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Archive for November, 2005

Aspens done!

Wednesday, November 30th, 2005

I have been quilting for just about 6 years. I made a commitment at the beginning to always do my own quilting. Every time I sit down at the sewing machine, I am sure I am going to ruin a perfectly good quilt. I think I am getting better. At least I am having more fun!!

Here is the Aspen Reflections piece started in Sue Benner’s class at Art Quilt Tahoe:

Aspen_reflection

Here is a close-up:

Aspencloseup

I took these photos tonight so I am not sure how true the colors are.

Update: Some answers to questions. This is 12 inches by 25 inches. It is done by cutting the batting and backing to size. Fuse the backing to the batting. On the batting side, sketch out your basic design with a soft lead pencil. Starting at the top cut and layout strips of fabric that will represent the photo colors and design that you are working from. We saved the trimmed edges of our fused fabric. If it was frayed – all the better. Sue uses selvages, interesting details from fused clothing pieces, etc. I was lucky to have purchased this wonderful African fabric that was batiked and had built in designs that worked perfectly with my landscape.

Tomorrow is my guild’s Holiday luncheon and last meeting of the year. I have the new and old board meeting at my house next week and then I am done!! The year has gone by so fast.

Bleah!

Wednesday, November 30th, 2005

I had already decided on a title for the posting today when this greeted me at breakfast. Bingo! My sentiments exactly…

Zits

I finished my last antibiotic on Wednesday and by Sunday, I could tell that the infection in that one clogged sinus had not disappeared. On Monday I talked to the doc and we decided to do another ten days of meds rather than look at surgery, yet. On Monday night I had a sore throat that kept me awake most of the night. I slept in on Tuesday and wondered if I had gotten strep throat from Mia. But, no it is just a pesky virus. I dragged myself off to vestry last night because we had an important meeting. Today, I just feel bleah!!

But I must get on with things. I have to mail Warhol Sunsets to Cynthia Morgan in Boulder, CO. I took part in the Quiltart quilt swap. I am getting Out of Africa, made by Rhonda Blasingame. I’ll post a pic when it gets here. You can go here to see all  of the quilts and who made them and who they are going to.

I managed to get some quilting done on the Aspen piece from Sue Benner’s class.  I started with the reflection of the trees in the water .

Aspenquilting

Finally, I promised DebR that I would post that silly something that I can’t live without. Here it is:

Walkman

My Sony Walkman that resides under my pillow. My mind often will not stop racing when I go to bed or I often wake up in the night and can’t go back to sleep so I keep my Walkman handy and listen to NPR or soothing music.

The sun has come out. Maggie is staring at me. Gotta take her for walk and wake up my body. Time to get dressed and face the world.

 

The Sound of Quiet

Saturday, November 26th, 2005

All is quiet – too quiet. Everyone left this morning. I have spent the day moping around, washing linens, turning the turkey carcass into soup and finishing some postcards.

Several of you asked about the Dr. Seuss looking tree at the Cornerstone Gardens. It is done by a landscape architect who turns dead trees into works of art. This one is covered with blue Christmas ornaments. If you are interested in more photos of the gardens you can find them here.  For more salvage photos, look here.

Monday is my baby sister’s birthday. She is 10 years younger than me and unlike my other two sisters, she is not a blond. She is my only sister who quilts. She started before me, and she does wonderful traditional quilts and samplers. She has done a crazy quilt with velvets, silks and embroidery that is just gorgeous.  Her name is Judy, and here is the postcard that I made for her. notice the photo on the left – do any of you remember the TV show, Father Knows Best? Doesn’t she look like the youngest daughter on that show?

1126

The other card is a photo of Mia on Thanksgiving day  that I posterized and printed on fabric.

It was raining

Friday, November 25th, 2005

…when we woke up this morning. So we had to cancel the trip to the beach.

Mia decided we should celebrate Milo’s birthday which we had delayed so that it would be  a special time not mixed up with Thanksgiving. First, she helped uncle Mark and I wrap the gifts, adding her special drawings.

Miawrap

Miawrap2

Meanwhile Miles and Maggie waited:

Mileswaits

Maggiewaits

Finally, he gets to open the gifts:

Drmilo

Cementmixer

This shot is for DebR. Mia is wearing new hot pink clogs found at a thrift store fir under $2. The tights are from Grandma and cost considerably more!!
Tightsclogs

After a lunch of leftovers, the sun came out and we went to the Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma. There are 20 different gardens, each designed by a world-famous landscape architect. This is one of Mark’s favorite destinations, since he is the family landscaper!! It really is a fun place and the kids had a ball!

Garden8

Koipond

Garden19

Gardentunnel2
Gardentunnel4

Garden12

There is a fabulous design and salvage store where I took some fantastic photos:
Salvage9

Salvage7

Salvage11

Salvagechairs

I’ll post the rest of these on flickr later. Tonight we went out for sushi. Miles ate two bowls of steamed rice and a bowl of miso soup! We came home and had chocolate cupcakes with candles. Everyone has crashed except Steve and I.

The Turkey Day Feast

Thursday, November 24th, 2005

First, lets rewind to yesterday in Healdsburg. I forgot to post this photo of the art tiles above the counter in the cafe – so cool!
Art_tiles

Fast forward to this morning. Here are photos of the morning work and end results:

Stephanie is our official napkin folder:
Stephfold

Foldednapkin

The table is set:

Tableset

Mia checks on the progress:
Miaatable

Miles keeps an eye on the activity in the kitchen from the bar:

Pensivemiles

Lisa and her friend Katherine arrive in the morning.

Miles is looking very spiffy.

Milestday

Katherine with M & M:
K_m_m

Lisa sits nearby and knits. Notice her newly dyed red hair!!

Lisaknits

Uncle Mark Finally arrives

Mark

and Mia gets a hug.

Uncmarkhug

The turkey is done:

Turkeysdone

The groaning table awaits. From left: broccoli cheese casserole ( an old family recipe which must make an appearance),  wild rice stuffing, mashed potatoes, roasted butternut squash, roasted turkey, gravy, green beans with roasted tomatoes and red onions, and cornbread stuffing. On the table were sweet potato biscuits whipped up by Stephanie and cranberry sauce. We served Pinot Noir – three different wineries.

Groaningtable

After dinner story with Aunt Lisa:

Lilireads

I am very tired. I’m ready to crash and call it a day – one that I am very thankful for.