Blog Sabbatical 03-27-09

I'm going to take a few days off from blogging. I have just gotten behind on everything and I need to put some brain power on a few other things. I will be back soon and I will definitely post a quilt from TCQC on Sunday evening.

Meanwhile, I found this image tonight on Weather Underground - awesome!

http://tinyurl.com/dlvzgb

The main site URL for Approver's Choice images is:

http://www.wunderground.com/wximage/viewimages.html?gallery=EDITORSPICK

Results of Special Event

The Fiberart For A Cause Reverse Auction raised $6250 for the American Cancer Society. Not a record, but still a nice donation. All of the quilts were sold. This was the last of Virginia Spiegel's FFAC auctions. Thanks for your participation. Raised $6250 for the American Cancer Society

Postcards 03-26-09

I haven't made any fiberart postcards for several years. But I have just joined a postcard exchange group so I was looking back - these three are from 2005. I haven't found my box of postcard making supplies and ideas and I have no memory of where Liz and I might have placed it. But it will turn up. This new group does themes, so I doubt if any of my previous ideas will fit. Who knows what I will need to come up with.

Redbird flying August 2005

Autumn Fern September 2005

Dappled Fern September 2005

The ferns developed together. For the top one I cut the fern fronds from the blue-violet fabric w/fusible already on and backed that with the yellow.

For the bottom one I arranged the blue-violet pieces (cut from the first fern card) on the green, fused them and then covered them with netting. The ferns are not identical because I had to fill in for some I had 'miscut'.

Corky riding 03-25-09

I had never been around dogs that ride in cars until I met Corky. At six months he was riding like a pro and I have never seen him the slightest bit disturbed. He likes to go fast and will complain when I slow down to exit the freeway/highway. Sometimes when we are in his neighborhood or mine I roll down the windows and only go about 20 MPH - I guess most dogs love to have the wind blowing in their face. Weird, eh?

People are amused when they look over and see him sitting up in the seat looking through the windshield - a real navigator look. But I worry about the sun in his eyes, maybe I should get him sun goggles.

Sometimes he sits looking at me as though he is going to make a comment. Here the wind has fluffed up his ears.

And today he was just tired, so he propped his chin on the edge of his bed and went to sleep. He is home with the Poodle Parents tonight and, as usual, I miss him.

Reminder of special event 03-25-09

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

A note from Virginia Spiegel
The Fifth and Final Reverse Auction opens today, March 24, at 10 a.m. CST with 100% of the proceeds donated directly to the American Cancer Society: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/ReverseAuctionArtwork2009.html
The minimum donation will drop each day through Thursday, March 26. Wait too long and your favorite piece of fiber art will be gone! The generous artists who have donated their fiber artwork include:
Natalya Aikens
Gerrie Congdon
Marjorie DeQuincy
Rayna Gillman
Carol Larson
Linda Teddlie Minton
Susie Monday
Judy Coates Perez
Leandra Spangler
Roxane Stoner
Don't forget that you have two additional ways to support FFAC before it fades off into the sunset. You still have time to meet the April 1 jpeg deadline to donate artwork to Collage Mania and Collage Mania itself opens on May 5. All the details are here: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CollageManiaCall08.html

Thank you for your ongoing support of Fiberart For A Cause.
Warm regards,Virginia

Another flowering tree 03-23-09

The tubular flowers on this tree resemble those of the Jacaranda, but not exactly, so I don't think it is the same family. I asked the lady who lives in the house and she said these trees are native to Brazil. I've looked through a zillion websites of Brazilian Trees, and flowering trees and pink flowering trees. However I am not sure that I have identified it correctly. It is a most lovely shade of pink. Look at: http://tinyurl.com/coqk5v

Pink Trumpet Tree -- Tabebuia impetiginosa

Yellow roses 03-23-09

Should we share sadness in our blogs? I try not to, nor to talk about our ailments (sometimes referred to as an "Organ Recital") and aches and pains. However, yesterday was a special day in my life - my late husband and I would have been married 35 years. We were both 35 when we married and talked sometimes about having our fiftieth anniversary - and laughed at the fantasy of it! When we were first married he would occasionally give me yellow roses (my favorite), but as the years went by that went by the wayside. However, I always think of those early, happy years when I see yellow roses. Such lovely memories.

All these pictures are from the same rose bush which grows in a neighbor's yard about six houses south. I think it is one of the most luscious yellows that I have seen.

I don't know the name of it, though I keep looking through rose catalogs, websites and magazines. The people who live in that house now moved in long after this rose was planted, besides they are obviously not gardeners. If anyone knows the name I hope you let me know.

No sympathy messages are necessary, he has now been gone longer than we were married. Just send good thoughts! Del

Elizabeth Barton Quilt 03-22-09

"Gathering Storm" Elizabeth Barton 2006 44"W x 26.5"L

Elizabeth was working on this quilt in August 2006 while she was Artist in Residence at the Empty Spools Seminar at Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, CA. By the end of the session I knew it needed to be in the TCQC. Elizabeth dyes/screens/creates all the fabric in her quilts; and I particularly love her shibori and the way she uses it in her quilts. The towns and buildings she creates are inspired by her native York, England, which she still visits and still photographs. I posted her quilt "Chimney Pots" in January 2009 and there are still two more of her quilts in the Collection.

Here is a detail showing both her hand quilting and machine quilting. She likes to use shiny threads to add a little sparkle and she also uses a variety of fabrics including silk chiffon and sateen.

You can see Elizabeth's quilts and read her Bio on her website:

http://ebarton.myweb.uga.edu/