And more flowers 04-10-21

As I have said earlier, for flowers I need to look to my neighbors since I don't garden anymore.  I especially enjoy this front yard planted by a lady who was a florist and did wedding flowers until a few years ago.  I do like her combinations. 

She has not divided these white iris for a number of years and they resemble a flock of white birds.

Nearby is this wisteria which is only about three feet tall, but spreads out into the other plantings. 

Lovely roses are tucked in here and there, hanging over the low brick edging. 

Among the "traditional" flowers she has planted succulents, including this red shaded Aeonium.  

Today I enjoyed watching the ZOOM Meet the Teachers meeting from the Southern California Council of Quilt Guilds.  It is, of course, usually a live event which is very exciting with about thirty teachers speaking for about three minutes and showing their work.  Same format on ZOOM, but not seeing the quilts in-the-fabric is a little disappointing.  They presented some new techniques and styles and were mostly very articulate and organized.  Some technical problems but the moderators dealt with aplomb.  The Northern California Council of Quilt Guilds is presenting their Meet the Teachers on April 14th.  Check their website if you are interested.  

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SCCQG July meeting about Newsletters 07-09-11

The Southern California Council of Quilt Guilds http://www.sccqg.org/ meets four times a year with a different theme for each of the meetings.  Today Linda Smith (Flying Geese Quilt Guild - Editor)
Patty Seebold (Beach Cities Quilters Guild - Editor) and I (Surfside Quilters Guild - Past Editor) did a presentation on many different aspects of creating guild newsletters.  The attendance was not announced, but I estimated there were about sixty people attending, some of those were there to provide the refreshments (which were fabulous) and some came to show and sell tickets on their guild's wonderful raffle quilts.   

Linda Smith is a whiz at learning the computer and does a great newsletter for Flying Geese QGuild. http://www.flyinggeese.net/  She put together a power point program for our presentation  based on the notes and photos that we all provided.

Patty Seebold does the newsletter for Beach Cities Quilters Guild http://www.beachcitiesquilters.org/ using modern graphics and all of her experience teaching computer skills at a local college.  At the same time we were meeting to prepare the program she has been helping plan a grandgirl's wedding and remodeling a house she and her spouse have recently move into. 

Both of these ladies are actually Superwomen disguised as quilters!  

"Nature's Friends" is from Friendship Square Quilters Guild, Whittier, CA., http://www.fsqg.org/ is hand appliqued and hand quilted.  Friendship Square does a raffle quilt every two years - the workwomanship is so fabulous it takes two years to complete such and outstanding quilt.  Bonnie Smith and Barbara Silva were attending.

A striding bright green frog must not like berries as he seems to have passed them up. 

Bluebirds usually nest in tree hollows or nesting boxes, but they have used a little artistic license to put this one in a vine wreath so we can see his beautiful blue feathers.

"Bountiful Baskets" raffle quilt from North Cities Quilters Guild in Placentia, CA., http://www.northcitiesquiltguild.org/  is hand embroidered and machine quilted.  It was attended by guild President Becky Sproal.

 

Peggy Carlsen crocheting in the back of the room.  Since my part of the presentation was about photography I am posting this image as an example of a candid shot - good color, background not too distracting, lovely zinnias and roses for a table centerpiece and she is an "active" subject with her busy hands.

 

Council meeting 07-10-10

Today Surfside Quilters Guild hosted the Southern California Council of Quilt Guilds at our meeting place in San Clemente. I don't know if there are quilt councils around the country, but there are two in California - Northern and Southern. The SCCQG holds quarterly meetings hosted by one of the 90 or so guilds that compose the membership - from the Mexican border north to about San Luis Obispo and from the Pacific Ocean into Nevada. Today's meeting was the highly popular "Meet the Teachers" meeting where about 25 teachers/lecturers have three minutes to present their offerings. They each have a table to show their quilts and garments before/during/after the formal meeting. The best thing SCCQG offers is low cost liability insurance for the guilds - something that is required by almost every venue - that is affordable for even the smallest group.

Naturally, food is required! Our guild under the direction of volunteer LeAnn Goettel and with the help of our hospitality committee organized everything beautifully.

There were orange juice, coffee and tea. Plates with a slice of delicious quiche, a slice of pumpkin bread, a bar cookie (missing on this plate), and a cup of granola topped with a sweetened yogurt and fresh California berries. All very welcome to those who had driven for hours to reach the meeting location. I don't know how many plates were prepared, but there were very few leftover.

This is Mary Tabar from San Diego sitting at her table with her quilts spread out and hung. These photos are those that turned out rather than a recommendation for the speaker. Since the tables were in front of the windows the incoming light ruined most of the images.

Cathy Van Brueggen is an Orange County quilter who does lovely hand applique.

Marcia Stein works from photos she takes during her travels. She lives in San Francisco.

Karen Brow has years of experience in textile design and creates wonderful applique patterns.

Terry Waldron, another Orange County quiltmaker, has shown in many national exhibits.