More of Chicago, Art Institute, Frank Lloyd Wrights house and a quilt studio visit.

This morning the group walked through the park, had a photo stop at Cloud gate, hot chocolates and waited for the art gallery to open, We had a guided tour through the gallery and explanations were given by an expert art enthusiast.

I must say it was a great tour and to see originals of Renoir, Van Gogh and Monet, hanging on the gallery wall was exciting. Being also allowed to take photos and get up close to these masterpieces was awe inspiring.

This greeted us in the entry to the institute.

A great painting also at the entry.

This masterpiece was very large, but what was unique about this painting was all the small dots put together made a painting.

Van Gogh

Explanation of Van Gogh portrait.

Monet paintings

Monet Irises, 1914/17

We were privileged to be able to see some wonderful vintage and modern quilts on display at the art Institute.

I just 

Crazy quilt, great embroidery 

Flag quilt

Another version of a crazy quilt

Appliqué quilt, lovely work

Quilt depicting the Oregon Trail

Chris Jurd standing near the Garfield and Arthur quilt, explanation below, Chris made her version of this quilt in 2009.

I would like to add, Chris made this quilt in 2009 and I have owned it for a few years now, after purchasing it of Chris, about five years ago at the Springwood quilt show.

Friendship quilt.

There were many other quilts, and a delightful hour was spent drooling over them.

After our visit we had lunch, back to the hotel for lunch. In the afternoon we drove 1 hour out to a quilt shop, not much purchased at this shop, but there was a hobby lobby which most of us were happy to visit and some more money was spent to help the American economy.

The next day was an excursion out to Oakpark to visit Frank Lloyd Wright house, 

Frank Lloyd Wright was born in 1867, Wisconsin, he lived in Oakpark from 1889 until 1909. Wright created a wholly new form of American architecture known as the Prairie style, because it reflects the landscape of the mid western plains. The house was amazing with imaginative genius, he was forward thinking with his design.

Frank Lloyd Wrights home.

Beautiful Art Deco lead light.

This entry loggia columns are capped by plaster castings, the colour of bronze, incorporating the book of knowledge issues from the tree of life, an architectural scroll, the storks represent wisdom and fertility. The house was mainly made of American oak and had painted murals in many of the areas.

After the house tour we had lunch the visited the studio of Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr, who showed us his modern quilts.

Bill Kerr house in Oakpark 

Bill Kerr showing us his quilts.

Weeks and Bill also have their own fabric range, which of course I had to purchase some.

This concludes our time in Chicago, tomorrow we are off to Houston for quilt festival.

Of course as with tradition DH had to have his steak, this time we dined at Ruby Rose steakhouse and the steak was 24ounces, enjoyed by himself.

More to follow with our Houston visit.

DH's steak for dinner.

Chicago,the Windy City

Leaving Shipshewana and a three hour drive to Chicago, we arrived in time for lunch at the hotel, then after lunch we all went on a city tour, this was our second visit to Chicago, so it was great to do an organised city tour. On our last visit we got around independently and walked the magnificent mile and did the architect boat cruise.

 On this tour we visited the planetarium, Lincoln park and the Astor Street mansions.

Lincoln Park Conservatory, huge beans. That is Clare in the photo.

Huge space and great plants.

Lily pond with statue.

Chicago was very cold and windy, we all had to rug up when we got out of the coach. The architecture of the Chicago skyline is awesome, a mix of modern, Art Deco and contemporary buildings make Chicago the unique city that it is.

Gorgeous orchids in the conservatory.

Chicago skyline.

On the tour we also visited Astor St and saw the original wooden paved alley, whilst we were here we all walked down Astor St to look at the mansions and how they were decorated for Halloween, I must say, I was impressed at how they were decorated.

Great figurine, not sure about what she is holding.

Lots of pumpkins and skeletons, the pumpkins are not good to eat.

Just love the huge spiders, whilst we were all being tourists, one of the homes doorman asked us all to move on, the group thought that was quite amusing.

We also visited the Palmer hotel

Great ceilings, Mrs Palmer was a socialite in the 1920's and loved fine things and collected a lot of art, like Renoir, Gogh and Monet, there is a room in the art institute that hosts the Palmer collection of art.

More of Chicagos Art Deco buildings.

Of course we all visited Cloud gate, and had a photo opportunity,from left to right, Daphne, Laurel, Laura, Trish, Leah, Bev and myself, a great day strolling about, but very cold.

The fountain lights were on, but not the water.

More Halloween dress up, great idea for pots.

After our city tour we settled into our hotel and had a bit of R & R, our hotel was centrally located to shops and a few restaurants. Time for a bit of sewing, whilst DH had a beer.

Tomorrow we will visit the Art Institute and a quilt exhibition.

Chicago and that's a wrap.

After 5 fabulous day in Paducah, we caught our flight back to Chicago. The flight was only 1 hour from Paducah to Chicago. Monday we booked the river architectural tour, which departs at 12md and usually lasts for 90 mins. It was a glorious day, 85 Fahrenheit. A pity as I did not dress for the weather and was very hot. The cruise was interesting and until you do this cruise, you do not notice the differences in the designs of the buildings which are not evident until it is pointed out. 

The docent was very informative.

Our ferry.

The Michigan Mile, looks lovely with all the tulips in bloom.

The gates to the bridge, on the Michigan Mile.

We walked the mile, did not do any shopping, as my bags were already overweight.

The modern, Trump Tower.

The Art Deco buildings, This was the Nathan Hale building.

The echo deco, this building was apparently made famous by The Blues Brother film,

Great skyline.

After our cruise we walked down to the navy pier, lots of entertainment for children and numerous eating places, you certainly would not starve in Chicago, it is inundated with places to eat.

The next couple of days in Chicago was quite cold, 40 Fahrenheit, so out with the winter woollies.

The cloud gate, aptly,  nicknamed the bean is located in the Millenium park.

We walked around the park, visited the art gallery and also the Crown Fountain, which only operates in summer, as a fountain, the faces still change, but no water spurts from the mouth.

This whole area is usually under water in the summer.

We visited the war memorial we visited on Anzac Day 

Robert Morris, George Washinton and Hahm Solomon.

Maybe Chicago Fire, I did not see Kelly or Jessie, LOL

Chicago Bulls !

Is this the biggest Golden Arches you have ever seen.!

When we were sightseeing in Chicago we came upon a funny sight, is this what you call bumper to bumper parking LOL.

That ends our tour of Chicago, a very active 5 days. It is now time to go home to the land of Oz. 

We did manage to try Chicagos famous pie pizza as well as some whoopie pies, until next time, USA

Flight home was 19hrs flying time, 4 1/2 hrs from Chicago to San Francisco, then 14 1/2 hrs from San Francisco to Sydney. 

Time for some R & R before our next adventure.