Medicating Rambo . . .

Thanks to those who asked about my kitty, Rambo . . .

When I last wrote about the felonious feline, he was drooling blood . . . it was a "giving" morning: I gave Rambo a trip to the vet; the vet gave Rambo two shots in the butt (after cutting off his collar, the cause of the problem); the vet gave me a bottle of antibiotics (and, the bill) . . . ERK!!

I put the antibiotics in the refrigerator, where they stayed until I returned from Ste. Genevieve on Saturday . . . then, the fun began. Who would have imagined that getting an eyedropper of medicine down a cat's throat is a two-man job??

First, we wrapped Rambo in a towel for two reasons: cats shed fur when stressed (and, this was gonna be a stressful moment for all concerned) . . . and, the towel acts like a straight jacket, immobilizing his legs (did I mention that our cats have their claws??)

Ed held Rambo while I pried his jaws open to deliver the medicine (Rambo's jaws, not Ed's). Rambo's jaws clacked shut at the first eyedropper of medicine, bathing his gums and my fingers in goo . . . I think I got some medicine down his throat the second time, but I'm not sure. And of course, he's squirming and thrashing in Ed's arms the whole time. He took off as soon as he got free (Rambo, not Ed).

That was Saturday evening . . . we haven't repeated the experience, though the vet suggested using up the entire bottle of antibiotics.

I think it'll be less of a hassle if Ed and I take the medicine . . . maybe during Happy Hour, when we can chase it with a good, stiff cocktail!!

The roar of the greasepaint, the smell of the crowd . . .

Last evening was the opening reception for my quilt show in Ste. Genevieve . . . WOW!! What an experience!!

I'd had a terrible morning (my rental car got a flat before I even left town, and I had to have AAA change the flat before I could return the car and get another; one of my cats required an emergency trip to the vet because he got his collar caught in his teeth; and, I had to buy new business card holders and hardware for the curtain rods I hang my quilts on because I couldn't find what's here in the apartment (somewhere)).

I got to the gallery only four hours before the reception was to open, and went right to work, hanging framed magazine articles and quilts. I was gonna check into a cheap motel for the night, but Sam, one of the co-owners, shuddered and suggested the B&B a block away. It was a great B&B: I had a shower and changed clothes (I didn't dare have a nap for fear of sleeping away the evening). I stopped into a storefront restaurant for dinner . . . the two women at the next table said, "hey, aren't you the guy in the picture across the street??" (The gallery owners had a poster of me in several shop windows.) Imagine that . . . me, the celebrity!!

It was a great reception!! The owners had set up a live feed of the reception on their Twitter cam, LOL!! (had I known THAT, I woulda given you fair warning . . .) During the evening, over 100 people came through the gallery; I handed out nearly an entire box of business cards (250 of 'em); I shmoozed a lot of folks (quilters and non-quilters alike); I did a lot of talking, LOL!! I told a lot of people about the design tiles and my take on symmetry (I just happened to have a set on hand for people to play with). I could get used to this!!

After the reception, I went to small party at some friends of the gallery owners . . . I got in after midnight. I was up by 7:30 a.m., showered, and ready for a new day (and, a great breakfast at 9:00 a.m.)!! I entertained my table with the design squares after we'd eaten . . .

Yesterday was busy . . . Today, I'm anxious

Five items of note happened yesterday: I burned the palm of my hand with some soup at lunchtime (it's better today) . . .

I mailed tax papers and promotional pictures to the Flint Public Library for next month's lecture . . .

I mailed signed contracts for a lecture/workshop in Santa Rosa next year (March) . . .

I visited an old friend in the hospital (I love that old man; I don't know what to do for him; there's nothing I can do for him; it hurts me to see him like this) . . .

I had most of a box of quilts photographed (all the quilts use the same set of templates; many are for the show this week; I'll have all of 'em added to the website next week).


I anxious for only two things today: I expect delivery of my new business cards from VistaPrint and computer memory chips from Greg in the mail . . . woo hoo!!

The Shape(s) of things to come . . .

Think of the individual shapes in the tile . . . the tile is comprised of five distinct shapes (the two corner shapes are identical).

When these shapes touch the shapes in other tiles, they form a new shape. These new shapes occur where corners meet and where sides touch.

These shapes may be open or closed. The shapes in the example above are open because they do not end at the sides of the block; they leave "openings" at every side. It may take more tiles to close the shapes.


This shape crosses six tiles before it closes.

Some shapes never close. I call them "stripes."


There are unique shapes for each unique arrangement of tiles . . . what shapes are in YOUR blocks??



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To a new symmetry . . .

I've said it before, but it bears repeating . . .

I've read three books about symmetry and two-dimensional patterns: one written by a mathemetician; the other two written by quilters.

All three books described the four operations of symmetry: translation, rotation, reflection, and glide reflection. All three books generated patterns using a method developed by crystallographers (even though crystallographers are not necessarily quilters, and vice versa). All three books overlooked two simple observations: all the patterns generated could be simplified to two pairs of squares beside each other, on top of each other, or diagonally from each other; and, in all but one instance, the squares were right side up or upside down, but never sideways.

I have previously described the operations of symmetry, but I will not generate any patterns with a method I now view as flawed. I propose a new symmetry which does not rely on any operations other than "pick a pair." I have presented the two tiles below to nearly 300 people. You've had a week or so to play with them.

Will you join me on a guided journey with these tiles??


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New Logo for NGQ!!

I've been discussing this with my designer . . . originally, I wanted the Mardi Gras Man motif as part of my website logo, but considering he only shows up in one quilt, he wasn't a good choice.

A week or so ago, I suggested using my tile, which will be showing up more and more in my quilts. And, with all the people who now have sets of the design tile, it's better recognized. (Can you say, "Branding"??)

This morning, Patrick emailed me to say the new logo has been implemented!! What do you think of it??


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. . . and on the seventh day, God rested . . .

It was a good day . . .

Ed and I drove south of St. Louis about an hour or so to Ste. Genevieve and Chaumette Winery. There's an Episcopalian Chapel on the grounds, St. Vincent's . . .



The former Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, where Ed and I usually attend in St. Louis, was the preacher/celebrant. There were about 20 people in attendance, with 1/3 of 'em from Christ Church Cathedral.

Afterwards, there was a buffet brunch in the dining hall of the winery. Great food, great friends, great wine . . . a great day in the country.

Ed and I got home just before the heavens opened up . . . we took a nap with classical music playing on the radio, and rain playing on the window.

Hours later, I sat at the computer, putting the finishing touches on the first edition of my newsletter for those who had signed up for my website's mailing list. Out of 250 emails sent out, only one person "unsubscribed." At the same time, I had seven new people sign up . . . with a sevenfold return, maybe I should have more people "unsubscribe"!! (Just joking.)

Ed and I watched "Hairspray" on DVD (the original, John Waters' version with Divine) . . . we went to a staged production of the musical last weekend, and it was good to compare the two.

About a dozen people migrated from the mailing list to the new Yahoo! group: NGQTileAddicts. One person admitted taking my Quilt University class 4-1/2 years ago!! Good people online, too.

Yes, it was a very good day . . .


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