BAINBRIDGE ISLAND QUILT FEST

 Darrell and I went to the Bainbridge Island Quilt Fest for the first time every.

We took an early ferry from Seattle and stopped at the Steamliner Cafe for breakfast.

I had a pesto omelette, yum. We sat at the counter and I sketched the grill.

We went up to the BARN and toured it, then went back downtown and found Winslow Green where the quilt show was.  There was over 200 quilts there.

It was a fun day.

WAITING SKETCH

 I took Darrell to a clinic for an appointment where they would be knocking him out for a short time.  They said he'd be with them for about two hours.  So, I ran down to Renton to pay for my new longarm frame.  I wrote a check this time, because it was such a hassle with the debit card last time.  (over the daily limit issues).

After that was done, I swung through Renton - oh my, it has really changed since I've lived there.  I stopped at the little quilt store on 3rd, Wyldwood Creative.  I figured I could spend a little money to help her out.  I know, I know, I don't need any fabric, but you gotta keep these little local stores open!  I did find a few things, mostly Ruby Star Society stuff, so everyone was happy.  I was also delighted to see a little cabinet out in front of the store that said 'Little Free Craft Cabinet' on it.  I went back to the car and grabbed some of Sue's 'coloring books' that I've been carrying around.  I put them in the cabinet.  Hopefully, someone will give them a good home.  I still have more to distribute around, too.

I headed back to the clinic to wait.  I brought my sketching bag so I could sketch while I waited.  I stayed in my car and sketched the car across from me.  It got my attention immediately because it was parked on the line - I hate that!

I just realized I love sketching on these little postcards.  There's no pressure to make a masterpiece, like I feel when sketching in a sketchbook.  Fun!

P.S. Darrell is fine.

SOUTH PARK OUTING

 The Seattle Urban Sketchers met in South Park this morning at 10am.

I had originally thought I'd sketch the bridge.  I walked down underneath it, but couldn't find a place to sit and sketch (it was too uncomfortable to sit on my portable stool because of my knee).  So I went back to my car and drove around until I found this interesting garage.

TRIP TO CHELAN

 Darrell and I hit the road, east over the pass to Chelan, to visit his daughter and family.  We haven't seen them in quite a while.

We visited the property that the bought to build their new home on and then headed to Wells Dam, where Matt works, for a private tour.  I stayed at a vista spot and sketched while they went down into the bowels of the dam.

It was about 99 degrees, too hot.  But I found a shaded spot where I could sketch and paint.

After lunch in Wenatchee we met up with his uncle Eddie to get a key for the gate of their family cemetery.  We drove up Badger Mountain with the plan to show them the cemetery, but were unable to reach it because the remote road was closed to vehicles because of fire danger.  Now they know where it is and can come back when it's not so hot and dry.

ART DATE 11

 I did a two-fer today.  I made my Art Date for the week coincide with the Seattle Urban Sketchers Outing today, Friday.

They met at the Dr. Jose Rizal Park, at the north end of Beacon Hill, in the shadow of the stunning Art Deco tower with a majestic view of Seattle and Elliott Bay.

I was overwhelmed by the view and decided to concentrate on the art installed in the park.  I spent a very pleasant few hours on this sketch.

I added some info about the art work, Dr. Rizal and the park when I got home.

ART DATE 10

 It was a warm and sunny morning.  I drove over to 18th and Cambridge to sketch the church there.  I sat outside on my new portable camp stool.  It worked good.

I spent a while trying to get the proportions and angles correct in pencil.  Then because I was getting too warm, I took the sketch home and worked on it some more there.  

 

PARK INVASION

 Lincoln Park was invaded by a TV production company today.  I went there to sketch it.  

The parking lot was full of big box vans full of equipment and carts.  There were Teamsters just hanging around, waiting.

It was obvious where they were filming.

There were tents and port-a-potties set up all along the way.

They were filming in the big open field where folks usually throw balls for their dogs.  They had a smoke machine going with lots of people hanging about.  Everywhere there were 'director' chairs, too.  When they started shooting, the actors emerged from the trees to confront an another actor wearing what looked like a monk's outfit.  The Monk had a staff and the actors were dressed in 'Robin Hood' type clothing.  There was yelling and a sword fight.

I watched and sketched while they did a few 'takes'.  It seemed pretty silly.  The writing was bad and so was the acting.  I wasn't allowed to get very close.

I was told they were filming season 2.  When I got home I looked the show up.  It's "Three Busy Debras" on HBO.  The first season was all available to stream.  Most of the episodes were only 11-14 minutes long.  I watched a few - it was really bad and stupid.  I don't understand how they can spend so much money on something so bad. Do people really enjoy and watch it?  I don't get it.

ART DATE 5

 It's Friday.  I missed my Art Date yesterday, so I made up for it today.

But first I made some cookies and a really ugly Rhubarb Custard Pie.  I bought some frozen gluten-free pie crusts to use.  I thawed them, then tried to use the second crust as a top.  It didn't want to come free of the tin.  I had to coax it and in the process it broke apart and made an ugly mess.  And I overfilled the custard so it had to ooze out, too.

My Mom used to make me a Rhubarb Custard Pie for my birthday every year.  Now that we don't live too close together I make one for myself occasionally.  I saw the rhubarb at the grocery store the other day and thought it was a sign because my birthday is coming up soon.

In the afternoon, I went out to sketch.  I'd thought about this place the other day.  This house, which was probably built around 1905-1915, is on my way to the dog park.  I never noticed it because it was hidden behind overgrown bushes.  One day it just suddenly appeared when someone had cut them all away.  I love houses like this.  It's a shame it has been so neglected.  It appears that it's slated for demolition.  The two houses to the left of it have chain-link fences around them with signage - a sure sign of coming destruction.  

I thought I had better sketch this one before it's gone.

ART DATE 3

 I headed out this morning to the Alki Lighthouse wanting to sketch there.  But, alas, it was closed and no way to get near it.  So I continued on down Alki Boulevard towards Luna Park, thinking I'd paint the cafe.  But, no, there was no where to park, so I continued on.  I headed down to Delridge looking for something to sketch.  There is a lot of construction on Delridge Way SW with detours and traffic cones everywhere.  When  I spotted this crew working, pouring concrete for the new road, I did a u-turn and went back to sketch them.

ART DATE 2

 I had a lot of things to do today, one of them being to take some returns down to the Amazon Return Center in Sodo.  So, after I did that I found something to sketch in that area.  I stopped and sketched this odd building on Airport Way.

I probably should do simpler buildings.  This was a little difficult.  There was a lot of sketching and erasing then sketching and erasing.  I didn't finish it on site, but took it home to add color.  I used my new "Molotow Blackliner" pen that I received in the Urban Sketching Set I won from CretaColor.  I love this pen, it has a great line,  smooth and easy and the ink is waterproof.

I stopped sketching at lunchtime and went over to Cafe Con Leche to pick up some take out.  I took our lunch home where we enjoyed it outside on the deck.

I had a Cubano sandwich and he had Puerco Asado, yum.