Fabric tonight 10-25-21

I definitely don't NEED any more fabric, but I do love printed cottons and there are always some that I cannot pass up.  Being at Back Porch Fabrics in Pacific Grove, CA, (the world's best quilt shop) was sooo wonderful.  But I did restrain myself and only purchased nine fabrics.

These four were all on the sale table.  Gail Abeloe, the shop owner, doesn't let fabrics sit around on the shelves.  If they are not selling she marks them down so that when you go to the shop there are always sale fabrics and lots of new fabrics to tempt us.  

When I went back the second time I was looking for a background for a Challenge quilt and there was the coordinate to the Challenge fabric of which I didn't take a picture.  I had changed my mind about the background for the Challenge and found the Grunge green which is a good color match. 

I also bought enough of this drapery weight fabric to make a tote bag for a chicken loving friend, using Gail's pattern sheet.  The red wattles are bright red. 

At PIQF I spotted these two which I had been sort of looking for.  Nelda in the art quilt group used the white for the background of her Himalayan Poppies quilt.  

 

While I was in Pacific Grove I set up my machine and planned to work on the Challenge quilt for Canyon Quilters in San Diego.  I had everything with me and bought the new fabric for the background and the backing.  But other things got in the way.  Since I have been home I have been working on the quilt.  

I sandwiched using a sample of Mountain Mist Cotton/Silk batting which has been on the shelf for years.  I quilted the sandwich in a plaid pattern.  

I fused the Challenge fabric and cut out the red flowers and a few leaves. But they are not enough to make the wreath I was looking for.  I am cutting leaves and dots from my fabric library to see if I can fill it out a bit. 

And this is the back!  I think I will need a binding of this same fabric. 

I will need to work hard at machine appliqueing the flowers because the quilt has to be turned in on Saturday.  Always a procrastinator!

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Last day in Pacific Grove, CA 10-16-21

And it was a busy day.  

 

Had this hearty breakfast at Toastie's - 2 eggs over easy, five enormous strips of excellent bacon, six 3" pancakes with syrup, 3 cups of coffee and lots of people watching.  Something I have certainly missed during the pandemic.  I do love to observe people and make up stories about them.

I saved half the bacon and ate it for dinner tonight with my left over broccoli and a hard boiled egg from home.  Tasty!

Then another browse at Back Porch.  It is the BEST quilt shop ever.  And the ladies are so friendly and helpful.  I was specifically looking for a background for the Canyon Quilters Challenge and bought a piece of greenish-greyish Scrunge.  Thought I might get going on that 14" quilt today, but ran out of time. 

As you see, a fabulous day and there were people all along the road that follows Monterey Bay to the end of Hwy 68 at the entrance to Asilomar.  There were people setting up their spots to relax.

 

And people watching the birds, like this long line of brown pelicans flying along. 

And people running.  This one gave me a pang as he resembles my late husband was a daily runner, a habit he formed in college and he ran wherever we were in the world. 

 

And some people hauled their home in and parked, apparently for the day since they have their bump-out set up.  I thought there was a limit to how large a vehicle one could park and how long one could stay.  

There were also walkers, dog walkers, baby strollers, electric bikes, non-electric bikes,couples, families, singles, hand-holders.   It seemed that everyone was out and about in the sunshine.  I just drove along at 15-20 mph enjoying the sights.  Wonder when I will be back here again.  Hopefully before Empty Spools in the spring.  

Back in my motel room I set up for the ZOOM workshop with Brenda Gael Smith in Australia.  It was her three hour circles/curves and was an excellent little class.  I had all the materials and equipment with me and found her to be a good teacher.  It would be better to have her in person, but under the circumstances it was great.  The last time I saw Brenda was at PIQF  few years ago.  Hope she will be able to come to the States again one day.  

And here is a little quiz for you.  Which side is up?  The very light color is actually a pale yellow on yellow print, not quite as pale as in the images.  I'll try for better color when I decide which is the top and which is the bottom. 

Back to PIQF in the morning to look at the quilts until they close and I can pick up our six quilts and head home.  I'll stay some place along I-5 and finish the drive on Monday.  Don't expect I will get very far tomorrow evening.  

