Tuesday, May 22, 2007
A Class, I Took A Class!
An online friend came to the area to teach and I was lucky enough to get into the class, "My Quilt, My Rules". Pamela Allen came all the way from Canada to Berkeley to teach at EBHQ this past weekend. I was so happy to finally get to meet her in person, as we've known each other for going on five years now. It was a lot of driving, but it was totally worth it.
If you get a chance to take a class from Pamela, don't hesitate, go for it! She is a wonderful teacher, who really knows art, and how to teach it in a fun but very intense way.
I got the base of my composition done quickly, and then had to fool around with the placement of the main character, Snake. She was very squirmy (made out of stretchy faux snakeskin), and let's just say, hard to pin down. haha.
Snake turned inwards, I didn't like this version at all.
That's a bit better, but it still changed when I finished the quilt as you can see further down.
A five minute exercise, use your scraps, and you must include a fish. I included three.
This was a sticker on the top of the garbage can, and it just made me laugh.
Here are our quilts at the end of the day, mine on the left and Jaye's on the right.
Here is Pamela with some of her students, documenting the class' work at the end of the day. It was a great set up with foamcore boards to pin our work to. Everything looks so different when it is hung up vertically!
Hey, that's good she's smiling when taking a photo of my quilt!
I hadn't taken a class in a very long time, I had forgotten how much fun they are. The camraderie, sharing, and students teaching students was very inspiring.
If you get a chance to take a class from Pamela, don't hesitate, go for it! She is a wonderful teacher, who really knows art, and how to teach it in a fun but very intense way.
I got the base of my composition done quickly, and then had to fool around with the placement of the main character, Snake. She was very squirmy (made out of stretchy faux snakeskin), and let's just say, hard to pin down. haha.
Snake turned inwards, I didn't like this version at all.
That's a bit better, but it still changed when I finished the quilt as you can see further down.
A five minute exercise, use your scraps, and you must include a fish. I included three.
This was a sticker on the top of the garbage can, and it just made me laugh.
Here are our quilts at the end of the day, mine on the left and Jaye's on the right.
Here is Pamela with some of her students, documenting the class' work at the end of the day. It was a great set up with foamcore boards to pin our work to. Everything looks so different when it is hung up vertically!
Hey, that's good she's smiling when taking a photo of my quilt!
I hadn't taken a class in a very long time, I had forgotten how much fun they are. The camraderie, sharing, and students teaching students was very inspiring.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Seen While On the Road
A weekend of driving back and forth up and down, and taking pictures from the car. Probably not advisable, but at least I wasn't on my cell phone at the same time, or doing my makeup, or eating....
Isn't this a nice driveway? Painted concrete I assume. But I just liked the pattern and colours.
The Flinstones house on hwy 280, (which used to be white) is now a sickly orange. Were they going for terracotta perhaps? I think it stands out even more now, which one would have thought quite hard to accomplish!
The Port of Oakland. Taking this photo caused me to miss the sign for the freeway going to Berkeley, so I went partway to SanFrancisco over the Bay Bridge, turning around on Treasure Island, almost running out of gas, stopping to get gas, and being late for my class. Oops.
A motorcyclist's shirt that really caught my attention.
Some cool old cars got onto highway 85 as I was buzzing past on Sunday morning. There were about 6 or so, and it was fun to see them on the road.
Here's another one in the group. You sure don't see cars like these everyday.
Isn't this a nice driveway? Painted concrete I assume. But I just liked the pattern and colours.
The Flinstones house on hwy 280, (which used to be white) is now a sickly orange. Were they going for terracotta perhaps? I think it stands out even more now, which one would have thought quite hard to accomplish!
The Port of Oakland. Taking this photo caused me to miss the sign for the freeway going to Berkeley, so I went partway to SanFrancisco over the Bay Bridge, turning around on Treasure Island, almost running out of gas, stopping to get gas, and being late for my class. Oops.
A motorcyclist's shirt that really caught my attention.
