Computer Play Day 11-20-10

It has been a rainy Saturday and quite cool, so Corky and I just hung out at home - he slept (which is what he mostly does at the advanced age of 14) and I "played" on the computer. I cleaned out some files, read and answered old e-mail, sorted through incoming on the Surfside newsletter site, and looked at various websites and blogs. It is a way to discover new artists and see what my 'long time favorites" are doing. I found an online exhibit of quilts from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. I know a few artists from each country and found some whose work I will look into further. http://www.myplacequilts.com/index.html

I visited http://www.dooce.com (the website of Heather Armstrong) to check out the Daily Chuck pages - pictures of her dog Chuck in silly and serious poses. I admit I don't understand many of her blog posts - it is like reading messages from outer space! Her life is so different from mine it is hard to accept it as reality. But I'm sure it is real and therein is the fascination. She is a fabulous photographer and a fabulous housekeeper, or she employs a fabulous housekeeper. She has a note in the sidebar mentioning this post: http://essdogg.tumblr.com/post/1610272132/beyond-a-reasonable-doubt which I enjoyed. One of her best posts is about finding a lost cat - just in the nick of time: http://www.dooce.com/2010/07/21/susan

About four o'clock Corky and I drove up to Brea to pick something up at a shop and then stopped at a Starbucks drive-thru. A Grande Decaf Latte for me and a dog biscuit for Corky. Starbuck's no longer gives out dog biscuits so I keep a supply in the driver's side pocket of my car. Corky's stuff occupies the passenger side pocket, but he is not to be trusted that close to a bag of treats.

It was just misting a bit when we drove across Imperial Highway - very dark clouds to the east.

After we went through the drive-thru I stopped in the parking lot for another picture.

Exactly 5pm when I took this picture driving southwest on Valencia

This shot is interesting - wonder what it is and how I happened to take it. Need more rest!

Workshop for South Bay Quilters Guild 11-19-10

The workshop is "Fiber Postcards and Quiltcards", one that I have taught periodically for about ten years, but not recently. Fiber Postcards are limited by the Post Office size definitions to 4" x 6", quiltcards can be any size and shape because they are mailed in an envelope or given to the recipient. Clicking on Quilt Card and/or Fiber Postcards on the list of labels on the right will show some samples.
I haven't receive permission from the students, but here are a few cards that Liz and I started during the day.

This is Liz' new nametag - she is a cat lover and feeds homeless cats in her backyard.

Liz made a great choice of fabric for the ground under this printed palm tree. I love the whimsical green wave splashing up beyond. She couldn't find a monkey to fit in the window, so we improvised.

I think these odd trees are inspired by a strange structure in the salt flats east of Salt Lake City on I-70. I haven't yet pulled the threads to the back to knot them.

This proud dog is more purple than the picture shows. I'll use the fabric on the left for a border.

There are hundreds of versions of fiber postcards - Google "fiber postcards" to find websites that show different kinds. One site is http://www.postmarkdart.com/index.php where you will find cards for sale, instructions for various techniques, and a gallery of cards by different artists. If you mail the cards without an envelope you need to affix a 64cent US stamp and have the Post Office hand cancel each card. If you wish you can then encase it in a plastic postcard sleeve and drop it in the mail.

Program for South Bay Quilters Guild 11-18-10

On Tuesday evening I gave a program on the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection for the South Bay Quilters Guild which meets in Redondo Beach, CA. I took my friend Liz Williams to be my helper and it was a good thing she came along because I was really dragging my tail. I haven't regained my energy after the bronchitis and my psoas muscle problem was giving me fits. Liz and I stayed at the Best Western - Redondo Beach for the night and yesterday I taught a "Fiber Postcards/Quiltcards" workshop at a shop that accommodates the guild workshops. I think the students enjoyed the day: everyone created several cards and, perhaps learned something. In the traffic it was slightly more than a 2-1/2 hour drive home. I dropped Liz off at her house, drove home, unloaded the quilts, called someone in my Book Group to say I wouldn't make the meeting and went to bed at 8:30 - almost a first in my life! This morning was a physical therapy session which was a big help with the muscle pain.

There were enough stands to hang seven large quilts across the stage. It was great to have so many quilts hanging so the members of the audience could get close and really study the them. I always wish we could hang all of the quilts during my presentations! Freddy Moran's "Orange Peel Surprise" was displayed on the left of the stage. On the opposite side was another quilt with a Freddy connection.

Here are "Walks in the Woods" - Frieda Anderson, "Pumpkins" - Ruth McDowell, "Rose Garden" - Jane Sassaman, On the table on the left in the foreground the quilts to be shown are stacked face down with the top edges facing the audience so they all appear right side up when they are lifted. The table to the right is draped to receive the quilts after they are shown and on top are a few quilts rolled around a 'stuffie', wrapped with a cover and tied - this is to demo the way I store the quilts.

