Costal Quilters QShow Santa Barbara 10-09-10

This quilt show was held Sep 25-26 and I drove up with my friend Liz Williams. One big reason to go was that Norah McMeeking was the featured artist. I met Norah years ago at an Empty Spools class at Asilomar in Pacific Grove, CA. Last April she was the featured speaker at Surfside Quilters Guild. I didn't take pictures of the quilts she had up at the quilt show because I already had pictures I took in April, but now I can't seem to access them - it is that constantly changing of laptops - I don't know for sure where anything is! You can look in the right hand column of this blog and scroll down to Norah's name to find earlier pictures.

When I met Norah all those years ago she was making art quilts, so I was surprised when I heard she had a book coming out on pieced quilts. But it doesn't surprise me that she can switch back and forth, she is a talented lady.

This is the most unusual Hawaiian quilt I have seen and I was fascinated. It showed very well although it isn't quilted in the traditional echo style that one would expect in a Hawaiian piece. It is very touching that the maker's friends finished it and submitted in her name at the show.

Liz and I were both intrigued by the idea behind these small quilts hung together.

The did stand out in a predominately traditional show, although they were not the only contemporary pieces.

This one struck me by the use of repetition by using the chair print fabric in the background.

What better place for a chair in Santa Barbara then at the beach? Great detail.

At least two members of this group are cat lovers!

Great lunch in Santa Barbara - 26Sep 10-08-10

I'm baaaaaaack! I didn't mean to be gone so long. It started with not having a computer that would work when I needed it to. The Surfside Quilters Guild newsletter was due to be posted on the 28th, but with all the switching back and forth between computers and typing articles that would disappear when I went back to them, it was posted a week late. I'm still having computer problems, but currently my new Dell is working nicely.

On Sunday, Sep 26 I was thoroughly disgusted and I ran away to the Coastal Quilters quilt show in Santa Barbara with my friend Liz Williams. It was a nice show and the talented Norah McMeeking was the featured artist. I have pictures to show starting tomorrow evening.

When we left the show we asked the ladies at the entrance table for suggestions for lunch. They directed us to the fantastic Renaud's Patisserie & Bistro. Admittedly we were starving, but the food was excellent. I started with a latte - it always puts me in a good mood to have a flower!

I ordered the Croque Madame - basically a melted cheese sandwich with a fried egg on top. http://frenchfood.about.com/od/toprecipes/a/croquelist.htm

Liz had Raclette for the first time and loved it. http://www.jill.net/recipes/recipes/raclette.html We did share bites, of course.

Renaud's is tucked into the elbow of a shopping strip at the NW corner of State Street and Los Positos Street. I recommend it They are open for breakfast and lunch.

Starting on Monday, Sep 27, I applied myself to the newsletter and taking care of the Poodle Prince. I also visited the Bowers Museum quilt exhibit and I recommend it, too. It isn't a huge exhibit, maybe twenty quilts, but there are some special pieces included, all from the collection of the Museum. Somewhere along the way I picked up a germ and by Sunday night when I took Corky home to his parents I had started one of my fearful colds. The last five days I have been doing the "rest in bed, drink plenty of fluids, take Tylenol for aches, etc....." I do feel better today, but I can't talk without coughing and my ears still hurt. I picked Corky up this evening for a five day stay at Camp Del. We'll do okay - I can't talk, but he can't hear me anyway!