What's In a Name?

Just yesterday I got, in the mail,  my teaching packet for Houston IQA next year, 2011.  Didn't I just get home 2 weeks ago from Houston?  They need my teaching proposal by December 15th.  I think they just want to mess with me. So the last 2 days I have been writing up proposals and designing a new pattern.  I am supposed to be on vacation. They have asked me to teach the Zinnia again. Wow!  I thought I would also add a new flower to my repertoire.

I have been drawing and studying the Texas bluebonnet, which looks a lot like a California lupine. I guess it depends on where you see them blooming.  I first saw the lupine on the rolling hillside of La Selva Beach, north of Monterey. We lived there for 2 years when Matt was a toddler.  Every day, out my window, was this breathtaking view of the ocean all the way to Monterey and then, in the spring it, was the blue and purple lupine covering the hillside that ran down to the ocean.  Yes, it was heaven.  I would spend hours amazed at the wonder of God's beauty that I was so blessed to see every day.

I have a friend, Janice, who sent me pictures of fields in Texas covered in this beautiful bluebonnet flower. One picture was of her grandchildren sitting in the fields of blue.  I now know why she moved to Texas (plus. you can carry a gun in your purse).  She was going through a messy divorce at the time and I bet she wished she could have had a gun, back when she was living in California.  For those of you who do not know how to take a joke, that was one.  I recently had a neighbor read my blog where I stated, "I wanted a gun for Mothers Day, but no one would give me one".  They thought I was serious, so now when I make a joke, I have to put in a disclaimer:  This blog site may not be fit for sad, depressing people, who can't laugh at themself.

I recently was speaking in Canada and made a comment in my lecture about something funny Joe had said about himself.  He was referring to an old picture I took of him. I always liked the picture but he didn’t.  When I got home from this trip, there was an email from someone in the audience that I had offended.  I didn't say a bad word or make fun of the queen, who isn't really there leader anyway.  I didn't make fun of anyone or a race, gender or belief.  But I did quote what my husband had said about himself.   I did apologize to the person and I felt bad that  I hurt her feelings.  But, after some thought, I felt very sorry for her that she can't laugh at the funny things people say in life.   Now I guess I can't quote the funny, goofy things my family says without offending some people.  I also took it out of my lecture.

But recently, while speaking in southern California, just for fun, and because I like to stir things up, I threw out that same remark and this time, like every time prior to Canada, got a big laugh.  Oh, well.
So I am sorry to all that I have offended in the past, but I am just going to be me.  Just know that my heart is in the right place. I am not here to hurt anyone. I just want to make my art that hopefully makes others happy. Soon, I am afraid; I will run out of thing to blog about.  

Hopefully, no one is offended by a California girl doing a Texas bluebonnet, which really looks like a lupine to me. I have been told there is a difference and I am sure it’s called by another name in Europe. To me, it’s just another beautiful flower that has to be captured.


So, if everything goes as planned, and it never does, I might be teaching this new pattern, Texas bluebonnet, next year in Houston along with the Zinnia and the Hibiscus.  I will keep you posted.  And look for my new pattern; it’s a chic designer purse for your small and discrete hand gun that I will be showcasing at spring market. Relax,  it’s a joke!

Looking for Stuart Little

Joe's on the hunt. "I don't like playing God, but its freaking me out having a mouse in the house" he says as he quotes Dr. Seuss. My man!

Guess what my husband is doing today?  We have an unwanted visitor. Yesterday he set out mouse bait in traps around the outside of the house and this morning he went in with the big guns. The mouse trap with peanut butter. Creamy, not crunchy - it does make a difference, he says.  He admits, "Everything I learned about hunting for mice I picked up from Tom and Jerry cartoons. Do we have any Swiss cheese with the really big holes in it?"  "No", I said, " just peanut butter".

Speaking of Jerry,  I  found out yesterday that my husband told me a wrong name for one of our neighbors.  I have, for the last 6 years, been calling him Jerry when his name, I come to find out, is BOB!  I asked Joe why he did that and he said because he LOOKED like a Jerry.   I had to apologize to Bob.  I hope that Ryan and Amber next door are, in fact, Ryan and Amber.

