Surfside Quilters Guild 11-16-23

Tuesday was the BIG day for Surfside Quilters  Guild.  November Fest is our semi-annual fund raiser, the finale of 12 months of planning, sewing, organizing, etc..  So many of our almost 200 members were involved in some aspect of the event. It not only provides funds for programs, philanthropy, and operating expenses, it builds new friendships, teaches us new skills, and promotes quilting and knowledge of our guild to the public.  It was a fun day and financially successful.

Since I am the photographer for the guild there are few pictures of me, but someone insisted. Elizabeth Geer is seated at the piano, she is one of three or four  members who play before the meeting and during the break. She is a very active member and chaired the Raffle Basket committee for November Fest.

Susan Ritschel was the Nov Fest Coordinator who worked all year with the various   committees to make it all come together. Behind her is one of the Live Auction quilts made by Cathie Opila.

Another quilt by Cathie Opila.

I had then winning bid for this one.

A bright quilt made by Nancy Ota.

This is the quilt I wanted most of all and it is mine!!!

I was  high bidder for two more which I will post another day.

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A tired day 10-26-23

Still suffering from extreme tiredness and the only appointment with a cardiologist is December  11!    This is with a  large cardiology group nearby. My primary doesn't  feel it is urgent, but I am somewhat concerned.  I don't really think there is a problem, but I would like to have more energy.    Maybe it is just my age. We are still walking twice a day and I have a nap almost every day.  Keep on keeping on. 

Surfside Quilters Guild is all  geared  up for our November 14th meeting which is November Fest, our  primary fund raiser.   There is a wonderful selection of quilts for the live auction, interesting things for the silent auction,  anamazing boutique,  and an abundance of Raffle Baskets.  I prepared a thread basket again this year with donations from friends and guild members.   During the year I collect items from "going out of quilting" people and miscellaneous sales. This year there are +/- 200 spools, some partially used, but mostly unopened spools. Lots of  poly and rayon and metallic. 

This complex, colorful quilt made Cathie Opila is one of the spectacular offerings in   the live auction.

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Raindrops and Red & White Quilt 01-04-22

Our first rain storms have moved on after giving us about 6", but more than that in snow on our local San Gabriel/San Bernardino Mountains.   The average rain fall in Orange County over the last 100+ years is about 14".  So, we continue to do our rain dances and conserve what water we can.  

Succulents grow well with little water, but they seem to really perk up in a good rain. 

Raindrops on grey/green.

This is a full image of the red/white quilt I purchased at the Surfside Quilt Guild live auction in November.  I just showed a corner here the other day.  It was pieced by Sue Butsko and quilted by Cathie Opila and is 42"W X 48"L.  I have it hanging in the family room as my sole Christmas decoration.  Except for the wreath on the door that I think I put up just for the mail guy.   I know that Sue went into her fabric library to find all the red/white fabrics and I recognize most of them from what is in my own fabric library, some from several decades ago.  

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Last roses 12-24-21

Late in the afternoon on Wednesday I read the weather prediction which said RAIN, and heavy rain at that.  So, I cut the last almost full blown Brandy roses and brought them in to enjoy.  In a couple weeks it will be time to prune the roses for the year and no new flowers for at least a month.

Such a soft and lovely color with just a slight spicy scent.  In the background is a new quilt I bought at the November Surfside Quilters Guild auction, made by Sue Butsko and quilted by Cahtie Opila.  It is 42"W X 48"L.

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California Weather 12-16-21

Tuesday was the member's showcase at Surfside Quilters Guild, which is my favorite meeting of the year.  This year our member Cathie Opila and her sister Sue Carroll (from Minnesota) shared the quilts they make for their family of eleven siblings and their offspring..  Cathie is a prolific and adventurous quiltmaker who collaborates with Sue across the country.  It was a good program and worth the trouble to get there.   It was the day that SCalifornia had the first major rainfall since last winter and it was a doozy.  I left early in the wind and rain and heavy morning rush hour traffic.  Sometimes I could hardly see out of the car, which rocked in the wind and the blow-by from the big trucks.  It took a little more than an hour and a half and I arrived just five minutes before the meeting started.  I am the official photographer and like to be there to take pictures before everyone gets settled.   It is so satisfying and "warm" to be back to meeting in person.  I have missed all the quilting ladies over the last almost two years.  Before I left to drive home I sat in the parking lot for about 20 minutes, watching the wind whip the trees and the wipers whip the heavy rain.  But the drive home was not so harrowing, although it rained a lot it wasn't as violent as earlier in the morning and there was less traffic. .  

I was going to add a video of the wind and rain, but can't figure out how to do it.  Another time, maybe.  Here is one of Cathie Opila's quilts that I especially admire. 

And I have missed doing the twelve days of Christmas cartoons, some of which are new this year, but I will try to post on each evening until the BIG day.  

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Surfside Quilters Guild Challenge 08-13-19

Every other August our guild has a Challenge Reveal of the challenge quilts members have made starting with the same four fabrics.  It is always amazing the different designs they come up with.  Here are just a few from today's reveal.   

This quilt is the Viewer's Choice and it is the one I voted for. We choose the same "theme" of "Hang Ten Quilts", but I think Odetta's is a much more successful piece. 

"Hang Ten at the Quilt Show" Del Thomas  2019  26"W x 21"L

Ten little machine quilted quilts plus the guild logo in the top left corner. 

I think the background should have been larger and anything but the stripe for the borders.  

The following piece is one of four non-quilt works.  The tote bag at the bottom is made by a different member.  This mobile is by Dawn Johnson one of our newer members.  Clever.  

Impossible to take a decent picture because there is no solid background available. 

Maybe a dog?

An angel with eyelashes. 

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