Design Class exploring scale

Lorraine Torrence compares the value of each circle.

This is my interpretation of the Coonley Playhouse Windows by Frank Lloyd Wright.

The same construction using an analogous color scheme. However, I had no time to stitch the lines. I would love to recommend Pentel's Frixion pens. They lines are heat-sensitive and iron right out.

When we visited Phoenix last year, we visited a Frank Lloyd Wright house where they had reproduction Coonley Playhouse windows.

Desert Botanical Garden (with Chihuly)

Every Saguaro is unique. Some are upright.

Some are created by aliens.

Some are discovered by Willards.

And these beauties were created by Dale Chihuly.

These cacti are super pointy. But they are gorgeous!

This rebar work of art welcomes you to the Desert Botanical Gardens. Of course I whispered to Paul,

"We should have one of these."

Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West

A visit to Taliesin West was definitely in order. Just down the freeway to Scottdale, Frank Lloyd Wright's Foundation has purchased his Taliesin West home and created an Architecture School and gift shop. For days we had been driving very flat roads. And suddenly we were going up, up, up to the hills above the city. Development has begun to surround the property and the views were beautiful. These few pictures of famous stained glass works include the Coonley Playhouse windows. I was inspired to make a series of quilts based on the great design and color concepts.

Katie's Mission Call

 Katie's mission call arrived and she arranged to have Tyler on the phone so he could hear her open it. We have been enjoying Katie for all of 8 days since she arrived home from London study abroad. The Christmas tree is set up and the flurry of deadline quilting, Christmas concerts, and present wrapping is in full swing.

When she announced she would be serving in England London South, I fell off the piano bench. I was laughing so hysterically, Tyler probably couldn't hear at all.

She will report to the England MTC on April 22, 2011 and serve for 18 months.

Wool Quilt for Mom

 My friend Cathy introduced me to this wool & flannel quilt pattern and I was smitten. We each made one. However, I couldn't use much of anything in my stash. 

Since it was very thick, it was difficult to quilt on the machine. My mom loved it even though San Diego doesn't need a lot of wool. Nana grew up in the San Gabriel mountains and still feels cold in the winter months.

How do Chains work?

Since the snow was impeding travel, we decided it was time for a chains demonstration. Everyone had to be trained how to install chains on the Golf and Jetta. This looks like a sales pitch!

Early Snowfall

I was bringing Calvin home from the dentist with a carload of Thanksgiving food when an ice storm hit. We couldn't drive straight through at Terry's Corner because a bus was blocking the intersection. So we decided to turn left. After a few hundred feet of moderate climbing, we stopped. No one could get up this hill without chains, and with a cliff to the left, the woman who is sideways wouldn't accept assistance.

So after a half hour, we were able to back down slowly to the bottom of the hill and turn around in someone's driveway. This was the view going the other direction. Eventually, we made it to 532, crossed over, and parked at the library. Since the weather was so bad, we figured the turkey would be fine in the car. Then we hiked back where we were and on to the Huff's. Dad came and picked me up (Calvin stayed overnight for fun) and on the way home he had to get out in front of the Zinkands to put chains on the car. I was so grateful for his strength because it was crazy blowing cold out there.