Christmas with the Book Group 12-13-14

The Book Group started as an activity of the Faculty Women's Club at Cal State University-  Fullerton, where my husband was a professor and associate dean of Engineering. Everyone has a University connection, either their husbands were professors or they worked there, mostly in the library.  The group had been going for a number of years before I retired and had the time to participate.  I joined in 1979, 44 years ago.  Three of the current members were already members and the group was much larger then.  Some members dropped out, some moved away, until we are left with nine members who fit nicely into each of our homes.  The group is more social that it was originally, but we do read a book each month, always mention it at meetings and sometimes discuss it extensively  This month  was the writings of Lisa See; I read "China Girls", but I am a fan and have read all of her books.

We try to schedule the December meeting so everyone can attend, but this year it wasn't possible and Verna was entertaining her brother who she seldom sees. 

Our potlucks are very simple these days, since we request what we like best.  At the top of the table are biscuits (wrapped in a towel) from Ann, pot roast from Teresa (our hostess), Lisa's Carrots from Del, zucchini casserole from JoAnn, Fantastic Potatoes from Nancy, and, in the center of the table, cranberry salad from Kathy.  Not shown was the Texas Fruitcake from Marlita and the appetizers from Carol.  There was champagne and wine with the appetizers. I made a huge triple recipe of the delicious carrots so there would be leftovers for everyone to take home.  

Carol Bednar, Nancy Mastroianni, JoAnn Woodard, Ann Morgan.

Teresa Malinowski, Marlita Bellot, Kathy Frazee

The hit of the evening were these dragonflies as a table favor at each plate, courtesy of Teresa, our hostess.  They are hand painted by a Chinese-American lady and each is a bit different.  This is mine who I named Marvin, and he balances nicely on his nose on the corner of my laptop.  He shows up nicely against my 2015 appointment book.

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Friday Flowers and storm clouds 12-12-14

Mid-winter is heavy bloom time for Bird of Paradise. 

In this garden of succulents the aloe flowers are ablaze. 

There is a plant called Red Hot Poker that has a similar look, but this is aloe. 

They are sort of shaggy.

We had heavy rain and wind in the early morning hours and it took me almost twice as long to reach San Clemente as it normally does - lots of traffic and difficult to see through the pounding rain.  But I picked up my two friends and drove on to San Diego, happy that the rain had slackened and there was no noticeable wind.  We saw the Visions Biennial exhibit "The Sky's the Limit", ate lunch at Solare and drove home with only a few showers and not very heavy traffic.  A lovely day, in fact! 

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Street Signs 12-11-14

I drove down to Oceanside today for a committee meeting for Surfside Quilters Guild.  As is my habit when I saw an interesting little residential side street I made a turn and discovered these distinctive curbside addresses.  Although house numbers on the curbs are common, I have not seen decorative ones.  Most were like the top one, but the bottom one was more personalized - there was no Woodie in the driveway!  But I did have to explain to the lady who came out of the house - I just said "I'm a blogger." and she laughed and waved.  

We are waiting for the massive storm to hit sometime around midnight.  But there are the naysayers who remember past warnings when the storms did not materialize.  I just hope it is over by the time I drive to San Diego tomorrow morning about 9am.  But for tonight high winds and heavy rain are predicted.  Hope it isn't as bad as what hit San Francisco. 

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Wordless Wednesday 12-10-14

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Monday Browsing 12-08-14

Traditional Quilts from Quilt Festival – Houston

http://thequiltshow.com/daily-blog/106-website-features/23091-traditional-quilts-from-houston-2014?utm_source=Infusionsoft&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2014_12_03_Newsletter_7&inf_contact_key=ed4ccf409a692e05f8f894c6acbebfcfe99833d03684d26f9bec77887036e299

This is how I felt with the two days of rain we had last week in Orange County, California:  http://goingtopieces.blogspot.com/2014_08_01_archive.html

Quilt Design a Day – for Modern Quilters: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1382986385304572/

Interviews with quilters at Quilt Festival Houston:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbRL8gNFw9DAwtUQbXqo1uAv3GEADiouE

Quilts from the from Le Carrefour Europeen du Patchwork exhibitions 2014 in Ste Marie aux Mines, Alsace, France.

http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4e4445324d4455304d6a633d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link&partner=smileboxao

New quilt by Pamela Allen in TCQC 12-07-14

I greatly admire Pamela Allen's work and there are a number of her quilts in TCQC. 

This is a diversion from her usual work in that it doesn't have any embellishments, which makes me happy because it is easier to store. 

 

"Pillow Talk"  Pamela Allen - Kingston, Ontario, Canada  2014 40"W x 45"L

Cotton, velveteen, lace, perle cotton thread, cotton thread.

Hand and machine pieced, appliqued and quilted.

 

Pamela buys most of her fabric at thrift shops and I cannot tell what other fabric content might be included.  See how the hands are stitched with ladder stitch.

There are three frogs quilted in.  Pamela didn't have an explanation other than she just felt like adding them. 

Her hair is a blue on brown batik with long white straight stitches added.  His hair is solid black with white straight stitches added. 

Two fish swim up the lady's arm - one upside down!

Pamela heavily machine quilts her quilts and puts an extra layer of batting in some areas, such as the heads in this quilt.  This is a quilt that I will occasionally hang face to the wall, just to  enjoy the fabulously inventive quilting.

Here are the fish and one frog from the back.  Pamela has used variegated thread for the frogs.

Cherries are a repeating motif in her quilting.

Computer printed label - with a contact so someone can reach Pamela if they want to buy one of her amazing quilts.  www.pamelart.com

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