Why is it that we are always excited to explore things far from home but ignore what is in our back yard?
It was time to visit the San Fernando mission. When my older sons were in 4th grade they were at a Jewish Day school, so maybe visiting a Catholic mission wasn’t ‘appropriate’ – even if it is integral to the history of California.
I can only guess that my youngest missed the visit because there was so much work to be from the damage of the Northridge earthquake. Notice the mission bell?
The bright turquoise paint might be new, but looks like this bell is original to the spot. I don’t know who the people are who erected it, I do know that it was cast by Mrs. A.S.C. Forbes, I have no idea what her first name was. Such was the tradition in the early 20th century to only use initials.
Another one stands right by the Church itself, I don’t think this one is original to the spot, but I may be wrong. Meanwhile, just look at how thick the adobe is.
School children visiting the mission. 
The bell tower here is not as impressive as Mission San Gabriel, each mission has wonderful individual characteristics of their own.
If I have learned anything from my forays into architecture it is this, a building needs massive support. When working with unbaked clay adobe, thickness is what holds up the structure.
All the missions had a lot of land. Unlike Mission San Gabriel, the buildings are spread out here with a lot of open space. To the left is the Convento, finished in 1822. The front faces the street with those twenty one Roman arches, this is the back view.
It is the only two story adobe building of it’s size still standing. Today it houses an extensive museum as well as the only intact wine cellar in any of the mission, it is underground, better for climate control.
See how thick the walls are! They have to support a second story. Of course the building went through massive renovations and earthquake support after 1994.
Walls and arches were pretty low, both the Spaniards and the natives were short people.
A section of the adobe wall was left un-repaired. They used a very thick coat of stucco to protect the adobe. Although this stucco isn’t fired, it is much less porous and does protect the adobe bricks from the elements. The roofs had fired tiles, the tile maker is in the museum.
These have been exposed to the elements for 20 years and are still in very good shape. Yay for California clay!
On a side building, out of the way, someone has affixed a modern tile.
The tour continues in the next post.
Leah
I’ve had the fabric in my stash for a while and enough trim left over from the skirt I made for myself.
Even from the back it’s cute. I’m never quite sure which way to overlap the fabric when installing the zipper, oh well.
Ok, maybe not sticking out her tounge.
But this kind of joy and exuberance.
Oh yes, this kind of appreciation will guarantee many more cute dresses.
One weekend we’re visiting artists in their studios in Topanga Canyon. The fog rolling in over the mountains gives everything a mystical feeling.
Visiting the homes was much more fun that most of the artwork. Crazy steep canyons and gorgeous mountain views.
Simple gardens behind high fences.
A stereotypical home, half a geodesic dome with the obligatory yurt in the yard.
A wonderful old tree stump that looked better than a lot of the art.
A fat pig who had just been fed.
His friend clearly wanting more.
Here and there, even some good art.
Happy dances.
Painted vases and urns, one was cracked but the paint held it together.
A loom warped and ready to go.
With the weaver showing off his wears.
Or the silversmith.
Despite the national costume, everyone understands a smart phone.
Rayon is a wonderfully comfortable fabric. When it is woven as a crepe fabric it is even better. Crepe is a very high twist in the actual thread and it makes this lovely slubby fabric that gives an almost elastic feel. It both hugs the body and has lovely drape. This is true of any good crepe, be it wool or rayon.
I find I need much less fine tuning, the fabric has more give and it both hugs the body where it should…
As well as have that swing when moving.
Which is why I’ll always grab a skirt or dress off the rack when I find this fiber. Or buy the fabric itself, luckily I like the print well enough.
I put it on my dress form for some close ups. I didn’t adjust it all that well, on my body the dress sits beautifully, here it is a little torqued. At least you can see the nice detail of the princess seams, that sort of get lost in the busy print.
Lately I have been enjoying the more couture lapped zipper, rather than using an invisible zipper. I even hand sewed the overlap so as not to have a strong visible machine sewing line.
I had just got my new Threads magazine with instructions on how to draft a more comprehensive facing than the pieces given in most patterns. I have this very thin knit fabric (need to get some in white as well) which worked well with the crepe.
By 1927 a playhouse was built specifically to house this grand play. The exterior is based on Mission San Antonio de Padua, up on the central coast. The play only survived a few more years, the depression took it’s toll.
The bell is not quite as impressive as even the small bells on the mission. they are here for decoration, not to call the faithful to Church.
I love things like this wonderful sconce, I’m not sure what I’d call the style? New Gothic maybe?
The interior is even more impressive than the facade. Since this was built for a live show, there are plenty of dressing rooms, unlike many of our movie palaces – that really can only show movies.
