Friday Flowers - there is something about a bouquet 07-14-17

Just for no reason at all, except to say that someone is loved.  Sending flowers or presenting them in person is just a special thing to do.  Here are some memorable bouquets from the past.

 

A garden cut bouquet by Suzanne Lucy in Washington state.

A garden cut bouquet on the hospitality table at Surfside Quilters Guild.

A garden cut bouquet for the 4th of July at Surfside Quilters Guild.

A formal florist bouquet delivered. 

 

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Keeping up 07-13-17

I hardly ever look at the statistics on my blog because they are so screwy!  Today I looked and it shows that yesterday I had 776 page views!  Not a chance.  My daily readership is between 100 and 200, depending if I have posted a quilt from Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection.  Lots of readers just click on to see those.  I think most people who check out my blog are just curious what I have been doing and how life is going for me.  My friends in distant and not-so-distant places.

Lately it has been doctor/doctor/doctor!  Time for the annual physical and a battery of tests including mammo, bone density, carotid, etc.  I also am still doing PTherapy for my right shoulder which doesn't seem to be improving rapidly.  An MRI last week shows there is a tear which is small enough that surgery is not called for, which is a good thing because I am really not interested in any more surgery for my life time total.   I'm also trying new medication for my clinical depression since the last one quit working.  A friend read an short article in the July issue of "O"  magazine about a possible new treatment.  I haven't been able to find a copy of the July issue as the stores have already put out August, but I am still looking.  I actually read the article in one of the doctor's office waiting rooms, but didn't want to steal a page - that is so rude!  I might have to try the library. 

There is an opening for new exhibits at the Visions Art Museum in San Diego on Saturday evening.  I'm looking forward to seeing some humorous quilts. 

 

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Wordless Wednesday 07-12-17

2007

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Cindy Cooksey speaker at Surfside Quilters Guild 07-11-17

Today was the July meeting of Surfside Quilters Guild in San Clemente, CA.  Our speaker was a local quilter from Irvine, CA.   I've known Cindy Cooksey for a number of years and have seen her work at guild shows, SAQA exhibits, PIQF, Quilts, Inc at Long Beach, and other locales.  She has excellent techniques and is a talented quiltmaker who does her own original designs.  It is always nice to see local quilters, but Cindy deserves a broader exposure.  I hope this will inspire some of you to suggest her as a speaker for your guild. 

 

Each of the six segments of this quilt uses a different surface design technique.

Happy Birthday quilt

Another Day in Paradise

 

Heart Strings

This was part of a Dinner at Eight Exhibit and depicts Christo's saffron flags in Central Park. 

I don't see a website for Cindy, but her blog is at  http://cookseyville.blogspot.com/

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Re-visiting a Martha Wolfe quilt in TCQC 07-09-17

This 12"x12" quilt is from the SAQA 2014 online auction.  One of the many bird images in the growing collection.  

"Skimmers"  2014 Martha Wolfe - Davis, CA  12"x12"

Layered, painted silk organza background, and hand-dyed silk charmeuse, raw-edge appliqued with machine quilting.

Martha seems to have extreme control when following the edge of her raw edge applique.

 

Skimmers' bottom beaks are longer than their top beaks. They fly close over the ocean and drag their bottom beak in the water to scoop up small fish.  

 

Back of quilt showing the sleeve and the very large, decorative label. 

Here is the label - including a contact.  

See more of Martha's work at  www.marthawolfe.com

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Satuday Stories - Sharing a table 07-08-17

When Diane was traveling in Australia, about forty years ago, she was on her own most of the time.  She started out with a group of colleagues from work, but had planned further travels after they left for home.  It is a challenge being alone in a foreign country and living day to day without a planned itinerary.   Very exciting and, yet, sometimes lonely.  She discovered that in Australia one need not be lonely, the Aussies were very outgoing and willing to share.  The first time Diane was sitting alone at a table in a medium sized restaurant that was packed, the waitress calmly seated a couple on the other side of the table.  They said hello and proceeded to order their meal.  Then they turned their attention to their table companion and asked questions.  After getting over the oddness of it, Diane not only replied, but posed the same questions back.  They were locals, just out for dinner, and seemed delighted to meet someone from California.  They had lots of suggestions for places to go and what to eat and where she should go in her further travels.   They all paid their own checks and in parting exchanged names and addresses.  Diane rarely ate alone in the four weeks she travel around the country and ventured to the south island of New Zealand.  Even sitting at the counter someone on either side of her would start a conversation.  Always address/phone numbers were exchanged and some of them kept in touch for a number of years.   She always thought she would return to see more of the country and possibly connect with some of those long ago "friends", but it never happened.  It is probably a completely different culture now.  But what lovely memories she has. 

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Friday Feet 07-07-17

I don't get many male feet, don't find them generally interesting!  But here are a few I have posted in the past.

This guy was dressed in suit and tie, but was wearing these on his feet.  It was at Starbuck's - maybe he had changed his shoes and walked over from work.

These feet belong to a friend who had surgery and was wearing compression socks and "loose" shoes.

This is the guy who fixed the between-the walls leak in my family room several years ago.

And these belong to my endodontist.  For the money he charges I figured I could have a picture of his feet for my blog. 

 

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