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Still in Pacific Grove, CA 10-15-21

It is actually Saturday morning, I don't know that I have ever written a morning post!  But last night I just crashed about 9:30pm, don't think I did anything to make me so tired, but I was. 

I took pictures specifically for Friday Food post, so here they are on Saturday morning. . 

Breakfast at The Red House with a view across Lighthouse Street showing the yellow B&B that has been there forever.  You can just see the corner of the "shelter" in front of the restaurant, taking up all the parking spaces on that side of the street.  There are at least a half a dozen of these structures on the street in front of cafes.  This one was fully occupied with happy breakfast diners, but there seemed to be only one extra waiter.  Still a little chilly for me to eat outdoors.

I have always enjoyed the "homeiness" of Red House.  The hand made sign says "We love you a Latte" which amused me, although surely I have seen this expression before. 

Directly in my view was this couple who are happily expected, seemingly any moment!  They were so loving and I think I even saw the baby give a giant kick.  Babies during Covid, seems scary to me.  Anyway, I enjoyed watching them enjoying each other and their baby. 

The same waiter who served me in May 2020.  He has worked here for quite a few years I think. Nice guy.  He was a little taken aback when I just ordered coffee and a slice of Olallieberry pie with ice cream - for breakfast!!!  When it came it had whipped cream and I told him I wanted ice cream.  He said they didn't have ice cream.  "What? You always have ice cream!"   "Not today.  Sorry."  But the pie was delicious, if not a very large slice.  

And for dinner my very favorite at Il Vecchio.  Carbonara, broccoli, bread w/oil/balsamic.  I ate every bite with murmurs of love.  Asked for more oil/balsamic and pour all of it over the broccoli which I will eat for lunch today.  I wished for all of you to be there to enjoy this special place and evening.  

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Pacific Grove, CA 10-14-21

I do love the little town of Pacific Grove.  It is what is known as charming!  Lots of fancy Victorian cottages and houses, well maintained over all the intervening years.  Of course, there are more post WWII houses than the Victorians.  Since the town putts up to the north end of Monterey they just run together so I'm not sure exactly where one ends and the other begins.  Every day I am here I will drive the shore line of Monterey Bay, stopping to breath the special air, watch the birds, greet the dog walkers, remember the poem "I must go down to the sea again......" learned in grade school.  Some of these pictures are sideways to show them better.  Let me know if this is not a good idea.

Waves splashing high

Asilomar Beach with series of waves rolling in.

White and blue with birds.

This pile of rocks is completely covered wih seagulls , cormorants, and other sea birds.  They fly up in a cloud and then settle back down again.  Even with my binoculars I could not tell what species they are.  

I did some sewing work today, got gas at $4.79/gallon, and went to the Red House for a salmon dinner.  I wanted some Olallieberry pie, but was too full.  Might go back tomorrow for breakfast.   Pie for breakfast is very special.

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Hurrah - On The Road Again! 10-12-21

But I have forgotten what a hassle it is to get online at a new motel.  And "they" want me to put a lock on my phone so that everytime I use it I will have to unlock it.  Things get more complicated every day.  I hope I can figure out a way to just sign in while I am here without having to change my password or unlock something every time.  Groan.   To top it off, this room has no desk or table.  I have my laptop on a little round side table and the mouse on a chair and I am sitting sideways on soft upholstered chair - my neck already hurts.  So, this may be short. 

My cell phone camera did not take all the pictures I thought I took.  When I take them my mind writes a sort of story line and those images are all missing.  Don't know what this one is, but it is soft and sweet!

Instead of going north on I-5 to Santa Nella and taking 152/156 over Pacheco Pass and then having to go south on 101 and 01, I decided to take 198 from Harris Ranch to 101.  It is a slow road, but very little traffic.  Lots of curves, posted speeds down to 20mph, but I did enjoy the scenery. 

Unfortunately, these are all the pictures that came out. 

The only living things I saw were ravens, crows and a few black cows.

Hwy 101 goes through the Salinas Valley where much of the vegetable crops are grown to feed the entire country.  Interesting to see how many more huge wind turbines have gone up in the past two years when I haven't driven this way.  And, unfortunately, also more houses that take up farm land.

