New York City

Twenty postcards and a bracelet-from-a-street-vendor later, I feel...invigorated? Exhausted? Wondering how I've managed block after block plus umpteen stairs up and down to the subway?

A little bit of everything.

The past two days were straight appraiser stuff: a talk from a rep at an auction house, a meeting with artist Marilyn Henrion (and a viewing of her wonderful stuff -- incredibly textured, with a surface that often reflected light), a visit to see Suzy Chicago's "The Dinner Party" at the Brooklyn Museum. A talk on the quilts of WWII by Sue Reich, whose book on the subject is a great new research tool for quilt historians. (See the book here.)A visit with Gail Kessler of Andover Fabrics. (She thinks reproduction fabrics are alive and well, but look for the ones that will fit into your overall stash -- these are the keepers, and will let you do more unique work.)

One thing I can tell you -- the style on the streets of New York is greek sandals. We have seen pair after pair after PAIR, usually combined with black sundresses or some other black-variation outfit. I think I need a pair of new sandals.

Back again, after a shower to scrub the sweat off. It's been hot here, with lots of humidity. Makes you thankful for air conditioning.