Morning Exercise Pool 03-11-11

Since I was late for my therapy session on Wednesday I wanted to be sure I wasn't late again, so I left a half an hour earlier.  Still had to wait for a train, but the traffic was not at a standstill - not the entire trip anyway.  I arrived about 25 minutes before my appointment time, shed my clothes and discovered there was nobody there yet.  What to do?  Nobody allowed in the pool until the therapist arrives.   

I got out my camera and walked around the pool.  I can't read the clock, but it must have been about 7:45am (I know, you don't believe I was really there - it was the 'middle of the night').  A little hazy from the heat from the pool, but look in the window reflections - the sky is really blue.  There are clocks on all the walls, most about two feet from the floor.  Plus the minute timer right at the corner of the pool.

A few minutes later it is more clear and you can clearly see the pretty pictures at the other end of the pool.  I was surprised to see them - is this standard for therapy pools? 

Here at the five foot depth is a pile of the torture implements used in the pool.  Mostly things one holds in hands and waves around in the water with enormous effort to strengthen muscles.  I've only used the easiest ones.  But those pool noodles are great when I am floating on my back - I put one under my neck for support and it keeps my neck from hurting.  And I just float and float until I'm told to stop - it feels so wonderful.

 

The vicious steps - it is the third one from the bottom that reaches up and bites one on the .. tush!  But I did better today, I got out of the pool verrrry slowly. 

One odd touch is this miniature disco ball hanging at one end of the ceiling.  It seems that a decade ago they played disco music during sessions and some unidentified wit hung the ball.

 Is there a trick to getting one's clothes on after showering? The air is so moist I can't pull anything up or down without a struggle.  It took me almost a half an hour to get out of there.   Maybe I should just put on a muu-muu (remember those?) over my nekkid self, but I couldn't stop anywhere on the way home.  Today I had brunch at my favorite place - Kemmie's in downtown Orange - before delivering a gift to a friend's front door.  I meant to stop at the Auto Club which is near my friend's house, but I forgot.  Later in the afternoon I had to go out again to pick up maps and tour books ... and a decaf latte.   Next therapy session is next Wednesday - meanwhile I exercise.  

 

A Great Day 03-10-11

I was on the road about 9:15 this morning headed to San Diego for the current exhibit at the Visions Museum, lunch at a good fish restaurant nearby and then a stop at Oceanside for one last view of the Visions - 2010 exhibit at the Oceanside Museum of Art.  Sunday is the last day.



Yes!  It is the very blue Pacific - gorgeous, eh?   This is part of Camp Pendleton and the clearing near the water is a staging area for practice maneuvers - and the Marines were in action there today.

A little further south I-5 is slightly elevated and closer to the water, so the waves rolling onto the beach are visible.  The bare area across the middle is another staging area - if you click on the pictures you can see more details.   Way off to the left on the horizon is a warship - probably connected to the Marine maneuvers.

I took another picture of Velda Newman's "Zinnias" at the Visions Exhibit.  And I sat on the bench for about ten minutes just taking it in.  So beautiful, so amazing.  Hand appliqued and hand quilted.  The last image on today's post is the sign that accompanies the quilt. 

Because it is such a large quilt (212"W x 87"L) the details are not apparent.  There is a lot of 3 dimensional work.  Such as these petals - finished back and front and then layered on the quilt.

Here are the same petals from the side so we can see that they are raised.

This shows edges that have been purposefully frayed and we can see the the stamens go under some of the petals.

The red flower center is hollow with the petals cupped around it.  More 3-D petals.

This stem is textured with little tucks and appears to have some stuffing inside.  More 3-D petals.  The blue circles represent pollen flying from the flowers.

"The Quilts Japan Award rewards the artist whose work will encourage and inspire quilt artists internationally.  It is awarded by Japan Handi Crafts Instructors' Association and Nihon Vogue Co. Ltd.."

