thelmasmith

Spring in view of the Pacific Ocean brings us an onshore wind depending on the low pressure systems the jet stream brings us.  It is blowing like crazy.

I finally have a hose bib and a curley que hose with a nice nozzle and I can reach all the potted plants on the deck.  There are four, new, very big pots half full of soil and a bunch of small pots on the table.  I still am not sure what I’m going to put in them.

Two of the smaller pots got loquat cuttings set to root in the shade.  I guess I’ll have to go over to Somis and to Saticoy and look at the trees in the nurseries.  I have to keep watering in the meantime as the wind sucks the moisture out of everything, including me.

As we get towards summer we will be getting the Santa Ana winds.  Those blow from the four corners high towards the ocean.  Besides sucking the moisture out of everything they bring the heat of the desert.  They bring summer instead of a spring time that is still feeling a bit like winter.

All this in explanation of no posts, no work, and little time spent outdoors in the wind.

I’ve been reading a lot.  I’ve been on a book ordering spree.  I had to replace my all in one printer but I’ve not set it up yet.  It tells me it won’t scan until I do some more work.  I’ll just tell you about my reading instead of showing you the book covers.

Fear of Flying  -  Erica Jong

Life Studies  -  Susan Vreeland

Moosewood Restaurant New Classics

The Essential Eating Well Cookbook

Bicycle Diaries  -  David Byrne

The New Sins  -  David Byrne

Old Friend from Far Away  -  Natalie Goldberg

There are more books that have not shown up at my door.  More on those another day.

You did notice the cookbooks?  Yes, I’m actually cooking some these days; I’m not quite sure why.  Comfort, I guess.  My friend, Barbara, enticed me into baking bread for the first time in twenty five years.

As to the books, I recommend any and all of the above.  Book reviews when and if I get around to it.

As one of the last few days I’ll be alone in the house I decided to begin tidying and refolding the fabric stash.  It was intimidating.  Not as bad actually doing the work.  The old shelves were about ten inches deep.  The new cubby hole wall unit from IKEA is fifteen inches deep.  I’m quite pleased with it.  The quality belies the price.

Old fold to your left, new fold to your right.

The template I marked on the ironing board in permanent marker.  Makes the work go faster.

Another stack before refolding.  I find that working with the blues I have really few lights and a lot of mediums and darks.  You can see the edge of the scotch tape roll to the left as well as the cat bat.

It’s rather sensual handling and refolding fabric.  So many lovely textures and patterns.

I’ve learned that I need to completely fill the cubbyhole.  Anything less than full is a wonderful cat bed.  I can tell what was on the top of the piles in the arizona storage.  I am scraping off great quantities of cat hair.  The large roll of tape is doubled back on itself to form a self roller.  Speeds the process.  I keep both the tape and the cat bat at hand for my clothes as well.

Here’s a bit of information that is making the rounds of well intentioned information via email.  It’s something we each need to be aware of.  It’s a small percentage of risk but one bad egg, etc.
How many of you would believe that a Copying Machine would need a hard drive similar to what you have in your computers???
I always assumed that when you placed a document into a Copying Machine, the scan would be transferred directly to the copy paper.
Not so and this has awesome ramifications as described in the attached video of a CBS investigation.
Check it out at the below web address.  It will blow your mind and you need to tell everyone you know about this.
Makes you wonder what the people at Kinko or the US Postal Service do with their coin operated machines that some of you may use for your important documents!!!    Better to be careful than sorry!

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6412572n&tag=contentMain;contentBody

Another day, another bunch of stuff sorted out.  Here are some more things that I need to sell.

These are the shipping tubes I mentioned yesterday.

Below are two views of a LOT of rubbermaid containers I need to sell. Again, pick up in Ventura, California.  Rubbermaid has a good life span unlike the Sterilite that break up from the UV, even indoors, within one year.  New Sterilite of similar size sell for $6US.  These were $10 new, now $5 each.

I also got all the Sunbrella measured and rerolled.  Here’s the manufacturer’s website.  Folding will damage the fabric so it must be shipped on rolls.  Shipping to be priced on an individual basis.

I have 54″ wide, cushion weight (light) natural sunbrella.

4.25 yards, whole piece, some spotting for $60 plus shipping.

5.5 yards of the same weight natural in perfect condition for $85.

There are 3.5 yards of a heavier teal (something like the floor color above) for $50.

There is an already cut bag in the teal approximately 8″ x 26″ x 20″ including the building diagram for $25.  It will need a 42″ zipper.

I have good, NEW, YKK Heavy Duty Marine Zippers – Separatin:

2 at 18″ long at $5 each pick up or $9 each post paid in the US.

2 at 72″ long at $10 each pick up or$15 each post paid in the US.

1 at 54″ long at $9 pick up or $14 post paid in the US.

1 at 42″ long at $8 pick up or $13 post paid in the US.

I also have a set of nickle plated sail grommets with the canvas cutter and the setting tools.  I need to get it out and see if it’s half inch or five eights.  Here’s an image from the net.  These were bought from Atlanta Thread.  The set includes a big chunk of oak to use as a work surface.  All are in one Rubbermaid box.  They are priced at approximately $150.  I will sell them for $80.  These are heavy; shipping is extra.

Most of you probably think I’m either dead or in jail.  Not so.  I moved for the second time three weeks ago.  I do not recommend moving let alone twice in one year.

The most important reason was enough more space both indoors and out on the deck that I was able to empty the warehouse, bring all my artist’s inventory home, and have a dedicated workroom for the first time in one year.

I’m not completely sorted out yet but the end is in sight.  One of the things hanging fire is this

Box of Quilting Books

Books for Sale

This is one of three file boxes of books that will be sold.  If you are diligent in reading the titles you can email me with your selections.  Each book will be sold at 50% of list price plus $4.95 shipping and handling in the US.  International shipping to be determined.  Multiple book sales in one shipment will save you some shipping costs.

I really can not do the lifting to open and photograph the other two file boxes of books until this one is sold out and empty.  Contact me and help me get this move over and done with.

All these books are in excellent condition.  Most have been opened only once.  If I find one that does not meet that quality I will let you know.

The other pile that needs to be sold is a stack of shipping tubes.  These range from six inches in diameter to twelve inches in diameter; the length runs from 48″ to 54.”  Price per shipping tube is $15US.  Pick up in Ventura, California to save yourself the shipping cost.  Since they are empty they should be fairly inexpensive to ship.  Be aware that I use FedEx.  Air freight is expensive, ground is not. Contact me, I’ll figure a fedex shipping cost on a per item basis due to the variations in size.

Happy May to each and every one of you.  The weather here on the coast is such that I have my sliding glass door open.  Here’s the red siberian tom who is now living on the deck.  Hope you like the looks of him.  He’ll be a year old the end of the month.