Variations on a Quilting Theme

A new quilt show by the Material Girls Quilters was another feature at last weekend's pie and ice cream social down in Skull Valley. Believe me, it was hard to decide which quilts to include here. However, I think many agreed that the sun motif was a winner.

Other themes included classic pinwheels (surrounding a not so classic petroglyph square), whirligigs...

...and autumn leaves.

An intricately quilted picture was also on display.

Other subjects included butterflies, cats...

...and very colorful chickens.

For a western flavor, each square in one quilt featured a stylized Indian petroglyph.

More western -- a bandana quilt above and (below) a stitched picture of a desert saguaro.

However, the prize for most up-to-date goes to a commercial coverlet at a sales booth just outside the exhibit hall. Harry himself, suitable for keeping any youngster warm and safe at night.

The Big House Party

The llama named Lawana on my keyboard -- what could be more symbolic of a young grandchild in the house? But the house has been full. First dotter and GD arrived, then came the Niece from Memphis and her dotter. What resulted? A lot of plain but pleasant hanging out together.

A GD discovering the cartwheel -- almost.

And getting decorated into clown mode by the Niece.

Dancing with the Memphis cousin.

And a lot of R*E*A*D*I*N*G! Dotter ordered the book, BTW.

There was a visit and dinner party for my Mom and her grandchildren.

All of this activity took place when the dotter wasn't frantically making final preparations for flying herself, GD, two cats and three turtles to her new home in Alaska. Who knows if she would have made her plane had the Niece from Memphis not been here to help! The dotter's entourage has arrived safely in Alaska, tomorrow night the Niece and her dotter do Othello, and we're visiting an antique auto show and another resale shop during the day. Great fun, wonderful company. A house party to beat all house parties!

On the Occasion of the Last Harry Potter Book

There's this big hoo-rah about the last Harry Potter book. So I decided it was time to post my antique wizard pix from Cortez Street -- my small contribution to the hoo-rah. Small because I didn't really cotton on to the books. Maybe I'm simply too old...

Or perhaps it's that my memory of magical children's books remains attached to the books of my childhood and those I read to my daughter. Oz. Pooh. Alice. King Arthur. (I'll still read a new version of the Arthur legends, if well done.)

Anyhow ... I never felt that Harry Potter measured up. Upon reading the first book, I felt that there was something wanting. No idea what. On the other hand, the popularity of the books is a phenomenon that surely reflects on the current state of children's lit. What's your take?

Note: speaking of matters magical, have a look at these kinetic sculpts.