"Cataclysm" by Judith Content 02-27-16

I'm still in San Juan Bautista (until Monday).  Today we changed out some of the quilts Mary has hanging.  Usually they hang about three months, but I haven't been up for a while so it has been almost five months.  I needed to have "A Rash of Flamingoes" back to have it appraised before it goes to the Vermont Quilt Festival in June.  In its place we have hung Judith Content's all silk quilt "Cataclysm" which she made while thinking about the eruption of the volcano Krakatoa in the South Pacific in 1883.  There is a wonderful book about the volcano written by Simon Winchester.   The eruption was so enormous that it changed the climate around the world for a number of years. 

 

The silk charmeuse reflects the light which gives the quilt a lovely glow.

 

We had a delicious dinner of salmon cakes, little baked yellow potatoes and one of Mary's special green salads with avocado, grapes, tangerines, and her super vinaigrette dressing.  This is a GREAT B&B!

 

I am thinking of driving over to Asilomar tomorrow afternoon to say hello to the ladies at Empty Spools.  If you see me in my yellow hat, say Hello!

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Fabric from Back Porch and Creation Station 02-26-16

It is always a high point of being in Pacific Grove - going to Back Porch Fabrics.  Just feeling fabric is so satisfying.  But Gail Abeloe, the owner has such an eye for  exciting fabric; there is always something special and different on her shelves.  She also has lots of small projects made up to tempt shoppers -  handsome purses and totes, soft toys for children, and, of course, wonderful quilts hanging on the walls.  There will be a new exhibit in the classroom - Melinda Bula's quilts were being hung today.  If ever you are in Pacific Grove make it a point to stop at Back Porch Fabrics.

These are my selections from yesterday:

This is a 10th Anniversary fabric from Echino.  Since it is from Japan, the price is about double that of an American fabric (which is printed in Japan!).    I think it is linen, but I might be wrong.

 

This bird is sort of camouflaged in the field of green hexies. 

This was on the sale table.  Such a strange print, but not unusual for an Alexander Henry.

Here is a detail.

Another Alexander Henry.  I bought this one for Ruth McDowell.  I know she will do something wonderful with it.  I didn't buy enough for a dress!

This is called "Colorworks Concepts" by Deborah Edwards for Northcott.  The New York Beauty part is a panel, whereas the flying geese and stripes is yardage.  I bought enough to add a border all the way around.  It will be baby quilt size.

This is "8 Days a Week" from Windham Fabrics. Isn't it odd?   I wonder why it has the blank white area on the right.  One could make a calendar with the white space at the top for the name of the month.  But why would one do that?  I think I can use it in the Urban themed challenge for the art quilt group I belong to.

 

The two fabrics on the left are from Creation Station in Buellton.  The others are from Back Porch Fabrics.  They will just go in my fabric library.

The light fabric in the last picture is this batik, which has lots of possible applications.  I am following the frequent instruction to buy at least one light fabric. 

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Back Porch Fabrics today 02-25-16

Yes, Mary and I had a fabric fix at Back Porch Fabrics in Pacific Grove.  I know that some of you  will be there this coming week because the Empty Spools Seminar week one starts on Sunday.  Gail Abeloe has some fabulous fabrics for you, tell her hello from Del!  I did deposit a nice bit of change with them and will take pictures of the fabrics tomorrow and post them for you tomorrow night.  I'm really at the point that my fabric library is so large that one room may not hold it much longer.  I need to start making quilts, cull the library or never buy another yard of fabric.  Fat chance!  I bought a few pieces to send to Ruth McDowell as she doesn't get to Back Porch since she has retired. 

We had lunch at The Red House - it was delicious as always.  I had the BLT which must be eaten with a knife and fork it is too large to go in my mouth.  And Mary had the pork tenderloin sandwich on focaccia which she also ate with knife and fork.  We passed on dessert because the servings were to large we couldn't even finish them.  I brought my leftovers home for lunch tomorrow. 

Mary's husband Joe had his surgery on Tuesday and is do very well.  He'll be in the hospital for a while and then in a SNIF nearby.   I hope he will be home when I come up in early April for my class at Empty Spools with Sue Benner.