Now back to the mouse hunt. Joe said that a few nights ago he was reading in the bedroom when he thought he saw something running past him. He thought it may have been a mouse, but was unsure as there was no tiny car involved like in Stuart Little.  We live next to rolling hills and lots of fields so you get, from time to time, mice. The last time we had one in the house was years ago and I woke up to the sound of Joe chasing him with a broom.  Joe was trying to apply a practical comic strip approach to the problem and was disappointed with the result as the broom head broke off and, believe it or not, he was unable to whack the mouse with the broom stick.

That was not a good idea so this morning he is researching how to set the traps and go in after it. Last night as we are trying to sleep, the mouse is chewing through the makeshift wall Joe put over the hole we had to cut to access some plumbing. His chewing was so loud that we had to sleep in another room.  This morning we looked at the chewed hole and Joe said "I think we're going to need a bigger boat" (apologies to any Jaws fans).

Of course, we couldn't find a flash light that worker - we have 6 flashlights and 0 batteries.  So I used the flash on my camera. I thought that was pretty ingenious. and I also got some pictures of the hunt.
So as I am writing this blog and talking to my big game hunter, Joe,  when we hear a SNAP!  I look at him and he says,  "I will look at him later - maybe tomorrow".  That's my hero.

Working on my NEW Zinnia pattern!

My new Zinnia pattern that I will be  teaching in Houston in a couple of weeks.  But I can't leave well enough alone. So I have been trying it out in other colors. Size 25" x 28".

How about purple red and orange? size 45" X 45".   Trying out these colors, before I hand dye fabric packs, for my students.

Zinnia's come in every color. I think this will be perfect.

.

 I am using the pattern just like my students will. And of course, because it me, I found a few type Os's.

 

 

 How about a little turquoise for the leaves?

Just chunks of color, made up mostly of my hand dye's, with some Hoffman batik thrown in for good measure. Now the Thread!

Quilter's Home Comes to Visit!

I am on a wild ride. It seems that my little world has sped up and I am running to keep up with it. We leave soon for the Hawaiian cruise that I will be teaching on.  I am getting all the patterns ready, not to mention trying to find shorts,  in my size, in September.

Maybe being a stay-at-home mom all those years has slowed me down but right now everything I have ever prayed for or dreamed about is happening, all at the same time. Like right now! This very minute.  I have been getting ready for this wonderful Hawaiian cruise and have been invited to teach in Toronto, Canada when I get home.  Next year, I'll be teaching in Dublin, Ireland. Wow!    

Two weeks ago I got a phone call from my friend, Jake Finch, who is the editor of Quilter’s Home magazine. They would like to do a photo shoot of my house, not just the studio, but the whole house, on September 18.  Jake said, with a little giggle, "if you need to get new drapes, this would be the time, and don’t forget to dust."  Great!

I barely have time wash my husband’s shorts, much less make drapes.  But that is what I am doing right now.  Making drapes for my bedroom, not doing the laundry. We have been hanging light fixtures, finishing up unfinished projects and cleaning up the yard.   They are going to show the outside of the Yellow House and share the story of this house I love.  The famous Gregory Case is arriving this Saturday and will be here for 7 -10 hours, he said, shooting our home.

I am staging the house with quilts everywhere, which means covering up the scrapes or imperfections on the walls, some left by Cosmo.  I haven’t really wanted to get rid of them yet, but I guess it’s time.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I am doing it all with little cash.  We stripped the money tree in the backyard bare months ago with the addition of  new windows and siding so the wind would stop blowing through our living room.

I talk in my lectures about being more creative, which is making something out of nothing.  In my life, that has usually come because of little cash.  I am very experienced in doing great thing with no, and I mean no money.  So I have been digging through the garage, hitting the flea markets and discount stores to make something out of nothing.  Again!  This is called Creativity.  I found this fabric glue that works great to hem drapes and add trim.  I found safety pins work great instead of a zipper.  And if the buttons I got from WalMart, are not the right color, paint them. 