By the time I got to Salinas it was dark, so I didn't see anything but headlights and taillights from 101 to Pacific Grove.  I stopped at Il Vecchio, my favorite Italian restaurant, and had pumpkin soup and broccoli and bread - delicious.  I poured the olive oil/balsamic vinegar that came with the bread over the broccoli and will have it for salad tomorrow.  Yum. 

I am at the Rosedale Inn, across the street from Asilomar.  I've never stayed here before, but wanted to stay somewhere familiar since I will spend the week sewing in my room, if I can get a table to put my machine on.  I take the quilts to PIQF tomorrow and pick them up on Sunday, so I have lots of time to just rest, sew, walk, visit Back Porch Fabrics, and see some friends.  KoKo is with a KoKo Keeper in Yorba Linda - Laura Bell has taken care of him before, but not for several years.  She says he is being good.  

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From the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection 11-15-20

I was looking for a quilt to post tonight and came across this Ruth B. McDowell quilt from 2004.  I was immediately struck by the pre-Covid gathering of teenagers on a street corner in Pacific Grove, California.  This is such a typical teenage group which we would hopefully not see in our current situation.  There is the chickie in the striped shirt who is getting most of the attention while her friend stands half off frame on the left, patiently waiting for.....??  The boy next to her has a soda, this was pre-cell phones.  The guy on the far right has found something else to look at, but the other four boys are still in the game.  This is all straight edge piecing and Ruth has a knack for capturing the body language of each figure.  She cuts the stripes and plaids to accentuate the posture and eliminates faces to just show the attitude of the figures.   I especially love the shoes!

"The Street Corner"  Ruth B. McDowell - MA  2004  55"W X 41"L

Commercial Cotton Fabrics, Cotton Batting, Cotton Thread

Machine pieced and quilted. 

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Just a brief note. 05-28-20

I apologize, I am just so tired tonight I need to get to bed.  Yesterday at Back Porch Fabrics we took down the 32 quilts from the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection that have been hanging since early February.  Not many people were able to see them because the Virus shut everything down.  Back Porch opened May 4th and there is another exhibit lined up to be hung tomorrow.  So, I drove up on Tuesday on Hwy 101, an easy drive in lovely weather and light traffic.  Of course, there were those construction zones, but since there weren't that many travelers there was only slow down, no delay.  Spent the night at the Centrella, a B&B right down the street from Back Porch Fabrics, and we started taking down the quilts at 10am.  It is always sooo much faster to take them down than to hang them.  We were done in about an hour and a half and the quilts were in the car.  I drove along Monterey Bay to Asilomar and was surprised that the entrance had barriers.  Of course, it is a state park and they are still closed in California.  So, back along the Bay with many, many people walking, riding, sitting running, etc.  So much sunshine and all that lovely blue and white surf.  Then I just headed home.  I thought I could stop if I got tired, but I just kept driving.  It was 103F at Harris Ranch on I-5 near Coalinga, CA, where I took a break.  Then just go, go, go until I was home about 8:30pm.  Really too late to get KoKo from the KoKo Keeper and my legs were shaking from the two days of driving.  I slept ten hours!  10!  Of course, I got up a couple times, but was able to slip right off again.  Today has been busy and I did not get a chance to edit any pictures.  It is on the top of my list for tomorrow.  KoKo is home so he can keep the chill off tonight, I hadn't realize how much he keeps me warm, I needed a quilt last night.  

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On the road again 05-26-20

Today I drove up Hwy 101 to Pacific Grove to spend the night and tomorrow I will help take down the TCQC quilts at Back Porch Fabrics.  Gail Abeloe will quickly hang a display of quilts by the ladies who work in the shop and some customers, I believe.  The quilts come down MUCH faster than they go up and Gail does all the ladder climbing.  

It was rather an easy drive today with mostly light traffic and only a few construction delays.  It seemed the traffic going south was much heavier than the northbound lanes, but I can't imagine why that would be.  The scenery was great, a little fog along the cost north of Santa Barbara, but nothing to delay traffic.  I have some good photos, but I am too tired to edit and post tonight.  Here are two views of the blonde grass that covers the hillsides.  Lovely contrast with the very green crops growing on the flat land.  

