Surfside Quilters Guild Feb 11, 2025

I was feeling well enough this morning  to drive south to Dana Point for the Surfside Quilters Guild  meeting.  I went to take the photos and because I wanted to meet with the member who may want to be my backup.  I don't miss many meetings as I do enjoy the group so much, but with increasing age and health problems, I must sometimes miss a meeting. 

The speaker today was Joanna Figueroa from Fig Tree Quilts.  She is a  pattern  designer and fabric designer for Moda.  Website: http://figtreeandcompany.com   Her blog: https://blog.figtreeandcompany.com

She has an interesting color theory which make her quilts soft and muted,  but not actually pastel.  The darkest color is what she calls "warm black"  and has a  small  patterning. 

The quilting is done by a cadre of long-arm quilters.

There were several quilts with dark backgroumds, the warm black or shades of warm grey.

Many of her blocks are repeated in different quilt patterns,  most  using the sew/flip method she prefers.  

Nice gentle quilts to curl up with to sip hot chocolate and read a good book.

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Philanthropy Quilts 05-14-24

The largest continuing project of Surfside Quilters Guild is philanthropy quilts for various non-profit entities  in Orange County.  At our meetings we have a parade with members holding up donated quilts and walking around the room. I am always amazed at the number and quality of the quilts.  Some are made at home by  members and some are created in the monthly Philanthropy meetings. Some are elaborate, some are very basic.  Some are donated as a stack of blocks, some are "flimsies" (finished tops that need backing, batting, quilting, and binding).  All are examples of the giving  natures of quilters  everywhere.  These are the donations presented at today's Guild meeting. 

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Cindy Lohbeck on Dyeing for Surfside QGuild 03-25-24

If you are interested in dyeing fabric you would surely enjoy a class with Cindy Lohbeck of Dyehards Studios.   She started tie dyeing during the 70s - T-shirts Hippie style - and has continued to learn, invent, and design to become an amazing dye artist.   At our meeting she showed many variations and even gave a  quick demo of ombre dyeing. Her workshop the next day was  full up  and the students did some fabulous ice-dyed mandalas.  

This is a  little more than half of an ice dyed quilt back  by Cindy!  See the center in the round motif at top center.  I cannot  imagine how she folded and clamped this to create  such a pattern. 

  

Here is another large piece (in its entirety.  Here it is easier to see how she placed the folds and clamps.

This finished quilt was created with potato dextrin painted on the fabric and then dyed with indigo.  

Cindy shows one of her indigo shibori works.  She has taught herself how to work large. 

It was a very good presentation and workshop.  Cindy sells a great kit on her website and teaches online and around the country. 

www.dyehardstudio.com

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Weather 01-16-24

The  camellias are starting to bloom.

I have one Calla Lily blossom. 

But, of course, we always have roses blooming.

Well, this isn't really about weather, I will just mention it.  Hearing frightening reports from friends in different parts of the county -  cold, snow, ice, wind, falling trees and branches.  I almost feel guilty living in  SCalifornia.   It has been cold with morning temps down to 40F  and we are not  accustomed to much  cold.  I try to waiting until it makes 50F before taking KoKo for his morning walk.  The cold doesn't seem to bother him, but 50F is almost too cold for me.   Gloves  for  my  arthritic  hands and a  vest  under my jacket.   I can't even imagine anything below 40F.

I am still trying to talk to someone in the orthopedic department to see if there are any post-op restrictions on dog walking  or driving.   Guess they are too busy to call me back.  Gotta get  some answers TOMORROW!  

I went  to the Surfside QGuild Board Meeting in Dana Point  this morning and took KoKo in his stroller.  Everyone is always surprised at how good he is and how obedient. He either sleeps in my lap or in his stroller.  Somehow I just needed his company on the 1 1/2  hour drive in  the morning traffic, which seemed extra bad today.   

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Fabric Addiction 12-19-23

I grew up in a sewing family, so there was always fabric around.  My maternal Grandmother Marie lived through WWI, the flu epidemic, The Great Depression, WWII, five children, early widowhood, and a lifelong lack of money. She lived by "Use  it up, wear it out, make it do, or  do without." Her quilts were made from scraps and recycled fabric, even un-faded underside of pockets on aprons and skirts.  We saved every tiny scrap when sewing our clothing  and eventually they would go into a quilt.   Eventually we had enough money to go to Teeny's  Variety Store or even a department store, to buy yardage for clothing.  And for the scraps.  Anyway, I have always loved printed cottons  and cannot resist buying them, although I have a house full of fabric.   I try to avoid online fabric, but I enjoy eQuilter's owner Luana Rubin's posts about her quilting travels and excellent photos of quilt shows around the world.   And then I have to look at the sale fabric and try to just look.  Alas, I frequently breakdown and buy a few yards when they  are less than $10 yard.   Here are  some recent purchases.

Oranges for the orange quilt I will make someday.  Since I have collected orange prints for several decades I have enough to make about 20 orange quilts!  When I  need an orange fabric I try to cut very carefully lest I use up something I will need desperately later.

There are four fabrics here that I bought to make quilts or pillowcases for our Philanthropy group kids projects. The bottom two rows are  the same fabric which has horizontal rows depicting Noah's Ark. Above that is a barnyard of animals.  Then a spooky sort of lion print.  And at the top several yards of a bright print to use as the backs.  Whatever I make I will try to machine quilt myself as members who are willing to do the quilting are few and far between.    Long-armers are trying to make a  business with their work, they can't use their time for free very often.   