About 6 months ago, I bought a hallway light fixture that no one can figure out how to hang from our very high entry ceiling.  Well, they can figure it out, but I don’t have the cash to pay them.  It's more than the light cost.  So, Joe and I have a new idea.  We will fix up the one that is already there like I did for the dining room chandelier.   

The laundry room is wallpapered in pages out of a botanical flower book.  And I am hiding Joe’s beer making equipment behind the gathered drapes.  No one is allowed to use the room until after next Saturday. Sorry Joe, you may need to go shopping.

I even cleaned behind the washer and dryer. It was yucky!   Next is the frig. God only knows what is growing back there. I know they aren’t going to show behind the refrigerator.   Do you think Martha Stewart cleans behind her own frig before a photo shoot?  I don’t think so.

I wanted to show you some of the tricks I have been using to make my house magazine-ready.  If I only had a magic wand.  Oh, but I do, it’s called CREATIVITY and a glue gun.

Guessing Game

Guess what I have been doing this week?

 

No, I haven't made Joe great breakfasts.

 

 or cleaned the house.

 

 I haven't been quilting or even gardening.

 

Haven't even done my hair and my fingers are green. 

 

The laundry is piling up and we are running low on towels.

 If you said making color,

you would be right.

The only problem is I now have a sore shoulder from all the folding and ironing. 

 

This is going to make some beautiful flowers.

The Loving Stitches Award

I recently judged my first quilt show.  I was a little scared to say the least.  I have a lot of experience being judged, but to judge others is quite another thing.  The first thing I did to prepare was to Google how to judge a quilt show.  Then I asked friends who have experience on this subject for guidance.  But still,  it really comes down to me and my artistic opinion and eye.  But how and what am I going to say?

The quilt show was for Tennessee Quilts, in Jonesborough, Tennessee.  This is the oldest town in Tennessee and the storytelling capitol of the world.   So it was appropriate that I was there.   I have been told that I am full of it (stories) before.  Tennessee Quilts is a great quilt shop that has a show and festival every year in July.

The quilt show was held at the University Gallery.  I was dropped off at the gallery full of quilts and had them all to myself, except for a preschool class there for, of course, story time.   Remember, this is the story capitol of the WORLD and they start the children off early.

I took a deep breath and jumped right in.  As I walked up to each quilt, I was reminded about what judges have said about my quilts in the past.   Some critics are very vague.  Others point out the flaws under the guise of where I can improve.   But to me the judging is very subjective.  I always thoughtfully consider their remarks but don't let it stop me.  I have had quilts that were full of mistakes win Best of Show and quilts that were the best  I could do technically come away with nothing as nobody saw all the hard work I had done. So now I just do what thrills me and don't worry about if I win or not.   But, to be on the other side and  judging is a little intimidating.

I could see that each quilt was so different.  There weren't many categories, either.   Just Best of Show, Best Group, Best Machine and Best Hand Workmanship.   It took me about 2 hours to go through 38 quilts.  I found my winners.  There was no going back.  Did I pick the right ones?  I don't know.  I just let my eye and heart guide me.  But that was not the end.   The next night they had a Gallery Talk and Walk.  Guess who was doing the talking?  Right, it was me.  I was supposed to walk around to each quilt and comment on that quilt.   Oh, My God!  I had forgotten that part in my contract.

We walked into the gallery and it was packed.  What are all these people doing here?  What am I going to say and is it a hostile crowd?   They looked nice, but who knows,  I have never been to Tennessee.

I introduced myself and started right in.  I walked to the first quilt.  They followed me.   For a split second I thought What if I ran out the door right now, would they run after me?  Then, as if by magic, I remembered all that I had written down about the quilts.  How I thought the colors sparkled, the complication of the design, how perfect the points where.  I saw the crowd's faces soften as I spoke.  They had no idea who this crazy woman from California was judging their quilts.   But I am an encourager.  I was born that way and I feel that you make a better impact with praise rather than harsh words.  I save my harsh words for the politicians.