Today the theater is home to a 
I’m not sure how many pipes there are, thousands? Behind this screen (and another on the other side of the stage) are bellows that open and shut to modulate the sound.
Sort of Aztec?
Most of the decorations are made from plaster, and through the years have needed cleaning and repainting.
The upkeep is amazing.
On the walls there are displayed ten banners, each different. Once again, a sort of gothic feel. These are original to the building and have never been removed, although they have been cleaned in place.
Among the details
A steer. As well as conquistadors.
Almost 20 years ago, when the ceiling was cleaned and repainted the artist used people connected to the theater as models for these four heads. Well he used three models, the 4th one is a self portrait. Why not, he did all the work, why not put himself into the artwork.
The largest of the six bells, unfortunately they aren’t rung much anymore because there is a fear that they are too delicate. For a far off mission no one was going to construct the most durable of bells.
This being a copper bell, I love seeing the different patinas. Especially the green that came from the bell itself.
The old bell tour fell over a century ago and it wasn’t rebuilt on this side of the building. Fascinating to see the mishmash of stone and brick used to build this building, which was completed in 1801. 
The gardens are serene and lovely. Many of the grape vines date back to the founding. They have even harvested them and tried to make wine – not so good. Viticulture has come a long way.
Through the portion of the garden that is also the cemetery are the these plaques commemorating the stations of the cross, made from Talavera tile from Mexico, these were installed in the early 20th century.
The Virgin of Guadalupe was probably also installed at the same time. You can see how much love and adoration she gets from the local parishioners today. At the time the mission was built, I’m sure the Spanish had no interest in her, although they should have. She has more to do with the Catholic beliefs of the Mexicans than all the missions put together. Today she is patron saint of Mexico, even for those who are no longer Catholic.
One of the workshops on the grounds. Notice has small and low the doorway is. We are all taller and bigger these days.
The old Padres living quarters are now the museum. I found this old mirror intriguing. When the priests led the service they had their backs to the congregation, a mirror was needed so they could see what was going on behind them.
An example of a Padres’ room, probably much more ornate now than it was back then. This is probably a hodgepodge of items found in the mission.
You know me and ceramics, I love them. Dishes that were used either in the mission or by local people as well. I also love the old nails, an every day item we take for granted. How it has evolved through the years.
The mission bells that were installed in the early 1900s’ along the Camino Real. It is very fitting that the San Gabriel Woman’s club sponsored this one, since it was a woman Mrs. A.S.C. Forbes who ran a foundry and is the originator of these bells.
We walked around the corner to one of the three remaining Adobe houses in San Gabriel. This one is owned by the Church (the other two are privately owned) and is rarely open to the public.
The plaque states that this is the Lopez Adobe, built at the same time the Mission was constructed. Adobe bricks are used throughout the arid south, as well as south America. These are unfired bricks, which means the upkeep is difficult. We have wonderful clay here in California, what we didn’t have is many trees, so firing bricks would have been a much more expensive proposition. The exterior is stuccoed and both the exterior and the roof must constantly be maintained – rain is a real enemy to adobe.
Originally the structure was just two large rooms, with massive walls. The thicker the wall – the sturdier it is and less chance of it crumbling. It always then creates a real barrier against the heat and the cold. Of course a fire place is a must, it does get cold here in the winter. The use of decorative tiles indicates some wealth.
By the mid 19th century a brick addition was added, an indoor kitchen, more rooms and an extensive use of Mexican tile.
I just love the red tile floor, the decorative tiles on the riser and old linoleum as well.
Here is my old lightbox, as in over 20 years old. When I actually worked as a textile designer a light box was a must. A very large one was a must, I was doing repeats by hand (no regrets there, I can tell when someone just plugged their pattern into a repeat program).
The frog is for size reference. This is what I just got.
Since I no longer do textile design repeats by hand, I also didn’t need as large of a surface, so I chose the 12.” x 9″ ‘box. I took the old one to Goodwill, it’s not like I was going to get any money trying to sell this old behemoth.
Back to the embroidered block I went, I enlarged only the flowers, cut out the vines, the leaves the bugs and the butterflies. Really, it’s a 6″ block, there will be 100 blocks in this quilt, simplicity and paring down are my new buzz words.
I love hand embroidery, like knitting, I find it very soothing.
I really like my end result. I posted it on the Splendid Sampler FB page and got quite a few compliments and no complaints.
So instead I went into my stash of 
LOVE this owl, both the making and the end result. There already are a few more blocks with embroidery, so I think the over all affect will be fine. I am not sharing this block on the FB page – this really has nothing to do with what the designer offered.
