No Idle hands here

The Chuppah, Part 1

The wedding fast approaches, less than two months away. A very important element in a Jewish wedding is the Chuppah – the wedding canopy. It symbolizes the home the couple will build together. It is supposed to be a temporary structure under the open sky.This is from my son and daughter in laws’ wedding last year. When you get married on the beach in the Dominican Republic, it is light and airy with an unbelievable backdrop of blue ocean and paraglider thrown in for free.

Yoch knew he was going to quilt his own chuppah long before Yish popped the question. There was going to be green, green, green! His favorite color balanced with black white and grey. So a year ago, when the candy ring was offered (that is a different story, a real ring was produced eventually, but the proposal happened with a candy ring), Yoch set to work on piecing the chuppah.

This design is completely his own, although it is one that should be copied.I am so impressed with this design, simple use of the triangle, the offsetting of the center motif and how it grows. The use of light and dark – perfection.

Yoch welcomed my contribution to the corners. I’ve been paper piecing lately and yes, these corner pieces are a little busier than the overall quilt. But hey, let’s spice things up a bit.

I was also given the task of quilting this. Yay for new sewing machine! This is the first large project I have quilted on the Juki and I am so pleased with the results.Luckily I have a large living room and have the space to lay this all out. Talk about large! 78″ x 85″. Yoch pieced the back out of all the leftover fabric. This one is pin basted. I’m thinking I should have used more pins.

The quilting has to be simple. First of all the design speaks for itself, second, fancy quilting would get lost. So The green got Horizontal lines and the black got vertical. Yes, I did this free hand, no walking foot here, since I was changing directions – going back and forth within the long strips of color. I used Aurifil thread, grey for the black/grey areas and green for the green.The one area where a quilting design would shine was the border. I took my time and followed the good advice of FMQ, practice first on paper, get the hand used to the motion.I marked the circles, I’m not looking for perfection, but some guildlines are a good help. At the recent quilt show I bought a wonderful new tool, the Bohin Chalk Pencil. What a difference it makes! And here they are, on the quilt. Not perfect but a good start. I would like to get better and that will happen with time and practice.

That’s it for part one, more work to do and I will share more of this Chuppah.

Diane Von Furstenberg – Journey of a Dress

I finally took the time today to go see the exhibit at LACMA, Journey of a Dress. Somebody other than Lacma must be sponsoring this show since it is free to the public. Also, I have to laugh, I have been a docent at LACMA for 13 years and we admonished to always call the building: Lacma West.

Historic building justice prevails and now it is once again called: The Wilshire May company, to differentiate it from the downtown May Co.Photography was allowed! I should have brought my good camera, luckily the iphone does a pretty good job.

Here is the simple basic wrap dress in a wonderful graphic print. Pure simplicity. Next to it is another great print but this time the color and cuffs get an interesting ribbed knit treatment.Many of the dresses have a collar. I love this floral print, instead of using the same fabric for the collar, she used what looks like the trim of a polo shirt. So classy. Also note long sleeves and keyhole neckline on the two other dresses.LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!
This dress has everything I love! The combination of prints, the adorable collar. The wonderful bound hem of the skirt. Yes, this is going into my knock off queue.Of course I have made wrap dresses, they are very comfortable and after seeing this exhibit, I will be making a few more! The neck treatment here is great. Using the border print as the accent of the neckline is brilliant. A solid satin belt is the final touch of elegance.Another elegant use of printed fabric. Next to a simple white dress with DVF signature icon as the neck trim and belt.The basic design upgraded and made in elegant fabrics turns the simple wrap dress into evening wear.

There were over 100 dresses in the exhibition. No way could I photograph them all, although they were all worthy. You will see a future post where I knock off this dress and make it my own.

The Wrap Dress is 40 years old, this is the reason for the exhibit. Of course the 70s’ are back in fashion and one can buy a new version. At the LACMA gift shop they were selling for over $350. Way to go Diane Von Furstenberg! Final image, from 1973. What else but a pants suit in a leopard print. Notice how big the collar is. As well as the large folded back cuffs.

The exhibit is open until May 1st. You have one month left, if you are in Los Angeles – just go! If not, pull out your patterns and make your own wrap dress.

The color of my garden

Sorry to all my east coast friends who are buried under yet another snow storm. If it makes you feel any better, we are having earthquakes. No I don’t think you care, so I will share my color of the moment in the garden. No it isn’t Radiant Orchid, although I think I may have some of that. It is a bright magenta pink.These are some of the flowers I cut this afternoon.Same group of flowers, slightly different angle. Of course leaving color in the garden is also nice, as it is getting pleasant enough to sit out there.This cyclamen took me by surprise. It’s a leftover from a few years ago. Usually I plant new ones each year. I forgot to this year and until today, none of the old ones bloomed.Here in the valley it can get too hot for fuchsias, so our small window of having pretty blooms is pretty small. Every year I get a few flowers, never a bush full.Just to break the monotony, some red and yellow.

