surfside Quilters Guild 02-16-23

Tuesday was the February meeting of Surfside Quilters Guild.  It was not raining - hurrah - as it has been the last three times I have driven down for the meeting.  It was a breeze down the I-5 to San Clemente for the 10am meeting.  

We almost had a full house, so maybe 85 - 90 members (out of 197), but I was disappointed that more didn't wear red.  I certainly did. 

There were lots of Valentine Show & Tell pieces, including this sweatshirt appliqued with Valentine motifs by Vickie Janis.  She is very productive and happy to share what she has been creating. 

She whipped up this graphic skinny pillow without a pattern. 

Charlotte Runyan showed this great Valentine pillow. 

Linda Warzyca displayed this pieced and appliqued quilt with a green button in the center of each block. 

Our speaker was Jane Hayworth from Auburn, CA. who does fabric collage using glue, no fusible.  Lots of animals, including this large shaggy dog.   Quite a good program.  

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That KoKo dog again 02-13-23

Well, he is my family, how can I not feature him!?   Yes, he is very indulged and gets lots of love and attention all day long.  When we walk our neighbors stop to give him a pet and whenever he hears children's voices he wants to go join in the fun.  

After all these years his favorite friend is Froggy - held together with lots of thread and green fabric scraps.  He is holding tight here.  His legs sort of blend in with his favorite fuzzy bed.  

The gardener I thought I hired has not been back!  Can you find KoKo on the short wall - top left?  He seems to enjoy making a path through the oxalis and malva.

Wending his way through the weeds.

Here he is waiting for me to get settled in the recliner.  Must be tired and leaning his head on the arm of the chair whilst standing on the footstool.  He was just at the groomer so he is very trim.  

Okay, in my lap and almost gone for the night.  When I get up to pee in the middle of the night he just moves over into his own chair and piles back on my lap when I come back and cover up.  Not sure he actually wakes up, it is so routine. 

Right now he is in his small bed next to my feet while I use the computer.  Keeping an eye on me in case I leave the room.  

What a guy!

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Quilt from Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection 02-12-23

Here is a repost from 2929 - about the time of Covid's invasion.  One of the many bird quilts in the Collection.  

Quilts from SAQA 2020 online Auction #3 10-23-20

Another bird quilt for TCQC.  I believe this is a fish hawk from South America.  I couldn't find a website for the artist Eliana Arruda, but I believe she is in Brazil.  I hope that she will see this post and contact me.  

"Looking for 2020"  Eliana Arrunda - Brazil  2020 12" square

Cotton fabric, perle cotton thread, cotton thread.

Machine raw edge applique and machine quilting.

Hand embroidery.

The body of the bird and the leaves are loose squares and strips of cloth.  The green background is "confetti" pieced.  

High contrast back fabric. 

I wish everyone would put a contact on the label - website, e-mail, address, whatever.  

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Back 20 years 02-11-23

I started attending classes at Empty Spools Seminars at Asilomar (Pacific Grove, CA) in March 1991.  Except for the Covid years I have gone every year.   I find a favorite teacher and take all the different classes they offer and then repeat them.  I suppose my motivation is to go and enjoy the atmosphere and the people and to restore my creative spirit.  Not necessarily interested in learning a new technique, but most of the teachers I take always have something new to share.  

Sue Benner Landscape class March 2003 

This is a really terrible image, but it is the oldest one from Empty Spools that I have in my computer.  Sue Benner is center front and the classroom is the chapel, the very worst location for a class.  There I am seated, wearing a hat of course.  To my right is Corky Ledbetter who now lives in Savannah, GA, and doesn't come out these days.  Behind me with a maroon undershirt is Elizabeth Byrom who now lives full time in France.   The second lady behind Sue is Mary Leakey, long time friend who lives in San Juan Bautista, CA.  On the far left of the picture the second lady in is Judy House who died in 2005.  I have class lists for every class and I'm sure that some of these students have been in classes with me in the last twenty years.  Some years I took two sessions and once I did three (which is a whole different story).  These days I am not in good physical shape and can barely manage one session.  I am registered for Sue Benner's class in late March and am so looking forward to going; hope I can keep up. 

Such treasured memories over 32 years.  More to come, I hope. 

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Friday Food 02-10-23

Once in a while I have the urge to drift back in time and have breakfast at a sort of old fashioned "CAFE" (see that in neon).   That means "Paul's Country Kitchen", which used to be the Two Sisters Cafe, in Placentia.  Since it changed hands there is new paint and some decor, but basically it is the same cafe it has been for the thirty plus years I have lived here.   And is so much like cafes I have visited across the country and, of course, during my childhood all those years ago.  My favorite in Portland, OR, was Buttermilk Corner in downtown, a rare, but wonderful treat.  

Paul's serves the usual cafe breakfasts.  This time I had two enormous pancakes, two over-easy eggs, two slices of crisp bacon, and about three cups of coffee w/cream.  I can never finish the pancakes which cover the standard dinner plate and they always ask if I want a takeout box and I want to say in a shocked tone " doggy bag pancakes -yuck!", but I just say "no thank you".  They are very good, but I doubt that would carry over into my microwave!  Besides I would have to provide the syrup.  

                                 

Their indoor sign is painted on fabric, but not quilted.  

Somehow it FEELS like a quilt and makes me feel at home. 

Just below this lovely sign is a large crock pot with water. 

And in the crock pot are a bunch of long-necks (as in beer) topped with spouts which are filled with delicious maple syrup and kept warm to top your delicious, enormous pancakes.  So clever.

Of course, there is inflation.  Never thought I would pay this much for a pancake breakfast.  But it was worth every bite.  

Meanwhile, out in the parking lot are perfectly trimmed Bradford Pear trees in full bloom.  Gorgeous. 

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What is blooming 02-09-23

The climate and microclimates of Southern California allow such a wide variety of plants that there is always something blooming.  Here are two that are in full bloom right now.   And there are always some landscape roses, mostly white, which grow as bushes and do not need pruning.  

Argyranthemum frutescens 

Marguerite

This is the plant....

...and the flower.

Aloe arborescens Mill.  Candelabra aloe

This is different than Red Hot Poker which is another plant with similar blooms. 

These are different than Red Hot Pokers which is a different plant. 

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Wordless Wednesday 02-08-23

 

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