Road to California 2010

This was my tenth appearance at the Road to California Quilt Show, held in Ontario California. I have entered in the past, but haven't since grad school, lacking either the time or the interest.

But there's also this nagging suspicion that my quilts may not measure up, given the direction that quilting seems to be going. So when I come to the show, I come with a critical eye, trying to identify trends. Or fads (such as crystals).

One trend is in the quilting. Not just the single line of thread tracing around a patch or creating a feather, but Quilting As The Star.

This quilt typifies that, with its narrowly spaced lines of thread (don't even get me started on why we quilters need to use certain types of thread), decorative jewels, sequins, crystals adding to the main pieced design. There are quilted flames shooting off the appliqued fabric flames, and tightly scrolled quilting suppressing certain areas of the quilt in order to create a sort of trapunto effect. The whole quilt is layer upon layer on texture, color, design.

Fire and Ice, by Claudia Pfeil of Krefeld, Germany

While I think the above quilt is beautiful, I think this trend has gotten out of hand. In the early 1990s I entered a large bed-sized quilt (quilts are not identified anymore as "bed quilts," that idea having faded as it seems the main thrust of quilting now is about art, design and its decorative function); this quilt was evaluated by a team of three judges as it was a juried show. No noticeable faults with my piecing or design, but one judge scrawled, "Not enough quilting."

I think that was the year that two quilts were exhibited at the back of the hall, covered in heavily quilted design and crystals for accent. Multi-colored threads outlined feathers, swirls, circles, and a dragon (if I remember correctly). We were in awe. We all had a crush on this new boy in town.

Now the heavily quilted are at the front of the hall, strutting their stuff and this influence has had some unfortunate effects, I think. Case in point is the quilt below.

In this first picture, the appliqued vases and flowers of baskets have the full stage, but upon closer inspection. . .

. . . the quilting obscures the images, even competing for attention. I found this to be sad, as the handiwork done by the quilter was beautiful and precise, but the quilt was marred by the quilting--lots of quilting--in between each petal and flower. I think a simple gridded design in the background would have served the quilt much better.

This quilt gets the balance correct. Suzanne Marshall writes that her "quilt is adapted from a 17th century Norwegian tapestry that depicts the Legend of Guimar, the knight who shot a deer but whose arrow returned to injure the hunter." The entire quilt is show below.

The Legend of Guimar, by Suzanne Marshall of Clayton, Missouri

Every quilt show has its Ugly Quilt and I found this year's. It was in a group exhibit (otherwise I'm sure it would not have gotten in). Nearly every element has gone awry--from the choice of color and the applique technique to the quilting, which again, is too much, much too much, obscuring what little there might have been to redeem this sad quilt. I admit I have a few pieces which might qualify for this honor--all quilters do.

Even though this one has won top awards, I think it also qualifies in my book as one of the candidates for the Ugly Quilt.

The quilting really works in this quilt, and it is used to bring out the texture of the turtle and the motion of the water. The quilting complements what is going on in the design, instead of competing or obscuring it.

Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle, by Cheryl Spalding of Portland, Oregon
Quilted by Karen Saltzberg

Another idea I follow is design, and try to apply the basics of good design: does what the quilter intended come forward in his or her use of basic composition, inventiveness? Do the colors and the tonalities balance, in other words, is it harmonious? Does it add something to the quilt conversation, or is it merely echoing what has gone on before? I must add that I tend to be in the latter group of followers, often repeating what I've seen before. (Someday, I always say, I'll think of the next 10% new idea. . .)

Here are some that caught my (untrained) eye.

Puppies, a la Andy Warhol

Pup Art, by Nancy S. Brown of Oakland, California

Christmas Chickadee, by David M. Taylor of Steamboat Springs, Colorado
The inclusion of the Christmas tree light elevates it from a simple nature scene into a conversation.