Actually I don’t have a favorite color or a color I won’t allow in. I guess that right now what is blooming is mostly that bright pink.

Fruit Baby

Cars and Stars

For some reasons the pregnant women I know these days are all having boys. They need quilts but must have a boy theme. Once again, in that wonderful stash from Barbara I find many wonderful car and transportation fabric.
I wanted to try some paper piecing, a method using paper template pieces while putting a block together. The central blocks really needed this treatment, the others, no so much, but I was on a roll.To get the sharp points and accuracy, paper worked like a charm.One of the things I love about quilting is putting the puzzle together. I had no plan, just making the blocks and then trying to see the best way for them to make a cohesive, eye pleasing design.I’m very pleased with how this worked out. Symmetry and a center motif that is similar but not.Quilting on a dark background is wonderful, hides many mistakes, unfortunately, unless the light is shinning directly on it – you don’t see the details. Of course this is a baby quilt, not an art piece. I enjoyed the process, baby should simply enjoy the softness and the bright colors.Back must be as bright as the front, also here is a chance to showcase some of the fabrics that were cut into small patches on the front.A quilt must have a label. I used the old Babylock Quest for the machine embroidery. Yes that machine still has very important used. I also left enough space for mom to add the name and birth date of the baby. Notice the dark print on the back? I used the reverse side of this fabric as the background on the front of the quilt. Yes that caused a lot of problems and ripping out. Since my brain kept going back to – pattern is the front of fabric. I’d piece two patches together and duh! I wanted the solid side on the front. So rip and start over. Luckily I had a lot of this fabric and still do.Sorry about the quality of this picture. Lauren is a member of my knitting guild and boy did we ever throw her a baby shower. Here she is admiring the quilt. Since then her son was born (missing my birthday by 16 minutes!) I have no idea if his name is on the back yet, babies take up much more time than anyone expects.

Pretty little dress

I am very lucky to have an adorable granddaughter who loves all things girly. Having no idle hands means always making something. Though even my granddaughter doesn’t need that many dresses. Luckily I have friends with little girls. So when a certain little girl had a 4th birthday, I got right to work.The blue fabric is from my friend Barbara, who gave me a large stash of quilting fabric. It goes very well with the Riley Blake, polka dots, I didn’t even notice that it has little apples instead of a dot. I use my love of quilting when sewing, it is hard for me to only use one fabric in a garment. I like how the sleeves are faced with the yellow.If that isn’t happy I don’t know what is. Having a friend who works for Hello Kitty is also a big plus, a cute little purse with a puzzle inside.I’m equally proud of the back, yes I inserted an invisible zipper.Like all girls, she loves ‘talking’ on her phone, while sitting on a blanket I knit for her little sister.

Best reward of all, she loves what I make her and I get delicious hugs every time I see her. I’d say that is worth a few dresses.

Hotel Figueroa

Another downtown Los Angeles gem. The hotel Figueroa. It was built in the late 1920’s by the YWCA as a hotel for businesswomen, but unfortunately it didn’t survive as one and by the 1930’s was simply a hotel.Nothing in Los Angeles is simply anything. If you have seen any movie or TV show where people are meeting in a restaurant or lobby in the middle east – it was probably filmed here.Although when doing so, they have to remove the Buddhas and the very Mexican looking items.A view into the restaurant

These tiles are on the wall right as you enter, I need to find more about them.

The long hallway to the bar and pool. As wonderful as this lobby is, and it is a feast for the eyes. This is what is really impressive about this hotel.

Yes indeed an in-ground pool. When this was built, land was at a premium and since then, no-one, not even the Los Angeles Athletic club put a pool in the ground. It has survived the area being run down and everything around it becoming parking lots. I met an old woman who told me that as a child she learned how to swim in this pool.In the bar area, right off the pool is this wonderful day bed, I’m sure that at night when the place is full, people enjoy this luxury.

Over 20 years ago, I was a student at FIDM , in those days, the only places I went was the school campus and up to the garment district. Downtown was still very sketchy. I’d often drive down Olympic Blvd to get to the freeway. I’d pass a large building, with three sections facing Olympic. There always were and still are full size advertisements on these sections. Only years later did I find out the history of the place and venture in to look at the lobby. I have since met people who have stayed there. The rooms were renovated a few years ago, but are simple run of the mill hotel rooms. These days the hotel is right across from LA Live and the Staple center. Sure you can stay in the JMW Marriott, or stay here, enjoy history and take a dip in that pool!

