Too tired tonight 01-21-19

It has been a very long day, starting with the KoKo walk at 7am; then I delivered him to Dee, who will keep him until Tuesday morning.  Showered, stuffed some emergency things in a bag, and hit I-5 south about 10:45am.  I met friends for lunch at a new Japanese place in Laguna Hills, Sushi Ramen.  My poke bowl was a bit spicier than I usually have, but tasted wonderful.  After that I headed south again to stop at Crate & Barrel at the Carlsbad outlet mall, they don't have Marimekko fabric anymore, but I was curious what they are selling these days.  I was tempted, but didn't buy anything.  Then further south to find the Salvation Army location where tonight's meeting was to be held, followed by further miles to a Salvation Army donation place to drop off the big box of fabric and batting scraps.  Somewhere along the way I stopped for a latte to give my energy a boost.  Then I met friends at an interesting restaurant named Khan's Cave for dinner of mostly Chinese style food.  And the final stop was at the meeting of Canyon Quilters where Kathy Nida was the speaker.  I have been a member of this guild for several years, but rarely go because of the four hour round trip drive.  Kathy did a great program and I am glad I finally understand her method better.  I think it is too complex for my brain or my skills, but her work is quite amazing.  I left from the Salvation Army location at 9:10pm and arrived home at 10:50pm.  Moderate traffic and not so bad driving the route at night because I am very familiar with it.  No KoKo to keep me warm tonight and it is a little chilly - 43F, which isn't cold for most of you, but it is for this neck of the country.  

Do you see the red underline in the paragraph above?  What did I hit that did that?  Can't figure out how to remove it without typing the whole thing over again and I am too tired.  Sorry. 

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Latest addition to TCQC 07-16-17

Visions Art Museum: Contemporary Quilts + Textiles opened new exhibits yesterday and I drove down for the opening reception.  Most of the artists were there and there was a nice crowd for the evening.  The exhibits are:

 "Funny Bones" with quilts by David Charity, Jamie Fingal, Wendy Huhn, Nancy Lemke, Pam RuBert, Kathy Weaver.

A Solo Exhibit by Kathy Nida

"Female Folktales" by Charlotte Bird

"Masquerade"  Member's Challenge (14"hx10"w)

I think the Funny Bones quilts are witty rather than "funny", but some do make me smile broadly.  They show vastly different design and construction techniques and are created by accomplished artists.  Pam's quilts always make me smile, she has such a delightfully quirky imagination.  David's cartoons feature a pet Basenji who is a wry sort of character who has many adventures.  Nancy's furry creatures in clothes are clever and sentimental.  I was pleased to meet Wendy Huhn, one of her small pieces is in TCQC and it is one of the few pieces that is mounted on a board and cannot be rolled.  She mounts or frames all her small works to take them out of the realm of pot holders, something now done by many artists who produce small works. Charlotte has gone in an entirely new direction and her five pieces are large and thought provoking.  She plans to continue with this new series.  Seeing Kathy Nida's work filling the Anya gallery is astounding; it is all so complex and beautifully done.  Her technique is astounding (I follow her blog) and the completed pieces are large and "in your face".  I greatly admire them, but I don't think I could live with them on my walls.  However, she does sometimes make small animal pieces and I bought one today.  Here is one of her little owls that is now in TCQC. 

"Owl 2.0 Bird #18"  Kathy Nida - El Cajon, CA  2015  16.75"w x 10.50"l

Cotton fabric, fusible, machine appliqued and quilted. 

www.kathynida.com

Wonderful eyes and beak.

How about these feet?  Maybe I should have saved the image for Friday Feet!

On the back she has used a print from her stash with a matching sleeve.

A label that gives several ways to contact the artist. 

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California Fibers exhibit in Oceanside 06-28-16

Saturday evening I went to the opening of the California Fibers exhibit at Oceanside Museum of Art.  There are some beautiful pieces on the walls, but there was also a mob of people, so I only have these five examples. 

 

The paper clips are what hold the ends of the cord to the overhead "base".

 

I expected they would tinkle like wind chimes, but the figures are soft - no tinkling.

 

Some of the walls were painted black which gives this piece a sort of glow.

Kathy's work is so different - unique.

 

I messed up the signs on these next two so have typed in the text.

Ashley V. Blalock "Keeping Up Appearances" 2016

Cotton Yarn   [Crocheted]

This is hung in a corner and goes from floor to ceiling.

 Linda Anderson  "Waiting" 2015

100% cotton, hand painted, Jacquard textile paints, bamboo batt, Machine stitched.

 

 

These are three artists' husbands waiting during an opening.  I met the fellow on the left, nice guy with a good sense of humor.

 

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Art Quilt Exhibit in Poway 12-14-13

Friend Liz Williams and I drove down to Poway Center for the Performing Arts in Poway, CA., to attend the opening of the "Fiber Reactions" exhibit from SCalifornia members of SAQA.  The postcard lists thirty artists, but I didn't see work from several of them.  Most showed two quilts, usually in the same style.  They have, I suppose, found their "voice".   I think every possible surface design technique was shown - lots of hand-dyed fabric and hand stitching along with machine work. 
Here are a few quilts that I admired - I will show I few more on another day.

 

 

 

 

 

Kathy has an unusual sense of humor which always causes me to laugh out loud,
 

An extra treat was the view out the two story windows onto the "piazza" with the red sweet gum trees (Liquidambar styraciflua). 
 

At one point there was a huge gust of wind and the air was full of swirling red leaves - gorgeous.