Some cool old cars got onto highway 85 as I was buzzing past on Sunday morning. There were about 6 or so, and it was fun to see them on the road.
Here's another one in the group. You sure don't see cars like these everyday.
Labels: cars, photography
Friday, May 18, 2007
Julie Needs...
I forget whose blog I saw this on (whoops), but go google the following "YourName needs" and then share the interesting results you'll get.
Here are my favorites when I googled "Julie Needs:"
Julie Needs:
- Your Help (oh isn't that the truth)
- to work on her parenting (continuous improvement is my goal, time to re-read EveryDay Blessings, the Inner Work of Mindful Parenting)
- a new pair of shoes (oh, that one is easy, how about two pair, they're on the way from gaiam as I write this)
- to get out in the fresh Eire (air, ok, Ireland here I come, well it is on my list of places to go).
- to have the spotlight shined on her (gulp, ok, I'm ready for my closeup Mr. DeMille)
- to bite the bullet and set up a new home at a site hosted under a domain she controls
(I suppose so, and then I'll have to figure out how to switch my website over, or maybe start over from scratch, and I really ought to learn html so I know what the heck I'm doing, oh sheesh, no wonder I've never gotten around to doing this! I talk myself out if it everytime I consider it. But the website fee comes due in July I think, so hmmmm.. any advice out there?)
- complete access (absolutely, I needs it, I wants it)
- to cut through her negative self talk (oh alright already sheesh, what am I stupid!?)
- a p.h.d. (I've always thought that, but in what subject?!)
- you! (see I told you so at the beginning!)
Here are my favorites when I googled "Julie Needs:"
Julie Needs:
- Your Help (oh isn't that the truth)
- to work on her parenting (continuous improvement is my goal, time to re-read EveryDay Blessings, the Inner Work of Mindful Parenting)
- a new pair of shoes (oh, that one is easy, how about two pair, they're on the way from gaiam as I write this)
- to get out in the fresh Eire (air, ok, Ireland here I come, well it is on my list of places to go).
- to have the spotlight shined on her (gulp, ok, I'm ready for my closeup Mr. DeMille)
- to bite the bullet and set up a new home at a site hosted under a domain she controls
(I suppose so, and then I'll have to figure out how to switch my website over, or maybe start over from scratch, and I really ought to learn html so I know what the heck I'm doing, oh sheesh, no wonder I've never gotten around to doing this! I talk myself out if it everytime I consider it. But the website fee comes due in July I think, so hmmmm.. any advice out there?)
- complete access (absolutely, I needs it, I wants it)
- to cut through her negative self talk (oh alright already sheesh, what am I stupid!?)
- a p.h.d. (I've always thought that, but in what subject?!)
- you! (see I told you so at the beginning!)
Labels: meme
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Photo Thursday
For Photo Thursday on Create a Connection, I'm sharing a photo of what I find that I absolutely love, that isn't necessarily loveable around my house. I couldn't narrow it down to one, so here is a two-fer.
I absolutely love my mp3 player. It has freed me up, so I can roam around inside and outside listening to NPR on the FM radio or random shuffled music from our newly digitized music collection. We now have 54 GB of music on our system, and I haven't even gotten to the record albums yet. That will be happening soon, as we are getting a USB turntable! I love music and I am having a ball rediscovering all the tunes we have but never get around to listening to. The randomness of shuffle delights me, yesterday I had Miles Davis, then Iggy Pop, then Sinead O'Connor, then David Benoit, then Talking Heads, then The Shins. How fun! I always wished for my own radio station, and now I have it, all to myself! K-Julie is on the air! At least if you are hooked up to my earphones that is.
I absolutely love my digital camera. I can't believe how much I use it, compared to the older versions. I download photos and movies almost every single day now. Part of that is spurred on by blogging, and wanting to show you the newest, most current pictures of what is happening or what I'm seeing. I always have wanted to share my view of the world, and this camera helps me accomplish that. I'm such a visual person and I love trying to capture what my vision is with this device.
Hooray for technology!
