Good deeds 03-22-08

I have been thinking about the ways people do good deeds. One day I was driving south on I-5 and stopped at Lost Hills for gas and to scrape some dead bugs off my windshield - it was a REALLY buggy time of year. I started sloshing water from the station's buckets using their squeegee and wondered if I was doing any good. The young man on the other side of the pumps said, "You'll never get it clean with that stuff. I have something that will work." I thought "Oh, great! I have a salesman on my case. " I demurred, but he said, "It will only take a minute," got a spray can and some terry rags out and went to work. Let me tell you, my windshield hadn't been as clean since it came off the assembly line. But he wasn't selling anything and wouldn't take any money. "Just consider it a good deed," he said as he got in his truck and drove away. It was an uncommonly nice thing to do and I think back on that event frequently. How often do I do a good deed for a stranger? Not very often.

But I remember the movie about "pay it forward" and I sometimes find ways to pay it forward. One thing I do daily is click for Animal Rescue, http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

And while I am there I also click for Breast Cancer, Literacy, Rain Forest and Hunger. It just takes a few minutes. Maybe you could also click and think of it as paying it forward. Our world is so fraught with apprehension and stress these days, everything we do to reach out is rewarding.

Textural Mini Quilts 03-21-08

The Embellishments e-mail newsletter from Quilting Arts magazine that came on 03-18-08 has an item "Tips for Textural Mini Quilts" which talks about doing something that I haven't even thought about for years. The pieces cut off the sides when squaring up quilts are stitched together with a zigzag stitch over the butted edges. We used to do this over thirty years ago, but we used a base fabric and made placemats and coasters. That was the era of brown, orange, yellow, olive green. The colors shown in the newsletter are Easter colors and very pretty.

I save my edges to put inside of the 'stuffies' that I make to roll quilts for storage. So, I got out the box of those scraps and zipped up some Fabric Postcards. They don't have finished edges yet because I need to cut something for the backing, maybe a layer of Bristol Board.

Here are three Fiber Postcards pinned up side-by-side.

Here are the backs so you have a better idea of how they are stitched together. I had black bobbin thread so the joins and the quilting lines really stand out. This process is much easier using cotton batting than the floppy polyester batting we used in the 70s, and the results are much more pleasing, I think.

I don't know how you would access these instructions if you don't take the e-mail newsletter. If you would like me to send them via e-mail please leave a comment and I will send them to you.

I don't understand why the pink is so glaring in these pictures. It was not that way on Picasa. Something happens to the color when I transfer images to Blogger, they are either too bright or too dark. Anyone else have this problem?

The Last of 'Color Bowls - Two" 03-19-08

Someone asked what was on the back, they could see a little bit in the picture of the quilted hummer.

I made a 'handmade' label to cover the fused, computer generated label.

And here is one more detail shot of the quilting. I am very pleased with it... and myself! The quilt is en route to Texas.

Flower identification 03-18-08

I posted this picture on 02-25-08 and wondered what it is. I was looking in a wildflower book today and I think it is a Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria). Not a native, but an import from Deptford in England where it once found in great numbers. It is found all over the USA. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Walk in Tri-Cities Park 03-17-08

Of course we went for a walk today! And it was a gorgeous day, only a little too cool in the shade. This one of the many huge old eucalyptus trees.

When we first moved into our house there was an 'imitation' stream and quite a large pond in the park directly behind us, but one day a crew came and dug it all up and put in grass. We suspected that they had an insurance problem because there was no fence to keep children from getting in the pond. Our stream was very much like this one at Tri-Cities. You can tell it is a kid magnet by the bikes at rest at the top of the picture.

When I first saw these geese making a commotion I thought they were having a 'nooner'. And maybe they were! But another goose took exception and came in for the attack. I've never seen geese trying to kill each other, it was amazing how strong they are and how hard they battered each other with beaks, wings and necks. The fight continued after they got out of the water. But I finally walked on, so I don't know if one of them killed the other or not. You never know what you'll see in a park, do you?

ll

Another Corky visit 03-16-08

Here is Corky with his Mommy - taken at his house just a year ago. He looks a little worried, doesn't he? He isn't sure he really wants to spend some time at Camp Del, but he always seems willing when I put him in the van. The g'kids are visiting and everyone is going to Disneyland tomorrow and, of course, Corky can't go. He will go home on Tuesday sometime. The weather promises to be great, so he will force me to go on at least two long walks in the park. He is soooo good to me!

The hallmark 03-15-08

I've mentioned in a previous post (01-09-08) that all of my quilts have a bird on them somewhere - it is sort of a hallmark. It may appear as part of the design, in the fabric, quilted, appliqued, painted, drawn, etc.. For "Color Bowls - Two" a bird doesn't go with the subject of the quilt, so this one is quilted in. I hope the purchaser doesn't read my blog so it will be a surprise for her.

On the front it is difficult to see, which is as it should be. The eye is a French knot made with sewing thread.

It is slightly easier to find the bird from the back, but as with most of my quilts it has a very busy back. I have yet to put an eye on this side.

Click the images for a larger view.