I knew what went into each quilt.   The time they spent, the thoughts they worked out while working on the piece and the love.  It was touching.  As the gallery group followed me from quilt to quilt, I came to a quilt I will never forget.  It’s hard to describe.  It wasn't as well executed as the others, far from it.  But I knew the love that went into this quilt.   Its sashing was quilted and full of wrinkles.  She had used puffy batting.  The blocks where made up of the back of Sunbonnet Sam, in his overalls.   She had lovingly made each little sunbonnet boy out of clothing from her son’s baby clothes.  There were overalls made with Bob the Builder, Oshkosh B'Gosh overalls, a John Deere tractor t-shirt, even a Wiggles t-shirt.  As I was talking about this quilt I looked up and there in front of me was the mother and her son, about 7 years old.   I knew it was the quilt maker and the son right away as they had made there way to the front of the crowd.  I got a lump in my throat because I knew that this quilt was made with love for someone very special.  The boy looked lovingly up at his mom.  As I stated that fact I thought of my son, now in the Marines. Soon he will be off to Afghanistan.  How much that quilt will mean one day when that small boy becomes a man, I told the group before me.  To me this was the most important quilt there.  Because I also made a quilt for my son that was made with love and no skill.  Puffy batting, very big stitches and more than one wrinkle in the sashing. But it is the best quilt I have ever made because my little boy, like hers, napped with it, cried on it, and was warmed by it.   I knew what this mom felt.  I saw the pride in her eyes when her boy looked up at her with love.    How many mothers have made quilts out of love, not skill, just love to say I love you son and will always be there for you.

So, for all of you who have made that same quilt, I give you, now that I am a real judge, The Loving Stitches Award.   It’s a priceless award, worth its weight in gold.

Of Russians and Rain Drops

It's been over a month and our home is still in the process of getting a much needed face-lift.  I said the house, not me.  She got new windows and new siding to replace the dry rot.  It so air tight that the air conditioning actually turns off on a 103 degree day.
 
She is still the yellow beauty she was meant to be.  The interesting thing is the siding manufacturer calls this yellow color Cream.  The same color we got in trouble for with the color Nazis back in 2002.  You can read about that episode here.

Yes, Yuri and his Russian crew are still here fixing her up. How things in the world have changed just in my lifetime.  They are a group of really nice guys that understand more English than they let on.  After a month I have adopted them all.  I just call them my boys.  If Joe's dad was still alive he would have a field day with this.  Russians in our yard working on our house.   For all the years I knew him he pretended he was Italian.   I have been researching Joe's family genealogy and on his fathers side, I come to find out, is a grandfather and grandmother who were Russian and Polish.  So when I hear my boys talking,  I think of how it was when Joe's grandfather, who emigrated here in 1911, didn't speak English and had to work and fit in right away.   Just like my boys. Would I be able to do that?  And most important, why did Joe's dad always say he was Italian? Interesting, isn't it?

So while my boys have been hammering away I have been making this quilt and thinking. 

I took the original picture after we had a big rain storm.  I love the rain drops running down the petals.  I'm not sure what the name of the flower is, but it's a vine that grows like crazy in my back yard.   I have looked at this photo for about a year waiting for the right time to make it.   I always like to challenge myself and wanted to see if I could do a flower covered in rain drops.  I was asked to participate in this year's International Quilt Festival in Houston silent action and this will be my contribution, which is kind of ironic because I missed the entry date for the show for the 2 quilts I have been working on since last year.  I can't believe I missed the cut off date, but I did. So I will be there just teaching a new pattern I designed just for Houston.  But let's just say, that if it wasn't for all these big shows, giving me the venue to show my art,  I wouldn't have all these great teaching jobs and be traveling the world.  Without the big shows I would have had plenty of time and an open calender to get my quilts in to Houston on time.   So it is very bittersweet, and funny, that I missed the cut off date. 

The first year I went to the Houston Show, I was so blown away.  My friend, Dawn, took me that year to expose me to the quilting world.  We walked through the silent action where Dawn bid on a stunning Diane Gaudynski whole cloth quilt.  No bigger than 12" square.   She has it hanging in her beautiful home and I know it cost $$$.  So when I was asked to participate in  this years auction I stopped everything and made the quilt shown here, Rain Drops.  I encrusted it in thread and the back is as pretty as the front, so, if you are going to the IQA Houston show, start the bidding.