A Summer Parade, by Joanell Connolly of Huntington Beach, California

The Moment of Inspiration, by Sandy Curran of Newport News, Virginia
Hitchcock keeping an eye on these birds was what pulled me in, but I also liked the reference to the film by the inclusion of "sprocket holes" on the side of the quilt.

Memories of Monet, by Joen Wolfrom
Joen Wolfrom's quilt works well on so many levels. It's the first I've seen of hers in many years. She'd stopped quilting for a while when her hand was injured in a dog attack.

Colors Unfurled, aka, If Betsy Ross Had My Stash, by Maria C. Shell of Anchorage, Alaska
Great use of quilting blocks and traditional motifs to create a flag. Depictions of the flag in red, white and blue are found a lot at quilt shows (we're a patriotic bunch, I guess) but this one, with its brights and bolds was a real stunner. It's huge, probably 9 feet long by 5 feet tall.

Love the paper doll blocks, swimming fish, flags--this quilt has everything!

A crazy-quilt version of the flag. This is a new idea as well, as most depictions are traditionally pieced.

Betsy Ross Never Imagined This, by Nancy McLerran of Santa Rosa, California

Play Dead (Guns Kill Children), by Janice Pennington of San Diego, California
Quilted by Laurie Daniells
Nostalgic fabrics, reproductions of designs from earlier days, are used in a quilt that makes a statement against handgun violence.

Enjoy these for now. I'll try to get a few more posted later.

Washington, D.C. January 2010

Days in Washington D.C. include:

Watching the Rink Guards at the Sculpture Garden trying to corral a passel of schoolchildren into a picture in front of the National Archives.

Posing in front of a new sculpture in the same place: a tree made out of stainless steel.

Merging Dave into the picture of the Saltimboques at the National Gallery of Art.

Enjoying a new take on Van Gogh's Bedroom at Arles in the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art.

Watching Calder's mobile move; same place.

Seeing Julia Child's kitchen in the Smithsonian's American History Museum.

Enjoying Thiebaud's cakes.

Framing up Whistler's Lady in White through the doorways of the National Gallery of Art.

Eating a lunch of quinoa, barley, Japanese noodles, beets, greens and a roasted tomato--a delicious offering from the National Gallery of Art Cafe, downstairs by the waterfall.

Checking out the icicles on the railing by the waterfall (I took this from inside--they were outside!).

Photographing the details of the renovated National Portrait Gallery.

Seeing a Thiebaud landscape for the first time (I'd only seen his food pictures).

Admiring the floating roof over the courtyard of this same building, reminiscent of the roof over the courtyard of the British Museum.

Wandering the Great Hall in the National Portrait Gallery, thinking about Lincoln's guests at his Inaugural Ball doing the same so many many years ago, when it was the Patent Museum.

Going to dinner with Dave's nephew Nathan and his new wife Michelle, who then took us over to a very cold (and quick!) visit at 10:00 p.m. to the Pentagon Memorial. We were back in the car in a flash as it was a balmy 19 degrees, with a stiff wind.

Surviving the predicted 1" of snow, which turned out to be 6" !

I'm coming home tomorrow, if all goes well. They canceled all Super Shuttle busses to the airport before 1 p.m. and the "sedan driver" charges two arms and a leg. So we're hotfooting it to a Metro station, then catching the bus to the airport, and then home, where hopefully, there will be no snow.

What's Up With Apple?

Tomorrow's the day for Apple's Latest Reveal. Wonder what we'll think about at the end of this Wednesday?

Something to Think About

Rethink Scholarship at Langara 2010 Call for Entries from Rory O'Sullivan on Vimeo.

Rain, Rain, Went Away!

Riverside's wide, dry river called the Santa Ana, filled up with the constant rains we've been having. Here's some shots of our walk over the Rubidoux bridge.


Usually this is like a sandbox, with a small stream trickling down on one side.

I stop and focus on the belongings of some homeless person; they have a large community in these river bottom bushes, but have obviously been washed out.

