2013 was "confidence" and...
This year's word is officially "enjoy" which means I hope to relax and enjoy the moments between pain, the moments between things going wrong, the moments between problems. Read a better explanation HERE

My goal list is less specific than usual and includes:
* make lots of art
* use lots of art supplies in said making
* enter more shows
* make the video interviews with local artists and post them here
* send out the connection project quilts
* read lots of books, which means, actually read some of the art books I've collected over the years
* be as active as possible and try to eat healthy food along with treats 
* Clean off the dining room table... oh I know, I know. That's a ridiculous expectation, but I do drag that goal forward year after year, and one year it may happen.

My wish for you is the one I wish for myself as well, enough time and good health to pursue your interests.
My ongoing wish is to find meaning in every day life, connect with others and to make a difference.

A few weeks ago I sent a  pincushion to Turid in Norway and she received him this week!
Check out this link to see the whole story of his trip and landing in her sewing room! fun! Click here for the story in pictures
If you want to check out a sample of my pin cushion collection,
  click here

dance with me, I want to be your partner...

And to close, we ended the old year and started the new year doing what we love, and dancing together! Dancing, and drinking champagne! And hugging friends! And I sewed in the car ride, so sewing!
You won't see the two of us in our finery here, as I'm taking the picture, but we looked fine.( I was able to tie a beautiful bow tie around Drew's neck, and he got many compliments on it)
We spent New Year's day, making special food, collard greens to bring money, and black-eyed peas to bring good luck, meat for protein, cookies for sweetness, and more champagne. Here's to a wonderful year together, all of us. Keep in contact, I'd love to hear from you!!
love, LeeAnna

ContraStock 3

Glen Echo Spanish Ballroom

This is the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo park, Washington DC. This is our favorite place to dance and a good enough reason not to move away from the area!
 Read About the Park Here  My husband and I met over 20 years ago at a contra dance in Fl and to this day, I believe men who dance are among the most fun and steadfast men in America! I know! If you want to meet a good man, head for a contra dance where you'll be hugged many times over the course of an evening.
Back to the current dance. This...is...ContraStock, a once a year 10-hour event that draws dancers from around the country.

This is about a third of the people on dinner break. They had a massive pot luck and visited with other dance enthusiasts and friends while fueling themselves for the next round of fun.

The carousel is peeking out in the background, and was running through dinner with that tinny caliope music we all remember from childhood. 

The lovely art deco buildings create an atmosphere, and would you look at that sky! It stormed the day before but the dance goddess was with us and it cleared out leaving behind mild cool weather so we didn't perish while swirling around like excited tops on the dance floor.

The picture is blurry because I have a barbie camera but also because the people never stand still, so they look blurry. This is the inside of the ballroom, which is gorgeous and has a sprung wood floor. The dance was so crowded, not at all like this end of the night pic where they have room, that many of us got run over. Just the way it is.

It's all fun and games til someone gets hurt, then it's a sport.



This is the open air bumper car pavilion where we usually dance on Sunday nights with a cooler breeze and fairy lights twinkling.





Even at a dance I managed to find another art quilter to talk to about creativity. It's hard not to be creatively stimulated by the beautiful surroundings and there are artists in residence here with yurts to hold classes and workshops. There was a drawing class going on in one yurt, and I longed to peek in and see what people were learning. The pottery yurt was cooking late too.
 
This morning we are walking around carefully, as contra dance is lots of fun as well as a good workout. Our feet are sore from 6 hours on them, our arms sore from holding so many others, our necks sore from twirling but our spirits are soaring from the companionship. If you have never done Contra go see what you are missing.  Come and go with us! LeeAnna