Wordless Wednesday - dogs 11-10-21

 

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The last of this year's Christmas decor 12-30-19

There weren't quite as many outdoor decorations this year, but more of the blow-up images - Santa, Snowmen, reindeer, dogs in colorful "clothing", and a repeat of the Christmas blow-up dragon.  There is one house with a variety of blow-ups, old fashioned wire figures, and this really peculiar dog "statue".

Friday Food 11-30-18

My friend Carol and I avoided the terrific, but welcome, rain storm on Thursday, by changing our trip to Bowers Museum to Wednesday.  It was a gorgeous day, pleasant temperature and lovely blue sky.  We had lunch at Tangata, the restaurant at Bower's, visited the gift shop to support the economy, and made a stop at Barnes & Noble on the way home. 

We both chose the salmon salad and it was excellent.  Beneath the perfectly cookd salmon, watercress, orange, red onion, avocado, and a bit of tomato, was a small bed of quinoa with the dressing all around it.  

We had bread and butter and water with it. 

There was a table full of museum people next to us, and I noticed several also had the salmon.   Carol had her back to them, but had a view of the patio through the windows behind me.  

From my seat I could see just a corner of the mural on the outside wall. 

Just as I took this  picture a cloud rolled over the sun and eliminated the palm shadows. 

And for a laugh, here is the view as we came out of the gift shop.  The dog belongs to someone in the gift shop and he had been very good, but then he wandered out into the foyer and then into the restaurant.  He is a very nice dog, but not allowed in the restaurant, of course.  One of the gift shop ladies was trying to get the harness on him.  He was being very patient.  He gave nice polite kisses. 

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Dogs Napping 11-10-18

 KoKo usually naps curled up, unlike some other dogs.  

Corky liked to sleep half in and half out of his boat bed.  

The rest of these guys I have saved off the Internet.  They know how to relax. 

"If the shoe fits!"

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Friday Feet 04-27-18

A feast for anyone with a shoe fetish!  But waaaay too much all at once.  If I saw any of these actually being worn I would be so shocked I wouldn't be able to take a picture. 

Check it out:  http://www.smartlystuff.com/index.php/2018/04/27/craziest-shoes-see-believe/

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Visiting quilts from the past 03-24-18

The screen on my lap top is still broken and I have not ordered a new one.  Procrastination is me!  One reason I keep putting it off is the length of time it will take to download all the files I have backed up.  I need to go through and delete about half of them.  But it is an extremely boring job and I have not made a lot of progress.  Recently I was looking through some picture files on Picasa (which is no longer supported by Microsoft) and came upon some treasures from years past.   One quilt I found is by Jan Hirth who I have gotten to know in the past ten years.  Especially since the beginning of Surfside Quilters Guild in May 2009.  Jan is an expert quilt maker, both hand and machine work, and I greatly admire her talent.  When I took these pictures at the 2008 Pacific International Quilt Festival I did not know her well although we were both members of Beach Cities Quilt Guild in San Juan Capistrano.  I love this quilt.  It is so inventive, bright, and fun.  So, I am showing it again after all these years.  There is no KoKo here, but I'll bet he would love it too.

"Puppy Picks"  Jan Hirth - Laguna Niguel, CA  39" L X 32.5" W

Commercial cotton prints.  Machine pieced and quilted.

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Wordless Wednesday 12-06-17

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Saturday Stories - Dogs 05-27-17

It seems that some people just attract dogs.  Diane's Aunt Dot was always the center of attention when there were dogs in the house.  She complained because they frequently sat on her feet, no matter how large the dog or how skimpy her shoes.  She always had a dog or two, so maybe the other dogs were trying to get close to them.  Diane hasn't had that problem, although she loves dogs and they usually like her, but not obsessively so.  One day when she was leaving for an appointment she drove out of her driveway to see an unleashed dog wandering in the street.  Not a dog she had seen previously and there were never stray dogs in her neighborhood.  She pulled over to the curb and got out of the car to approach the dog, who was quite happy to run over to her.  She checked the tags, finding out the dog was called Chaucer and the address was in the cul de sac down a few houses.  As she turned to get back in her car, Chaucer just jumped in the driver's seat and moved over to the passenger seat and settled himself.  He was a fairly large dog, maybe a Labradoodle, with lots of curly beige fur.  When she tried to pull him out by his collar he just licked her wherever he could reach with his tongue.  This wasn't working.  So, she got in and drove to the address on his collar.  Nobody home, but the side gate was open.  Easy, just put Chaucer in the yard and close the gate.  But how to get him out of the car?  As she tugged and pushed, one of the neighbors drove in.  He smiled because he was familiar with Chaucer's car addiction.  He went in his house for some doggie treats and tried to tempt Chaucer down to the ground.  Didn't work.  So, he pushed and Diane pulled and they finally got Chaucer to jump out of the car.  After about fifteen minutes, between the two of them, they coaxed the dog through the gate and slammed it shut.  Whew!  By this time Diane was covered with dog hair and already late for her appointment.  But how could she not get this dog back to his rightful place in the world.  Over the years she saw Chaucer walking obediently on a leash, but not lately.  The other day she say the homeowner in the yard and stopped to ask about Chaucer.  He died about a year ago, she was told, after many adventures trying to take a ride with the neighbors.

