Surfside Quilters Guild Feb 11, 2025

I was feeling well enough this morning  to drive south to Dana Point for the Surfside Quilters Guild  meeting.  I went to take the photos and because I wanted to meet with the member who may want to be my backup.  I don't miss many meetings as I do enjoy the group so much, but with increasing age and health problems, I must sometimes miss a meeting. 

The speaker today was Joanna Figueroa from Fig Tree Quilts.  She is a  pattern  designer and fabric designer for Moda.  Website: http://figtreeandcompany.com   Her blog: https://blog.figtreeandcompany.com

She has an interesting color theory which make her quilts soft and muted,  but not actually pastel.  The darkest color is what she calls "warm black"  and has a  small  patterning. 

The quilting is done by a cadre of long-arm quilters.

There were several quilts with dark backgroumds, the warm black or shades of warm grey.

Many of her blocks are repeated in different quilt patterns,  most  using the sew/flip method she prefers.  

Nice gentle quilts to curl up with to sip hot chocolate and read a good book.

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A Sunday in February 02-09-25

 

Here we are 1268 Warren Street, Placentia, CA  92870

It was a lovely day,  about 70F with lots of whipped clouds high in a very blue sky.  Our house is basically a one story with an attic in the tallest part.   Several in the neighborhood have built out the attic into a couple more bedrooms. If I won the lottery, which I have never played, I would do that also.  I have  enough  treasures  in the  one story to fill another - fabric, of  course!   

KoKo took me for a walk about noon, the  first I have done for almost a week.   We managed a bit more than 900 steps, not much  compared to  our usual  5000+, but it did feel great to be out in the sun.

Computer is refusing to access photo files.  But it is Sunday! So, here is one of my quilts from the month before the pandemic. I was going out to Lake Havasu, AZ, then, hauling my quiltmaking along.

"Desert Dawn"   Del Thomas - CA   2020  48"L X 28"W

Cotton fabrics. Machine pieced, fused. machine quilted.

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Looking back one year. Feb 8, 2025

Last year this week I was in San Diego taking a dye painting class with Pat Pauly.   What a rood experience that was.  I shared an  AirB&B with Pat, only a few blocks from the spacious two room classroom.  There were  some amazing artists in  the group  - some experience, but mostly, like me, very much beginners.  Pat is a great teacher and  keeps things moving along.   We pressed, stroked, rubbed, stamped, rubbered, stenciled, painted...... well, anything one can to with thickened dye on fabric.  Messy, but amazingly freeing to the creative spirit.   I haven't kept track of who made most  of these pieces, but each student created to their own tune.

All the pieces are in their faw state: unrinsed, washed, or pressed. 

Using a piece of truck tire tread picked up on I-5.

Some students see things more realistic. 

We also dined out - very well.

Now, a year later, I am recovering from the RSV and coughing much less.  Hope to feel well enough tomorrow to maybe walk around the  cul de sac with KoKo.  

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Friday Food February 8, 2025

 

Served in the Indian style - chicken,  cold fruit/veggies, cut plantains, rice w/peas & carrots.

Thick veggie stew, pan-fried white potatoes, skinny green beans with onions and ?.

Since I started occasionally driving two neighbor boys to school, their mother, Mariam,  sometimes offers me meals when she cooks plenty.  I never say no!

 She grew up in southern India and is an excellent cook.  I don't always know what I am eating and sometimes have to add some plain yogurt to tame the spice, but it is all delicious.   This past week she has sent over three evening meals, usually enough to  have some "plan-overs" for lunch the next day. I do have food in the house, but low energy and coughing make real cooking more than I can handle. 

It is so special to have wonderful friends and neighbors who will help out.  I enjoy living alone and get along nicely in daily life, however, there are times that I need support and am reassured that help is available. 

BE SURE TO GET YOUR RSV VACCINE.

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Lovely Rain Thursday, Feb 6, 2025

The most rain I have seen in almost a year - I hear it drumming on the metal patio cover.   So welcome here, if not too heavy to create mud slides in the burn areas.

I went to the new Primary doctor today, Lila Kim.  She listened well, asked good questons, gave me some assurance that I can survive RSV, and sent me home to  rest-in-bed, drink plenty of (especially warm/hot) liquids, take my meds accurately,....and I'll  be well soon - maybe 3-4 days!  Although she didn't phrase it this way she seems to think I am doing  okay for an old widow lady.  We did not spend much time on all my other issues, but they aren't going away and we can get into those later.

I have such caring friends and neighbors.  Anna and her daughter Barb walked KoKo twice and brought me an slice of pizza for an afternoon snack. The boys in the cul-de-sac brought dinner prepared by their mother, Mariam:  chicken, couscous, plantain, and a yummy side of hot, grated beets.  

Sick I may be, but blessed.  

My timing is terrible! Wednesday, 02-05-25

 

KoKo and Froggy napping on my outstretched legs.

When I wrote on Monday morning I was feeling lousy, but had high hopes of improvement.   Wrong.  I had visited the Urgent Care where they diagnosed BSV and I went back on Monday afternoon  when they said  go  to  ER because I needed more care. Stubborn, as always, I didn't.  So, yesterday noonish I asked my friend Dick to take me to ER. The coughing was so severe I couldn't catch my breath. Great spasms, chest rattles, not much  fluid coming out.  Why am I describing this disgusting state?   GET THE VACCINES!  I kept putting it off. Probably picked up a particle at Road to California. I did enjoy the quilts, but not what I bought for about $7: BSV, a prograok six  hours m, and two styluses to use to type long texts on  my phone.    Yesterday after six hours, all the tests, x-ray, inhalation therapy, shots, and suggestions from the ER doc that he admit me to the hospital, I came home and coughed all night. I only slept about two hours, but the  patients in the hospital slept, not having to listen to me all the night long. 

The cough is less sever and shorter, my nose  is dripping, I slept a few hours  during the day, my friend Dick picked up more meds, friend Anna  walked KoKo twice, and the Boys mother, Mariam, brought me chicken/rice/veggies for dinner.  I am a fortunate gal.   But at my advance!d this or turn it into pneumonia.  need to be still, not talk much, rest, drinking plenty  of fluids, etc...

I  must learn my lesson:  GET THE VACCINES 

Here is one I really enjoyed at the Road to California:

 

I hope to be back for good, but no promises! 02-03-25

It is after midnight and I have an early morning to take the boys to school, leaving here at 6:45am!  But I am feeling guilty for not starting my blog up again, as promised. I am suffering from RSV respiratory syncytial virus}, probably because I didn't ever get the  vaccine. get the vaccine, this is not something you want to  experience.

I will restart with a quilt, since it is Sunday.

"Grid Interrupted"  Paula Kovarik  - Tennessee. 2024.  57" sq

When Paula is not pleased with a finished quilt, or if it doesn't sell, she cuts it up and sews the little  pieces into another arrangement. The pieces here are straight stitched or zigzagged together, so there are holes all around.  Lots of intricate quilting of shapes, doodling, motifs, all holding it together.

www.paulakovarik.com 

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