 

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A Driving Day 02-24-16

It turned into a long drive today - a total of nine hours!   The traffic on the 210 Fwy was mostly stop with a little go here and there.  It is supposed to be a 2 hour drive from Placentia to Thousand Oaks, but it took 3 hours this morning.   I met Karen Rips at a nice burger place called Hook Burgers, which I believe is a chain (that I have not heard of before).  My hot chicken sandwich on grilled sourdough was delicious and I think Karen's sandwich was very good also.  The drive from Thousand Oaks to Mary's front door was about 6 hours with heavy traffic all along 101 until Paso Robles where a bunch of cars were lined up in the right turn lane to go off the highway onto 46.  From there on it was pretty much clear sailing.  I stopped in Buellton at the Creation Station because I needed to get out of the car and walk around a bit.  Of course, I had to buy two half yards of fabric; a nice red and a lovely yellow.  And I stopped in Salinas for gas because Mary lives a long way from a gas station and I need to have a pretty full tank before I arrive here. 

Mary's husband Joe had surgery yesterday and is doing very well.  He will be in the hospital in Salinas for a while and then across the street in a SNIF.   Daughter Liz is here from Washington State so she will spend some time with Joe tomorrow and Mary will go into Pacific Grove with me for lunch and a fabric fix at Back Porch.  So, we will be there and at the  Red House for lunch. 

No pictures today, I needed to pay attention with all the traffic and after Paso Robles the sun was too far down in the west to get any good shots.  I'll do better going home. 

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On the Road Again 02-23-16

I saw the first Clivia of the year in the landscaping at my dentist office.  They are so brilliant against the brown and grey caused by the drought.   I always think it is too bad they have no fragrance.

 

 

I'll be off in the morning to see my friends Mary and Joe in San Juan Bautista.  Joe has just had surgery and won't be home while I am there, but I might be able to wave at him from the door to his room.   At any rate, I can keep Mary company when she is not visiting him in the hospital.  Maybe we will even drive to Pacific Grove this trip. 

 

I'll have my laptop with me so I will continue to post.  The SQG newsletter is finished and will be posted on Friday evening or Saturday morning.

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Monday Browsing 02-22-16

About Schmetz needle system:
http://thequiltshow.com/daily-blog/142-newsletter/24329-schmetz-needles-how-to-read-the-needle-package?utm_source=Infusionsoft&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2016_02_17_Newsletter_10&inf_contact_key=408e2acf733108fa158be5ca46677ea6cedadf384543050fe1ac4a87ef6c02ca

More quilts from AQS Arizona:

 http://thequiltshow.com/daily-blog/142-newsletter/24331-more-from-aqs-quiltweek-phoenix-2016-part-3?utm_source=Infusionsoft&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2016_02_17_Newsletter_7&inf_contact_key=6abeefe6ac927df30203a89c228af23c136a14101c1a108ee5af7c40d5ece44e

A presentation by the late Yvonne Porcella:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T8ayK9Um-k&feature=youtu.be

Interesting new fabric:

http://sashingstash.com/

Winning quilts from QuiltCon West:
http://play.smilebox.com/SpreadMoreHappy/4e444d344e5467774e7a453d0d0a 

Hancock Fabrics Files for Bankruptcy  (From Gen Q Magazine) Hancock’s  Fabrics  It can be so confusing when one family starts two separate companies that share the same name and sell similar products.  And then one company makes big financial news.  Earlier this month, Hancock Fabrics filed for bankruptcy protection.  Founded in 1957 by Dorothy and William Hancock from Mississippi, the chain operates more than 250 stores in 37 states.  From its headquarters still in Mississippi, the company’s CEO said the chain would use the bankruptcy process to close approximately 70 stores, increase its online presence, and explore a sale.  In Kentucky in 1969, Dorothy’s son Rowland launched Hancock’s of Paducah.  It remains a family-owned business and it is chugging along quite nicely.   From a 60,000 square foot location in Paducah, the family operates both a retail store popular with sewists visiting the American Quilters Society (AQS) and a mail-order business that ships premium fabrics and supplies to customers in 72 countries.

 

 

 

 

Revisiting a Ruth Powers quilt 02-21-16

One of the many birds among the 12X12 collection is this fabulous one from the 2009 SAQA online auction.  I have blogged about it before at:

http://www.delquilts.blogspot.com/2013/08/ruth-powers-12x12-quilt-posted-on-blog.html

"Yellow-headed Blackbird"  Ruth Powers  2009  12"W x 12"L

Machine pieced and machine quilted. Except for the white in the eye and the toes which are both embroidered.

Ruth has always wanted to see a yellow-headed blackbird in the wild, instead she did this pieced version for the 2009 SAQA auction.

She is very good with the details.  Notice the two toned beak.

And the pieced leg with two embroidered toes.

A complete label including how to get in touch with Ruth Powers.

www.ruthpowersartquilts.com

 

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