South Bay Quilters Guild President Pam Overton in front of quilts displayed on stage: "Walk in the Woods" - Noriko Endo and "Chimney Pots" - Elizabeth Barton. These quilts have more color, but the stage lights were not shining on them so they appear faded.

On the left is the podium banner for South Bay Quilters Guild overlapping the small quilts displayed on the folding design board created by Mabel Huseby of Mt. Vernon, WA. On the right is "Freddy's Polkadots" which is composed of blocks made by Empty Spools teachers in honor of the 25th Anniversary of the creation of the Empty Spools Seminars. Freddy Moran (who has been both student and teacher over the years) assembled this quilt top, one of six made from the teacher's blocks, and it was quilted by Don Linn, another Empty Spools teacher. At each session everyone in attendance put their name in the hat and at each session one winner was drawn - I was the lucky one in March 2010 when my name was pulled for this quilt. There is a spectacular yellow/white/black fabric on the back - I'll take a picture and post it tomorrow.

Note: I own three quilts with almost identical names. The title with the plural "walks" is by Frieda Anderson, the title with the singular "walk" is by Noriko Endo, and there is one I made some years ago titled "My Walks in the Woods". Hard to keep the titles straight, but the quilts are distinctly different.

Program for South Bay QGuild 11-15-10

I'll be presenting quilts from the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection at the South Bay Quilters Guild in Redondo Beach tomorrow (Tuesday) evening. I always forget how long it will take me to get the quilts "packaged" and my lists prepared. The other day I said I would have about 30 quilts, but I have packed about 45!

I'm trying something new for the small quilt display - instead of laying them out on a table I have pinned them onto my collapsible design board (thanks to dear friend Mabel Huseby) with little signs giving the title, maker's name, year made and special techniques used. I tried to select pieces that show a variety of techniques - some old and some new. If I can put the board up on a table it will work great, I think. But if it has to sit on the floor - not so great.

One good thing about doing a program is the requirement that I clean off my work table so I have a place to stack the quilts. Otherwise it never sees the light of day! There are about six quilts in a 'package' (depends on how large and heavy they are) and there is a sheet under each stack. I fold each package up in the sheet, pin on the order number and stack them in reverse in the car. Then when they come out and are carried into the meeting they will be in the same order as the list I use to talk about each quilt.
I'll be teaching a workshop on Wednesday and I am almost all packed for that. It is Fiber Art Postcards, so I will have to knock down my machine and pack it up. I hope I am coherent - I haven't taught a class for over a year. And I hope the students enjoy doing the project and get inspired to make more postcards at home.

Karen Stiehl Osborn quilt in TCQC 11-14-10

This little Chihuahua puppy named Chili is the reason this quilt is in the Collection. Karen Stiehl Osborn fosters rescue dogs in her home in Nebraska for the Helping Hands 4 Animals organization and took this little gal in after she had surgery to remove one of her legs. The surgery was expensive and to help cover the cost Karen offered one of her quilts to the high bidder - I was the high bidder! This took place in August and since then Chili has found a loving home elsewhere and doesn't seem to realize she is missing anything.

Chili, an 8-month old Chihuahua puppy

"Fifteen" Karen Stiehl Osborn 2010 15" x 15"

Karen made this piece for the QuiltArt Quinceanero exhibition in February 2010. It tells the story of her evolution in fiber art - from traditional pieced work with commercial batiks through her current fascination with painting on canvas.

Her signature is on the front in the lower right corner. I do prefer that quilts be signed on the front, as painters have been signing them for centuries.

The colored strips with batting showing on the edges represents her traditional quilts of yore. The birds on a wire are so special - I always enjoy watching the migrants flow down to land on the wires for a rest.

Karen is an early bird - up and out with her camera whenever she has a chance. I like this excerpt from her journal "...morning I set off early as the ......". I always admire early risers, but I am a confirmed night owl - it takes all kinds we night owls do the swing and graveyard shifts all over the world.

Great vivid blue back on this quilt and a thorough informative label. Check Karen's work on her website: www.karenstiehlosborn.com and on her blog http://stiehlosborn.blogspot.com/

Those white bicycles 11-13-10

I have heard references and seen pictures, but I didn't understand what they were all about. But today I ran across this video which explains.

http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/ghost_bike/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-n%7Cdl8%7Csec1_lnk3%7C184018

I am preparing to give a program on Tuesday evening and a workshop on Wednesday. I hope I have the energy! I made this commitment last Spring, long before I contracted bronchitis. So, I need to 'gird my loins' and do it! My friend Liz will be going with me to help. Bless her, she is a wonderful friend. The program is for South Bay Quilters Guild in Redondo Beach. I'll have about thirty quilts from the TCQC and will share their "stories".

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