Hilbert Museum of California Art in Orange 05-11-18

Blogger wouldn't post this last evening, so I am trying again.  Del

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Today I met two friends in Orange and had a lovely brunch and a visit to a museum I had never heard of .  And it is very near where my doctor's office is, so I should have been aware.  My two friends and I met at The Filling Station a restaurant that is just off the circle of old town Orange.  It was at one time a real filling station, but has been a restaurant for quite a few years.  The extensive patio is where the pumps used to be and there is also dining inside the old building.  They have delicious Mexican food and serve both breakfast and lunch.  It is very popular, but we didn't have to wait very long for a table.  The Huevos Rancheros were scrumptious and went well with hot lattes. 

Then we found our way to the museum which is just a few blocks away and across the street from the Orange Train Station (which also houses a Ruby's restaurant).  The Hilbert Museum of California Art is part of Chapman College and, although not large, is spacious and well lit.  The Hilberts are a couple who support Chapman and have collected California paintings (oil, watercolor, pencil, ink, pastel, etc.) for quite a few years.  They donated at least part of their collection along with the building to Chapman a couple years ago.

Currently there are about six small exhibits: Westways (Automobile Club of SCalifornia) Cover art from the 20's and 30's, Magical Visions from Eyvind Earle who worked for Disney for many years and continued his own art at the same time,  pen/pencil drawings of the original Star Wars trilogy by Robert Bailey, selections from the permanent collection, and paintings donated by collectors Jim and Lynne Doti depicting California scenes.  It is a lovely variety of works and there is, I think, something that anyone could enjoy.    

I didn't record the artist on this one, but it is a charming depiction in oil of Angel's Flight in downtown LA.  

These fantastical horses are part of the "Magical Visions" of Eyvind Earle.

There were artist's names I recognized and a number of paintings that I have seen in print, along with a few actual magazine showing how the works appeared in print.  

It was a very pleasant day and I felt I had learned something from the signage and labels in the museum.  I know I will go back again and probably take a friend.. or two. 

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Wordless Wednesday Four block rotation 05-09-18

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Surfside Quilters Guild meeting 05-08-18

Surfside Quilters Guild meeting today in San Clemente.  This is the meeting where we changed officers and presented the outgoing president with a quilt memorializing her year in office.  She selects the design and members create blocks - in this case a simple three strips of fabric with name on the light/white center strip.  

There are 200 members of the guild, but only about half contributed blocks.  The quilt is hand quilted by members who attend quilting bees at member's houses.  All I did this year is contribute a block.

The back, designed and made by Nancy Ota shows Linda, our red-headed president with her cockatiel as a kite, accompanied by her Doberman, Murphy.   The clouds have the signatures of everyone who contributed something besides a block - sewing, quilting, designing, applique, hosting a Bee, etc..

  

What a treasure for Linda Rigdon. 

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Monday Browsing 05-07-18

If one is not careful they can spend 24 hours browsing!

RIP Vic Damone

June 12, 1928 – February 11, 2018 (aged 89)

American traditional pop and big band singer, songwriter, actor, radio and television presenter, and entertainer.

A bath in the hands: 
https://www.chonday.com/5149/peacwatchju3/ 

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Looking back at quilts 05-06-18

I was talking to a friend about quilts in our past and I told her that there was only one quilt that I wish I had not sold.  It was one I made for the now defunct Kansas Art Quilters.  They accepted me as a member and I enjoyed participating in their many exhibits around Kansas/Missouri for a few years.  But I suppose they couldn't continue when members weren't willing to serve as officers and what could I do, so many miles away,  

"Color Bowls 1"  Del Thomas 2001  36"W x 34"L.

Cotton fabric, batting, thread. 

Fused, machine pieced and quilted.  

The original design inspiration was the game "Tiddly Winks" which was very popular in my childhood (c1945).  The rings are built with fused crescent shaped pieces.  Originally the little squares were going to be round, but that was too much roundness, so I changed them to squares.  The shadows in the background were accidental when I laid the white background fabric over some black fabric on my table.  Hmph - that looked cool.  

I took this one picture to send for the entry and thought I would take more when the quilt returned to me.  Although it was marked NFS there was a couple who wanted to buy it so the person in charge of the exhibit called me to see if I would sell it.  I said no.  She called me back an hour or so later asking again.  So, I said sure, I'd sell it for $700, thinking that nobody would pay that for this little quilt made by an unknown quilter.  They wrote the check!   It was gone and I have always regretted selling it.  I still like it a lot and wonder if it is still cherished or if it turned into a doggie bed.  

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