"Liberty" by Kathleen McCabe - Coronado, CA 09-10-11

This quilt was purchased for the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection at the SAQA 2008 online auction.  It is only 10"W x 11.5"L, so smaller than the standard 12x12 auction quilts.  When bidding on auction quilts it is important to check the size and also if the quilt is mounted or framed - in case those things make a difference to you! 

Remember that the SAQA 2011 online auction starts on Monday, Sept 12th. 

Check out the website:  http://www.saqa.com/saqa-u.php?ID=1791

To learn how the auction works see  http://www.saqa.com/news.php?ID=1186

"Liberty"  Kathleen McCabe - Coronado, CA  2008  10"W x 11.5"L 

Cotton fabric, machine applique, machine quilting.

Kathleen's original technique uses small rectangular "tiles" to create the texture on her portrait quilts.  In this quilt I especially like the G-clef used to show a curl in Liberty's hair.

This is a wonderful collection of black and white fabrics. 

There is some net in the upper left of this closeup - I have never remembered to ask Kathleen about it when I see her.  I don't see her often, just when I get to San Diego where she is very active in Visions.

 

Both black and white threads are used for the quilting.

 

www.kathleenmccabecoronado.com

Friday Feet 09-09-11

Dunsmuir, CA  August 2011

Whenever I drive through northern California I try to make a stop in Dunsmuir.  As a child traveling by train from Portland to Los Angeles the stop at this forested mountain town with its fountain "The Best Water in the World" was the highlight of the trip.  The wonderful old wooden station was torn down years ago and replaced with a really ugly "box".   Most of the buildings are slowly crumbling as is the economy.  The old train yard and round house are knee high in weeds and the pavement is cracked and broken.  It is all very sad.  Someone patched this sidewalk across from the train yard and added a little color. 
#   #   #

APWQ QShow - a few more quilts 09-08-11

I sorted through the APWQ QShow pictures and found a few that I failed to post.

Mabel really enjoyed this quilt, because she likes complex piecing.  It took me a several minutes to figure out the New York Beauty part of this.  The special exhibit "Star Light, Star Bright" is composed of quilts made by members of the Association of Pacific West Quilters.

I showed this quilt in the background of the picture Mabel took of me in my cart - I think it is a very special quilt.  Especially effective is the way Lisa has used the various colors to give the effect of light shining through.

 

The "Spirit of the West" special exhibit showed the quilts that will travel for one year and be auctioned at the 2012 QShow.   I believe they are all 24" x 36", like the auction quilts in this year's "Living Colour".

The special exhibit "Here Comes the Judge" included 42 quilts from 24 Nat'l Quilting Association judges.  I am not familiar with any of their names because I stopped paying attention to judging quite a few years ago.  The workwomanship on this one is outstanding.   I wish she had explained WHY she remade the quilt.  Is it supposed to represent an "H"? 

 

When I first saw this quilt hanging I thought it might be a Marilyn Bedford work!  Faith learned her lessons well and made a quite beautiful and sentimental quilt. 

Looking back at Mt. Vernon, WA 09-07-11

When I was almost to Mt. Vernon, WA, I stopped at a highway rest stop and discovered this old tree stump.  It had just started raining, the first and last rain I saw on this road trip.

It is hard to imagine the size of the entire tree, although cedars grow tall and wide they are not as tall as Douglas Fir or Coastal Redwoods.  But can you imagine an entire forest of cedars 20 feet in diameter and 200 feet tall?  Awesome.

This is the best I could do on this image - click to enlarge and make it more legible.

This closeup is of the inside of the stump.

 

Still raining when I left the rest stop, but it stopped about the time I reached Mabel's house.

Looking back at Pacific Grove visit 09-06-11

On Wednesday, August 31, Mary and I drove to Pacific Grove to have lunch and fondle some fabric.

Lunch, of course, was at the Red House, my favorite spot in Pacific Grove.  This was my view out the window looking to the West.  The sun did come out while we were there - it turned into a beautiful day.

First, I had a latte.  Not as good as Starbuck's, but adequate.

Mary ordered one of the specials - sand dabs - and let me have a bite.  M-m-m-m, good!

I had my "usual" the Portabello sandwich (with extra sauce).  I've eaten it so many times and always enjoy it.  But this time I had a sulfite attack afterward and I don't know what might have had sulfites added for "freshness" - maybe the sauce?  I will have to find out before I order it again.

We stopped at the market for an olallieberry pie for our birthday celebration.  And it was delicious!

Then we stopped at Back Porch Fabrics where we were greeted by the color coordinated Wendy.  It is always so colorful at this shop and Wendy just added an extra note.

Kathleen was folding colorful fat quarters and ready to cut our fabric - whenever we made up our minds. 

 

Back at Mary's I had to photograph her deck flower boxes - should have clipped out the dead marigold first!

 

I love the color of this petunia and it goes so well with the marigold and the sweet alyssum.

It was a lovely, quiet visit with Mary and Joe.  I didn't go out at all after the day in Pacific Grove, so I was quite well rested by the time I headed home on Sunday.   It is a treasured friendship and I appreciate all that they do for me. 

The Origin of Cotton Fabric 09-05-11

When I was driving down I-5 yesterday there were alerts on the overhead signs saying that due to construction I-5 was reduced to one lane and delays were to be expected.  The suggested detour was east on CA 46 to Hwy 99 and then south again.  Not a road I have ever driven, so off I went.  Not many drivers took the advice and I had the road pretty much to myself.  The drive was through farm land, mostly cotton and almonds, but other crops I can't identify.  Cotton used to be very common along I-5, but less so in recent years.  This drive gave me a chance to take some close up photos.

It is the only crop I know of that has the dark green background of palmate leaves and large pale yellow flowers. 

It is grown in rows, but they are very close together.

The flowers resemble a hibiscus blossom.  Or maybe a rose.

The flowers are clasped by the toothed sepals which eventually will hold the cotton fibers.  The dried sepals are what tear the hands of those picking the cotton, which is why gloves are helpful! 

 

The flowers die and the cotton boll develops. 

Home again, Home again 09-04-11

I drove directly to LBeach to see Corky whilst his parents went to a dinner party.  Gosh, how I miss him when I'm gone.  He was happy to see me and we went for his walk together.  What a guy!  Total mileage for the trip (including LBeach) was 3408 miles.

White poodle, beige carpet and lots of light reflection from the water in Marine Stadium.  He is fifteen now, but since he is white his grey hairs don't show, so people think he is a puppy. 

There was a spectacular sunset this evening - the water in the foreground is Marine Stadium.

This image is further to the north than the one above - there were more fluffy clouds there.  A few hours later as I was driving home it rained!  For about five miles it really came down - strange for September, but I suppose it was just lingering from the August monsoon season.  No rain at my house - just a lot of mail!