Chapel of The Holy Cross

With it being Sunday, I wanted to show you one of my favorite spots in Sedona.
I really didn't feel any kind of special energy around the Vortex sites listed for the area.
Where I felt the most peace and spiritual influence was at the Chapel of The Holy Cross.

This simple and yet stunning Roman Catholic Chapel is built right into the red rock mesas.
Commissioned by sculptor Margurite Bush Wigstaude, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. Designed by architects Anshen & Allen.
The inspiration came to Margurite in 1932 as she observed the newly constructed Empire State Building in New York. "When viewed at a certain angle, a cross seemed to impose itself through the very core of the structure."
Completed in 1956, the design was considered very bold and daring for the era.

A free form standing walkway leads up to the top of the mountain.

Inside the chapel is quiet, simple and small.

Many visitors light candles, pray and find solace for a few moments.

It was a little challenging to get the right lighting on my camera as the room was only lit by the natural light coming through the window.

From the outside of the building, the surrounding vistas are breathtaking.

There really is a special feeling as you enter the chapel.

Margurite's desire was that "This would be a monument to faith, but a spritual fortress so changed with God, that it spurs man's spirit Godward."

A site well worth visiting.

Sedona

We are in Sedona, Arizona for a few days while Mr. Cactus attends a business conference.

Work, work, work.

Can you imagine sitting in a beautiful villa attending meetings while looking out on this fabulous Championship golf course at Seven Canyons?

This is my first time to Sedona.

Fabulous red rock formations very similar to ones near our home in St. George, Utah, except this area has trees.

Some believe there are spiritual vortexes in the area, spirals of concentrated energy that bring healing. Many New Age Believers come from all over the world, seeking balance from the rocks.

Many feel there is a gigantic reservoir of crystals inside the mountains, and others think there is a lost city.

While Mr. Cactus is in meetings, I have time to wander and to learn.

Did you know that Grayback Mountain, the highest monolith in Sedona is the model for Big Thunder Mountain at Disneyland?

And that the Sedona McDonalds is the only one in the world to have turquoise arches? They just didn't feel that golden arches fit in with the terrain, and recieved special permission to paint them a desert color.

And yes, there is a Quilt Shop here! I will share more about that tomorrow.

Shampoo Alert

A friend sent me this the other day.
It really pays to read the labels.

Shampoo alert!
As I was conditioning my hair in the shower this morning, I took time to read my shampoo bottle.
I am in shock!
The shampoo I use in the shower that runs down my entire body says "for extra volume and body"!
Seriously, why have I not noticed this before? Now I understand why I am so "full-figured"!

Tomorrow I am going to start using "Dawn" dish soap.
It says right on the label "dissolves fat that is otherwise difficult to remove.

Now I get it.

I'm just grateful I've been using Warm and Natural quilt batting for years.

And I plan on running right out and wrapping myself in some Gutermann Upholstery Thread.
The labels says: Strong, durable and Rot Proof.

Dish Cloth A Day

As a newbie to crocheting, I'm always on the hunt for free patterns that are easy.
Dishcloths are a great place to start.
Not only are they practical, but they are cute and have that Vintage look.
Maggie Weldon is hosting a 365 Dish Cloth-a-Day Challenge over on Best Free Crochet.

Each submission comes with a link and free pattern!

100's of free dishcloth patterns and growing!
So many choices, I almost don't know where to start.
Just looking made me happy.

With a name like Cactus Needle, my eye did go to #134 A Cactus Called Yuma by Linda Kahle

So many unique submissions. It will be interesting to see which top 3 will be chosen for the grand prizes.

Delightful Quilters May Meeting

I just realized I forgot to share with you the pictures I took of the May Meeting from The Delightful Quilters of Scottsdale, AZ.

Now that the temperatures are warming up, many of the members leave for the summer, so their attendance was smaller than usual. They still had some fabulous quilts as part of their Show and Tell.

Every month the group picks a theme block to make, and patterns are provided. Each participant's name is placed in a drawing. The lucky winner takes home all the blocks for that month.

It's almost like winning a free quilt!

This quilt shows how one guild member placed the blocks she won in a setting.

May 2011 blocks waiting for a name to be drawn.

I always love Show and Tell, and to see the wonderful variety in fabrics and patterns.

One member took all of her left over pinks and made a Rail Fence that will be donated to charity.

An nice bright Stack and Whack quilt by JoAnn Kilgroe.

Even the back in interesting.

Arizona Desert by award winner Barb Janson.

Barb has also been working on her Centennial Quilt Project/100 Years 100 Quilts.

To read more about this project see post 5/2/2011

Georgia Heller showed her boot quilt she will be submitting for the Centennial Quilt Project.

Georgia told how she researched Arizona history, and placed symbolic features through out each boot. She even went into an exclusive Scottsdale store and took pictures of cowboy boots to gain perspective for her drawings.
So impressive to see how quilters put their hearts and creative talents into each work of art.