Friday Feet 11-16-12

These people must have known they would be on their feet for several hours, so surely these are comfortable shoes.  At the "Brainstorms" opening at Visions Art Museum.

California weather 11-15-12

After such a long, hot summer we are adjusting to more typical autumn weather here.  It has been 70F - 78F during the day and the 50's at night.  It was especially gorgeous on Tuesday in San Clemente for the SQG November Fest.


Looking out from the "piazza" of the church the view is over the town of San Clemente down along the shore .  In the distance is Catalina Island rising up from a layer of fog.  It is further away than the 27 miles of the song, but when there isn't fog it looks very close. 

SCalifornia's climate conditions include an inversion layer which was present on Tuesday, so as I drove north on I-5 I could see the thick layer of smog laying over the Los Angeles basin.  Nothing to what it was even twenty years ago, but still damaging to everyone's health. 

Postscript to Wordless Wednesday:  The tree was such a great picture that I copied it out of an e-lint that showed gorgeous pictures, but without any location, accreditation or creator.  I'd love to know where that tree is located.  

Wordless Wednesday 11-14-12

 

Lunch at Surfside Quilters Guild November Fest 11-13-12

Another fabulous November Fest fundraiser for SQG.  There were over 200 members and guests this morning and I think a good time was had by all.  The latest report I heard showed that we exceeded the funds raised in previous years.   

 
We certainly enjoyed the food, a smooth running operation directed by the amazing LeAnn Goettel who has spearheaded the food prep and serving at all the special events for this guild. 
A delicious salad with greens, papaya, green beans, red bell pepper, jicama with a light dressing and sprinkle of seeds.  For dessert a melt-in-the-mouth cake with nuts and cranberries - a recipe I would like to have. 

There was a live auction and a raffle for HUGE baskets - a few so big and heavy that the winners couldn't carry them!  A harpist was playing as everyone arrived and when there was nobody at the mike there was lovely holiday music from our two member pianists who always entertain us with music appropriate to the season - what ever season it may be. 

I have yet to finish the pictures, but will work on them tomorrow and will arrange them in a Picasa web album for all to enjoy.

Monday Browsing 11-12-12

Inspiration from my computer screen.

Tutorial for coiled fabric bowls: http://sherriequilt.blogspot.com/2012/10/fall-rituals-bowls.html

Thoughtful Blog post:

http://ordinarylife-mk.blogspot.com/2012/10/life-is-but-dream.html#comment-form

Patriotic quilt at International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska:

http://www.quiltstudy.org/collections/quilt_of_the_month/

Fabulous images of lava running into the ocean –taken in Hawaii, of course:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2198591/Daredevil-photographers-brave-boiling-waters-capture-drama-searing-hot-lava-crashing-seas-Hawaii.html#ixzz25tSPbcXl

Check out the e-Quilter page of videos for six different videos of QFestival – Houston:

http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/videos.htm

Here is some help for anyone struggling with FMQ – which is almost everyone I know!

http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com

http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/2011/09/transformation-challenge-winners.html

Elisabeth Nacenta-de la Croix quilt in TCQC 11-11-12

Purchased from the SAQA 2012 online auction.  Another tree quilt for that expanding part of TCQC.   I don't know much about Elisabeth, who lives in Geneva, Switzerland, but she has a very nice website showing her work and listing all the places around the world where it has been shown.
http://elisabethdelacroix.com/index.html


"Chiaroscuro" Elisabeth Nacenta - de la Croix 2012  11.75"W x 11.85"L
Batiks and hand dyed cotton fabrics. Bamboo batting.  Rayon threads.  Fused applique.  Free-motion machine quilting. 

 
I like the way she has used batiks with tree twig like shapes to give depth to the forest - not overpowering the background, just a spot here and there.  The tree fabric is a nice choice with shadows of branches and twigs.

 
She has FMQ'd with what I think of as "tree bark" lines vertically over the entire piece.

 
Rather than binding, Elisabeth has chosen to satin stitch the edges.
 

 
Lovely backing fabric and a generous sleeve. However, she didn't leave any slack in the sleeve which is a problem I see a lot in quilts made outside the USA/Canada.  It really is necessary for shows that use the round rod and drape set up - without any slack the top of the quilt is bent over to accommodate the bar. 

 
Nice clear label gives two ways to contact the artist.  I have added the size for my use.

A New Camera Cover 11-10-12

Is this just pitiful or what?  This camera cover is about eight years old and long past its "expiration date".  I have washed it several dozen times, I'm sure, but the colors have held up well, I think.   Finally, today I made a new cover. 

 
It needs to be bright so I can find it in my purse.  I like the polka dots on the periwinkle ground.

 
The back side is yellow/white/acid green/red - I ought to be able to see those colors in the dark depths of my purse.  .

Of course, the actual camera doesn't fit quite so tightly, but since I was using the camera to take the picture I had to stuff a little jewelry box inside to fill out the case. 
I'm so pleased with myself that I did this small bit of sewing.  Maybe there is more to come!