Quoted from the very thorough and informative catalog - great photos by Eric Nancarrow - well worth the price and available from http://www.visionsartmuseum.org/cart/listproducts.asp

More pool therapy 03-09-11

The new swim suit from Land's End finally arrived today.  Why did I pay for two-day air?  Won't do that again.   And it doesn't fit!  Oh, I can get into it, but I feel like a sausage!  Guess I'll try for the next larger size, which is what Michigoose told me to do in the first place.  Sorry, I should have listened.   Meanwhile, a friend sent me several pages of new, inexpensive suits.  I'm sure she doesn't think they are appropriate for a fat, old 72 old broad, but it was nice of her to think of me.  If I were 24 I would buy this one, but would never get into the pool

 

The session in the pool today was great.  He still has me doing gentle exercises and in between he told me to just relax for a certain number of minutes, so I leaned back in the water and just floated around in the pool on my back.  I bumped into a couple people until I found a space of my own at the far deep end of the pool.   It was heavenly - something I always used to enjoy when I did go swimming.   When I got to that third step I was okay.  I could feel the gravity, but it didn't knock me to my knees today.   And I didn't collapse when I arrived home, but after several hours I took a little nap - more because of the 6:30am alarm than the exercise.  I thought I could make it to the facility in about thirty minutes, but I had to wait for two trains going different directions and the traffic on the freeway was less than a mile an hour most of the way.  So, I was twenty minutes late - something they really frown on 'cause it screws up their schedule.  Guess I better try leaving the house at 7am on Friday - I know that some of you will at that.  But I REALLY want to solve this muscle problem and be able to live a normal life again.

Quilts to make your heart sing! 03-09-11

I just picked this up from Lesley Riley's newsletter. Just seeing the first picture made me want to pack my bag and book a flight! WOW! what a sight this would be to remember all the rest of my life. But it isn't possible. I hope some of you can go and will tell us all about it. Del


http://poppygall.com/blog/2011/03/03/design-inspiration-red-white-quilts/

A Little Sewing 03-08-11

As I have said before, I haven't been sewing for almost a year.  An occasional mending job and some fiber postcards are about the extent of it.  But here it is the end of the year at Surfside Quilters Guild and time to make a quilt for outgoing president Sharon Whelan  - for which members make the blocks.  The very first president's quilt I participated in was twenty-nine years ago for Orange County Quilters Guild - which is celebrating a thirty year anniversary tonight.  I was the newsletter editor for the first few years of that guild, as I am with SurfsideQG, and I appliqued a hat, since I always wear a hat.  Since then I have made hats for various president's quilts - memorably for Nancy Ota and Maggie Ezell of Beach Cities QG.  This year I am again a (retiring) newsletter editor, Nancy Ota is in charge of organizing the quilt for the outgoing president and the theme is "The Beach".  A hat seems appropriate.  Click image in enlarge.  

A 5" finished block is required.  First I folded a square diagonally and cut a hat shape.  I didn't like the brim, so I used tape to add paper over the offending brim and cut a new brim shape.  Then I centered that on a five inch square of paper and traced around it to make a smooth outline.

Using freezer paper and a fine point Sharpie I traced it again and added tic marks so I could later match up the pieces.  I allowed a half inch on all sides to provide room for trimming the block to match the size of all the other blocks turned in.

After selecting the fabrics, I cut apart the freezer paper pattern and ironed the appropriate pattern pieces to the various fabrics.  (Shown here on a black background to clearly show the pieces).

After clipping some curves I sewed everything together and pressed the seams so that the hat would have a natural look with the hatband on top of the crown and the background recessed.

Here is my hat!  There is a red thread X in the exact middle of the block so that whoever trims it can line it up accurately (I hope).  The threads are not knotted and will pull out easily.  When the quilt has been assembled and quilted I will add a 3-D flower to the hatband. 

This is all Ruth McDowell's method and I was thrilled to find that I had not forgotten how to do it during my sewing hiatus.  A few things that I did differently:  Ruth teaches to mark lines on the shiny side of the freezer paper and tic marks/numbers/notations on the dull side.  This will provide the image in the original orientation.  However, since I was working with a symmetrical image the orientation is the same either way.  It is easier for my brain to mark everything on the dull side of the freezer paper.  Also, I use lots of pins, which Ruth does not need to do; I find that increasingly my arthritic hands have a hard time holding on to small things, which makes the pins even more important today.   Especially when working in such a small size block.  Ruth has written quite a few books that explain her construction techniques and include a wealth of tips and hints to make the process easier.  All her books are published by C&T Publishing  www.ctpub.com , so you can check their website for titles.  Two of the best are "Ruth B. McDowell's Design Workbook" and "Ruth B. McDowell's Piecing Workbook" - signed copies are available in the shop on Ruth's website  www.ruthbmcdowell.com , at the C&T website, or check your local quilt shop. 