Labels: CAC, music, photography
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Another day on the street
Waiting, somewhat impatiently.
With bunny ears.
Which makes the waiting a bit more bearable.
Third for the month of street photography on self portrait challenge.
This one taken by son Alex, (who also supplied the bunny ears), while we hung out in Santa Cruz in front of a bike shop (Sprockets). Older son Zach and husband Marc were checking out bikes, Zach wants to convert his mountain bike to a beach cruiser....
Labels: SPC
Monday, May 14, 2007
Mother's Day at Camp Joy
Another beautiful sunny Mother's Day spent at Camp Joy, where they were having the yearly plant sale. Even though we are CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) customers, we still like to have a few vegies in our own garden.
Inside the redwood grove with flash
and without
The rose arbor absolutely groaning under the weight of the beautiful blossoms. I took a short movie to capture the hummmmmmm of the bees. Wish I had a scent-o-vision option on my camera.
This is what garlic looks like! Doesn't it look like a plant from another world?
Here are the plants we chose: 1 "Bride" eggplant, 3 tomatoes: Camp Joy cherry , Isis Candy cherry , Mortgage Lifter (supposed to be 1 to 2 pounds each!), and 3 peppers: Hidalgo, Jimmy Nardello and Sullivan's Italian.
An interesting seed pod.
And I think this was a peony?! It didn't smell like one, so perhaps not. Anyways it was beautiful.
I also took a movie of the baby goats which is hilarious, I shall endeavour to figure out the embedding of a youtube video on ye olde blog later on.
Inside the redwood grove with flash
and without
The rose arbor absolutely groaning under the weight of the beautiful blossoms. I took a short movie to capture the hummmmmmm of the bees. Wish I had a scent-o-vision option on my camera.
This is what garlic looks like! Doesn't it look like a plant from another world?
Here are the plants we chose: 1 "Bride" eggplant, 3 tomatoes: Camp Joy cherry , Isis Candy cherry , Mortgage Lifter (supposed to be 1 to 2 pounds each!), and 3 peppers: Hidalgo, Jimmy Nardello and Sullivan's Italian.
An interesting seed pod.
And I think this was a peony?! It didn't smell like one, so perhaps not. Anyways it was beautiful.I also took a movie of the baby goats which is hilarious, I shall endeavour to figure out the embedding of a youtube video on ye olde blog later on.
Labels: photography, plants
Thursday, May 10, 2007
ISO A certain Fabric for a Certain Friend
Friend Jaye was searching desperately for a Denyse Schmidt fabric "Flea Market Frenzy or some such name". Soooooo not feeling like staying at home yesterday after my chiropractic appointment, I set forth in search of this elusive fabric. 
Not done yet, so I headed back over the freeway to Beverly's, hey all cotton fabric on sale. uhoh. A skirt will be made out of the greenapple/floral, maybe with a flounce of the measuring tape. I cracked up the cutting clerk by saying I wasn't going to be using it as a waistband, oh no sireebob! And the kittys? Why did I buy that? I recognized them! That's why. I think this is a recycled print, or something, I swear I had something when I was a kid with these very same cats on it. A case of retro-deja-vu??
And for some reason, I bought this dress pattern, guess I'm planning on attending some party this summer where I will show off my perfectly tanned and buffed out shoulders. Oh yeah, the housewarming party we are hoping to throw for ourselves, that must be it! This will be the first dress I've made with boning in it, but I figure, I won't need to wear any other "support garments", so it is a tradeoff, right? Will I find the fabric in my stash? Maybe....stay tuned....
Last but not least (I knew I should have gone here first!) was Hart's Fabric in Santa Cruz. Of course they had it! An entire rounder of Denyse Schmidt fabric, with a bit of the end goal fabric right there in front of me, I almost missed it. Isn't it cute? Or perhaps perky? Or just plain ol' pretty? Or naturally nice? I like it. Maybe she won't reaaaaalllly need it? maybe. Here it is, with a skull patch I had to have. Don't they look great together? Maybe for a new handbag???
