Craft Group Road Trip

 Our Intrepid Crew

On Thursday we headed up to Gainesville for a crafty road trip.  We made this same trip two weeks ago, but some of our members were not able to come the first time we went to the Florida Museum of Natural History to see the quilt show.  So, we organized a second outing.  We set out around 9 AM and made it to the museum around 10:45.  Since Sue and I had already seen the quilts we decided to explore the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art right next door while the others went to the quilt show.  We spent the first 15 minutes of our visit studying the jewelry for sale in the gift shop because the galleries don't open until 11.  This kind of activity can be dangerous.  I ended up purchasing a beautiful necklace and earrings to match.

The art museum is small (at least by my New York standards) with an eclectic selection.  It was lovely to wander through the galleries.  My favorite piece was Old Man's Cloth, a large wall hanging made from liquor and beer bottle tops assembled with wire in such a way that it appeared to be a large, rippling piece of African cloth.  You can use the link to see it but the photo simply doesn't do it justice.

Here's a small piece from one of the quilts on display

I want to quote a bit from the museum's description of the quilt show: Experience the natural beauty of Florida in a new way. The Florida Museum of Natural History, in partnership with the Quilters of Alachua County Day Guild, is displaying more than 100 original quilts showcasing Florida's wildlife and plants during Quilting Natural Florida II.  The show continues until April 25 and is well worth the trip.  Each of the quilts is a work of art.  Many are collaborations by two or three quilters.  They all depict wildlife and plants indigenous to Florida.

 The sign outside Yarnworks

At noon we reconvened in the Camellia Court Cafe on the lower level of the Harn.  We had a delicious lunch and then set off  for Yarnworks, just a bit north of the museum complex.  It was my second trip there.  There is a large selection in a rather small space.  The staff is extremely friendly and helpful.  For the second time in a row I purchased some wonderful yarn.  Yarnworks is having a big sale on April 24.  By then, I'll be on the road back north unfortunately.

It was a wonderful day, the last one of this kind with my Florida friends for this season.  I look forward to doing more outings with them when I return next winter.