Handmade handbag

I tend to use one handbag for a season, changing only between winter and summer. Once I started making bags, that changed somewhat. I am particular, I don’t want the loving hands at home look, or even just another quilted bag.. The finishing details matter. At a quilt show last year I found this patternSince they were also selling the hardware, I bought this Korean pattern. Don’t you just love name: bag bostonian. When I travel I like to buy fabric and yarn as mementos, that way when I am working or enjoying a completed project – it reminds of the trip. I found this charm pack of fabrics in Oregon. The instructions were wonky, but other people have made this bag, thank God for the internet. I used not only batting but a layer of canvas as well as the lining fabric. This bag had good body and doesn’t flop around. I also like the combination of simple squares with circular quilting.Unclipped the bag is very spacious, I probably won’t use it often like this.When piecing the fabric, one never knows for sure if the conversation piece will be in the correct location. Luckily it worked out for these typewriter keys.A final touch was these little feet. But something was missing, I had used a sturdy zipper, but the pull was typical, small and not easy to use. Back when I was making Jewelry, I wire wrapped this fish. The necklace came apart long ago, but I held onto the fish. Perfect, now it has found it’s new home.And final shot, looks very good in action.

Sunday hike, Baldwin Hills Stairs

I love LA, I love that no matter how much I explore I know I will never see it all. So here it is, a cool overcast Sunday morning, perfect day to tackle the Baldwin Hill Stairs. First of all, I didn’t know that this area is a one hundred year old state park.Being middle age or slightly above, never go on a hike without water or a walking stick. We saw people on the path who wished they had a walking stick, next picture will show you why.The Stairs were built sometime after 2000 using old recycled concrete. As you can see, the stairs go straight up, 500 ft. elevation and they are NOT even, or even matching. So yes, climbing steps that are 10.5″ high is easier with a walking stick. Joel rides his bike every week for 40 miles, he had no problem climbing these stairs. Me, it took me a little longer with more stops. We saw many people who use this as their outdoor stairmaster. Anytime I can snap a picture of downtown LA, I am going to do it. Yes, I have an affinity for downtown. On a clear day the view is spectacular. Can I just say, walking under a hazy cloud was easier than the blazing sun.I made it to the top. That is west LA and Century City behind me. Also, there is a wonderful plaque on the ground extolling the wonders of concrete.Looking in the other direction, the oil fields of Baldwin Hills. We have many oil rigs throughout the city, many are camouflaged, these are right out in the open and I love them! Concrete and oil, it built the southland. Beyond in the haze you can see the control tower of LAX as well as the spider shape of the Theme restaurant at the airport – also known as Encounter. The ocean is beyond, not visible today – this isn’t LA smog – this is simply early spring haze. Within an hour it all burned off.Looking down at the Balona creek, now an ugly concrete channel. The subject of how and why the rivers in LA came to be encased in concrete is worthy of a book. Actually someone probably wrote one. I of course took the picture because of the large graffiti with someone doing just that – riding his bike. The bike path goes all the way down to the ocean, 6 miles away.

To finish off the hike, we looked for a Taco joint, most of our hikes have been on the east side of town, where the best tacos can be found. Instead we found this food truck and yes, I finished off my fish tacos before thinking of taking a picture of them. Trust me, they were good.

Wedding Flowers

The wedding is fast approaching. My son Yishai is in charge of the ceremony and all religious aspects. His fiance Yochanan is in charge of colors, decorations and everything else. The colors he chose are: black, white, grey and green. Gotta honor the Irish side, not just the Jewish one.

His two adoptive dads have an amazing succulent garden, somehow they had to be used in the centerpieces. So we came up with the idea of planting succulents in large pots (happening now, so they will be well established by May). Meanwhile, I found the instructions for these wonderful fabric roses on Pinterest, (yay Pinterest). And we got to work.
The pots are earth tone. The succulents will provide the green, therefor we decided that the flowers will be black and white. Yoch and I belong to the LA Modern Quilt Guild which meets at Sew Modern
Of course that is where we bought most of the fabric. Then divided it between the two of us and started cutting and sewing the strips for the flowers.Today eight of us gathered together to assemble the flowers I had to run out to JoAnn’s to get 3 more glue guns, so glad I have their coupons! Yes, there were burnt fingers, that hot glue is deadly but I know no other way to get a fast assembly line going.

Yoch with a very successful finished flower – his first!Here is the whole gang of flower makers. Friends, family and funAfter 5 hours we had made close to 100 flowers. Here they are all bunched together in the sun for their group portrait.And here they are, lined up with the obligatory green.

I’m hoping to see my friends making more of these wonderful flowers for other occasions. We are all experts now.