Liz Williams' Quilt 03-05-11

Liz and I met at our usual Starbuck's in Brea.  We missed Corky who is with his parents this weekend, however, there were several handsome pooches, including a handsome chocolate Lab. 
But the best thing was this quilt that Liz just completed.  She claims I gave her the border fabric and she brought me the scraps - in a snack size Baggie! 

This is from Pearl P. Pereira's pattern "Herb Garden"  http://www.p3designs.com/

It is about 30"W x 36"L and is hand embroidered, hand quilted, machine pieced. 

Liz does her fantastic handwork at home and while she and her husband are traveling in their motor home. 

 

The names of the herbs are traced from the pattern template with fabric markers and they are perfect.  She does great work.  I love the stitches over the seams joining the blocks. 

Yesterday afternoon when I went out to do my errands I stopped at one of my "cheap" Arco stations for gas.  Immediate sticker shock - regular gas was $3.81 - I thought about looking elsewhere, but I had a nice circle route planned, so I filled my tank.  Today after I met Liz I drove past a couple Arco stations that also have cheaper gas.  However, today my very cheapest station was at $3.83, another Arco a few blocks away was $3.85.  By the time I leave for Empty Spools in a few weeks I imagine the price will be over $4/gal.  Sigh! 

Re: Speechless Wednesday

There were some doubters about goats in trees.  So, I did some Googling.  You can see more pictures of goats on trees at http://tinyurl.com/4gqcpcl

For an explanation of why the goats climb the trees here is a blog entry:
http://morocco-deserts.blogspot.com/2010/11/moroccos-climbing-goats.html
         
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Okay - Into the Pool! 03-04-11

8:30am - First session of aqua therapy.  I should have taken a picture of myself in my blue tank top, which I only wear when it is very hot and I am alone in the house, and cut off pajama bottoms that I bought yesterday at Ross-for-Less.  I don't really care what I look like as long as I am not in danger of being 'exposed'.   However, I did order the bathing suit recommended by Michigoose in a comment on my Feb 24th post - it should arrive on Monday. 

Since I haven't been in a pool for many, many years I felt like I might need one of these supports.  But I did fine in the shallow end.  When I had to move into the "deep" end (5 feet) the therapist made me wear a ski belt - haven't worn one of those in about fifty years!  I think I would be more comfortable without the belt.
 
Naturally, the exercises didn't include diving - I know I have forgotten how to do that.  He started me off with side stepping, knee lifting - gentle stuff.  Then in the deeper section - sort of jumping jacks, walking up the side of the pool while holding onto the railing, other exercises.  My problem is going to be the same as with the floor exercises, I need a cheat sheet to refer to every single time.  My short term memory is a minus.

  

There were three other women in the pool, all of whom just started their routines without any assistance.  And two guys who did the same.  We are all old and apparently all have different problems, or maybe I haven't gotten to the hard stuff yet.   

 

When I first got in the pool the therapist gave me the introduction which included pool rules and cautions and ended with a warning to hold onto the railing when I got out of the pool.  He said I would get to the third step and suddenly I would feel like I couldn't take another step.  He was right - as I took the third step it felt like a giant mattress had fallen on me.  I stopped and took a couple breaths and, with difficulty, took the final two steps.  Whew!  Not a feeling I have ever had before.  He explained it was gravity kicking in after I had been supported by the water as I exercised.

I felt like doing this!  But, instead, I washed off and dressed and staggered to the car.  I even wondered if I should call someone to come for me - should I be driving?  But I drove home, threw my wet things in the washer and collapsed into bed.  My "lights" were out for two hours - like I was d-e-d.  Complete exhaustion.  But then I got up and got busy.  I had some errands I had planned to do on the way home, so I went out and did them.  But this is still an early night for me so that I can be up and about early.  I'm going to meet Liz for coffee in the morning, she has a quilt completed she wants to share - a UFO of several years mellowing. 

"Twelve by Twelve" 03-03-11

Here is a book that has been in the works for years.  The Twelve by Twelve group didn't start out to do a book, they started, as so many groups do, to challenge each other to try new techniques and find new design pathways.  Along the way they found new friends, both in the group and among the Internet followers, and opened a lot of eyes to what is happening in the world of textiles, fiber art and art quilts.   And they also found a publisher interested in a book!

 
The book has pictures of all 144 12" x 12" quilts made over the first two years by the members of the group.  PLUS discussions of all aspects of their journeys of design, technique and expression.  It is a fat book full of 'meat' - things any artist can use.  I hope you will discover this book, enjoy it and learn from it.

You can learn more about (and from ) these twelve artists by visiting the Lark Books website where there has been a series of interviews with the "Twelves" which tells more about them and their work.

http://www.larkcrafts.com/needlearts/twelve-days-of-twelves-part-one/

This will take you to the first interview and you can advance by checking the subsequent interviews in the sidebar. 