I started out closest to home, and had no luck at the first quilt shop I tried, and I didn't buy a thing, gasp! shock! amazement!
Next up was Cabrillo Sewing in Capitola. They had a lot of nice fabric, but I was good and didn't buy any. But I was taken in by this book, "Creating Your Perfect Quilting Space" and Threads magazines. Hey, I have to plan out my new quilt studio, I need some guidance!
Not done yet, so I headed back over the freeway to Beverly's, hey all cotton fabric on sale. uhoh. A skirt will be made out of the greenapple/floral, maybe with a flounce of the measuring tape. I cracked up the cutting clerk by saying I wasn't going to be using it as a waistband, oh no sireebob! And the kittys? Why did I buy that? I recognized them! That's why. I think this is a recycled print, or something, I swear I had something when I was a kid with these very same cats on it. A case of retro-deja-vu??
Anyways, my clothing aim or thoughts are swinging towards dressing more like a "grown-up, an artist, a creative and a put-together, capable person" instead of a "I'm exhausted, in pain, and I don't care, so don't make me think about what I'm wearing as long as it doesn't hurt person". I'm trying some cotton kirts first, instead of my dyed, worn-out, hand-dyed, very disreputable looking shorts.
And for some reason, I bought this dress pattern, guess I'm planning on attending some party this summer where I will show off my perfectly tanned and buffed out shoulders. Oh yeah, the housewarming party we are hoping to throw for ourselves, that must be it! This will be the first dress I've made with boning in it, but I figure, I won't need to wear any other "support garments", so it is a tradeoff, right? Will I find the fabric in my stash? Maybe....stay tuned....
Last but not least (I knew I should have gone here first!) was Hart's Fabric in Santa Cruz. Of course they had it! An entire rounder of Denyse Schmidt fabric, with a bit of the end goal fabric right there in front of me, I almost missed it. Isn't it cute? Or perhaps perky? Or just plain ol' pretty? Or naturally nice? I like it. Maybe she won't reaaaaalllly need it? maybe. Here it is, with a skull patch I had to have. Don't they look great together? Maybe for a new handbag???
And I again had to feed my clothing pattern addiction. Gawd. I had to have this McCall's pattern. Don't you love the necklines? And that tulip hem? I love that hemline, it makes you feel like you are dancing even when you are just walking.
Then, hanging oh so temptingly over the cutting station was an absolutely beautiful outfit, done up in natural linen, apple green and brown. With an overskirt, and a bolero jacket/shrug kinda thing. It looked so comfy and unique, and so I bought the pattern, it is a Burda, for "Young" (ahem). And no I won't be doing it up in prom type fabrics....I'm thinking of the hemp/silk noil I saw somewhere recently, was it Dharma Trading maybe?? Anyhoo, that would be a good fabric for this, especially if I dye it and do some discharge patterning...
Then I thought I'd try Goodwill in Santa Cruz, to see if they had any good vintage-y fabric goodness. Not really although I did buy these two pieces, one of which you will recognize if you have ever stayed at a major name hotel in Tahiti (didn't notice the printed on label in one corner, oops) for a grand total of $4.50! The weird brown one will become one of the aforementioned cotton skirts, and the black/white one will also, with the addition of some other black/white prints as it is on the smallish side (at least to make a skirt for me!).
Oh, and of course some books. ahem. 3 of which I have already read and wanted to share with my family and reread, and one which had been recommended to me , The Invention of Hugo Cabret.
Now, I'm totally pooped but it is 1:30 and by the time I get home, it will be time to go pick up Alex from school, so to kill a bit more time, I swung by my favorite garden store. And wandered around, choosing a new blueberry bush (to replace one of our now dead ones), a pineapple guava (feijoa), lemongrass, pineapple sage, and Her, she will go in the pot where I have my Kaffir Lime, and lemongrass
Pshew, I'm almost as tired out from telling you what I did yesterday, than I was after doing it!
Labels: books, dress patterns, fabric, magazines, shopping
