Odd N Ends & Travel to Michigan

Oct. 14, 2016:   Joni has been teaching at a workshop in Maryville, TN this week.  We set up in the Library at Maryville High School and, working around Maryville HS's home game and the UT game with Alabama tomorrow (go Vols) we have been helping some great folks make some great baskets.  The trees are changing colors and the nights are getting cooler, making for a very pleasant workshop.  Two of the Bee Skeps, and two of the new Bonsai Bee Skeps, a couple of birdhouses, a Ross Special, and a Monkey Trap will be done before we finish tomorrow.  

The Odds N Ends group is based in Maryville, TN and draws from the SE TN region around Knoxville.  Aside from being avid Tennessee Volunteer fans, they are outstanding hosts.  This is Joni and my 3rd  time here together, and Joni has been here many times before I retired. Thanks Pam and Royce and the entire Odds N Ends Guild.  

Joni says, "Several people here are making baskets with traditional rims for the first time. David has done amazing job teaching them to attach these rime-Lori nailed her walnut antique tray yesterday."

Oct. 16, 2016: After Clemson won  a squeaker against NC State, we loaded up and headed north towards the Michigan (AMB) convention in Lansing, MI.  First stop was the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY.  We perused history of the Corvette, America's first true sports car, and I got a good dose of Vintage Car Mojo, especially when I ran across a near-perfect copy of my first car, a 1969 Pontiac Firebird, color and all.  

Oct. 17, 2016:  Next stop was the Kentucky Museum at Western Kentucky University, also in Bowling Green, KY.  Joni got a good dose of White Oak Basket Mojo in the White Oak Basket exhibit.  This exhibit celebrates Kentucky's White Oak Basket tradition.  Thee were some really cool baskets, including exhibits on the making or and people who keep this tradition alive.  We particularly enjoyed seeing the work of Leona Waddell, examples of who's work Joni owns.  This is a jewell of a museum (thanks Barbara Burns), and included exhibits on the Civil War and Quilting.

Oct. 18, 2016:  Final stop for us before arriving in Lansing, was at Pokagon State Park in Indiana.  We hiked the trails amidst the fall colors and met local deer and fox squirrels along the way.  Wow, another jewell of a find. This is a truly neat and well done state park.

We have been in Lansing, MI teaching for a couple of days now and will report on that at the next blog.

 Take Care.  Remember, it is a beautiful (rainy) day, don't let it slip away.

David and Joni