Another Visit to Pere Lachaise Cemetery

My husband and I visited Pere Lachaise Cemetery yesterday with sunshine and beautiful blue skies. It was marvelous. It looks very different at this time of year with the barren trees than it did when I went last August (posted here and here).

The next three photos are details from the tomb of Etienne-Gaspard Roberts. My new camera with the 10x zoom lens is a blast to use.

These stones are piled at the base of the angel. Parts of her wings?

And now for something completely different:

More blue skies for today. I'm not sure I'm going to get any chores or sewing done. I need to go on another photo safari. Where to visit?

Oh, yesterday I did do a summary over on the Lazy Gal Winter Class, so you might want to check that out, especially if you signed up for the class and haven't finished your project yet. I'd love to know how you're doing.

Saami and Ralli Quilts

Jude's lovely handquilting brought to mind the Saami quilts of Pakistan. I've never been lucky enough to see one in person, but I've done a lot of drooling on my books.

These pictures are from Patricia Stoddard's wonderful book Ralli Quilts: Traditional Textiles from Pakistan and India, which I highly recommend. "This Saami quilt has a black center field with a red border. The designs are made with various colors of thick thread that hold the layers of cloth together." Lower Sindh, mid-to late twentieth century.


"A Saami quilt with a burgundy field and a patchwork border. The characteristic right angle emboridered shapes at the corners going to the micdle are clearly visible." Lower Sindh, late twentieth century.

The book has loads of photos of lovely quilts as well as information on the makers' lives and design inspirations. I found another review of the book at Malka Dubrowsky's blog "A Stitch in Dye." She has included many lovely photos, so I figure I'll invite you over there rather than repeating them. Plus she mentioned this website, which has great photos and historical info on Rallis.

Another absolutely gorgeous book is Quilting, Patchwork & Applique: A World Guide by Caroline Crabtree and Christine Shaw. And holy cow, Amazon.com has it on sale for $13.86??? What the...? I paid a lot more than that last fall. It's on sale for 69% off. I don't know if that's a mistake, but go grab one right now, you will never regret it (even if you pay more than that).

This is a Saami quilt in their book:

And there is a Ralli on these pages:

A couple of kanthas:

The book has loads of photos in it and for the most part does a great job of covering quilted and appliqued textiles from all over the world, including Egyptian Tentmaker Applique, molas, sashiko, the Hmong's pa ndau and far more. I noticed there wasn't a single Australian wagga pictured unfortunately, and maybe there's an emphasis on the Indian subcontinent, but those are minor quibbles. Get the book. Here's another review of it.

Speaking of India, I've been enjoying Tiggy's travels in I'd Rather Be in India.

View From My Kitchen Window

Today I read Lynda's blog LuLu's Bay in which she recounts stories of her family's recent move to and life in Egypt. Brought back all sorts of memories for me. Anyway, she asked "What is the view out your kitchen window?" Here's mine: the back of a building. Sorry, no view of the Eiffel Tower ala Remy in Ratatouille.


While I'm reminded of Egypt, here's part of my living room. My Bastet statuette, a couple of charms to avert the evil eye and a punched tin frame holding a crusty I made while living there.

Oh, and a quilt too (I finally got all those Christmas quilts down). This is a Lone Star made by my mom many years ago. One of mom's friends hurt her feelings by saying that she couldn't stand to look at the quilt and had to sit facing away from it. Mean, mean, mean. Personally, I love it and was thrilled when my mom let me take it. The quilt is wonky (the right arm is about an inch lower than the left) and a bit loud, just like my mom. And me -- where did you think I got it from?

I reread my last post and realized I didn't actually say "thank you" to those who sent me wonderful gifts in the mail. D'oh, what an oversight. I was certainly thinking it! Big thank yous to them and to Marathon Quilter Cher who sent me this big S:

Trying to get caught up on links. Let's see... And Sew It Is Holly has almost finished her marvelous quilt Hangar Talk. Holly was one of the very first quilters to use my alphabet tutorial and did such an amazing job with the letters and figuring out a way to use them that really meant something to her.

Speaking of alphabets, the ever amazing Spiritcloth Jude has finished her alphabet sampler top (made for the first Lazy Gal Online Class) which is just amazing and so very Jude. Her work is so distinctive and if this is your first visit to her blog I highly recommend you go back to the very beginning and read her story chronologically.

