Winter birds 10-09-09

Birds are migrating south this time of year and some of them stay for the winter. This California Towhee may stay or he may fly on to better 'hunting grounds'. I will expect to see some yellow-rumped (Audubon's) warblers soon - they usually are not far behind the towhees.

Usually towhees are seen in pairs. But this one was alone, scratching and pecking under one of my rose bushes. I find them interesting to watch as they scuff up the debris to find food.

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If you are accustomed to seeing the Rufous-sided Towhee you will find these plain cousins very plain indeed. Some-times they are difficult to see as they are so much the color of the ground. I have found that they are quite brave and if I am working in the garden they will come rather close. But any sharp movement sends them off into a tree or a bush.

Tree Trimming Day 10-08-09

This large ficus tree grows in the neighbor's yard, but right at the top of the slope. I don't want anyone to take it out lest the rains take out the entire backyard (and theirs also), so every year I have it trimmed along with a few small trees in the front yard. This is a year's worth of leaves, even with the drought.

Same tree, same location - minus the leaves. The tree trimming crew that comes is always very efficient and they clean up all their trimmings and cart them away. This time of year is a good time for trimming so that the head of the tree is open when the Santa Ana winds blow. I enjoy the shade I get in my kitchen during the hot summer months, but summer is almost gone. I think it is amazing that they can trim the tree so symmetrically.

I'm never sure which side of the tree is more dense - my yard on the left and Mark's yard on the right.

We will both have to clean our gutters - I have to have it done because I am not safe on ladders.

I think from Mark's backyard the tree seems more 'controlled' - don't know why.

Now this is his view looking north toward my yard. I don't think he receives any benefit from the tree, so it is nice that he is willing to let it grow.

Gloria Loughman W/S 10-07-09

I spent the day (10am - 4pm) in a workshop with Gloria Loughman. It was an unexpected opportunity, so I didn't have a lot of time to gather together materials. However, I thought that even unprepared was better than not going at all! I don't take a lot of one day workshops because I feel that I don't get a lot out of them. I'm rather slow witted and it doesn't take long for my brain to lag behind whatever point the teacher is making. But I can plod along!

Gloria Loughman pinning something on the wall. Gloria is an Australian on an extended teaching teaching trip that started in Scotland and will take her home early next week. I always admire traveling teachers, they have to be very organized and very adaptable to keep up with the grueling schedules they keep.

Nancy Ota cuts fabric to paint for the background of her class project.

Gloria talks to student Lauretta Crites about the colors she might use for her background.


This is the demo that Gloria did for painting a background using "Hi Strike" (I think I have that right) paints she carried with her from Australia. She said they are similar to Setacolor and can be used in sun printing.

"Rain Forest" teacher's sample for her three day class. Quite a bit of painting in this project and also some thread painting.

Another class sample (in progress) - a bit more complex than the one day class.

The students had a choice of two projects - palm trees .....

Or Baobab trees. Top left is Sharon Whalen's (love those 'hot' trees), third down on left is mine, second down on right is Nancy Ota's. It is always interesting to see students work pinned up together on the wall. The different color selections make each piece very individual.
It was a good workshop and Gloria kept it moving, letting slower students catch up as best as they could, but she was there to help out for any problems or questions. I have seen her quilts in books and magazines and on exhibit at Pacific Int'l Quilt Festival in Santa Clara. She has a book out, which I purchased and have not had time to even look inside! But I did buy a copy for her to sign and for me to learn more of her techniques. It was a good day, but I came home exhausted and had to have a nap.

http://www.glorialoughman.com/

"Bright Star" 10-06-09

The last time I went to see a movie was almost ten years ago when I saw Tom Hanks in "Castaways"! Since then it seems there are not that many movies that attract my attention, nor has it seemed convenient to go. Recently friends have been commenting about "Bright Star" and I was tempted to see it. Fortunately my friend Carol had the same idea and we went together this afternoon. It is not a movie with a lot of suspense, most everyone knows that Keats died at the early age of 25, but the landscape and the costumes are fantastic and offer much to look at. I know none of the actors, however the acting seemed good and they managed to keep my attention. I didn't figure out if it was an English or an Australian film, none of the scenery looked like Australia, it was definitely England. A few scenes took my breath away: a shot of a huge spreading tree with snow on the branches and another with the three main characters trailing each other across a meadow. Both views worth seeing on the enormous screen - along with some others almost as impressive. I don't know if this will put me in a movie going mode, the only preview that looked interesting was "Alice in Wonderland" with Johnny Depp as the white rabbit. Comes out in March, I believe, when it might be time to go out to a movie again.

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A Ruth McDowell quilt from TCQC 10-04-09

My computer files on the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection have been chaotic for the past couple years. I never seem to find adequate time to do the data input, so this past two weeks I have had a nice college student doing it for me. She only worked on it when she had time, but all the information is now on one spread sheet. I haven't checked the list thoroughly, but I believe I have 22 quilts that have not been posted on my Sunday blogs. So, 22 weeks more of quilts from TCQC. Of course, I might buy a few new ones! Actually, I purchased seven at the SAQA online auction during the last few weeks, so make it 29 weeks left!

"Fort Morrison Jerseys" Ruth B. McDowell 2003 65.5"W x 46"L

Machine Pieced, Machine Quilted, Cotton Fabrics, Linen Fabrics, Cotton Batting

It is hard to choose a 'favorite' among Ruth's quilts, but this is high on my list. How does she use straight seam piecing and make things look so realistic? Sometimes when this quilt is on my wall I walk into the room and I am startled when I see cows looking at me. In 2003 Ruth wrote about this quilt: "A group of Jersey heifers in a shed at Fort Morrison Farm in Colrain, Massachusetts, gave me the photograph which I used for the drawing from which this quilt was made. The girl on the right was most interested in who/what I was, the others were hoping for a handout. The dark shadows of the shed with slanting light behind, and the repeated pattern of the stanchions make elements to combine with the personalities of the cows." Be sure to click on the image to see an enlargement.

The husband of one of Ruth's students sent a message via his wife, to tell Ruth that she has the structure and stanchions spot on. Which is high praise coming from a dairy farmer.

One additional interesting fact is that the fabric used for the yellow ear tags is the same fabric she used in her quilt "Lightning Strike" (seen in her book "Symmetry") made in 1982. An illustration of why one should never cull their fabric library.

"Fort Morrison Jerseys" is on Ruth's website under "Other Recent Quilts". www.ruthbmcdowell.com

Fiber Art? 10-04-09

An extra post to share something I receive in my e-mail. These gals are so amazing, but I wonder if they would be considered FIBER art. I say yes, how about you? Del

http://www.flickr.com/photos/robives/2951768049/

They are part of the displays at the Museum of Communication in Frankfurt, Germany.

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