The Grand Rapids Quilt Show

Today I spent a few hours at the DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Each year, the American Quilt Society hosts a major event in seven cities: Phoenix (AZ), Lancaster (PA), Chattanooga (TN), Paducah (KY), DesMoines (IA), Charlotte (NC), and Grand Rapids. I had never been to a national quilt show before, so I talked my writing partner Stephanie Michels into going with me. We're finishing up the second in our Stitching Post romance series, set in a quilt shop in suburban Grand Rapids, so we thought we'd go and get inspiration for future books in the series.

We were totally awed by the sheer talent displayed in the quilts, sent in from around the world! My phone camera got a workout, and it was difficult to choose my favorites. I put several up on my facebook page, so if you've seen these pictures there, I hope you don't mind seeing them again.

These two were award winners. I love the workmanship in both, but the one on the left, "Capturing Brittany" really impressed me with the intricate and realistic detail.

There were quilts that used variations of traditional patterns:

And other quilts that were quite whimsical.

There were some that were so realistic they reminded me of photographs,

And others that made me smile for other reasons.

But what they all had in common was that each one was a testament to the dedication and hard work of the person who created it.  I think it's the same kind of dedication an author has when he or she spends hours upon hours crafting a single work. I only hope my books show a fraction of the same dedication as these wonderful creations.

     

The Phone as a Research Tool

Lately I've read two great posts from author friends who have blogged about interviewing people who can give you details about the subjects and scenarios in your book. Maris Soule wrote about several people who have helped her create believable scenes and characters in her novels. And Bronwyn Green wrote a hilarious account about a man who was good enough to give her the information she wanted, and was a great sport about the ribbing he got when named as a source in her book.

So I decided to follow their examples. After all, they're both great authors, and I want to be like them when I grow up. I'm starting on a new project in which one of the main characters is an ice sculptor. (The reason for that is kinda long and convoluted, so I'll skip that.) I know nothing about ice sculpting, so I went to my usual sources – the library, and the internet. No luck. There's very little out there on the process of ice sculpting. So I asked my fellow writers if anyone had an acquaintance I could interview. And I looked online and found a local company. It happened that the fabulous Tanya Eby knew someone – and that someone owned the company I had already contacted! So I asked for someone I could interview, or at least send a list of questions to. And I got an answer – with a phone number and invitation to call!

I took a week to get my questions in order, and when I had full pages of them, I called. The time I called didn't work, but he gave me another time to call – and I kept my appointment. I had a wonderful half hour conversation with Randy Finch, co-owner of Ice Sculptures, Ltd. Randy and his company were featured in several episodes of The Ice Brigade, airing on The Food Network. I was so impressed by how friendly and open Randy was. He answered all my questions – even the silly female ones, such as "What's the difference between a wood-cutting chainsaw and an ice-cutting one?" It turns out Randy has co-authored a book about ice sculpting, which is used as a textbook in culinary classes. So he's definitely an authority on the subject.

I feel great about this interview. I learned so much, and I can now say I've had a conversation with a television personality. Now I just need to find a physical therapist, a snowplow operator, a caterer, and a wounded veteran. And then I can finish the details on this story.

Rubbing Elbows With the Elite

I remember watching episodes of the television show “Dynasty” and being enthralled with the lives of the rich and famous. I used to wonder what it would be like to have the kind of wealth people like those characters had. If they wanted something, they simply got it – or had one of their servants pick it up. It was so at odds with the life I led.

This past week I got a chance to peek into that world. Mom and I volunteered at a fundraiser for the Grand Rapids Symphony called the Showhouse. One of the buildings on the Wilcox Estate was renovated by various area businesses and designers each took an area of the house to show their talent. For $20, you can go through the house and admire the beautiful furnishings, the likes of which will never grace my home.

While the Showhouse home speaks of elegance and wealth, it doesn’t compare with the affluence of the original Wilcox family. The renovated building was originally constructed as a community house for the family estate. It housed the garage for the five homes (the parents’ original home and the four children’s houses) on the estate, as well as gardener’s facilities, servants’ quarters, a squash court, indoor pool, and laundry facilities (a full-time laundress washed, dried and ironed for a different household each day of the week).

I can’t imagine belonging to that set. I see them in movies and television shows, and I read about them in books, but I just can’t imagine living in a world where there are people at your disposal to do everyday tasks like laundry, cooking and driving. It makes me wonder if books about wealthy people are based on the author’s experience. A long time ago an English author named Betty Neels painted fabulous word pictures of wealthy English families and the lucky women who married into them. From her biography, it seemed she described a world she knew a lot about.

Then again, not everyone who writes about murderers, vampires, and other worlds have actual life experiences in those worlds. And I don’t remember meeting any actual samurai soldiers. So I guess it comes down to research. If I have an affluent character, I’ll have to do a lot of reading and interviewing. Maybe I’ll have to befriend someone in that circle so I can describe it accurately! All in the name of research, of course.

I'm not complaining about my own way of life. I know there are a lot of people who wish they could enjoy the things I have. But I can't help being curious.

The community house is now the residence of an illustrious Grand Rapids attorney, who graciously allowed the Women’s Committee of the symphony to overtake his home for five months or so. What a great way to get a home makeover!

This is my favorite part of the house. Designer Jeffrey Roberts made this bedspread out of men's shirts found in thrift shops! The pillow shams feature the collars and cuffs. Maybe someday, when I finish all the projects I have started now ...

Goals update:

Health: Plateaued

Writing: Got 2000 new words on my samurai story, worked on my non-fiction story for Chicken Soup, and wrote this blog.

Creativity: Made some more quilt tops and went to the quilting group workshop at church.