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I didn't realize so much time has passed since I last posted to my blog.  Think this is the longest recess I have done.  Sorry.  I just haven't had anything to write about.  I think I am completely over my bronchitis, but have been slow to get up to speed again.  Guess it is my advancing age, eh?

Today I drove to San Diego for a meeting of the art quilt group I belong to down there.  We have not met since September.  Illnesses, travels, family responsibilities, and, of course, the holidays have all taken up our time.  But today we had a lovely meeting with lots of show & tell (but none from me) and a fabulous Greek lunch served by our hostess.  After the meeting I went over to Visions Art Museum to see the new exhibits that will continue to April 3rd.  What a wonderful display of quilts about people!   One of the best all around exhibits that I have seen there.  Do try to see it sometime in the next few months.  The artists are Jennifer Day, Sherry Davis Kleinman, Lori Lupe Pelish, Susan Polansky, Joan Sowada, and Susan Else.  There is also a small showing by Valerie C. White, but her work, unlike all the others, is not about people.  Of course the Susan Else pieces boggle the mind.  How does she come up with such wonderful ideas and how does she stuff her figures so tightly?  All of the artists do beautiful work and the quilts are interesting to see close up or at a distance.

Then home about 6pm.  KoKo is staying with his favorite doggie sitter and I will pick him up tomorrow.  I wasn't sure what time I would be home today and I knew I would be very tired. 

This is KoKo's friend Sophie who lives in San Diego.  Her mommy was disappointed that I didn't have KoKo with me today,  Next time!

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Another quilt from SAQA Auction 2016 11-06-16

Here is another quilt purchased at the SAQA online auction.  I thought it would fit in well as there are several dog quilts in the Collection.  I consider Judy's quilt "Straight Furrow Log Cabin", purchased in 1985, to be the first quilt in the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection.  This one is 322.  

 

"Shadows in the Dog House"  Judy Mathieson - CA  12"x12"

Hand dyed fabric by Cathy Shanahan.  Fused, machine edge applique, machine quilted.

 

And there is the shadow dog sitting inside.

 

 

A nice bright architechtural plaid for the back.

Great label - gives all the information I could require.

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KoKo visiting me 08-21-15

Remember this little guy from last May?  He stayed with me for a few days.

 

This time I will have him for nine days while his mother goes on vacation.  He is the most loving dog I have every been around.   Corky was sweet and smart and stole my heart, but he wasn't dog that sits on laps.  KoKo  LOVES to sit on a lap and give an occasional smooch when he is in the mood.  We are having a lovely time!

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It was a doggie day! 05-29-15

As explained last evening I have KoKo Ota staying with me for a couple nights.  He is such a sweet loving dog it has been a pleasure.  But tiring.    He loves to play fetch, so I have a stiff shoulder from throwing his toys so he can bring them back to me.  He knows how to make each of them squeak and seems to delight in doing so.  It was 96F on my patio today, but KoKo, like Corky, went out, rolled around on the cement, and took a little nap!   I sat in the shade because I can't let him out alone due to the coyotes that roam the area.  I have to take him home to his mommy tomorrow and I know I will miss him.  Maybe Nancy will need a KoKo sitter again soon.

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Weekend House Guest 05-28-15

I have a house guest this weekend - until Saturday, anyway.  Meet KoKo Ota in his bath.

Nancy has a memorial service to go to so KoKo is staying with me for the first time.  I will have a stiff arm from throwing toys - he loves to fetch!  KoKo is supposed to be a Yorkie, but he is only a year old and already weighs eight pounds.  And then there are those droopy ears.  I think there is another breed mixed in there!  He is a very loving dog and happy.

