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20 September 1976

Dear Toshiko,

This morning is the first one of real classes and I'm sorry that the summer and my not having a schedule is gone. I've been working very hard ever since I returned but did not nearly finish the things that I had intended to. It is moving along tho'. I shifted my exhibit from this month to November which was all right and took some of the pressure off me.

Enclosed is a snippet of the lining that I finally found. I think that it is not as intense a purple as you wanted but after looking at acres of textiles from here to New Jersey it was the best that I had found in a cotton. The synthetics have more intense color in purple but the cottons tend to be very muted. I looked in Pittsburg, Huntington, West Virginia and places along the way. The textile thing is incredible. It would be wonderful if one were a tailor for there are such fine things available and at very nice prices. Two hundred years ago the dress makers of the queens of Europe would have gone wild. Connie and my mother sent me to a chain fabric store in Madison and I came out reeling and my eyes were popping. It is a huge place and became a visual bombardment for me. Facinating. My mother is very pleased to do the quilt for you and will get to it by and by. There are some in front but when winter comes and she cannot get out and fuss in the garden and the yard she will find her design for daily living in making quilts and this kind of thing. I'm happy to report that both my parents have been in good spirit this summer and there have been lots of visitors so they feel pretty good. If that purple is not just right I'll look around some more.

Your workshop must have been a bit different and may have been interesting and then again it might have been difficult. I'm glad that you got to do some pots there.

I've made some bread and it turned out pretty good. It will be better as I'm going to make a batch this week. I made quiet a bit and since I do not eat much bread it has lasted nicely. Tom likes it so I'll have to make some extra. I did a couple of things not just the best but will adjust this time. I used whole wheat flour which I like but I suspect this gives it a dark flavor that some people might not like.

There is a bit of rain coming down this morning along with the leaves that I'll have to rake shortly. I worked in the yard Saturday and got a lot done. The jungle did not get much attention this summer so it is pretty shaggy. The possibility of my getting a new place is still pending and it will be a few months but I do not mind for I'm not under any pressure. I still like the place very much and if the price is not to too much I'll see if I can manage it. All very iffy.

I was interested in the Noguchi article in the new Craft Horizons. Jana Slagle and I were talking about it. If he was as good looking as his picture indicates he must have been a heart breaker.

I need to get going. Take care and we'll be in touch.

Is the Grotell Project finished? I asked Ned about it and since he was at Cranbook recently and he did not know. He is not much interested to tell the truth.

Always,

Olen