Wednesday's Wanderings #45 -Fantasy Fest

Finally, I am back on track!  Hopefully.

My WW from 2 weeks ago needed to commemorate our trip to Key West.

Fantasy Fest in Key West is not just about the costumes and parades. 

 It's about the beads.

They throw the beads from the rooftops, from the balconies and from the floats.

People clamor for the beads.

I got my fair share while still remaining a lady!

To create this block,

I chose to use a photo I had taken of  people throwing beads from a balcony 

 and use it as my "foundation" for construction. 

I cropped and printed the photo on fabric.  Printing the photo on fabric accomplished 2 things.  It provided realism and relieved me of having to construct tiny little people!

To make it look more like a fabric block than a photo,

 I fused and blanket stitched yellow fabric over the railing

Then I zig zag stitched over the vertical staves.

Then I added the large vertical posts.

And finished by covering the rest of the wood.

You can still see the people.

The next step was to add the hands reaching to catch the beads.

  It was important to me that the hands be of many colors. 

One of my favorite things about Key West is its diversity. 

 There are young people, old people, straight people, gay people,

and people of many different ethnicities. 

This is the first "layer of hands"

One of my favorite parts of quilting is blanket stitching around appliques.

I could do it all day.

I used some of the beads that I snagged during the parades.

They are a little out of scale, but I wanted the actual beads on my block.

This is a block that will definitely remind me of that crazy week.

It's a week I will never forget.

Key West Inspiration

My favorite part of travelling is walking every morning. 

 I check out life on the street and the shop windows.

 Although I have been to Key West many times, there is always something new to see or to notice. 

There are lots of art galleries with such interesting pieces in the window, but please excuse the glare,

and lots to see on the streets.

 

 



 

Saturday night was the huge parade with floats, capping off Fantasy Fest.

The floats are filled with people and dancers blaring great music and throwing beads.  I took lots of photos, but either there was poor exposure or this guy's naked butt was in them.  Not for publication.

 

Thanks to Sandy, we get to spend 2 extra days in Key West.  We did a pre-emptive strike and changed our flight plans before all the flights were cancelled.  I hope all of you on the East Coast make it through the storm safely and without too much damage with lots of sewing projects to keep you busy.

The Locals Parade

Last night was the Local's parade.

  We participated in a half hearted way as honorary locals. 

There was a scramble for something to wear.

 

 Fittingly, it started at the cemetery.

People threw beads and there were free drinks along the way.

Here is a sanitized version of the many people in costumes,

dedicated to my SIL who loves Fantasy Fest.

 

 

 

 

For those of you who have e-mailed me, the people who participate with a lack of clothing are every age  and every size you can think of.

Yesterday we saw an older woman with a cane with nothing but body paint!

Part of me is happy that people are not stuck up on body image and the other part says "REALLY?"

 

The funniest thing is I can't remember the last time I got dressed up for Halloween.  It was probably when I was a kid.  I have friends that LOVE going to Halloween parties. 

 

If you are dressing up, what is your theme?

 

Only If You Love Dogs

If you do not love animals, especially dogs, read no further. 

 

 

Last night was the Pet Masquerade in Key West.  It was a MUST SEE for us.  We expected it to be the highlight of our Fantasy Fest week since it was about pets in costume, and it did not disappoint!  We did not know the owners dressed up too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a beautiful end to the evening,

 though my cheeks hurt from smiling so much.