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Another Chocolate Quilt 10-27-13

On October 19th Visions Art Museum in San Diego held their annual Sip, Savor, Stroll fund raising event.  This time with the addition of Chocolate.  Along with raffle baskets, music, munchies and seeing old friends there were small quilts offered in a silent auction.  This one by Kay Laboda is outstanding, I think.  And very different than any work of hers I have seen.


"Charlie, The Sweet Chocolate Lab"  Kay Laboda - San Diego, CA 2013 16.75"W x 20"L
Charlie's eyes are white, but making the dark dark also darkened the whites of his eyes.
 

Kay has used fuding with machine edge stitching.
 

He is wearing a Charlie tag on his collar.
 

The background is quilted with swirls and hooks.
 

 
Great chocolate fabric on the back - although I looked at about a thousand chocolate fabrics I never saw this one.  The chocolates are very reaslistic.
 

Oops!  Kay forgot to put a contact on her label!  Fortunately, I have it in my e-addresses.  But it isn't always easy to find an artist, if there is a website it should always include contact information.

Beagle at VAM 12-29-12

I don't know the rules for service dogs in other states, but in California if the dog is wearing a vest that declares he is a service dog he can go anywhere with his owner.  No questions asked.  Although sometimes our curiosity about what the dog's job actually is can be unbearable.  I believe this dog's responsibility was for his mommy as he always stuck close to her.

This cute little beagle named Dakota (who is 11 years old) was so well behaved.  Sometimes he would lie down and rest whilst his parents examined the quilts, but he made no attempt to wander and was very quiet. 
The quilt here is "Monochrom V - Quest" by Barbara Lange of Freising, Germany.
 

Dakota kept an eye on me and I kept my hands off of him - too cute, isn't he? 

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Cars 07-09-12

My laptop is partially restored.  Carbonite is reloading my files.  I checked to see how long it would take...  how about three days!  THREE days!  I hope I correctly reset things so the laptop won't go to sleep in the middle of things.  I REALLY need a new computer guru - this is all too stressful for this old Broad!  Something that has not yet returned is the Picasa file and I am very worried that the pictures are lost forever.  Nothing to do but wait and see.   Here are a few pictures, instead of Monday Browsing.




Not a common sight, even in Orange County, CA!  One would more likely see a Lotus in Beverly Hills or some other affluent community.  This one has an old license plate, so maybe it is in a classic car collection, but I didn't think those were ever driven.

I was not familiar with this logo on a car parked next to mine.  Abarth, the scorpion?

No, it is one of the newer Fiat models.  When I see them on the road I think they look like some kind of Morris Mini - horrors!  If you look in the passenger side window you will see that this one has a guard dog. 

Cute little white dog with black around his left eye, but he was not happy to have me so close to his vehicle and I could only catch his right side.  I, of course, am a reflection. 
Send good thoughts for my laptop and for me!

Karen Stiehl Osborn quilt in TCQC 11-14-10

This little Chihuahua puppy named Chili is the reason this quilt is in the Collection. Karen Stiehl Osborn fosters rescue dogs in her home in Nebraska for the Helping Hands 4 Animals organization and took this little gal in after she had surgery to remove one of her legs. The surgery was expensive and to help cover the cost Karen offered one of her quilts to the high bidder - I was the high bidder! This took place in August and since then Chili has found a loving home elsewhere and doesn't seem to realize she is missing anything.

Chili, an 8-month old Chihuahua puppy

"Fifteen" Karen Stiehl Osborn 2010 15" x 15"

Karen made this piece for the QuiltArt Quinceanero exhibition in February 2010. It tells the story of her evolution in fiber art - from traditional pieced work with commercial batiks through her current fascination with painting on canvas.

Her signature is on the front in the lower right corner. I do prefer that quilts be signed on the front, as painters have been signing them for centuries.

The colored strips with batting showing on the edges represents her traditional quilts of yore. The birds on a wire are so special - I always enjoy watching the migrants flow down to land on the wires for a rest.

Karen is an early bird - up and out with her camera whenever she has a chance. I like this excerpt from her journal "...morning I set off early as the ......". I always admire early risers, but I am a confirmed night owl - it takes all kinds we night owls do the swing and graveyard shifts all over the world.

Great vivid blue back on this quilt and a thorough informative label. Check Karen's work on her website: www.karenstiehlosborn.com and on her blog http://stiehlosborn.blogspot.com/