Same picture with different orientation. 

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Photo Failure 02-28-20

I was working to post pictures I took on the last trip up to San Juan Bautista and Pacific Grove when my phone started to just say "loading" on and on and on.  It won't stop.  So, I have no access to any pictures on my phone.  Hope it can self correct.  It is almost midnight, so I will just check it in the morning.   I tried to find some great almond blossom pictures from years ago, but since the demise of Picasa I can't find anything very easily.  But when I drove up and back on I-5 last week the almond trees were in their full glory.  By the time I drive up again in a couple weeks the blossoms will all be gone.  

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Hanging Quilts 02-20-20

Today my friend Mary and I helped hang the quilts from the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection (TCQC) at Back Porch Fabrics in Pacific Grove.  The shop owner Gail Abeloe has a great eye for what goes with what so she does the layout.  Mary and I and the two ladies working in the shop helped to hold, align, held quilts up for Gail, stapled up the labels and generally made ourselves useful.  It is such a thrill for me to see so many of the quilts hung together and they do look spectacular.  After they were all hung we took a lunch break at Peppers restaurant and had wonderful salmon tacos, chicken enchilada, mushroom/artichoke enchilada, and the accompanying rice and beans.  Great lunch. 

The exhibit will hang until the Empty Spools Seminars are over, so until April 30th.  If you are anywhere near Pacific Grove do go and enjoy these amazing quilts made by some of the most creative quilt makers of the last 30+ years.  Here are some general views of the classroom where the quilts are showing. 

Charlotte Bird, Valerie Goodwin, Sherry Boram, Deborah Lacariva, Dena Dale Crain, Ruth B. McDowell.

Linda Colsh, Deidra Adams, Marianne Burr. 

Kathleen Probst, Ruth B. McDowell, Alison Livesley, Susan Else, Janet Steadman, Elizabeth Busch, Libby Lehman, Rosalie Dace, Sue Benner, Judith Content

Ann Johnston, Melody Johnson, Patricia Klem, Diane Firth, Ruth B. McDowell, Caryl Bryer Fallert Gentry, Freddy Moran. 

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Visited Pacific Grove, CA

Mary and I drove to Pacific Grove this morning to shop at Back Porch Fabric Shop, the best shop anywhere, and have lunch at The Red House.  The offereings at Back Porch were, as always, soooo tempting, it is hard to control myself.  

Such color!  Such pattern! Such texture!  I want it all.  But I settled for just seven cuts - it was very hard - and a book with animal designs for children's quilts, called Zootropolis.  The creatures are delightful. 

Lunch at The Red House included carrot-ginger soup (fabulous) and, for me, the grilled cheese sandwich, which I always love.  We skipped dessert because we have See's candy at home!  

It was a beautiful sunny day and we drove around Asilomar, just so Mary could see the changes that have been made since she was there last quite a few years ago.  We drove back to Monterey via the road along the Bay and the surf was UP.  Higher than I have ever seen it; it covered Asilomar Beach and splashed high on all the rocks along the shore. 

Waves rolling in. 

A thin slice of Asilomar Beach at far left. 

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TCQC quilts at Back Porch Fabrics PART THREE 05-12-19

These are the three Linda Colsh quilts from TCQC that were at Back Porch Fabrics in Pacific Grove, CA during the Empty Spools Seminars (Feb - May).  The picture I took of them hanging in the gallery did not turn out, so these are taken some years ago. 

The exhibit was titled "People and Critters" and these three all have people and one critter. 

The rest of the quilts that were hanging are shown in my blog for 05-1019  and 05-11-19.

