Thursday, April 13, 2006

Not Your Average Chef!

Mark La Polla Innkeeper and Chef
Can you tell he has Show Business in his blood?

John our Waiter Extraordinaire.
He calls me Miss Melody. Imagine that.


The lovely and talented Kim, Innkeeperess and maker of the best ever Lemon Meringue Pie.

Mark is making homemade tortillas. I am weeping with happiness.


Dig those arty plates and bowls. Pozole with condiments in Endive leaves.
Woowoo!

Homemade Banana Saffron Ice Cream in Mark's Deconstructed Bananas Foster.
...What diet?

Back to the workshop...we are making works in a series and yesterday we listed all the ways a series can be approached. It is an overwhelming list, so it was up to each of us to find our own starting point.
Thinking was involved.
I find it helpful to think while gathering and organizing the scraps on my table and when I do, invariably something pops into the old bean and I can make a decision.

I had this little stack of fabrics and decided to make 9 or 10 sets of color schemes using these same shapes, figuring I would do a repeat block. I looked for unusual for me combinations and proceeded to cut them all alike. The repeat block did not appeal once I got started so instead I made the decision to feature the little block as my focal point and use a previously designed layout to compose a quilt top. That would be my series. Now I have two in the series.
I also am very close to finishing #3, but the layout has changed quite a bit and it no longer resembles the design of #1 and #2.
What is to become of me if I can't even follow my own dictates?
Below are two unusual color combinations from Joanie...

She knows what she is doing and is a complete natural at fusing.



Amazing. And instant. She made this in less than an hour.

Elfi is working on leaf block and twig blocks, which are unbelievably beautiful. I went absolutely bonkers over this color combination and decided to make a top using these same ones. I have never in my life considered orange, gray and green together.

For a while Patti was thinking... and thinking... and organizing scraps... and then
BOING!!!!
all of a sudden this fabu composition flew into being.

A detail of the dark value blocks that triggered the piece.
WE are definitely in the groove and this room is throbbing with invention and amazing results.
More to come.
I LOVE IT.

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:12 AM

    The leaf and its colors are very interesting but Joanie's layout just rocks with the checkerboard and think of the fab quilting you could put in the middle. You must be out of your mind with joy at the food and the talent you're surrounded with-notice how I mention the food first...Dee

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  2. Anonymous9:16 AM

    I'm with Mary! It looks like a great workshop that's really pushing boundaries, and man, that food :-) Mark's giant shish kabob reminds me of the chunks of steak with tomatoes and onions cooked and served on a sword which Art had in the Balkans.

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  3. Looks like a great place for a workshop. I just want to come and help out in the kitchen!!

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  4. Anonymous6:58 PM

    Melody, today I am only going to say that I am totally overwhelmed by all this beautiful art work. I envy envy your students down to the very last scrap for all the time they are spending learning with you.

    The cuisine is a whole other topic!

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  5. Beautiful food and even more beautiful quilts! I love the colors that you guys are using. I would love to take one of your classes! How lucky your students are!!

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  6. Anonymous1:49 AM

    OMG! The colors of your first piece are the colors I want to redo my living room in - I mean the EXACT colors! I LOVE the work you and your students are doing and am SOOO jealous of every single one of the ladies in the workshop. I'm going to have to start a needy quilter fund so I can take one of your workshops next year... =0)

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Hello,
So nice of you to drop by. I love your comments, and if you would really like a reply, please email me at fibermania at g mail dot com