Arizona Girls Trip - Day 6

 What can I say?  It's another gorgeous day in Glendale.  Today, we are all out for breakfast together.  First Watch is the spot and that's a first for me.  I know we have one near our house in Dallas, but I've not been there.  

Today is part shop hop/part tourism.  We start with a second "Bear" quilt shop.  This time it is Quilted Bear or, according to the receipt, A Quilted Country Bear.

Take a peek inside - 

I spot these aprons and REALLY like them.  I saw the black one last year at MSQC and they were out of stock.  Today, I have better luck, but the tan one is out of stock this go round.  I'll hunt the other one down online, I guess.  I do like aprons.

Next up is Mulqueen Fabrics and I have to admit I'm going in here a bit jaded from a previous interaction with them regarding Crabapple Hill patterns.  Keeping an open mind, keeping an open mind, keeping an open mind. . . . 

I do find some sale items to make another grocery bag.  Happy with that.

Okay - time for touristy stuff for a bit.  First up is Arizona Falls.  Arizona Falls is a waterfall in Phoenix and was formed when the man-made Arizona Canal crossed a natural, 20-foot drop in the area of present-day 56th Street in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix. The site became a popular location for social activities before and after being used as a hydroelectric power station that provided the first electricity to Phoenix. After generating power for 50 years, the site was left run down. Modern air conditioning lessened the attraction of the falls and the area was neglected for decades. In the early 2000s, the site was rebuilt both as a public-art project and a functional power station which generates enough electricity to power about 150 average Phoenix homes. Walkers, joggers, and cyclists using a recreation path along the canal pass through the park. It is also a destination attraction for other visitors.

What I see.

What they see.

On our way to the Phoenix Art Museum, Stephannie requests a stop in Old Town Scottsdale.  Okie dokie.  We find ourselves at Old Town Needleworks, looking around while she gets what she needs.  I do spot this project and isn't it just so wonderful?

While we are down here, might as well grab lunch and do some shopping.  I'm in for the eating part - Gwen does the shopping.

Okay - onto the Art Museum - it's free this afternoon and there is an exhibit that I wish to see.  

We're a bit early (geez, right?) so have to wait.  In the meantime, we check out this exhibit that is at the entrance.  It is Black Cloud by Carlos Amorales - 2007 and made from paper.  He describes Black Cloud as his way of saying good-bye to his grandmother.  More than 25,000 paper moths and butterflies swarm and envelop the viewer, encouraging them to reflect on the passing of time.  This brings together 30 different species on a monumental scale.

I also spot an exhibit on fashion to check out after we do the one we are here for.  Yep, I'm being mysterious.  

A few years ago, I was able to attend another exhibition by Yayoi Kusama - it was pumpkins and here is the LINK to that post.  This new exhibit is Fireflies Infinity Room.  Glittering points of light echo into an expanse of infinite space.  In we go - now, I took a ton of pictures, but most didn't do justice to this exhibit.  It really needs to be experienced first hand, but here are a few attempts.

I even tried a few videos, but they were just not great either.  I'm so sorry, but if this exhibit comes near you - GO!

Okay, we break up and look at various interests in the museum for a short time.  Several of us make a beeline for the fashion exhibit, where Sherri manages to get reprimanded by another patron for not knowing enough about fashion.  No joke.  Here's Greatest Fits Volume 1 - The Art of Archiving Fashion - well at least the highlights that we enjoyed.

This velvet opera coat was one of the first objects acquired into the fashion collection.  It was gifted by Anita Grosvenor.  It is c 1895 and is cut velvet with ostrich feathers.  The second dress is a Court Gown, 1765 of ivory silk woven with polychrome lame yarn flowers. The dramatic proportions of this gown are achieved with a corset and basket-like cages at the hips called panniers or side hoops.  Intended to be viewed from the front, this outsized skirt served to show off expensive and decorative silk jacquards, and in this instance a fine handmade fold metallic lace with hand-cut paper bows, flowers, and gemstones.  It was gifted by Sybil Harrington.  Number three is a black silk satin brocade, yellow silk taffeta, yellow silk crepeline, green bows of silk velvet, with jet and glass beads embroidered onto silk tulle with silk lace.  Circa 1890 and also donated by Anita Grosvenor.

Next is a Day Dress of printed silk chiffon with supplementary weft.  Gifted b Elizabeth Buck and circa 1897.  Dress number 2 is a 1990's silk gifted by Kelly Ellman.  It is a Trompe l'oeil design that tricks the eye into perceiving three-dimensional objects - or so they say.  I just found it different.  The third in this group is an Exercise Suit - jumpsuit, skirt, and shoes from 1890's-1900.  It is wool with cotton edging as are the shoes.  Before the 20th century, women's athletic clothing was focused on modesty rather than building muscle.  Long attributed to the women of the reform movement, it is possible that this style of layered skirt over a loose trouser was actually inspired by the practical clothing worn by women of the Iroquois Confederacy.

This next grouping has - first - a jacket from 1934 of custom-dyed silk velvet stenciled with metallic "flowers," silk cord and Murano glass beads.  Gifted by Anne Robinson.  The 1920s gown is crystal pleated silk satin with Murano glass beads and belt of silk satin stenciled with metallic "flowers."  Gifted by Mrs. Leavitt.  Second is a "TIME Magazine" Paper Dress from 1967 made from printed cellulose with internal scrim of nylon yard.  Gifted by Kelly Ellman.  Little is known about how to treat, or conserve, the paper dresses.  The nonwoven, disposable garments were cheaply made with little information on their packaging and very few were actually paper.  The "paper" artifacts were actually made of rayon, nylon, cotton, polyurethane, polyester, and other natural or manufactured fibers.  

One last set of three.  First is a gown made of silk and rayon velvet with beaded embroidery, 2007.  This one is museum purchase.  Second is a 1973 dress of paillettes and silk chiffon, and was a gift from Mrs. Haas.  Worn at fashion's international showdown, the 1973 Battle of Versailles, this gown was part of a global shift as five American designers redefined high style. Finally, this 1960s gown of matte silk jersey hand pleated and hand stitched onto a cotton pique foundation was a gift from Mr. Vernon Taylor.  Each row of the micro-pleating of this gown is hand-stitched to a corseted bodice beneath, creating a draped effect reminiscent of the classical style of ancient Greece and Rome.

On the way back out - this grabs my attention.

With that, we are out.  I notice that the cacti here also have bird nests in them.

Moving on - The Other Quilt Shop is next.

Look at these cute little bag pincushions.  Love them.  Also like the labels they put on their toolbox standing behind them.

It's time to get back and when we arrive we are presented with an opportunity to go and tour another retreat house owned by the same company.  Sounds great.  This is the backyard at the second center.

Amazing bougainvillea.  

There are lemon and grapefruit trees on the property and we are told to help ourselves.  

So fun - what a special treat.

Back at our center - Debi starts gathering all the lemons for a picture.

I think we should make lemonade.

However - my belly is grumbling and it's time for some food.  Dinner it is.

I chose pizza and it was yummy.  Another day done - I'm pretty tired once again.  Phoenix traffic is just so much fun.  It makes Dallas look tame.  Plus I have a very early morning so, see ya tomorrow.