"Grand Tour 2"  Linda Colsh - Maryland  12"x12"  2007

"Gentle Reminder" Linda Colsh - Maryland  12"x12"  2008

       "Cache"  Linda Colsh - Maryland  12"x12"  2011

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TCQC quitls at Back Porch in Pacific Grove 05-10-19

Here are pictures I took at Back Porch Fabrics in Pacific Grove, CA, just before we took the quilts down.  All the tables were moved to the middle and all the merchandise put under the tables or in another room.  It is a big job preparing for the quilts, hanging them, and taking them down when the exhibit is over.  Only to clear things out to hang the next exhibit.  Gail Abeloe, shop owner, and her long time employee Jeanne Mills do a great job getting interesting quilts for their customers to enjoy.  It is always a good experience in that shop, my favorite of all time! 

Top, Left to right:  Missing Constance - Del Thomas,California    Liberty - Kathleen McCabe, California    World Quilters - Cynthia St Charles    Sweet Charlie, the Chocolate Lab - Kay Laboda, California    Pink Purses in Rome - Joan Sowada, Wyoming  
Looking to the Future - Chris Hansen   
Center:  Lady with a Mug -  Bodil Gardner, Denmark
Bottom, Left to right:  Four quilts by Olga Norris of England;  New Hat, The Crow's Story, Coffee Futures, Red Hen
How Could You Leave Us? Ruth Powers, Kansas    Nice Catch - Pamela Allen, Canada
Jane Goodall - Mary Pal , Canada    Don't Piss Off The Fairies - Ruth Powers, Kansas 

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End of session at Empty Spools 05-03-19

Seems like a long day today!  Getting everything out of the sleeping room and out of the classroom and into the car is a big deal for me these days.  With my bad hand and elbow and shoulder I am hard pressed.  But with help from Suzanne and Katie I made it.  My portable design board, designed and made by Mabel Huseby, makes the task so much easier.  Just leave all the project pieces pinned to the board, fold it up, close the Velcro fasteners, carry with included handle, and stuff it into the car.  Great.  

I drove the road that follows the bay all the way to the aquarium, stopped for a Starbuck's latte fix and had the car washed (on the outside only) because the windshield was so buggy I could hardly see out.  And with my hand/elbow/shoulder problem I can't reach up to wash the window myself.  Besides, the car always runs better when it is clean, doesn't it?  

I had a three hour nap when I got to Mary's and am ready for another eight hours!

Sue Benner explaining her quilting process.  She is a thorough and sharing teacher. 

My table mate Carole Pirruccello.  Her board is set up like mine and those of a number of other students.  Clockwise from top left: Rectilinear Composition, Curvilinear Composition, Landscape (hers with curved strips), and Cut Composition.    

The drive all along the bay from Asilomar Beach to the Aquarium is slow and gorgeous.  I try do to it several times while I am in Pacific Grove. 

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On the Road, Again. 04-25-19

Well, not until tomorrow.  I hope I can get off at a good time - after 9am and before noon.  It is about six hours to San Juan Bautista where I will stay with friend Mary Leakey for a few days.  Then on Sunday about 3pm I will start a class with Sue Benner at Empty Spools Seminars at Asilomar in Pacific Grove. The class finishes on Friday, May 3rd. This will be my 28th year, but some years I have done two sessions.  And one year I did three which was almost more than I could do, I was exhausted afterward.  

The quilt exhibit "People and Critters" is still up at Back Porch Fabrics in Pacific Grove, but I will be taking it down in the morning on May 8th.  Hope you had a chance to see it. 

KoKo is with his keeper for two weeks.  I took him there last evening and I sure do miss him.  He is a good house guest and the Erickson's enjoy having him.  

I'll try to take pictures and post them as I know some of you enjoy the road trips.  But no guarantees, I'm still struggling with the new laptop and the mysterious Word 10.  

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Friday Food 09-28-18

I looked through my food posting in the past and found this one of lovely meals at Il Vecchio in Pacifiic Grove.   I didn't get there last spring,  but it is high on my list for my next trip up there.  

Dining at Il Vecchio in Pacific Grove 03-30-15

One of my favorite restaurants in Pacific Grove, CA., is Il Vecchio, and this year I had dinner there twice.  Five of us enjoyed the following dishes on Wednesday.

 Pasta Carbonara  (my choice on Thursday evening)

Cannelloni

Polenta with Ragu

Mussels and Sea Bass  (my choice on Wednesday evening)

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