Speechless Wednesday! 02-02-11

Special - Wednesday night webcast 6pm PST 03-02-11

Yes!  This evening!  Sorry I didn't know about this earlier, I would have given you a heads-up.  I have never watched a webcast, but I am going to give this a try.  Hope you can also.  It features C&T Publishing authors who are also teachers at Empty Spools. 

http://www.ctpubblog.com/2011/02/26/empty-spools-sneak-peek/

I've been evaluated! 03-01-11

The evaluation took an hour and the therapist pointed out that I sit wrong, I walk wrong, I stand up wrong, I get off the table wrong, I am doing the exercises from the previous therapist wrong.  I suppose it is no wonder that I am in pain since I have been doing all those things, and more, incorrectly for seventy years.  (I figure the first two years of my life I was just learning how to do all these things the wrong way).  I do have an appointment for the pool on Friday morning.  With a different therapist.  But I will have to see the same lady in the future.  I think she has given me an Attitude, so I don't know how this is going to work.  I don't have a swimsuit yet, but the person who made the pool appointment said I could wear shorts and a top, so I will do that on Friday.  Then I will see.  

Here is a great video sent to me by friend Patty.  I've met a few cats like this, but "Clepto Cat" takes the cake.  (I know it should be Klepto, but that doesn't work with Cat!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qSLvkskXFA&feature=player_embedded

This website has photos of quilts from MAQF 2011 - including the one that has caused the great uproar for being obscene.  You can make up your own mind. 

http://rteest42.smugmug.com/VaultEvents/Quilt-Shows/2011-MAQF/15990815_mukmb#1199489519_XfWG7-M-LB

I have one postcard request without a snail mail address or an e-mail address.  Try again!

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Corky for the weekend 02-28-11

 

He is just the sweetest little guy.  He was napping on a chair next to the computer.  Of course, the minute I took the picture he woke up and frowned at me because I disturbed his rest!  I took him home yesterday.

On our way to Long Beach we stopped at our favorite Starbuck's and noticed several families exchanging children.  It is a good place on a Sunday, not too many cars in the lot which is well back from the street.  I blanked out the faces, just in case someone who knows the people sees this Blog.  Which I doubt. The child is in front of the lady with her back to us.

 

 

After we waited and were just about up to the takeout window this family came to do a switch.  I wonder how these children will remember their childhood of swapping parents in a parking lot.  Sad.

"Amidst the Fire" K. Grace Howes 02-27-11

Here is one of the quilts from the SAQA 2010 online auction last fall.  I cannot tell you exactly what "spoke to me" in this quilt.  Probably the color first, such a nice combination of red, acid green, yellow, purple and the tiny wedge of turquoise/green at the bottom.  Also, I find the vertical quilting lines done with variegated thread make a texture that is pleasing and that stack of acid green squares on purple, with three tiny dark blue beads in the center of each square, is very graphic and appealing.  This image is a little bright making the green so intense it almost hurts!  The piece of green fabric on the label is more realistic.

"Amidst the Fire"  K. Grace Howe - Huntersville, NC   2009  12"W x 13"L

Hand-dyed cottons, fusing, beading, machine appliqued and pieced and machine quilted.

The artist's statement was:  "There's a constant burning in my brain to produce, produce, produce. I can only do so much in the time given and yet, wonderfully, there is always another spark of creativity ready to be ignited. Much like an eternal flame, passion for the job never wanes."

The back is a colorful commercial batik.

There is an unusual sleeve which is very long and open on the bottom.  There are three inch openings near the top to insert a slat and then the sides are sewn down from there to the bottom of the sleeve.  

 

A simple label giving the necessary details.  I removed the phone number because one artist asked me to go back and remove her number from the picture.  I hadn't thought of that causing a problem, but I can see that it might.  So, I TRY to remember to always do it.  If I don't, please let me know.  http://www.redbarn-studios.com/

By-the-Way..... 02-26-11

Would anyone like a postcard from the Visions 2010 exhibit with Velda Newman's quilt on it?  I picked up a handful last time I was there thinking that they are so lovely someone who couldn't get to the museum would enjoy having a cheerful image to pin on their wall.  If you don't have my e-mail address check on my profile.   Send your snail mail address w/Zip, please.


This is how the quilt looks in the gallery.

More Fiber Postcards 02-26-11

When I have a little time I am still working on the fiber postcards that I owe everyone.  You know who you are!  Since I just put the Surfside QGuild newsletter 'to bed', I relaxed a bit and did some cutting and fusing.

Regardless of coloration, this cat is always Mona - she is very serene.

 

I might give this bird a branch to sit on.

 

And maybe this one will have long legs so his tail won't drag on the ground.

 
The cards don't have to have birds or animals, they can be abstracts like these spirals.

The newsletter is at: http://tinyurl.com/4zwcjvg