Ruth has recently posted three new original flower quilts on her website, each is a joy. 

More on Jean Ray Laury 03-07-11

This additional obituary written by Jean Ray Laury appeared in the print version of the Fresno Bee, but not in the online version. I think this is so sensible and graceful, another lesson from a classy lady.  Del

I Write This For My Many Friends -

Don't mourn for me. I have had a long and happy life, a wonderful family, and an exciting and satisfying career.

My family includes Frank, my husband for most of over 60 years, who has always been incredibly supportive helpful, and fun to live with. Our son Tom is a voracious reader, and for more than forty years a bee-keeper. Tom's wife, Dr. Ritva Laury is a linguist who divides her time between Fresno and the University of Helsinki, Finland. Our daughter Lizabeth Laury works with horses and writes. Mike Brown teaches chemistry and physics at Washington Union High School. Ritva and Mike are very special additions to our family.

Our granddaughter Anna Laury, M.D., completed her final boards in 2010 and pursues her career in Boston. Her sister Emma Laury, J.D., graduated in May 2010 from law school, passed the California Bar and now works at OSHA in Washington, D.C..

Among my most cherished friends of many years are partner and coauthor on several books, Joyce Aiken; the talented and remarkable Stan Bitters, a diamond covered in clay dust; and Ruth Law, Los Angeles toy maker, and a friend for over sixty years.

It's been wonderful working with fellow artists and writers. My Book Club, which has met for over forty years, has been special, and I've enjoyed our discussion group, Dry Creek Seminar, and my writing groups.

I have always loved writing , and have had numerous books published, and many articles, parodies and essays. It has been a constant in my life. I recently completed a collection of stories, titled "Growing up in Doon, the 1930's: A Quilter's Memoir" about life in Iowa with my sisters, Jackie, Joan and Joyce.

My quilting career gave me the opportunity to travel the world: Japan, Australia, Canada, Norway, France, England, South Africa and many other countries. Quilting friends from across the United States have been an important part of my life, having always been enthusiastic and supportive in whatever I did. I was never far from home when I was with quilters. As wonderful as teaching and traveling were, getting back to Fresno felt like coming home. It has been wonderful being here with you. To all of you, thanks for being with me on this journey.

Remembrances maybe made to Hinds Hospice; Marjaree Mason Center; or at jeanraylaury@hotmail.com

Neptune Society of Central California, 1154 W. Shaw, Fresno, CA  559-222-7764

You may also enjoy the two interviews that Jean Ray did for the Alliance for the American Quilt:  http://www.allianceforamericanquilts.org/qsos/record.php?by=quilter&key=Laury%2C+Jean+Ray
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Jean Ray Laury 1928 - 2011 03-06-11

One of the stars of the quilting world has left us and we will be less without her.  Jean Ray Laury died on Wednesday, March 2nd.  Here is a URL for her obituary in the Fresno Bee:
http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/03/2295579/fresno-artistauthor-dies-at-82.html


I met Jean in the early 80s when she gave a lecture in Los Angeles and I followed it up with a one-day workshop with her.  Subsequently I took a couple more workshops, but the first one is the one that comes to mind when I think of Jean Ray Laury.  I had been quilting for many years, but only traditional quilts.  Jean's workshop pushed everyone into doing something original - a unique expression of oneself.  It was a BIG push!  I was so 'jazzed' I could hardly drive home.  For many students she was the first teacher who validated their wish to express themselves in their quilts.  And she did it with such grace and caring. 

I took this picture of Jean Ray at a Visions function in 2004.  She is on the left, standing with Patti Sevier, who was Visions President at that time.

.  "Lowanda Does Hollywood"  Jean Ray Laury - Clovis, CA  2001  30.5"W x 33.5"L

This quilt is part of the TCQC.  Sometimes when I show it people ask if I was the model.   No, she didn't have me in mind at all, but with the chunky cheeks, dangling earrings and hat it could be me.  Though, I wouldn't get caught anywhere in the yellow aviators. 

Beside the fact of the hats, I love this quilt because it has so many of the techniques that she developed and taught in her classes and in her books - including silk screen printing, Thermofax printing, stenciling, hand drawing, hand painting, foiling, piecing and machine quilting.

I showed this quilt previously in 2008:

  http://delquilts.blogspot.com/2008/09/quilts-from-tcqc-09-28-08.html