Creative Life Sampler

Variation on Circle Theme Semicircle Study 1- finished!  So, I'm still working hard to use up the polka dot fabrics I've accumulated through the years... and trying to improve my appliqué skills. This wall hanging measures 52.5 x 46 inches. I started the handwork in May and finally finished last week, (yes that's four months for such a small quilt!) The quilting on this pulls groups of squares together in odd shapes with lines and circles, adding texture across the top. Early stages- experimenting  with different combinations Looking at it now, there are a few things I would do differently. Live and learn. I can see I need to better anticipate how patterns and blocks are affected by things like seam allowances and direction. Ah well, just more to consider for the next project. 😉   

Cropping Vacation Photos The Lone Cypress on 17 Mile Drive, Monterey, CA This picture was taken from one of the lookout points along 17 Mile Drive in Monterey, CA. It is the iconic "Lone Cypress" which has been well documented through the years and is known around the world.  It was a typical tourist-laden scene. The limited parking spaces were filled and cars lined up to wait for their turn. When we finally got a spot we hopped out and waited for other photographers to finish family photos before posing for our own. This is the "just one more" photo to document what we'd seen. It takes in the whole view. Imagine this scene photographed in another moment: perhaps early morning, or in the golden glow at dusk, or at twilight as stars begin to appear, perhaps in the rain, or mist. Maybe there's something going on in the distance, ... the possibilities for capturing something special with a photograph are infinite. Now what if you wanted to el...

The Last Stop (6 of 6) The last stop for us, before heading home, was 17 Mile Drive in Monterey. This drive takes you along the coast, past Pebble Beach Golf Course, with plenty of places to stop along the way and take in the views. Really the pictures speak for themselves. Beautiful rugged coast line, gorgeous clear colors, interesting rock formations and textures set against expanses of ocean and surf,... fine soft sand,... and fridged water temperatures. There are also some pretty cool homes to check out.  Imagine having that view when you wake up in the morning? All in all a refreshing trip.

Monterey Continued (5 of 6) Beautiful color combinations in the aquarium displays! The Monterey Bay Aquarium was a must see on our destination list... I think it was for every tourist in town. But it was worth dealing with the crowds. From touch pools scattered throughout the buildings, to exhibits with movable magnifying glasses that float over the water's surface to get a closer look... to two story tanks which give a wonderful view of the world under water... to installations that surround patrons in water environments... visitors can gain an appreciation of the sea and it's creatures from just about every possible perspective.  In a section that dealt with the threat of plastic/trash to the ocean environment, they featured the work of artists who used recycled/reclaimed plastics to create some cool, thought provoking pieces.   Plastic bowls by G ü lner Özdağlar In the sculptures entitled Laysan Albatross (l eft) and Gyr...

 Next Stop- Monterey (4 of 6) The last stop on our road trip was Monterey, just a short distance from Carmel-by-the-Sea.  The American novelist, John Steinbeck immortalized Monterey in several of his novels. His influence is felt in town, especially in the area of Cannery Row, the hub of the sardine-packing industry through the late 1940's. Banners with quotes from Steinbeck's work are scattered along the streets and give a sense of life in this bustling center. (Housing for a diverse immigrant workforce is shown in the photo on the right.)  These murals pay tribute to workers from the canneries: But there is lots of art work to be found in Monterey. We ran across this stunning ceramic tile mural depicting its history: Detail of the colorful tiles

Driving Up the Coast (3 of 6) Elephant Seal Vista Point The elephant seals were just relaxing by the surf when we passed through. As we continued up the coast, thru Cambria toward Big Sur, we had a marine layer of fog that didn't seem to give way to the sun all day. This lends a certain mood to the scenery and has the effect of a "fade out" in photos which adds interest to the composition. The rugged coast line, in this weather, inspires one to experiment with contrasts of detailed texture against hazy, unfocused areas and to include muted, subtle tones in one's color palette. Taking a break to soak in natural wonders can be as refreshing for our work as it is for our well-being. We traveled along long stretches road where you could barely discern the water's edge. It turns out, this is common for summer and winter months; the breath-taking views emerge in spring and fall. (Guess my research could have been more thorough.) Several points o...

Over to the Beach (2 of 6) From San Luis Obispo, we headed over to the coastal town of Morro Bay. I had been looking forward to this stop since hearing about the "Morro Bay Mural Mile" when researching our trip. This beach community has mapped out 23 mural sites for its visitors. It took us a while to locate the first one, but to be fair, there was construction going on in the area... ...on the other hand, I'm not sure it could be classified as a "mural". It was more like a painting mounted on the outside of a building. Mural number 2 was right next door.  Now, I've shared quite a few large, vibrant and creative murals after visiting other locations and, in comparison, these murals are a bit more modest. But, they do add splashes of color to buildings and beautify this sea-side town. If you like a "treasure hunt" kind of activity, it's a nice way to get to know the area. However, the big landmark here is the volcanic f...

Summer Road Trip  (1 of 6) We ventured out of our little SoCal (Southern California) bubble recently to take a road trip up the coast and see a little of our beautiful state. My view from the passenger seat.  It was a quick vacation, but we covered a lot of miles and took in several destination spots. Though conscious that I shouldn't test the family's good humor by trying to capture every moment, I was armed with my camera and my cell phone so I could share some highlights with you. Mission San Luis Obispo Our first stop was San Luis Obispo, affectionately known as SLO. This little town is home to one of the 21 Missions built in California between 1764 and 1823. (It is also home to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, which is part of the California State University System.)  The tree lined streets have lots of little shops to explore.  I thought of my knitting buddies when we stumbled on this yarn shop. The tree in front is wrapped in knitte...

A Summer Wish Summer afternoon- summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.  Henry James, quoted by Edith Wharton It's sure sign that we are more than half way through summer when school supplies fill multiple store isles and parents stock up in anticipation of the fast approaching new school year. May you have the opportunity in these next few weeks to savor relaxed summer afternoons and brilliantly starry evenings, warm weather activities and happy moments with family and friends; even as Mother Nature also quietly sets the stage to usher in autumn with vibrant colors, crisp temperatures, and fresh possibilities. Note: Henry James (1843-1916) and Edith Wharton (1862-1937) were each prominent American authors in their own right and struck up a relationship in 1900. You can read about their connection at this link: https://gvshp.org/blog/2017/10/26/how-edith-wharton-and-henry-james-struck-up-a-friendship-a...