Meanwhile in the piecing categories, the orange triangles were a very interesting method. I like this block.
As well as this one.
This Dresden plate is appliquéd onto the background, I like this kind of appliqué. The designer included some circles on some of the blades! NO! I understand, it is so easy to add just one more element. I want a pleasing overall quilt, I don’t want a messy compilation where one can’t see the forest for the trees.
I have 29 blocks here, I’m sure the placement will change, there will be smashing between the blocks, but I’m still happy with what is happening here.
Kathy is an American who moved to Australia years ago, it was there she was introduced to quilting. She has since opened a store in Sydney called 
She is here in the States for 6 weeks, her husband came along, and two of her three sons are in the States right now. More on them later.
Here is an example of using just solids, which is rare for her. This is one of the things I love, she has a certain style, but she experiments and tries all kinds of things, so that her overall style is very comprehensive. It is not just a very narrow approach.
Her husband was holding up all the quilts and giving us color commentary along the way. I can see why she moved to Australia for him! Also, this is just one of three boys – good job mom!
A close up of her quilting, most of her quilting is by hand with pearl cotton. Today many quilters are doing this, but she came up with this on her own in Australia, not being exposed to the very fine 15 stitches to an inch hand quilting that many of us learned 30 years ago. Both are great options. With her bright colors, this quilting just enhances the whole quilt.
My friend Irene mentioned that she either uses prints or solids, but doesn’t really combine them in a quilt. This is where taking pictures gives a much fuller image of her work. Here is a great example of using both print and solid in a quilt. She spoke about getting high contrast, which happens in the solid triangle bands.
The quilts are all huge! This was the class she taught on Saturday. I’m sorry I missed it, what with not knowing exactly when Cameron would be born, I didn’t sign up. 
Kathy took part in a red and white challenge, only two colors! She said it was soooo hard for her! At least here we see the adorable husband and son as well as our secretary hard at work taking notes. Hi Tess!
I can really relate to this ability to work only with very busy prints and yet get real contrast.
Or playing with only stripes and polka dots! With some added appliqué. 
Here are chic Kisses on a large scale. I took this class with 
Take a close look at the quilt, in creating the girls, Kathy made sure to have some kind of half circle in the print to create the hair! That is really working with the prints.
A more traditional layout of blocks, also, notice the growing pile of quilts! She brought 5 suitcases from Australia with the quilts alone! I’m wondering where they fit in their clothes, 6 weeks of travel can’t happen with just a carry-on.
Wonderful use of fabrics, I think this is what really draws me to her work.
This is made with her own line of fabrics, I understand the need to use one line in a sample. This is a big way of selling the fabric, but it’s missing contrast, other prints thrown in here would have made this sing.
A whole cloth quilt with broderie perse. This is her newest line. Showing how to work it as a whole cloth. There were also examples of how the print looks when it is cut and pieced.
The ceremony was very early on a Monday morning, so this was a small gathering of family and a few friends. Luckily Westley can be distracted with toys. 
Not bad for 7 am.
Sorry not many pictures, between a camera that isn’t great and an iPad, images are blurry.
Here he is as the ceremony starts, both cousins looking on. Mom moved them back, I remember my sons at that age getting a little too close when their cousin had his bris.
Here is one of those sons, now an uncle. He had the ‘honor’ of holding him, even as the actual bris happened, and was a lot less squeamish than at age 6. Surrounded by love, the baby only cries for less than a minutes, then it’s over and Mommy immediately gets him back. 
What, whats’ happening to my brother? Later Westley gave the Mohel the biggest stink eye! was that because he remembers 19 months ago, or because he doesn’t like someone hurting his new baby?
This is the third grandson Andy has circumcised, we are hoping there will be a few more.
And his Hebrew name, which is given at this point is Jacob.
My Sherman Oaks group have been knitting a lot of patterns by Very Busy Monkey. I loved what they were making so got in on the fun. This is the start of the 
I think the yarn was an old Sweet Georgia I had in my stash. Very subtle color changes. 
I knit this shawl going to and from Israel, so yes, I can see certain mistakes that happened while knitting on a very long flight. But I won’t point out where they are. This is what pre-blocked lace looks like – a mess.
Post blocking, the shawl is larger and actually lacier.
I like the crescent shape, it stays on the shoulders. 
Love how the shadow really gives you a better picture of the lace.
For now, this is going into my gift pile, I wear the blue/green shawl daily. As much as I love this one, I’m willing to give it away, so since I already have a favorite right now, this one can chill.
I have already cast on my next shawl, the