Friday, November 28, 2014

Curve Quilt

I finally have a few days to quilt! Although several projects are basted I'm not in the mood. Instead, I want to make a curve piece scrap quilt. Sherry Lynn Wood showed some when she spoke at our guild. She also has instructions on her website. Look for the Mod Mood Quilt button on the side. Other people have posted theirs on her Facebook group, Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters. In particular, Sue Kelly posted an interesting photo and explains more in her blog, Sizzlewaggle.

Since I don't have many solids, mine will look quite different. That's ok with me. Here's what I finished today. There's one green solid and a tiny bit of hand-dyed coral, pink and blue. I'm now officially out of solid.

Curve Piece Strip quilt

First I pulled some fabric.

First fabric pull

Then I culled it.

Starting fabrics

The colors in this set were too limited so I added a few fabrics back in. I cut 6.5" widths then subcut into wedges.

Enjoy the day, Ann

Sunday, November 23, 2014

SFO Museum - A Hidden Gem

San Francisco airport (SFO) is one of my favorite places. There's always an exhibit on the walkways to the terminal. The first time we flew in I thought it was a special event; the long walkway was turned into a museum with eye-level displays of sewing machines! What could be more exciting. One-hundred years of history of the sewing machine. My husband was very patient while I read each and every card.

Since then I've seen the history of the television, automatons, Japanese toys, lace, and artwork from recycled materials. What a mix. They were all so excellent that I realized the airport must have a curator. Not just that, I discovered the SFO Museum in the International terminal. It's closed Saturdays but since it's before security, you don't need an airline ticket to visit. And this terminal has several large exhibit spaces you easily spend a couple of hours viewing. Plan to arrive extra-early for your flight so you can enjoy their next exhibits.

Pop Art Music Posters from San Francisco
 
This time there were exhibits of Rock and Roll Postersworks from Tiffany and a small case with 1960's pop-art clothing. What a mix! The photos in the links are much better than mine.

Pop Art clothing from the 60's

Tiffany lamp

I can't wait for another trip!

Enjoy the day, Ann

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Many More Aprons

I haven't been quilting much lately but I finished these aprons. They are gifts for friends. It was fun combining different fabrics to fit their future owners' personalities.

Sixteen half-aprons

A few of them have loops on the waistband for holding kitchen towels. Best view is bottom row, second from right. I made it from a strip about 1.5" by 12" or so. Double fold like bias tape, then topstitch. Pin the ends 6-8" apart on the waistband and put a towel through it to see how much to adjust the length. The towel pulls the loop down.

Enjoy the day, Ann

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Round Robin Improvisational Quilt Results Posted

Remember the Round Robin Improv class I took with Sherri Lynn Wood? As usual, I didn't have my camera. But Sherri did and posted the photos on her blog. (https://daintytime.net/2014/09/25/improv-valley-association/)Take a look.

None of the additions were borders, as usually happens with a Round Robin. Instead we tried to "expand the conversation" for each quilt we worked on. I still enjoy seeing the sections I added to these quilts.

My Round Robin Improv quilt

I've appliqued a few more circles on this top. It's ready to sandwich and quilt. But that may not happen till after the New Year.

Enjoy the day! Ann

Sunday, November 9, 2014

NASA Ames Open House and Hangar One

Last month, for the first time in seventeen years, NASA Ames had an Open House. Many scientists were on hand encouraging youngsters to study space science by discussing projects like SOFIA , an airborne observatory. Basically a telescope in a 747,  SOFIA makes more accurate observations than any ground-based telescope.

A blimp base built on the site in 193 is in the process of being rebuilt. Every time we fly into San Francisco we see this building. It's also part of the setting for Here Comes the Navy, a 1934 James Cagney movie. I was determined to finally go inside.

Northern end of the metal skeletal structure of Hangar One.
View of Hangar One.

The metal skeletal structure of Hangar One with a star on top of the building.
View of Hangar One with sections of a Titan rocket.

The metal skeletal support structure of Hangar One is visible from inside the Hangar.
Inside Hangar One. This is less than half the structure.

Mission accomplished!

Enjoy the day, Ann

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Coit Tower and the Filbert Street Steps

Coit Tower is one of my favorite places to visit. It sits on top of Telegraph Hill where a semaphore telegraph was established in the 1850's to give townspeople notice of arriving ships.

Statue of Christopher Columbus
stands in front of Coit Tower

It still has the best views of the city and bay.

The Bay Bridge framed by trees at Coit Tower.

However, twenty-seven frescoes of 1930's California life are the outstanding features of Coit Tower. They were created by a group of artists through a Depression-era work program. 

Victor Arnautoff painted City Life. The collaged scenes include a mailman, a newsstand, a holdup, an accident and, in a nod to Lillie Hitchcock Coit, her favorite #5 fire truck. 

City Life by Victor Arnautoff

Three more artists created these scenes. The Tower's deep, angled window embrasures were used in a variety of ways. Mr. Zakheim created bookcases in his. I especially liked how Ms. Scheuer painted the four-color method of printing the Sunday comics in hers.

Library by Bernard Zakheim,
Newsgathering by Suzanne Scheuer and
 Surveyor by Clifford Wright.
 
This is part of a large wall of California agriculture. Don't you love the beach pajamas of one flower picker?

California by Maxine Albro
depicts many of their crops.

The previous murals are on the main floor, but one of the delightful secrets of Coit Tower is the murals in the staircase and second floor. These are only visible if you take a City Guides Walking Tour so plan accordingly. 

Lucien Labaudt painted Powell Street on the circular staircase. Since he was a dress and costume designer, his figures are all stylishly clothed. What a treat for those of us who love fabric.

Powell Street by Lucien Labaudt 
covers both sides of the circular staircase.

All the sports of the day are included in Parker Hall's mural - even a Stanford/Cal Berkeley football game over the doorway (which is only partially visible here.) 
Collegiate Life by Parker Hall 
with a portion of Lucien Labaudt's Powell Street.

Finally, my absolute favorite are these scenes of Home Life by Jane Berlandina. The other frescoes are painted buono (wet) but Ms. Berlandina painted her room secco (dry) with egg tempera in a very limited palette of dark red, brown and chartreuse with white outlines.

Home Life: Living Room
by Jane Berlandina

Although there are buses, the best way to get to Coit Tower is to climb the intimidating Filbert Street Steps.

The base of the Filbert Street Steps.
Some are wooden and others are concrete.

They are certainly long but there are several landings where you can rest and enjoy the many flowers, shrubs, birds and views.

Roses and calla lilies
on the Filbert Street Steps.

 Enjoy the day,
Ann