Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Quilts, and going back to 1980.

Recently I had the enjoyable opportunity to do a different kind of time traveling.
My friend from way back in Junior High School, Robin Ballew Culbertson, contacted me through Facebook earlier in the year.
First, let me tell you a little about Robin. As kids, we had several classes together, and many of the same friends. Robin was extremely academically gifted and we tended to travel in the same creative circles. While I was often anxious and tended to use 'broad strokes', her artistic skills exhibited a mature patience and meticulous attention to detail. I've never told her this, but I would often take my cues from her, watching to see how high she would 'set the bar', when it came to class projects. One of my favorite memories about Robin was when the two of us collaborated on a marionette production of 'Pinocchio' together. Her craftsmanship just blew me away, and she challenged me (without even knowing it.)
Another memory is when we did a rock and roll puppet show with several of our other partners in crime, -and unwittingly filled the classroom with noxious green and red fumes from smoke bombs.
The less said about that, the better. (But boy, Mrs. Tate was MAD!)
Fast forward to February of 2010.
She wrote: "I am planning on doing a customer quilt show in the spring, and one of the ideas I had was to perhaps tie it in with your DeLorean time machine and your [Team Fox] efforts. I want to do the quilt show as a fundraiser for charity, but haven't settled on which one."

Well. I don't know anything about quilts, and at first, the idea seemed like a stretch, even for a time traveler. But Robin had sincere interest, and, like back in our school days, I knew anything she's involved with would have outstanding results. And those results could help us in our mission to find a cure for Parkinson's.
We corresponded back and forth and came up with a date and time. And as predicted, the event was wonderful. She took out display ads and alerted the media. She lined up sponsors to reward winning entries with prizes, including a Baby Lock Grace Computerized Sewing Machine.
(I think the word 'Grace' is so appropriate.)
And even though she felt a little nervous about it, Robin even appeared on a local television show to promote the event.
The quilt entries were amazing, and I've now been properly introduced to this art form. The folks who came out for the 'kick off' were so kind and generous and encouraging. Several people came out to the Asheville Cotton Company for the first time to see what the DeLorean was doing there. And one guy even came dressed as Marty McFly! After talking 'horsepower' and 'MPG' with some fellas, I even convinced them to step inside and check out the quilts! Another long time friend, Conrad Shirk, came by with his family to say 'Hi.'
Afterwards, Robin and I enjoyed a BBQ lunch together and caught up on 'old times.'
Now that all is said and done, I'm thrilled to share that Robin and her hard work resulted in a donation of $2331.57 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research!
Check out her website that describes the event and even displays photos of the winning quilts! -And if you're ever in Asheville, North Carolina, be sure and stop in at the Asheville Cotton Co. and say 'Hi' to Robin.
Even if you don't sew, you'll consider yourself lucky after meeting such an exceptional, fun and generous person.
-Oliver
(7th grade.)

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Fund Raising in the Smokies!


AdventureCon, Tennessee's largest collectors show, will host the DeLorean Time Machine in Pigeon Forge May 28, 29, and 30.
Take pictures with the car for free, or sit inside for a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, through TEAMFOX.
Also: Limited edition lithograph celebrating the 25th Anniversary of “Back to the Future" will be available, signed and numbered by the artist.
Hours are:
Friday 12pm - 7pm
Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday 11-am-5pm
Pigeon Forge Convention Center,
Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN. 37863

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Quilt Show Fundraiser Press Release!



Asheville Cotton Co. will host a Customer Quilt Show and fundraiser on Saturday May 8th, 11am to 1pm, in the Parkway Center (Harris Teeter Shopping Center) at 1378 Hendersonville Rd. in Asheville, NC.

All winners will be chosen by Viewer's Choice, so everyone has a chance to win, regardless of skill level!
All proceeds will go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
As part of the festivities, our Quilt Show will get started on
Saturday, May 8, 10a-1p
with a special appearance by the DeLorean Time Machine as made famous in the popular "Back to the Future" movie trilogy! Make plans to come to see the car (bring all the kids and husbands) and come see the quilt show. A special 25th Anniversary Back to the Future poster signed by the artist will be for sale, and you are encouraged to bring your camera to take pictures of the car. You may take pictures at no charge, but we will ask for a donation if you wish to sit in the car to have the photo made.

http://www.ashevillecottonco.com/Pages/Customer%20Quilt%20Show%202010/Quilt%20Show%20Press%20Release.htm

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Vulcan Con Day 3

Saturday, May 1st
After a quick set up, we start taking pictures right away. Great people, today is the costume contest so the group is quite colorful! Sally Kellerman and Catherine Hicks both pose with the car. Very sweet. Chris Lloyd did a Team Fox promo for us,
which was taped for us by Hatch; I’m so excited to see it. We were able to catch Chris’s talk, which was very good.

The audience’s questions ranged from Addams Family to, of course, his Klingon appearance in Star Trek. He was asked how he got the roll of a bad guy and his response was he wasn‘t sure, but it might have been that no one else wanted to endure 4 hours of make up! He also spoke of Roger Rabbit, and enjoying the opportunity to play a bad guy -and there’s talk of a sequel! When asked if he ever took any souvenirs home from the set of Back to the Future, an audience member shouted: ‘Mary Steenburgen!’

Our friend James was kind enough to make a lunch run to McDonalds for us, gourmet Big Macs! And for dinner we all ate at a nearby Italian restaurant. We enjoyed the conversation and the meal. James owns a DeLorean and has a fun job where he makes and maintains a variety of movie props. Boy did he and Oli have fun stories to share.

On the final day, Sunday, things slowly came to an end. Everything was packed up, we said our thank you's to our wonderful hosts, and pushed the time machine back the way it came. (Though Mr. yellow shirt was not seen, we hesitated to start the engine while inside.)

It was a good fund raiser, and a nice chance to see Christopher Lloyd again.