Wheee, Taniwa Tanya has gotten the center of her class quilt together and it is totally wonderful. She made this quilt step by step, not knowing how it was going to turn out, but just having faith that it would. She started with the words, including one in Japanese (a touch that I LOVE), then went from there to make a quilt about home.

QuiltDiva Julie made a second quilt for the class (the first was her really fun vowel quilt), a lovely soft springtime violets quilt. While you're visiting her blog, take a look at the really bright Bargello quilt top she just made too - very fun.

and ooh ooh ooh, look at the photos Margaret took at the Ikat exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. yummy.

I'm out of time now, so I'll have to wrap this up. By the way, got only a tiny bit of handquilting done today and that was it. There was sun, glorious sun out so I escaped the apartment.

Treats in the Mail

I had a great mail day yesterday - lots of love. Loco Quilter Kimberly sent me leftover letter blocks as well as one of her gift bags and fabric that she hand-dyed. I have to cut some strips from this fabric and throw them into the String Lone Star quilt. Kimberly is in the Lazy Gal Winter Class (hey, there's still winter left - come on over and make a quilt with us!) and finished this marvelous Let it Snow quilt.

Sue From the Magpie's Nest sent these two big bold letters as well as a strip of that background fabric. Some I will save for the student letter quilt, but I think some of it is going to sneak into the Lone Star.

Speaking of the work in progress, I got enough blocks done for the 4th arm of the star (well, I've done that last block since I took this pic):

Something doesn't look quite right with this pile of strings...

Ah, there was no cat in it. Of course. Lily in the way.

On Sunday we had some glorious direct sunlight - haven't seen that in ages. Here are Habibi and Lily catching some rays:

I forgot to mention above the other fabulous item in the mail. A wonderful friend sent me copies of the new Terminator series because I'd mentioned how sad I was to be missing it. I haven't watched Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles yet, but I am really looking forward to it. If your internet speed is faster than mine, you can go watch episodes on the net here on the show's homepage.

Yesterday I met my friend Will for lunch (I had a delicious salad with warmed goat cheese on toast) and a walk in the Bastille area. You should be impressed with me because not only did I walk a LOT but I didn't wimp out even though it was drizzly and overcast for most of the day. Will is a good influence.

I am so so so behind in my email and in giving you all links. But I want to get back to my sewing. eek, a dilemma. Sorry, but the computer stuff is going to have to wait.

Oh, and Happy Mardi Gras. My favorite radio station WKZE (which you can listen to online) is playing Louisiana cajun and zydeco music right now and I am loving it. Feel sorry for the neighbors - I'm going to crank up the volume so I can hear it over the sewing machine.

Turquoise?

I've now gotten 75 string diamond blocks done out of the 200 I need. that's enough for 3 arms of my lone star, not that I've started sewing them together yet. I've been thinking of turquoise as the background, but I might need to go with orange or yellow to keep it from being too dark. Or maybe I just need to put more yellows and orange into the blocks. Decisions, decisions.

The more blocks I get done, the more I love this project. Which is a good thing I suspect. Which is not to say I wouldn't have a whole lot of fun with these blocks doing some other project. I think I'll have to make extra blocks just for that.

I wish I had more of this particular turquoise fabric - it's by Bali Fabrications, which doesn't appear to be making fabric anymore. sob. They were my absolute favorite. Gorgeous intense hand-dyed fabrics that were soft and easy to hand quilt through (as compared to a certain other batik company that starts with the letter H).

My order of fabric arrived from eQuilter yesterday - wooohoo! So incredibly dangerous, but I didn't do toooo much damage. Got some lighter-toned fabrics which I'm already throwing into this quilt. And believe it or not, I bought two brown fabrics. Brown. They were by Bali Fabrications so I figured had to get them while I could. They are most definitely NOT going into this quilt.

I have a list of links and books and movies for you, but once again I am going to blow that off to go sew instead. I leave you with this picture of Pokey, who most definitely is not supposed to be sleeping on top of my craft drawers and especially not on the unfinished Humility Quilt top. And yes, my place always looks this messy.

It is horribly gray and gloomy and raining here. One forecast said snow tonight - eeeeek. I'm trying to avoid going out in it, but I'm running out of food. Good thing the Italian take away two doors down is open. I hope. Penne Risi et Bisi is calling my name.