It's a quilt, and underneath that, a bag that looks to contain another quilt top or two. Who does this belong to? Where'd they get the quilt? The quilt top? Are they newly homeless with this economy? Or older and more saavy, knowing how to procure these kinds of luxuries. Luxuries that are now washed down the Santa Ana.



The water is muddy, roiling with foam and belongings.



And when we woke up today?

The rain was gone, leaving white mountains robed in snow.

Pillowcases

I've been busy today. I made little treats for little people in my life for Valentine's Day. If the rain lets up (yes, we're still here and not washed away) I'll trot over to the Post Office and mail them off. I had already made two little treats for two little boys who lived nearby, and felt like I should finish some for the rest.
The babies, who don't have pillows yet, will have to wait until the next round.

Return to Cranford

Return to Cranford is the new show this week on Masterpiece Classic, and is a sequel to the first tale, Cranford, which aired last year. This new one is just as delightful, just as wonderful and was well worth my time at the computer, streaming it down from the PBS website.

Judy Dench leads a wonderful cast of actors who portray citizens in the small town of Cranford, just as the railroad comes to town. Hurry, though. The episodes are only available for a short time, and you don't want to miss them.

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth

So, January is my birthday month. Yep. All month.
I used to (when I was younger and my mother put on the celebration for me) think it was only a day--as in, Today is my Birthday. Getting older changes things, as when you receive birthday greetings from family and friends a few days late, or the gift arrives a week later. It's all good, but I'm happy to report that those closest to me--the children, my parents and Dave--nail it on the day, every time.

This is a picture of what I served: sole-wrapped scallops. It was delicious (check for the recipe over at elizabethcooks.com, plus notice the new website design). Cake recipe is over there as well.

Since Dave's busy with a huge project, I offered--for the first time since we'd been married--to make my own birthday cake, largely because I wanted to try one out of my $175 cookbook: Julia Child's first tome that I'd picked up at an estate sale for $8.

Dave did the candles honor, arranging six candles in the shape of a "six." No, I'm not sixty.

I'm six.

The cake was different than the birthday sponge cakes we're used to. This was dense and rich and lovely to eat.

Matthew had timed the books, wrapped!, to arrive on the day, perhaps intentionally. I had a day of lovely phone calls, lunch with Judy, nice cards, and now this celebration.

Birthday gifts: winners all.

On Sunday, we went over to Chad's house to see him set apart as a new Elder's Quorum President, a sweet experience. Dave helped Alex and Andrew put together their Buzz Lightyear loop-de-loop track.

It was fun to see this family in their house, everyone interesting and happy. Chad and Kristen cooked us a delicious meal of salmon, potatoes and asparagus and we had another birthday cake as well.

Now this is excitement over some birthday candles!

First Day of School

Back to school this afternoon, teaching one class from 1-3 p.m.
I like how this girl's backpack appears to show the story of Little Red Riding Hood, where the wolf attempts to overwhelm and devour the lone little young woman. Somedays I feel like Miss Hood. I haven't even started class and have received two emails from my future students. The first informed me that they were going to have surgery and would be gone from the class for some undetermined period of time after attending the initial class session. Okey, dokey, we can work around that. The second informed me that they had "Disleaxia" (dyslexia). That's all. They were just telling me.

What am I supposed to do with that information?

Welcome back, teacher.

Foodscapes

Carl Warner, a photographer, designed and photographed these Foodscapes. Click •here• to be taken to his website, then navigate to "stills" then "foodscapes" to see more.

This is definitely a stylized version of an Italian hilltown, in my estimation. Love the cheese buildings on top of the hill.

Garlic huts--kind of reminds me of where hobbits might live. It took me a while to figure out that the ground is made from some kind of purple leafy vegetable.

Half Dome in Yosemite, done up in bread and broccoli. Given that we just watched the Rose Parade, with its mandate that everything on the float be done in flowers, I like that I happened on these foodscapes, where everything is done in food. (And yes, they got an exception for the snowboarding dogs in the parade.)

I also like Warner's ironing/laundry mountains--it's just how I envision my laundry chores.