 

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A Busy Week 12-14-23

 

I guess one doesn't realize how many wrinkles one has until they see a picture!

This was at the Guild meeting on Tuesday. I almost never remember to wear a nametag until I check in at the membership  table and don't want to go back out to my car where there is a bag of nametags in the glovebox.  But I remembered I have this nice Xmasy one, so I put my name in basket and it was pulled as the winner for a nice pack of 5" squares.  I passed my phone to a friend to take the image.

I borrowed Jeanette's special hat for this picture.  This would  make a great addition to my hat collection.  I could even wear it for Arbor Day!  The "beads" are felted wool and came from Trader Joe's!  Actually a tree garland but easily adapted to fine jewelry.

Instead of having a speaker this was a "give back" meeting.   Members have been making quilted stockings which we fill with items for several different  groups - Meals on Wheels, Orangewood Home for children, a veterans service, and others I can't remember.  We have some super shoppers who love to shop, so non-shopping members (like me) give them money to shop for us.

Stuffed stockings go in  boxes for each organization for delivery. We also give pillowcases and quilts to different groups.     It is a huge operation and the members  in charge have it well organized.  It was a fun meeting with time to visit and get to know one another. Many members wore antlers and Santa hats and an amazing array of Xmas clothing.  

And it is time for this blog to do Xmas cartoons........

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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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Friday Food 11-03-23

 All of the quilt guilds I have belonged to have  refreshments of some kind.   I think the ladies of Surfside Quilters Guild outdo themselves, at every meeting there is a tempting spread of  both sweet and savory.  A member brings something and puts their name in a bowl for a drawing for the table decoration.  Members with birthdays in each month are encouraged to bring something for the refreshment table.  In September I always take See's chocolates - three pounds are gone by the end of the meeting.

Some offerings are homemade, but I think they are mostly store bought. 

One member consistantly brings English muffins  topped  with  egg salad and cut  into bite  sized  pieces.  Usually this  is  the first  plate that empties!

Some members  like to bring seasonal treats like  witches hats  and chocolate egg nests.  

A selection of savory .....

....and sweet.  At our present location there is no coffee - groan!

I think it would be impolite not to try a little something!!

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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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KoKo Again 08-14-23

The members of the Surfside Quilters Guild are making items to sell at the Boutique we hold during  our fund raiser "November Fest".  This month they are creating items for pets and they needed a model, so KoKo  went  to the meeting with me last Tuesday.  He only had to  model one item, a scarf with a channel for the collar to go through.  He was okay  with  that, but more than anything he LOVED all the petting and loving from 100 nice quilting ladies. 

                   

I took him in  his stroller and he only tried to jump out twice.   With all that loving he  got excited.  Usually he doesn't  attempt to escape.  

When everyone was quiet during  the presentation he just took a nap.

We did walk around the audience so they could admire his scarf.  He took every opportunity to have a little lay down. 

After the meeting whoever wants to goes for lunch at a nearby restaurant, in this case "Rockwell's" at the San Clemente Outlets.  There were about 16 attending and since we were on the patio KoKo came along.  This place has a stand at the entrance with stainless bowls and a water dispenser for doggies.

Here is my view of the table with KoKo sitting on my lap before our meal.

When our food was served KoKo stretched our under my chair and this was his view of the table!!!

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Miscellaneous 08-12-23

I have not been posting because my life is so dull there isn't much to post about!   I previously mentioned backing into my garage door which requires a complete replacement.   That was a week ago and I am still waiting for the installation.  With all the auto thefts and break ins I hate leaving my car parked in the driveway, but there is no guarantee that if I close it in the garage I can open the door to get it out!  On Monday I had to have a handyman replace my garbage disposal which was leaking water under the sink.  The joys of homeownership!  

Tuesday was the Surfside Quilters Guild meeting where the Challenge quilts were revealed.  It was a good year with 40 entries with the theme of "How Sweet It Is", all very original and interesting.  There  is always a viewers choice and the winner was Michelle Howe's "Candyland". Her work is very good and she researched Candyland, finally finding a1950s version of the game on Etsy.  It was her favorite  game as a child and she added a few personal favorite treats. The Viewers Choice prize is always $100.

"Childhood Memories"  Michelle Howe  21" X 21.5"
Collage, Machine pieced, Machine quilted,

KoKo and I are still walking twice a day which adds up to about 5000 steps.  It sounds boring but we pretty much walk the same loop each time.  KoKo finds new smells and new potty spots, I look at the flowers, birds, house renovations, and greet neighbors along  the way.   It is a very quiet neighborhood and sometimes we don't see anyone else.  But usually in the morning there are dog walkers and people leaving for work.  We have had typical August weather with a few monsoon sprinkles and not too hot.  Supposed to be mid 90s this coming week.  

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Friday Food 04-21-23

This was a different offering at the monthly meeting, served on an elegant porcelain palette.  Butter and cream cheese decorated with flowers and served with crispy seasoned crackers.  Tasty.

For our April Board Meeting we have both outgoing and newly elected officers attending and serve a potluck for all after the meeting. Many different salads and brunch sort of dishes and they were all wonderful. 

A very delicious quiche topped with crumbled bacon.  The maker has promised to share the recipe.

 

It is so great to eat home cooked food made by someone else.  Quilters are accomplished cooks and very sharing. 

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