Surfside Quilters Guild - San Clemente, CA 04-14-22

Although I belong to a number of different guilds I only go to Surfside Quilters Guild.  It is at least an hour's drive, but it is the only daytime guild around.  And, though I hate to accept it, I just don't enjoy driving at night so much anymore.  And it once was my favorite time to be on the road.  Anyway, the guild meeting  was Tuesday and it was also the annual business session.  We had a quorum (maybe 70 in attendance), so it went quickly because the officers in charge were so organized. I am the "official" photographer, which isn't an office, but just a volunteer thing I do.  I finally bought a new phone/camera and have been doing a little experimenting to see what new I need to learn.  Not much, thank the goddess, it is essentially a newer version of my old Samsung Galaxy, so the learning curve is gentle.  Although I am struggling with pictures. Nothing new about that. .  

Surfside's membership is about 170 now, but before Covid it was a little over 200 and we had a hundred plus members at meetings.  Our membership is generally older, I suppose because we have daytime meetings which eliminates many quilters who have day jobs.  Ten years ago when the guild was formed the main impetus was the increasing need to not drive at night as we were all ageing, but still quilting!!  

We do a "Block a month" project where everyone who wants to participate makes a the block from a pattern available at meetings.  At the end of the year each person puts their blocks together in their own layout and a drawing is held for prizes at the April meeting.  There were a lot of finished tops/quilts this year and it was fun to see the different colors and settings.  Here they are on the tables and few being held up for the audience to see. 

Block of the Month quilts on display.

Block of the Month quilts on display.

Our very efficient president, Mary Arter, accomplishes so much I doubt that she sleeps.  She did both of these using the monthly patterns.

Wendy McCalley's name was drawn for the $100 cash prize.   Love those blues! 

The co-chairs of the Block of the Month created their own versions.  

Holly Betz (left) and Judy Kamman (right).

Our speaker this month was Dora Cary, quilter, designer, and owner of Orange Dot Quilts shop in Paso Robles, CA.  Interesting lady, lovely quilts, and many ideas and patterns.  Her designs are sort of traditional with a twist.  

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Wordless Wednesday 04-13-22

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Empty Spools 2020 - Other things. 04-11-22

Three meals a day are provided for students and the food is usually quite good.  They do fabulous veggies, fresh from the local fields and cooked correctly.  There is also a large bowl of salad at the table for dinner - fresh and tasty.  On Wednesday night there is no evening program and some students go off campus for dinner.  Several of us went to one of my favorite Pacific Grove restaurants right on the border with Monterey.  Il Vecchio has the best Carbonara I have ever eaten and they also offer a side of steamed broccoli which is my favorite vegetable.  Delicious!  I don't even remember what anyone else ate, but we did share a piece of chocolate cake for dessert.  Four forks were flying!  It was excellent. 

Judy, Andrea, and I went to the Red House (another favorite spot) on Thursday night for their scrumptious hamburgers.  It is always difficult to decide which of my favorites to order, but this was definitely a hamburger night.  Never fails to satisfy. 

On Thursday immediately after class (4pm) all the classrooms are open for "walkabout" so students can visit all of the classrooms.  We enjoyed seeing  the work others were doing and contemplated what classes we might take in the future.

We especially appreciated Priscilla Bianchi, who is from Guatemala and uses fabric from her native country in her quilts.  Combining that fabric with commercial fabric her students were creating some fascinating designs. 

We were so taken with the vintage Japanese yukata fabric that Patricia Belyea was selling in her classroom that I didn't take pictures of her students' work.  However, I did buy some of the fabric.  I have followed Patricia for a few years and she has moved to Eastern Washington now and will open her online shop this month. Check out Okan Arts.  Her students were working with the yukata fabric and commercial fabric and sewing both curved and straight seams.  Interesting. 

We admired the projects in classes with Katie Pasquini Masopust, Susan Carlson, Velda Newman, and Marianne Williamson.  

It is expensive to attend Empty Spools, but all food and lodging are provided so there aren't extra costs involved, unless you choose to eat out or buy fabric!  Start saving up for next year's session. The 2023 schedule will be out in early May.  

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