pomegranate trail: September 2014

Monday, September 29, 2014

9-Patch and The Comfort Cloth

Today I start with this. It's the back of the book I read on my lunch break today.

I thought the 9-patch on the right was timely and I considered that by adding a triangle

to the center ...you could have a triangle/diamond 9-patch there too!

This is the front of the book, which I got at last year's pow wow.

It has many beautiful colorful and pencil drawn illustrations.

I just started looking through it, so I haven't discovered much else yet.

So, I've been working on the cloth, "Comfort".

It's pretty slow going right now. I keep placing things there and

then not feeling sure about them, so I wait.

I slid the two green pieces on the right under the velvet first.

Then I added the tan and last, the two green on the left.

But, it didn't sit right with me. It looked so...so, stripey.

Mmmm...

Some days later, I moved them around, gathering the greens together

and resting the tans to the edges.

I like this much better, but still I am looking a bit longer before stitching.

Then after listening to Jude's words about 9-patch,

in particular the 'disappearing 9-patch'...

I thought to add this little bitty 9-patch.

I had thought of having the cloth itself be one of the patches,

but then I tried having the tiny weave stand in for a patch.

This is not stitched either, I'm still looking.

I am enjoying this cloth.
I am enjoying the stitching and the looking.

Thanks for looking with me.

Monday, September 15, 2014

Turkeys and Cloth

Comfort is a Circle

We give to others, they in return give to us

The cycle of caring.

I added this circle by merely outlining a circle in the dye pattern.

It's already changed a bit, but i don't have a picture yet.

I also added some of the special green velvet that you saw on this post, stitched into a pale desert cloth.

I am not sure how I like the look of it here and I was actually going to do another shorter row beneath this one. But, I'm going to leave it here for a while because I really want the soft feel of it on this cloth.

(As always, click on photos to enlarge)

The dye patterns are different on each side!

I had planned on adding (weaving) some bits of color/texture with this.

We'll see.

Something I have been seeing is more wild turkeys!

It turns out they are everywhere, close by in my neighborhood this summer.

I'm not sure if it is the same ones or if there are just lots...

but they're here and very comfortable!

Driving home one night, I see them at the house on the corner of my street.

All I could think of was:

Oh, their poor paint job on the roof of the car! -and-

I wonder if they sound loud in the house as they walk up the roof?

Do you see the one in the tree?

The next night the guy and I walked up to see them and spoke with the homeowner...

who is not at all charmed by them.

It turns out they've been roosting in the oak in his back yard and have made such a mess with their droppings, that he can't let his 2 year old go back there to play.

I felt bad for him, as he moved into the house not too long ago

and I bet he wasn't bargaining for this!

Who would have thought to ask their realtor about the wild animals of the neighborhood!

Somehow seeing them against the neatly trimmed lawn speaks volumes to me. They seem so dinosaur-like and out of place.

The guy tried his turkey whispering skills, but this is about as close as they got.

I stood back, as in years passed I've had the males puff up and spread their tail feathers heading towards me to protect their females.

I don't want to be the victim in that 'funniest video'!!!

We left a few minutes later when another neighbor (also clearly not enchanted) came out and began yelling at them, herding them down the street.

Well, maybe it was more like chasing them!

*End Note: Before my internet connection mishap...someone very generously offered to dye one of these cloth diapers in their indigo vat...for the life of me, I can't remember who it was or find the email. If it was you and your offer stands...please let me know.
Thank you in advance!

Thanks for stopping by the trail.

Have a great week!

Sunday, September 14, 2014

8~ July Trip

Well in the last post...I quickly hit publish without telling you of the most excellent bookstore in Morro Bay (where some of the garden pictures were taken). It is called Coalesce and is one of those independent bookstores with a coastal, hippie, liberal feel to it. One you could stay in for hours! The garden/chapel area was just wonderful! Another reason to live in this town in my book!! Haha no pun intended!! Really.

The other garden pictures were behind a fantastic bead store. I kinda mixed them up, but no matter. This was the music store: Central Coast Music. I wouldn't feel right not linking them...giving them all their moment in the sun! Such cool stores and folks up that way!
I just think it would be wonderful to live somewhere that has gardens behind their stores!

So, on our way home, we made some stops in Avila Beach, a beautiful Central Coast town.
We walked on the pier...

Lots of fish happenings and a cold breeze on this pier.

First pier I've been on that I've seen a fish cleaning station and men hard at work on that task.

The view to the right of the pier (above) and to the left of the pier (below). I marveled at how different the water looked. It really was green VS blue as shown in these photos!

The seals were loud and hysterical. With this whole platform for them to sunbathe on...they all crowded on the corner together. In fact, they not only crowded, but they fought over space there! I had to chuckle as I felt the connection to my classroom!

Then we stopped at a farm...AND MORE stand. There was tons of fruits and vegetables of every kind. Super delicious white nectarines!! Plus, there was breads and specialty candies and honey...and more!

What a scene!

Right along side the edibles, there were all sorts of animals!
Horses, goats, chickens, rabbits...and more! I of course thought of Grace when I saw the goats. Their floppy ears looked so soft, I wanted to feel them!

Crazy Beatles haircut!!

This one was super tall

This place was jam packed with families with young children. It was really nice to see so many out enjoying the beautiful day together. It reminded me of something I would have done when my children were young.

Enjoying a tractor ride

For how many posts I made out of this short trip and for how long it has taken me to post them...one may get the idea that I really like looking back on this trip. Well, they'd be right! It was a wonderful trip that I'd do again in a heartbeat. Like I said, I'd love to live on the Central Coast!
Next post: some animals and cloth...

Saturday, September 13, 2014

7 ~ July Trip

Hi everyone! Let's see...we left off admiring the many stones of Moonstone Beach. I already gave one of them to my soon to be moving friend. I put it into the medicine bag I wove for her. Some of you may remember it...

One side

Other side

I gave her the one with a stripe around it (pictured in my previous trip post, #6), a Wishing Rock for those of you who remember my post about the book If You Find a Rock. Anyway, the gift was well received and given with love. I'll miss have her right over the hill from my house.

OK, so back to the July trip! After from Moonstone Beach,the guy and I walked a bit in town and checked out cool stores and more!

A lovely garden, behind a store. Peaceful scenes like these left me wanting to live up there forever!

I've become so fond of words in a garden. This garden was so beautiful and quiet.

There were little Fairy Gardens, with tiny things and succulents. There were tons of succulents! I'm a fool for anything miniature!

There was art on the fence and color standing out in the gray sky. There were a wide variety of sculptures. Of course, I photographed the turtle! Metal art and glorious rocks rounded out the garden.

Everything was growing so well! It was a pleasure to be there.

These were huge!

We also went into the music store, of course. We shopped there the last time we were in Morro Bay. This time there were quite a few unique guitars and a funny sculpture to look at.