Memories of Montana 2005

In 2005 I was just making the transition from my well traveled SLR to a digital point-and-shoot. At the beginning I had my SLR photos transferred to discs and then loaded them into my computer.  That didn't last long, it was an awkward process, and I soon used my digital for all pictures, learning to download them directly from camera to computer.  It seemed an miraculous procedure then and it still amazes me when I consider how flawless the process works.   2005 was the summer I went to Kalispell, MT, to take a class with Ruth McDowell and fall in love with Kalispell.  I remembered it from a visit in the early 1970s as a complete cow town, so was delighted to find a growing city with better restaurants and lovely flower filled neighborhoods.  And saddened that so much of the agricultural and pasture land was cut up into "country lots" adorned with McMansions. 


The roof of this barn is more pink than red - guess they didn't buy non-fading roofing material.

Lots of old fashioned flowers and this house almost always had a sprinkler going.

The streaks in the foreground are caused by the early morning sun shining through tall trees.  One thing I didn't think to take a picture of were tomatoes in pots sitting in little red wagons so they could be moved into the sun throughout the day.  At least that is what I saw one man doing.  Yeah, save those trees.

Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative Auction 07-07-11

"I Know a Rhino" Ami Simms 2006 7.5"W x 5"L

All those years ago I purchased this little quilt at an AAQI Auction and posted it on my Blog at http://delquilts.blogspot.com/2009/11/small-quilt-from-tcqc-11-08-09.html
Over the years I have made and purchased quilts to support the very important research to find a cure for this terrible disease.   There is currently an auction and two of my fabric postcards are included.  You can check out what is on offer at:


http://www.benefitbidding.com/listings/categories/index.cfm?category=965774286

Wordless Wednesday 07-06-11

More SAQA conference/Denver 07-05-11

 
Here is a picture taken by Linda Colsh at the SAQA conference.  It must have been at one of the "breakout" sessions during the day.  I wrote down the names of people at the tables at each session, but I don't know which session this was!  She looks wonderful, doesn't she?  Such great coloring and clothing.  If you know who it is, please let me know.  As for me - I look rather mean, don't I?  I was tempted to remove a few facial bumps and bulges, but this is what I look like, so why pretend?  I'm wearing one of Rayna Gillman's fabulous silk crepe scarves and intend to do a Blog post about "art scarves" soon - as soon as I take some pictures. 

Carol Ann Waugh kindly sent the following information:  This lady is Dianne Denholm. She owned a sewing/fabric store in Denver for many years and then started TACtile -- a fiber art center.  http://www.tactilearts.org/

More 4th of July

Corky and I drove down to Long Beach this afternoon because it was too hot to walk at my house and I had a couple things to do there before his parents return tomorrow.  It was the perfect temperature with just a slight breeze and the neighborhood was celebrating with patio parties and cookouts and boating and lots of decorations.  Hanging swags of bunting on the fences that face the water is a popular thing to do.  And I am always a sucker for a red umbrella with the sun shining through.

Remember the "canning buttons" post?  These people like to hang aprons on their palm trees.

We drove back to Placentia and went to visit the block party in Carol and Dick's neighborhood.  There are three or four parties within in a couple blocks - one with a 'bounce house', one with a sign "bike parade", two with barriers to traffic going down the street.  The neighbors on the Bednar's street have been doing this on the 4th for over 25 years.  When there were children at home they had volleyball and baseball and other games, but now mostly it is just the parents sitting around visiting, catching up with the news and .... eating!  I guess I only took pictures of desserts - wonder why?

This is a giant Mrs. Fields' chocolate chip cookie covered with icing.  It takes a super-sized pizza cutter!  It was very good and there is one family with three college students home for the summer.  Guess who took home the leftover cookie?

The trifle was also delicious.  Full of strawberries and blueberries in a bed of rich custard and whipped cream.   I lusted after the entire bowl, but settled for a large serving spoonful. 

 M-m-m-m.

Corky is back to not having his picture taken.  I did five shots and just as I pressed the shutter he turned his head away. 

When I finally was quick enough he looks so bored and disgusted.  He had a red, white and blue neckerchief, a red, white and blue bow under his chin and a flag attached to his stroller.  He could have been in a parade. 

We were back home a little before eight, just in time for evening pills.  Then Corky curled up in his bed and went to sleep, snoring, of course.  When his mommy called at 10:30 I woke him up so he could go out to do his business.  Then he went back to sleep and is again snoring away.  It was an exhausting 4th of July!

Happy Fourth of July 07-04-11

Here is a paragraph about the Google Doodle for today and some facts about our Independence Day.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2388023,00.asp

 
Taken near Burlington, Kansas, on Memorial Day 2011

Wendy Huhn quilt posted on Blog 07-03-11

The textile part of this piece is the round section surrounded by beads.  The square part is Masonite (or something like that), painted and with painted dots to match the background on the textile part.  I purchased this from the online auction of the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, so I had not seen it "in-the-fabric" before it arrived at my house.  I like this work very much, but I was disappointed that it is, in essence, "framed" so that it must have special storage and cannot easily be carried as part of the programs I do.  When buying online or from a catalog I sometimes forget to check every tiny aspect of the quilt and thus have ended up with about ten that must be boxed and are not easily transported. Oh, well!

"The Unanswered Question" - Wendy Huhn - Dexter, Oregon  2010  12" x 12"

Hand embroidery on cotton, plastic screen, glass beads, plastic sequins, painted wood base.

I enjoyed meeting Wendy at a Visions gathering and am impressed with her great techniques.  She uses all kinds of surface design and most of her pieces I have seen are done with paint, transfers, dyes, screens, discharging, stamping, and many other techniques.  I was not aware that this piece was hand embroidered until I received it.  The rings on the fabric are couched, the solid areas (tiger, stump, wooden horses, man) are split stitch with an outline of stem stitch.  Then there is the tiny seed stitching on the rabbits.   I said something to a friend about the crow made of screen and she didn't understand what I meant - she had not noticed the bird!  I don't know what any of the figures mean and Wendy doesn't care if I understand.  I like that about her designs - each viewer can interpret them in the context of their own imagination - their own experiences.   I like the imagery and don't care what any of individual "creatures" means. 

I assume this is her original framing technique, I've not seen it elsewhere, but then I don't usually buy framed works.  The keyhole slot to hang the piece on the wall doesn't work for me, so I have put in a looped cord with a large knot I stuffed into the keyhole.  I think this is not one of the quilts I sometimes hang backwards!

 
I'm glad this "Unanswered Question" is in the Collection, but it will not be traveling very much.  A shame, because the needlework is quite wonderful. 
I hope you will take the time to look at Wendy's website - it is very colorful and there is a large gallery of her work (clickable thumbnails).  Notice the dismembered lady on her porch!   
http://www.wendyhuhn.com/