Too tired, still too hot. 08-29-09

Another hot day here and the wildfires are scattered around pumping smoke, ash, particulates into the air. 102.7F today on my patio in the shade. It is really summer, eh? I'm driving north tomorrow/Sunday and I am too tired tonight to do anything more to get ready to go. I went to an 40th anniversary party this evening for Carol and Dick Bednar and it was lovely. The only pictures I took are of the fabulous cake made by the sister-in-law of the "bride", but you'll have to wait for another day.

Someone sent me an explanation of the jockey shorts, they were in an e-lint that I sent out. I hesitate, but I do think it is funny, so here it is:

BEWARE OF THAT UNDERWEAR DUST!!!!!! One evening a husband, thinking he was being funny, said to his wife, 'Perhaps we should start washing your clothes in 'Slim Fast'. Maybe it would take a few inches off of your butt!' His wife was not amused, and decided that she simply couldn't let such a comment go unrewarded.
The next morning the husband took a pair of underwear out of his drawer. 'What the heck is this?' he said to himself as a little 'dust' cloud appeared when he shook them out.'April', he hollered into the bathroom, 'Why did you put talcum powder in my underwear?' She replied with a snicker. 'It's not talcum powder; it's 'Miracle Grow'!

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Another artist's "way" 08-28-09

I have survived the production of another newsletter for Surfside Quilters Guild (SQG) and it is posted online. You can check it out at http://tinyurl.com/m87deb More photos taken at the meeting can be found at http://tinyurl/kngpcb

I have some wonderful pictures taken by Carol Whiteside, but my eyes are too weary to do the editing - I've been doing a few at a time.

Now that Terry Grant has taught me to put videos on my blog I will enlessly beseige you with them! This one is fascinating and over 8 minutes long, but I have a funny one waiting in the wings for next week.

How do we discover where our talent lies unless we try many different things? Surely nobody arises one morning and says I'm going to learn to paint with sand on glass. How would she discover this tool-less talent?

My computer needs a cleaning lady! 08-27-09

I am very well known for my reluctance to throw anything away. What a mess I live in. The Internet is no exception, I have thousands of photos with only about half labeled - just like the boxes of photos on the shelf in the closet. I think it would probably take all the rest of my allotted time (maybe fifteen years) to clear everything out of this house. I've been working on the newsletter for Surfside Quilters Guild and, in the process, seeing pictures in my "documents" that I haven't a clue about. Every picture that comes in, except those I am desperate to access, goes onto a file on my Picasa 3 photo program. I can't imagine where a couple of these came from - if I had seen them wouldn't you think I would delete them?

I suppose these Jockeys (er-r-r, Hanes) were part of a joke. About Micheal Jordan? I have never seen them in my files before last night and they were waaaay back with a bunch from months ago. The pictures on either side have no relation to a pair of men's briefs. At least these jocks look clean!

I have seen this one before, but have no memory of who sent it or why. I keep wondering if this kid has gas, is doing her 'business', or maybe she is teething. Cute hat! On either side of the picture were those of a tourist bus at what looks like a medieval building and a port with a cruise ship. I've never been on a cruise, so it isn't my image.

I remember when I copied this in my cat files. When I first looked at it I could not figure out what it was. Maybe a rabbit? See his two ears at an angle from top right to lower left. But, NO! This is probably the whitest cat I have ever seen. I imagine some guy laying on the carpet watching TV when he looks up through the glass of the coffee table where this lovely white cat is waiting for him to turn off the lights and go to bed. So, he takes a picture. No memory of who sent it to me, or why.

This one is definitely my favorite 'mysterious' image. Coffee beans - right? These are HUGE coffee beans - larger than some one's head. This guy may be lost forever. Do you see him?

Corky and his mommy 08-25-09

What a lovely Sunday I had! Corky and I met his parents at a new restaurant near their house in LBeach - "Brulee" - for brunch. They have three tables outside in front - one is ideally situated between two fountains with room for Corky's stroller and four people at the table. The server came with a bowl of water for "the Dog" (snort!) before we had even ordered. The food was lovely and Roxy, the waitress, was a delight and very helpful. This spot is at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Loynes St. I guess I was enjoying the company and Corky's poses too much and I forgot to take a picture of my egg white omelet with veggies and lovely, tiny potatoes (red, white, purple) steamed and tossed with olive oil and garlic. Excellent lattes.

