Sorry, no posts 09-23-10

Guess I will have to take a break from Blogging. It seems my computer problems continue - I know it is hard to believe. This is typed on the Fujitsu with a few things missing from my main page, I don't know why. The Surfside QGuild newsletter is due to be posted on Tuesday and I have very little completed, so my time will be spent doing that. I will try to post a quilt from TCQC on Sunday - I'm just not sure it will be possible.

You can see lots of interesting quilts that are up for bids in the SAQA online auction by going to: http://www.saqa.com/news.php?ID=1423

There are three weeks of auctions - a different set of quilts for each week. Check it out.

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Driving/Driver's test 09-22-10

In California having a good driving record allows you to renew your driver's license every four years without taking any tests. However, the day will come when you have to go to the Dept of Motor Vehicles, to take a written test and have an eye exam. My day came with my September 1st birthday. I admit I am rather cocky about my driving skills, but don't think I know absolutely everything. So, I studied the sample tests the DMV has on their website and made an appointment for the tests. Imagine my chagrin when I missed three questions!

There is a California law that makes it illegal to smoke in a vehicle when a person younger than 18 years of age is present. Who knew? Not me.

How about this multiple choice question...

When is it legal to use a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving?

a. When making a call while stopped at a red light.

b. When making a call for emergency assistance.

c. Never.

One could argue if you are stopped you aren't actually driving and maybe if you have an emergency you shouldn't be driving. However, all the hullabaloo about not talking on the phone when driving led me to chose "c. Never". But the correct answer is "b. When making a call for emergency assistance."

I'm too embarrassed about the third question I had wrong. All I can say in my defense is that I read it incorrectly, or something like that.

Driving on I-5 I wonder if anyone knows the 'rules of the road'. Don't they know that before pulling in after passing a truck (or any other vehicle, I suppose) the driver should be able to see the front of the truck in their rear view mirror - not just one headlight, but the entire front of the truck? Don't they know that when they approach an emergency vehicle or a highway department project on the side of the road they are supposed to pull into the left lane (if it is unoccupied) until they have passed that area? Don't they know that it is illegal to drive for miles and miles in the left lane when the right lane is available? I won't bore you further, I could go on and on with the deficiencies of my fellow drivers. I guess I notice it more on I-5 because I drive it more frequently, but these violations are common on any California highway.

Anyway, I passed the test, have a truly horrible photo on my new license, have a restriction that I must wear glasses when driving (although I see quite well at a distance - about five feet beyond my outstretched fingertips) and will apparently have to go through this again in 2015, because I am over 70. I guess I will study harder next time.

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More Kangaroo Paws 09-21-10

I've shown Kangaroo Paw flowers a number of times previously. But when I stopped at Trader Joe's yesterday I was thrilled to see these new colors - white and .....

...a lovely shade of pink. Fabulous.

Susan Else "quilt" in TCQC 09-19-10

This is the second appearance of this Susan Else quilt which I first posted 03-28-10. I have recently hung it again and am so enchanted with it I thought I would share more pictures showing details of Susan's fascinating construction techniques.

"Coyote Fence" Susan Else 2001 25.5" X 22"

Although Susan made this nine years ago, I only purchased it last spring when she had an exhibit at Back Porch Fabrics in Pacific Grove, CA. I am so fortunate that nobody wanted it as much as I did. Some will debate if this is actually a quilt. I think it is, it has all the required aspects of a quilt - at least three layers, made of fabric, sewn together with stitching. True, it doesn't have a binding and one would not want to sleep under it, but it looks terrific on the wall.

Like many suburban areas in the Southwest, we have coyotes in our neighborhood. Several years ago my neighbor and I went together to have a wrought iron 'coyote' fence put up along the back of our properties. We would have settled for chain link, but the planning commission wouldn't allow it. If we lived in Arizona or New Mexico we might have a fence that is built of native timber (juniper, aspen, etc.) fitted closely together and would look similar to this.

Susan has used multicolored rat-tail to 'stitch' the cross bars on.

Her technique of layering fabrics to create texture has always interested me.

These colors and fabric textures create the supporting 'native rock' wall for the fence.

On the back she has used plastic tubing to support the top of the fence stakes and provide a way to hang the piece.

The supporting wall is stretched over rigid foam (I think) with the fence stakes stitched to the fabric.

Here is the plastic tubing with short pieces of dark grey fabric wrapped and stitched around it to provide a way to stitch the fence stakes at the top. I have tied a length of fishing leader around the tubing to hang the piece on the wall.

Susan has developed many innovative ways to construct her wonderful 3-D people and structures and she teaches classes to share her knowledge with others. Someday I hope to take a class with her, I understand she is a great teacher.


I have explained many times the problems involved with added items to the TCQC that cannot be rolled and must be boxed to protect fragile elements. And then I buy something that is not necessarily fragile, but obviously cannot be rolled. However, I have a large flat archival box that is, fortunately, just large enough to hold this quilt along with several others that require special storage.