That there are even a places for me to show my art  is so amazing.  I am truly grateful. To think that I can now financially help out my husband, after all these years of being a stay at home mom/artist.  To have a funny group of Russians putting badly needed siding on my notorious Yellow House is awesome.  It wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for the quilting world.  THANK YOU!

Hawaii, Here We Come?

The Hawaiian cruise is getting closer and everyone is getting excited.  Everyone but me.  I thought it would be fun to teach on a 14 day Hawaiian Cruise.  Why not?  They give you a room, all meals included and pay you a whopping $25 per student.   But this doesn't count the 2 months it has taken me to design and write 3 new patterns, hand dye all the fabrics and price out the fabric kits and patterns so they are reasonable.  What was I thinking? 

So you can tell how my week is going.  On top of all that, we had all new windows put in the house the week before I left  for Asilomar to teach.  Then mom and dad made a quick visit where my mom ran out of her meds. Oh, NO!

I had a tire blow out, on 101 in Gilroy, driving to Asilomare.  It was only 103 degrees as I waited for the tow truck.  We can thank our California government for the pot hole the size of New Jersey that wasted my tire.  And I came home to Russians putting new siding on my home. Yes, its still yellow. Ah, the sound of hammers in the morning.  It's like music to my ears.

Right now as I speak Joe is under the kitchen sink, fixing the plumbing that shook loose, we think, when they where bashing out our old windows.

The problem is that Joe and I have never really gone on a fancy vacation. We spend most of our free days off  fixing things.   We don't know what to pack and how are we going to sleep in the same bed for 14 days? I can barely make it 2 hours before I get the jimmy leg and have to move to the other bed  in Matt's room . Don't tell him, it will freak him out.

Joe kept saying this cruise thing might not be a good idea.  Why don't I listen to him more?  I am happy to report that the windows are in and so thick and tight that when you open the slider you here a whoosh.  It's like we are in an air lock.   The air conditioner actually cools the house and turns off..   And, best of all,  I don't  hear my kooky neighbor talking to weird  men in the early morning hours.  Hooray!

So, here are the Hawaiian tropical flowers I have been designing.  They will soon be on the web and look for the Miss Mindy doll, which is in the Shop.

If I can get my webmaster out from under the kitchen sink, we will have them in the Shop tomorrow.

Thanks for letting me vent.  Got to go, Joe is calling for a wrench, or was that a wench?

Making Things Simpler Is So Complcated

I have a new toy!  Its called a WACOM.  Why Wacom?  I have no idea, but it is one of the coolest new computer tools.  Well, let's just say it's new to me.  Finally, when I am designing new patterns,  I don't have to draw with a clumsy mouse or, as I called it,  "The Brick".   Over the years I have been somewhat animated (surprise!)  in expressing my feelings to my husband  about the difficultly of using The Brick to draw.  But he was listening and helped me to select the Wacom Cintiq and now I can draw with a pen on a computer tablet.   This is SO sweet.

But we do have a new problem and that is me learning all the new software that came with it.  I don't care what they say out in the computer world, but these people that are supposed to be teaching us how to use computer stuff do not speak English.  I  have now watched dozens of tutorials to come to the sad conclusion that I am still missing something.   But no,  it's just the way they speak.  Their language sounds like English but I have never heard those words before.  I can't even find them in the dictionary, not to mention the shortcuts like cntl-click and alt-shift.  WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT!

 The computer world is in their own world.  They have truly forgot that they are selling there products to people like ME!  So speak to me. Now I have to buy another book on the secret code of how to speak Nerd. Thank God my son is a linguist.

Do you how to zip and unzip a file?  Trust me, it is not anything like zipping up your skirt.  Do you have any ideas how to defrag your computer?  Or even what a frag is?  Do you know what VGA and DVI cables are?
I didn't think so.

