PIQF- 2007 10-20-07

I always takes me some days to get pictures of an event edited and organized. Partially because after I have been on the computer for several hours my eyesight deserts me and I have to get away for some eye rest. But I now have all the images from Pacific International Quilt Festival - 2007 on an album which you can see at: http://picasaweb.google.com/DELQLTS/PIQF2007101107?authkey=t4EkrNTMgjM

I took the pictures I chose to take and made comments on them that are strictly my opinion. One thing we have noticed each year is the excessive quilting on many of the quilts - quilting that has no relationship to the design and actually obliterates it. And each year it seems to be more prevalent. I wondered out loud, "why?" and someone said, "because they can." I'm not the only one that is bothered by this trend, many people spoke of it while standing in front of a quilt, shaking their heads. There are several quilts pictured that the quiltmaker is 'spot on' w/matching the design and the quilting - I do admire those quilts and those quiltmakers.

It looks like spring! 10-19-07

Yes, it is autumn and many trees are putting on their autumn leaves. But one tree here in SCalifornia is just putting out lovely pink flowers. Today I drove over to the toxic waste collection station which is located in a light industrial area probably constructed in the 1960s. At that time it appears that Silk Floss Trees (Chorisia speciosa) were very popular with landscapers, so there are many in the area. Native to Argentina and Brazil, this tree grows to 50 feet and might spread as wide. They are not particularly good street trees as the roots will lift pavements in a very few years.

The flowers are very pretty and on different trees range from palest pink to almost burgundy. I have never noticed any fragrance.

As the petals fall large football shaped seed pods are formed and grow up to a foot long. Inside, the seeds are cushioned in soft, white, silky fibers that in their native country are sometimes used as filling for cushions and quilts. Aha, that is the quilt connection!

The mature limbs and the trunk of the tree are covered with fat thorns that can be as long as an inch on the older wood. Some people think this is one of the most beautiful trees in the world. I understand they are also grown in this country in Florida.

My dead battery box is empty and I am feeling very virtuous!

One more item for the environment 10-17-07

One very important reminder to help our environment...

Don't throw used batteries in the trash! They need to go to the toxic waste dump. We didn't think we used that many batteries; then, about twenty years ago, when we started NOT throwing them in the trash, we discovered just how many we do use. Clocks, flashlights, Walkman, etc., - they add up to between 50 and 60 used batteries in a year. Now I collect them in a small box in the garage and every year around my birthday I take them to the toxic waste dump, along with unused cans of paint, dead electronic stuff, past date prescriptions and old OTC medicines. It is now a month past my birthday so I need to make a trip! The picture above is a year's worth - 51 AA batteries, 3 AAA batteries and one A23 (what was that from??). Just think if three million people used just this number of batteries what a mountain of leaking lead and other nasty stuff would go into the earth. Be kind to yourself, be kind to Earth.

Walking w/the Poodle Prince 10-16-07

One of the many good things about being a doggy nanny is having to take the little guys for a walk. Corky, the Poodle Prince, has gone home this evening, but for the three days he was with me we had to take a good walk every afternoon. He KNOWS what time it is and starts reminding me about a quarter to five. Yesterday we drove to Tri-Cities Park (Placentia, Fullerton, Yorba Linda) to make two circuits of the lake. The Sweet Gum trees are turning red and yellow and there were lots of people enjoying the park - walking, feeding the ducks, playing catch, walking their dog, just sitting looking at the view.

Even this little egret who was intent on something in the water. There are usually a few human fishing people out, but I haven't seen anyone catch anything and I didn't see this guy catch a bite for dinner either.

"Tote It" reusable market bag 10-15-07

"Tote It" a pattern by Nancy Ota www.nancyota.com

For reasons of their own Blogger would not let me post this image on the previous post. So, here in its very own post is my reusable market bag.

Blog Action Day 10-15-07

Today has been designated "Blog Action Day" by an international group of bloggers concerned about the environment. Their website is:

http://blogactionday.org/

There is a video clip on youtube with some words to say about this movement:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KqxEjIoTlM&NR=1



And quite a few bloggers who are art quiltmakers are following the trend. Terri Grant in Portland, OR, has posted a list of blog addresses on her blog:

http://andsewitgoes.blogspot.com/

As for me....

Other than driving wherever I want to go, I make an effort to do my share. I recycle everything I possibly can, so much so that I have only a tiny bag of 'garbage' on trash day and I usually put it in one of my neighbors' overflowing garbage cans. One less stop for the huge, gas guzzling trash truck. I have a reusable bag to take to the market and somehow I remember to take it. Although I have been known to get up to the cashier's line and have to put my basket aside to run out to the van for my reusable bag!! And then get back in line (I think of it as punishment for forgetting). About once a month I take a trip to the toxic drop-off site w/anything that isn't supposed to go in the garbage. That includes a sealed container of discarded pins and needles so workers in the landfills are not exposed to random punctures.

I do what I can and hope that all of you will also.

Best of World quilt 10-14-07

As I said previously, the high point of PIQF is seeing the quilts from the Mancuso's "World Quilt Competition". I don't know how the quilts are chosen to tour, but I know that what we see is only a representation of the total. They do always have the Best of World and also the Best of each country. Of course, I only take pictures of those that I am particularly attracted to and, it seems, I take fewer pictures each year. Getting jaded?

Here is a full shot, a detail and the sign of this year's winner.