Kind words/actions 07-22-21

We have all heard about or experienced some little kindness changing someone's life.  This didn't change my life, but improved my day.  I went to Physical Therapy this morning and it was especially painful.  Probably because I hadn't been for a week and have not been faithful about doing the exercises at home.  On my way home I stopped at the Starbuck's I usually go to and placed my order at the drive up sign.  Some of the employees remember my name (and KoKo's) which is always so gratifying.  At the pick up window the girl started to hand me my latte and then turned back.  When she handed it to me there was a little red star on top.   "What's with the star?" I inquired. "It is because you are a rock star, Del", she replied.  It was very sweet and immediately made me feel better.  As an old lady I usually feel that I am invisible, so it is nice to be recognized and for someone to remember my name.  

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Sewing, Book Group 07-21-21

After the pandemic shutdown I am just not accustomed to having so much to do!  Yesterday especially, I actually had four things on my calendar, after weeks, months of blankness!  First we had to go for our morning walk about 7:15am because it warms up fast and by 8am it can be over 80F - summertime!  Then there was a QGuild ZOOM Board Meeting at 9:30am, at 11:30am KoKo had an appointment for booster shots and the vet's office was backed up so it took an hour instead of the expected 20 minutes or so.  I sewed all afternoon before taking my friend Dick out for sushi at our favorite place "Fish in a Bottle".  Carol has been in Texas for a week, returning today.  And then I sewed late into the night to finish the Challenge quilt for Surfside QGuild to turn it in today on the very last possible turn-in date!  

The reveal date for the Challenge is the August 10th IN PERSON guild meeting in a new meeting place.  So, I can't show you the finished quilt, but here are some teasers.  I doubt that anyone in the guild actually reads my blog, so it won't be too much of a reveal. 

This is the quilted background.  We had three FQ to include - at least 4" of one and 2" of the other two - and the theme was "Bucket List".  The blue on the left and the orange on the right are two of the fabrics, the other was used in applique.  The quilting suggests the different terrain of California, Oregon, and Washington.  My imaginary travels take me up I-5, Hwy 101, and US395.  

And here we are in the Lexus heading north.  Someday soon, I hope!  Sometime after Aug 10th I will post an image of the whole quilt.  It isn't my favorite I have ever made, but it forced me to sew and it does fulfill all the requirements. 

Dessert at Book Group was a lovely homemade cake at Nancy's house.   I didn't realize how much I missed the welcoming living rooms and tasty desserts  we enjoy each month.  For over 40 years we have met in the evening, but everyone is now retired and we find it is more difficult to drive after dark, so gradually we have switched to 11:30am with everyone bringing a sack lunch and the hostess providing dessert as usual.  What a lovely plate with the white cake, blue napkin showing a bright lemon; we also had lemonade to drink.  It was a lovely meeting.  The book was "Signature of All Things" by Elizabeth Gilbert.  It was a real struggle for me with a very unsympathetic "heroine", but the others seemed to enjoy it and we all learned something about science and research - mosses in particular.  Not a book I will recommend.  And I read it on Kindle which I don't much enjoy, I miss the feeling and sight of a REAL book.  One funny thing is that when I am done reading, my hand automatically reaches out for a bookmark to mark my place!  I guess after 70 years of marking my place, my brain is hard to retrain.  

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Ann Johnston quilt in TCQC 07-18-21

I am trying to get back to posting a quilt from the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection each Sunday evening.  I could show a different quilt for about six years since there are now 370+ pieces in the Collection.  The post below is from 09-13-15 and I still enjoy this quilt as much as I did the first time I saw it almost two decades ago.  The art quilt group I belong to is working on an exhibit titled "Balance", my piece won't look anything like this, but I can't help but think of this one as I develop  ideas.  I do so admire Ann's work and her fabulous hand dyed fabrics.  

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Sometimes I see a quilt that just won't leave me alone.  This is one of them.  I had looked at this quilt on Ann Johnston's website for a number of years, until I finally had to buy it in 2013.  There are several things that thrill me.  The color, of course, Ann is a master dyer.  The black and white applique, and the tension created by the balancing "chairs" create a quilt that I can look at again and again.  

"Balance #19"  Ann Johnston 2002  40" x 36" 

Hand dyed cotton fabric by the artist, machine appliqued and quilted. . 

 

I appreciate the various layers of quilting using different colors of thread. 

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