Friday, August 12, 2011

Haven Gastro Pub - Orange, CA 08-11-11

I sometimes go for weeks without going out to eat and then I'll have a streak of not wanting to cook or "clean out the refrigerator" for a meal.  I've talked about some of my favorite restaurants, especially Fish in a Bottle where I go more than any other place, and I am always on the look out for additions to my list. 
I've gone to Haven Gastro Pub  http://havengastropub.com/index.html  several times in the past few months. 

The first time I went I ordered the lamb burger - it was fantastic.  And every time I go back I can't resist having it again.  I'm told I must try the brussell sprouts which are devoured even by people who don't usually care for them. 

Juicy, thick lamb patty sauced with yogurt sauce, cucumber and sprouts - it is too thick for me to get in my mouth, so I eat it with a fork and knife.

Along side they serve their fresh peeled and cut fries sprinkled with pepper, salt, and herbs with a dish of house made tomato dipping sauce that I could just eat with a spoon!  Other than the color it has little relationship to catsup.   I rarely eat fries because the pre-cut fries served at most restaurants (and ALL fast food places except In & Out Burger) are coated with sulfite preservative, which gives me physical problems.   Since those a the Haven and In&Out are the only fries I eat I am not a good judge of how they stack up to those served elsewhere, but, oh my, they are tasty.
 
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Thursday, August 11, 2011

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Quilt Festival - Long Beach 08-09-11

I'm only posting photos of two of the quilts in this exhibit, although the others are worthy.  I've got to stop somewhere! 



Hanging side by side I was struck all over again with thoughts of how everyone's vision is different.  On the left an abstract with realistic sections and on the right strict realism.  I like and appreciate both.  Mary Leakey (whose name is misspelled on the label) is my very good friend and I was delighted to see her quilt shown in this exhibit.  It is a special pleasure to know someone well enough that they are willing to share their thoughts and process as they develop an idea for a quilt.  When Mary asks for comments I give them honestly and when she doesn't, I try to keep my mouth shut.   She continues to grow in her creativity and her technique. 
 
  
 Mary's diamond patchwork sky is especially nice, I think, and the detail on the light and its surrounding railing is perfect.  The lupine was cause for lots of experimenting with technique and types of fabric which resulted in an effective, but not overpowering foreground.

www.backporchfabrics.com

Here is another combination of abstract and realism.  What led Gail to think of the buffalo in connection with the lighthouse?   The buffalo fabric?  A memory from her past?  An article in a magazine about the Pacific Improvement Company's "Catalo" experiment?  One question that quilters are frequently asked is, "Where do you get your ideas?".  It is a question that has no defining answer.  Usually  the original idea has a combination of sources - sort of a patchwork in itself. 

Gail has a fabulous "fabric eye", which is a big reason why I so enjoy shopping at her store, Back Porch Fabrics in Pacific Grove, CA.  Nice use of the McKenna Ryan trees that melt into the sky and into the descending layers of hillside and sea. 


I am always intriqued by these "strip" quilts where a group of quilters divide up a photograph and each interprets her section with her own design sense and fabric library.  I think this is a particularly nice example of this genra. 

Using a watery background fabric that has certainly come from her "stash" this member of the group has used very simple shapes to indicate the life-vested people in this sailboat - two children and their father, undoubtedly.

This build is sliced by a division between the strips and there is a nice transition in the scene from one section to the next.  I believe this is a bank building, but I haven't been to Boston for about forty years, so I could be mistaken.  

This very colorful quilt seemed to be popular with viewers - when I was trying to take a picture I had to wait for several pair of ladies who stopped to admire it.  It was part of the Celebrate Spring! exhibit.
 
 
It is very heavily machine quilted. 

This is the last post about Quilt Festival - Long Beach '11.  If you would like to see more quilts go to the virtual exhibit:  http://www.quilts.com/lbqf11/enVivo/index.html
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Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Quilt Festival - Long Beach 08-08-11

Did you miss me last night?  My broadband connection wouldn't work, so I just went to bed.  Today it seems to be working well. 

www.bodilgardner.dk
44"W x 41"L   I always enjoy Bodil's wonderful textile "stories".  There are two in the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection - someday I will add a larger one.  I love the little sheep in this one.

This is just one of many Google hits for Dianne Firth - just Google her name for more web sites.
Dianne has been working in this style for a number of years and she always comes up with a new insight into landscape of Australia.  I'm glad this one was already sold - I would have been sorely tempted to buy it!
It is approximately 42" square.

Another amazing quilt from a simple structure.  I don't understand how she makes the torn strips bend as if they were bias cuts.  But there are overlapping ends, which may be the secret.  I have left some of the black backdrop in this image because it makes the values so much more intense.  I don't think it would be very effective on a white/beige wall, it needs the drama of a dark surround.

In this picture you can more clearly see the "joins" at the bottom right and top left.


I didn't find a website for Jean.

This large quilt made an impact from across the room. I'm always a fan of pieced backgrounds and this one has a great value change.

In order to show how large the quilt is I asked three different people if they would stand near it with their back to me so I could take a picture - nobody would recognize their back, right?  Finally the third lady agreed - she is probably about 5' 2" tall. 

pamelart.homestead.com/titlepage.html
Pamela had a lot of quilts at this show, some I have seen before, but all were fascinating to examine "in-the-fabric" and I appreciated seeing the incredible detail she adds to each one.

35" square  Note that this quilt is machine pieced NOT appliqued.  I see a Ruth McDowell influence here!

33.5"W x 50.5"L   Again the lighting doesn't do this quilt justice - the shadows cast by the light standards make it appear there is a vertical color change on the right side.  See Betty's website for a more accurate image.   This is a gorgeous quilt and I wish I had been first in line when the "for sale" sign went up.  I hope it has a happy home.  I've watched Betty's work for years and she just gets better and better. 
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