Building Community

             We're having a party yeah!

It is amazing that we found such a wonderful Costa Rican quilt colony to play and make art with.  The fun began during the reception for the Red Textil: First Encounter of the Ibero-American Textile Network.  You know we fiber junkies were decked out in our various threads. We nibbled on tasty little dishes and sampled the beverages while looking for English speakers that we could talk with.  For sure we all were thinking "why didn't we take Spanish in high school and college along with French or German."  We're thinking we need Rosetta Stone in the future.  But found enough bilingual friends to get by.

 Here we have new friends Leidalia and Laurie.  Leidalia teaches art quilting (quilt creativo) and Laurie has a shop in Panama.  Don't they look great?

 Laurie who lives in Panama and Olga who lives in Guatemala liked us so well they came to our quilting class the following day.

Marion, EdJohnetta, Adriene and L'Merchie are with a European jounalist.  We hope we'll show up in her magazine.  I'll have to track down her name since she didn't have a card.  I was sure to give her one of mine.  She was also a judge in the exhibit.  She was wearing a wonderful top from Korea.  Threads were definitely the name of the game.

Of course the big highlight was meeting the U.S. Ambassador Anne Slaughter Andrew.  She was gracious and said she made an effort to decide on what fiber to wear.

Ed, Marion, L'Merchie, Adriene, Ambassador Andrew and Center Executive Director Schmack

 My team members with Veritas University faculty.  L'Merchie lectured there our last evening in San Jose.

New friends and colleagues including Dr. Robert Steele standing next to me.  Juan Diego Roldan, visual arts coordinator and Paulina Ortiz were gracious and extremely helpful to us  (She is wearing blue and he is standing to my left and her right).  Manual Arce is kneeling in the first row wearing the red tie and is responsible for getting us started on this adventure.

We got serious about our mission on the second day when we started to teach at El Consturero Quilt Shop.  Maria Teresa and Rocio welcomed us with open arms along with 20 students ready to explore new directions.

Adriene and art quilting teacher Leidalia Flaque choosing fabrics.

Music, dancing, fabric, friends and food.  What more can you ask for on a tropical afternoon.



 Yummy chicken lasagna.  Adriene introduced us to keeping a photo journal of our food journey too.

Yes the gang's all here.  Thanks Ana Luisa, Victoria, Ile, Maribelle, Tania, Lia, Marto, Laurie, Marianela, Ana Isabel, Olga, Miriam, Jeannette, Ana, Edelina, Adriana, Damaris, Jamilett, Leidalia, Sonia, Alexandra, Soledad, Maria Teresa. Rocio, Adriene and EdJohnetta  for a good time.

Adriene's art work.  She says she just can't stay in the block.

 
Store team members Gaby, Susan, Maiky and Patricia.  I love those aprons.

Maiky, Maribelle, Patricia, Ed and Rocio all smiles.  Who wouldn't with all the fabric around.

This is rainy season in Costa Rica and during the class we could hear the roll of thunder and very heavy rain that had totally cleared by the end of class.  It was a wonderful day and I am happy to say friends are emailing me and becoming my friends on Facebook.  This morning I was already encouraged by Leidalia to get my Spanish going.  In the meantime get out there and make something beautiful.