From TCQC 02-17-25

"Early Birds" Ruth Powers - Carbondale, KS 2005 49"W x 38"L

Cotton fabrics, thread, batting.  Machine pieced and quilted.

Here is an older quilt from the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection added in 2007. This is "Early Birds" (40"W x 38"L) a quilt made by Ruth Powers of Carbondale, KS. It is entirely machine pieced and quilted and won the Best of Show in the "Think Spring" catagory at IQA in Chicago in 2006.It is now part of the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection and is shown here on a grey wall. 

I first saw a Ruth Powers quilt in 1998 at the Autry Museum in Los Angeles and asked about availability, but they had no information. No pictures were allowed, but I stored the image of "Vireya" in my brain somewhere and didn't forget it. In early 2010 a friend heard about a new group "Kansas Art Quilters" and sent me the URL for their website. I was so impressed that they had a great website up so soon after they formed that I sent a query about membership. They replied that I could be a member, so I sent my check. When I looked at the membership list I found that Ruth Powers was a member and we exchanged the first of years of e-mails. I was so glad that I could purchase this quilt in 2006, although it is hard to choose a favorite among Ruth's many masterpiece quilts this one in particular 'spoke to me'. KAQ was a group that I enjoyed very much, even though I live so many miles away.

"Early Birds"  Best Of Show at Celebrate Spring! IQF, Rosemont, IL 2006 and was in the Celebrate Spring! Special Exhibit at Houston in 2006. Published in Fons and Porter’s ”Love of Quilting” May/June 2007 and the SAQA Journal Vol. 17 - #2 Spring 2007" Ruth machine pieces EVERYTHING using commercial fabrics almost exclusively and FMQs her quilts on her home machine. She also does exquisite thread painting on some of her work. The texture of the fabrics she selected for this quilt give the illusion of depth and the one that shows the distant trees is an inspired choice. This quilt is one that requires many close viewings to see all the details. Ruth has a commercial pattern business, INNOVATIONS, where she sells designs that are just a little different than others on the market. http://www.ruthpowersartquilts.com/patterns.php 

Look at Ruth's work at: http://www.ruthpowersartquilts.com/ Her blog is www.ruthpowersartquilts.com/weblog

Quilts for Philanthropy 02-15-25

 One activity that is quite common to quilt guilds across the country is making quilts to give away to people in need anywhere in the world.  Surfside Quilters Guild's about 100 members create four or five hundred quilts each year that are distributed to various organizations.  Colorful cotton pillowcases are also produced and given to children's hospitals, Meals-on-Wheels, veterans organizations, and others.  Here is a selection from those many donations showing the variety of designs selected. Some are made from orphan blocks, some are incompleted projects donated to the Philanthropic groups, some are purposely made by one maker and others by friendship groups or just friends.  I am constantly amazed by the variety of pattern and the generosity of the makers.

A special "I Spy" quilt with a different motif in every block.

This is a quilt displayed at Road to California that I think would be a good pattern to  make for a Philanthropy  quilt  -  very scrappy.

I am feeling much better tonight.   KoKo walked me around the loop this morning, about 2000 steps, a bit less  than a mile.  I was tired, but not exhausted as I feared.   Tomorrow we may try for the park. The sunshine feels so good and with the rain we had this last  week everything is greening up, flowers are blooming.

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Friday Food 02-14-25

HOPE YOU HAD A TASTY VALENTINE'S DAY.

At first glance this looks edible, but it is really a glass box of hearts made of stone, wood, leather, and enamel.  Clutter collected over the years.

Here are some real chocolates gifted years ago. Good, but not See's.

The February meeting of Surfside Quilters Guild always  has lots of Valentine goodies on the refreshment table. 

These appared on my porch table this year.  From neighbors with no names!  Thank you!

I am feeling much better, still coughing, but no spasms today.  The four of our small group who were going to Phoenix for QuiltCon have canceled our trip.  Sickness, apprehension about viruses, and the death of a  husband.  It just wouldn't work. 

I do hope to be able to walk KoKo tomorrow.

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We need the rain. Thursday, Feb 13, 2025

 

This image of the rain pouring down the greenhouse window over the sink, is supposed to be a video.  I thought  I had finally figured out how to post a video, but it appears I have not. Let me know if it moves for you!

It has rained pretty much all day with various intensity.  Not much temperture range  (53F to 56F)  and the clouds don't seem very thick. So, bright  anyway. 

I spent another inactive day, still coughing, but generally feeling stronger.  The doctors office finally called and refilled the cough med I had used up.  5ml every four hours isn't much, but seems to help some.   Mostly I sit up silently, reclining and talking are the worst instigators of coughing.  I'm reading on Kindle, currently  

"Doc" an aurobiography of Dr.Losee of his medical practice postwar II in the wilds of Montana.

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Surfside Quilters Guild Feb 11, 2025

I was feeling well enough this morning  to drive south to Dana Point for the Surfside Quilters Guild  meeting.  I went to take the photos and because I wanted to meet with the member who may want to be my backup.  I don't miss many meetings as I do enjoy the group so much, but with increasing age and health problems, I must sometimes miss a meeting. 

The speaker today was Joanna Figueroa from Fig Tree Quilts.  She is a  pattern  designer and fabric designer for Moda.  Website: http://figtreeandcompany.com   Her blog: https://blog.figtreeandcompany.com

She has an interesting color theory which make her quilts soft and muted,  but not actually pastel.  The darkest color is what she calls "warm black"  and has a  small  patterning. 

The quilting is done by a cadre of long-arm quilters.

There were several quilts with dark backgroumds, the warm black or shades of warm grey.

Many of her blocks are repeated in different quilt patterns,  most  using the sew/flip method she prefers.  

Nice gentle quilts to curl up with to sip hot chocolate and read a good book.

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A Sunday in February 02-09-25

 

Here we are 1268 Warren Street, Placentia, CA  92870

It was a lovely day,  about 70F with lots of whipped clouds high in a very blue sky.  Our house is basically a one story with an attic in the tallest part.   Several in the neighborhood have built out the attic into a couple more bedrooms. If I won the lottery, which I have never played, I would do that also.  I have  enough  treasures  in the  one story to fill another - fabric, of  course!   

KoKo took me for a walk about noon, the  first I have done for almost a week.   We managed a bit more than 900 steps, not much  compared to  our usual  5000+, but it did feel great to be out in the sun.

Computer is refusing to access photo files.  But it is Sunday! So, here is one of my quilts from the month before the pandemic. I was going out to Lake Havasu, AZ, then, hauling my quiltmaking along.

"Desert Dawn"   Del Thomas - CA   2020  48"L X 28"W

Cotton fabrics. Machine pieced, fused. machine quilted.

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Looking back one year. Feb 8, 2025

Last year this week I was in San Diego taking a dye painting class with Pat Pauly.   What a rood experience that was.  I shared an  AirB&B with Pat, only a few blocks from the spacious two room classroom.  There were  some amazing artists in  the group  - some experience, but mostly, like me, very much beginners.  Pat is a great teacher and  keeps things moving along.   We pressed, stroked, rubbed, stamped, rubbered, stenciled, painted...... well, anything one can to with thickened dye on fabric.  Messy, but amazingly freeing to the creative spirit.   I haven't kept track of who made most  of these pieces, but each student created to their own tune.

All the pieces are in their faw state: unrinsed, washed, or pressed. 

Using a piece of truck tire tread picked up on I-5.

Some students see things more realistic. 

We also dined out - very well.

Now, a year later, I am recovering from the RSV and coughing much less.  Hope to feel well enough tomorrow to maybe walk around the  cul de sac with KoKo.  

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