I-5 north from Oceanside, CA 03-23-13

I drove to Poway on Wednesday to deliver my two sick Pfaff's to Paradise Sewing, an authorized Pfaff dealer and sewing machine "hospital".  I was surprised that the owner didn't try to sell me a machine and mentioned it to her. She said that someone who brings in two 39 year old machines, plus one to use for parts if needed, would not be interested in a new machine. I know where I will go if I decide to buy a new Pfaff!  They also sell fabric, can you imagine? I did buy a few pieces to add to my fabric library. Although it is getting out of hand - buying fabric is an addiction and I have it bad.


Driving home on I-5 north of Oceanside the fog was rolling in, but the traffic here was moving well.   On the slope in about the middle of the image is.....
 

.. another of the practice structures on the grounds of Camp Pendleton.  Military personnel need to learn how to fight in and around buildings that they will find in their deployments. 
 

There aren't many wildflowers around this year due to the lack of rainfall.  Since July 1, 2012, the LA area has only had 5.25" of rain.  But there is an abundance of road construction everywhere I go.
 

These are not "wild" wildflowers, but were seeded, either by CalTrans or individuals who distribute the seeds as they travel.
 

Beyond the fence is about the largest patch of wild mustard I have seen this Spring.  The bare grey stalks are probably the dead stems of telegraph weed. 
 

I cannot tell from the photos what these flowers are and I couldn't see them well enough while I was driving by.   I might have known in past years, but no more. 
 

When I got off the highway at San Juan Capistrano I was shocked at how many trees and shrubs had been torn down in the 24 hours since I had driven that way.  You can see the butchered trees spread on the ground around the lone surviving eucalyptus.  This exit to the Ortega Highway is receiving a major reworking, which it has needed for many years. 

Friday Feet 03-22-13

This little girl with her Hello Kitty shoes was being very noisy and I think her mom was running out of patience.  I was behind them in line at TJoe's, happy that they only had a few items in their cart.

 

Wordless Wednesday 03-20-13

 

 

Pamela Allen quilts in TCQC 03-19-13

There was a bare wall in the offices at Visions Art Museum - how could this be?  I offered to provide small quilts to add a little color to the scene and have been rotating a little display for the past year or so.  Lisa Yoder admires Pamela Allen's work - in fact, I first met Lisa in Pamela's class at Empty Spools a number of years ago - so especially for Lisa there are currently four quilts and one postcard made by Pamela hanging in the VAM office.  Ask at the desk and you might be able to look at them.  Tell them Del sent you!

 
"The Cherry Picker" 2005 20"x25", "Right Side of the Tracks #1 and #2" each 12"x 11.5", "Can't Piece Geese, Can Do a Loose Goose" 2010 16"x16.5", (and above) a fishy postcard. 
These are all hand and machine appliqued using cotton fabrics. Also hand and machine quilted. 
 

 
"The Cherry Picker"  Pamela Allen 2005  20"x25"

When I purchased this quilt at auction I was not familiar enough with Pamela's work to recognize that the cherries are actual "paste" cherries and three dimensional, and the leaves are polyester and also 3-D.   Since I take quilts different places to do programs I am cautious about embellishments that might catch on other quilts or be crushed in transporting them.  So this quilt doesn't travel very often.  However, I frequently have it hanging in my house - I especially love the soulful eyes and the green lipstick.   Pamela uses recycled clothing, something I appreciate from my years of traditional quilting.  

Monday Browsing 03-18-13

Glassmakers creating a vase:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27IwhOvVmpg

From art quilter and glass designer Pamela Price Klebaum:  http://pamprice.blogspot.com/

 Paper is not obsolete – an ad from France:  http://vimeo.com/61275290

List of teachers for Empty Spools 2014: 

http://www.emptyspoolsseminars.com/2013/EmptySpoolsSeminars2014.pdf
2014 registration will not begin until the entire brochure can be seen either in your mailbox or on the website, about April 24, 2013.

Association of Pacific West Quilters has opened entries for their 2013 Quilt Show in Tacoma, WA.  Read the contest rules at http://apwq.org/page.php?ID=53  Southern California needs more representation in this annual show.  It is a good show and has a good record for handling quilt entries.  Main website is http://apwq.org

The Grasses Return  April 2007  Del Thomas  12“ square   05-26-07