Newest quilt in Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection 03-31-24

I am not a basketball fan, nor a fan of any sport, but the color, workwomanship, and movement in Deb's quilt are so wonderful I couldn't resist.

"Purple Reign"  2024   Deb Cashatt - California  50"W X 60"L

Cotton fabric, Machine pieced and quilted on domestic machine.

Her desgn technique is called Symbograph.

This is all machine piecing, every tiny piece!

And such even, close quilting. 

https://debcashatt.com

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Cindy Lohbeck on Dyeing for Surfside QGuild 03-25-24

If you are interested in dyeing fabric you would surely enjoy a class with Cindy Lohbeck of Dyehards Studios.   She started tie dyeing during the 70s - T-shirts Hippie style - and has continued to learn, invent, and design to become an amazing dye artist.   At our meeting she showed many variations and even gave a  quick demo of ombre dyeing. Her workshop the next day was  full up  and the students did some fabulous ice-dyed mandalas.  

This is a  little more than half of an ice dyed quilt back  by Cindy!  See the center in the round motif at top center.  I cannot  imagine how she folded and clamped this to create  such a pattern. 

  

Here is another large piece (in its entirety.  Here it is easier to see how she placed the folds and clamps.

This finished quilt was created with potato dextrin painted on the fabric and then dyed with indigo.  

Cindy shows one of her indigo shibori works.  She has taught herself how to work large. 

It was a very good presentation and workshop.  Cindy sells a great kit on her website and teaches online and around the country. 

www.dyehardstudio.com

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The park has reopened 03-22-24

Construction is complete on Parque de Arroyo Verde, the park we look into from our backyard.   It is now a "play"  park with many different physical activities, including six or seven climbing structures, a cement ping-pong table, a zip line, many metal benches, and cement tables w/benches attached.  The grand opening was yesterday afternoon (after  being rained out twice before) and it was a gorgeous sunshiny day.  KoKo and I walked about 5:30pm and walked all the way to the back, which is what we see from our house.  

The view from our backyard. 

And the view from the park.  Our house is the blue/grey one on the right.

Looking  back at the entrance on Palm Drive.  The white vertical poles at bottom right are the zipline supports.  On the left is another climbing  structure.

We will walk there again in the future, although KoKo is not impressed because there are no low bushes that he needs to water.

In a nostalgic vein....  Today was anniversary 50 for Floyd and I. And it has been 34 years since his death.  Time just slips away, doesn't it. 

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Each day when we walk past this hedge the fragrance is stronger.  It is buzzing with bees who are so intent with their pollen gathering that they don't pay any attention to us.  

Nobody trims it until it covers too much of the sidewalk.

Intertwined are two different shrubs.  In the top left corner are the pale pink flowers of Raphiolepis (Indian Hawthorn). across the bottom you see the violet blooms of the plant I can never remember the name of!!!   I have been working for half an hour and can't locate it.  So, I will add it when I remember.   

Update

LANTANA!  A  very common landscape plant in SCalifornia.   Comes in many different colors and growth patterns.

Here in the center is the Raphiolepis (Indian Hawthorn) and the violet flowers (lantana) going from top left to lower right.

Spring has sprung and we shouldn't have much more rain until the light monsoon in August. 

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Sky High 03-18-24

When it was time for our evening walk it was raining and thundering.  Quite odd because the sun was shining brightly all around.  When it had dried off a bit it was 7pm and almost dark.   As we stepped out the door I looked up to see a Space X rocket rising in the NW; Vandenberg Space Force Base with a payload of satellites.   It is a wonderous sight and each launch leaves a different, but awesome contrail.

I don't remember seeing a break in the trail before,  maybe going through a different level of atmosphere. 

The "head" develops, broadens, and starts to dissipate. 

Still going, beyond my view. 

Far behind the disappearing head the trail curls in the atmospheric breezes.

The sun is almost beyond the horizon, but the contrail it so high it still reflects the light.

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Quilts by Del Thomas 03-16-24

Just looking through my photos for a picture of something else, I noticed these images that I am sure I have never posted.  They are all original designs, machine pieced, machine quilted.  In 2007 I belonged to a fiber postcard exchange group and was really into doing these little jewels.   I may have a couple in my storage somewhere, but most were exchanged or sold.  

Exhibit at Back Porch Fabrics  2007

"Hanging Ring"  2005   24"square  Pieced

Postcard  2007

"Mahjong in the Garden"  2005

"Late Autumn II"  2006  24"L X 18"W

"Making Friends"  2007  11"L  X 15"W

"Nipsy, the Cat"  Postcard 2007

Postcard  2010

                 "Parrot Percussion" Del Thomas - Placentia, CA 1996 30"W x 85"L 

"Cactus Flower"  2000  48"L X 61.5W All pieced using Ruth B. McDowell's methods. 

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Spring Weather 03-15-24

Spring weather can be rather surprising here - maybe everywhere.  We started on our evening walk about 6pm and had light sprinkles.  But in half a block they stopped so we went on walking.  Then the sky straight up was a lovely clear blue.  Temp about 60F. 

 Off to the east was this huge fluffy mass of clouds reflecting the sunset.  

But looking to the west was a threating cloud.

Notice the redbud tree just in bloom just to  the left of center. 

Just a few more steps to the north and looking back at the menacing cloud to the west. 

We had a terrific wind yesterday with limbs down and things blown around on my patio.  Outside our kitchen window is the ficus tree in my neighbor's yard.  It needs to be pruned but with the unsettled weather we have been having the tree trimmer has not been scheduling much.  I took thie following picture as a video, but try as I migh I cannot  figure out  how to post it as a video.  So you cannot see the wild gyrations in the  wind. 

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