What do you suppose Corky is smiling about here? His parents had been gone since Wednesday, so seeing them at the restaurant was VERY exciting. I think that is what brings the smile.

And here he is close to his mommy and with his tongue sticking out!

Five or six years ago I started buying Corky a new collar/harness/leash for his birthday every July. We are about to run out of colors - red, dark blue, light blue, brown and now red-violet. I would prefer blue-violet, but nobody manufactures doggy "clothes" in that color. Maybe next year! At any rate, I had not been able to find a matching collar so I visited the closest PetCo and they had ONE in the right size - lucky dog.

With Corky all dressed in his new gear I took him for his walk. His mommy sat on the front stoop with him whilst I got myself ready; potty, hat, tissues, camera! I was telling Sherry about "Beach Pajamas" which were very popular in the early 1930s (there was even a 1931 movie directed by Fatty Arbuckle) and I Googled them for more information. I am amazed that there are so many patterns, both vintage and contemporary, available. Who knew? I love her striped pants - would that I were thin enough to wear them.

The PParents allowed me to help them fix their shredder, which is the sort of mechanical thing I enjoy. The lesson learned? DON'T put sticky papers in your shredder!
What a lovely Sunday - simple pleasures!!

Update - Hearts for Anna 08-24-09

The online Artful Home fundraiser to benefit fabric artist Anna Millea raised more than $14,000 to help defray the cost Anna's medical expenses. Update is available at:

http://subversivestitch.blogspot.com/2009/08/update-from-hearts-for-anna.html

Because of my interest in this fundraiser I have spent some time looking at the wonderful artwork for sale at https://www.artfulhome.com/ I could spend a fortune on gifts for almost everyone I know. Do check it out - buy one-of-a-kind handmade art for your friends!

TCQC quilt by Rebecca Rohkaste 08-23-09

This quilt is another auction purchase. In even numbered years East Bay Heritage Quilters [guild] holds their quilt show [Voices in the Cloth] and silent auction of quilts made by members at the Oakland [CA] Convention Center. They have some very well-known quilt makers in their membership and some who aren't well-known who do fabulous work. I think the members of this guild offer the most original design and color work of any guild show I have attended. Great stuff and I try to go to every show. It is always in January, so watch for it in January 2010.WRONG! NO, next year the dates will be APRIL 10~11. I'm sure there will be some info on EBHQ.com soon.

You can check out the quilts shown in Jan 2008 at: http://www.ebhq.org/vic2008_1.shtml

"A Lunar Season" Rebecca Rohrkaste 1999 35"W x12"L

I have long admired Rebecca's quilts - they are always different and frequently use unusual color choices. This quilt is a small version of at least one large quilt with the same design. This one has hand dyes, shibori, commercial hand dye "look-alikes, commercial prints, batiks, a lovely mustardy brown woven ikat (above, left) and more exceptional fabric choices.

I love the inclusion of this fabric with a violet ground, pinky red flowers and black foliage. Only a very color confident artist would throw that one in the mix! The quilting appears to be done using #8 perle cotton thread. It is very even w/top and bottom threads in equal tension. Not an easy thing to do with a very thick thread.

Each block is composed of sixteen different fabrics - eight for the background and eight for the "moon".

Rebecca's colorful quilt "Big Red" was juried into Quilt National 2001

(http://www.dairybarn.org/quilt/index.php?section=226&page=277

She has taught quilt classes in the past at New Pieces Quilt Store in Berkeley, but I don't see her listed currently as one of their teachers. I would jump at the chance to take one of her classes. I do not find a website for her. But since I posted this page several people have sent e-mail and phone contacts for her. Thanks to all.

Silent Saturday!! 08-22-09

Night Blooming Cereus 08-11-08 - Photo by Patty Mayer