While I have been diligently trying to use up the small pieces in my stash, not a lot was accomplished on that front in February, because we took two weeks to get away from the snow and cold and visited beautiful San Diego, California.
We had a very enjoyable time seeing the sights and sites of San Diego and it was made even more enjoyable when our daughter Susan joined us for a few days. We spent several days in Balboa Park enjoying the warm sunshine, the beautiful gardens, museums and the artists' village. Even then, we didn't see it all.
Another beautiful area was the Old Town, which recreates the buildings and atmosphere of the early days of San Diego's history. The quilter part of me was especially interested in a project which I came across when I noticed two women in period costume seated at a quilt frame. Naturally I was intrigued, and in talking to them discovered that they were working on a reproduction of the earliest known quilt in San Diego, the Juana Machado quilt made in the 1800s, a red on white appliqued quilt. I was invited to sit down and add a leaf to the work in progress, so while Gordon and Susan looked around the town I appliqued one red leaf on the quilt (see photos).
We also managed a day at Ocean Beach, walking along the sand, watching the waves, the dogs (who have their own stretch of the beach to enjoy), other visitors and finished up with a meal at Joe's Crab Shack- yum!!
Of course I had come with a list of fabric requirements for current projects and after visits to four different fabric and quilt shops, I had all the fabrics on the list and more beside.
All in all, it was a very satisfactory experience.