The first tutorial I watched was this fast talking guy who speaks so fast you can't even write it down. I had to watch it 3 times to get what he was saying, which was nothing.  The reviews on his presentation mirrored my feelings exactly.  Of course he took offense and defended his delivery.  Then their was the "Earring Guy," as I like to call him, who is way to old for wearing earrings.   His tutorial gave me the impression he was saying, Hurry up and learn this, you are wasting my time.  I have a pilates class in an hour.  I am sure he has to go interface with his peeps who also wear earrings.

Next on my list is this pleasant female voice.   Maybe I can relate to women better than the guys.  NO,  she is also from this strange world. She kept asking about opening a practice file and nobody could find the practice files.  This was in Photoshop and every one was still looking for the practice file when I gave up.  She was also in a hurry and had to run to meet someone and interface after she picks up the kids form day care who all know also speak the techno lingo at their preschool in the Silicon Valley.

 Isn't there any one who speaks computer to the regular people like an  artist/mom/dyslexic?  Help!!!

Then the door blows opens with a bang.  A gust of wind blows leaves into the hallway with a whoosh.
Behind the sunlit shadows, is the outline of a MAN.  He is wearing flip flops and shorts that show off his great tan legs.  He approach the computer slowly.   He motions for my chair.  I jump up quickly, tossing my foo-foo pillow aside.  He asks for a cool drink.  It's early in the morning, so I fix him a cooling iced coffee.
I can tell this is going to be a HOT day.  The lone stranger starts to work his magic.  I here the click, click, clicking of the key board.  Its been about 15 minutes and then I hear him say I fixed  it!  My heart skips a beat.  Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What has he done?  No one knows.  But he spoke in a patient, soft voice, speaking clear English.
He showed this artist how to work her new toy.  As he stood next to me I felt my heart beat fast and my face get hot.  I quickly ask him to stay for dinner.  But, no.  He has others to save.  He drives way from my house on his trusty stead, The HOT HATCH, to his real job.  I know my computer world has been set straight.
At least for for today.  Tomorrow, who knows?

The Art of Weight Loss

 

 Marcia, Jan and Cindy 1974

or 

Mindy Jacqui and Cynthia 1979

The frustration with trying to lose weight is about to do me in.  I am exercising and really eating the right things but for the last week nothing, I mean NOTHING has happened except I have watched some really funny YouTube videos while on the treadmill and learned some new ways to enjoy celery. Yummy.

Last night I was watching Entertainment Tonight.  Can you tell Joe is out of town?  There was Marcia Brady proudly showing off her new body. She is the same age as me and down to 113 for a photo shoot.  I have never been 113.  She has lost 50 pounds.  She was so happy because this was the same weight she was when the Brady Bunch went to Hawaii and Bobby found the scary tiki  that put a curse on the Brady family. Don't act like you don't remember.  So there she was in her new skinny body.  I need to know how she did it.  After the show suckers me in for almost an hour I NEED to know how she did it.  Here I am, on my diet, working hard to lose 1 pound only to gain it back.  What is her secret?  The show is back after 45 commercials, one which was for Jenny Craig.  I am on the edge of the sofa, waiting and...............

Oh, that's her secret.  Why didn't I think of that.  It's so simple. She got a personal trainer,  has a chef to cook all her food and she must have money, or is getting some, because she can work out 2 hours a day.   And after 8 months she dropped 50 pounds. You go, girl!  We will all just go out and get personal trainers.

OK, so I sound a little angry,  it is really just disappointment. You know how I feel?  I hope you do.
There is not one woman alive that doesn't, after the age of 40, have trouble with her weight.  I look back at photo albums of me just 5 to 7 years ago and see I was 15 pounds smaller and can't believe how good I looked but how fat I thought I was at the time.  That is sad.

Learning to be content with one's self is an art form and I would like to master that art. I have a successful career that is more than I could have ever dreamed of.  My son is prospering in his adult life and my husband, my sweet husband, looks at me like I am the hottest thing going. Thank God, I haven't gotten him those new glasses yet.

So it's just me that is getting in the way again!  So this is my plan for just today:  I am going to think like I am strong, thin and young.  Go and get my manicure and even a tan.  Because tan fat is always better than white fat.  One day at a time.

But first I have to do 35 minutes on the treadmill.  That is also part of the art.