A Change of Scenes?

Just for a change of scene, thought I would publish some heretofore unpublished pictures I took of Colin Firth and Emily Blunt in Wilmington when they were filming Arthur Newman, Golf Pro although the name of the film may have been changed by now.    It is supposed to come out sometime next  year and I am really looking forward to it as I watched it being filmed at five different locations -- my family claims I am a stalker but a real stalker would have stayed up past 10 pm I think for some of the filming - I drew the line at 10 pm!

Colin was off in the distance here and it just amazes me that somehow you never see all the equipment that is used in the filming as you can see here.  Most of the time he wasn't actually filming, he would be chatting with Emily or some of the crew.  I got to see Emily close up later on and she is just beautiful -- I think much prettier than she looks in the movies.  I have seen a lot of her films and she is a really fine actress so should be interesting to see the final movie.

They were actually either filming or rehearsing here.  I was awfully close and the crew was very cordial and chatty although I was asked finally not to take any more pictures by Colin's assistant/driver so I of course immediately put the camera away.  Up until then, no one seemed to mind.  For the rest of the time, I tried to keep the young children from the neighborhood (who were very curious about what was going on) quiet.  They were really cute and made waiting for my meet/greet very pleasant!.  I would take pictures of them and then show them which delighted the younger ones! 


My reward for not taking any more pictures of the shoot was to get to meet Colin and get my picture taken with him.  It had never occurred to me to ask for a picture taken with him -- it was his suggestion.  I really only wanted a nice picture I could use for the Colin quilt!!  As I was there by myself,  his assistant was called upon to take the picture .  I had it all set up except forgot to push back the telephoto so she was frustrated and handed me back the camera which I fixed (in the dark) and then she took my picture with Colin.   I was so starstruck I almost forgot to tell Colin how much I loved him in the King's Speech which was the reason I wanted to meet him in the first place!!  He was walking away by the time I remembered but he turned and gave me a huge smile and a thank you.  


The back story here is that I had only intended to be away from the house for an hour or so and had forgotten my phone.  As my Facebook friends know, I was gone for close to 5 hours, and my husband was frantic (he had called all the hospitals and even the police by the time I got home).  My daughter tried to assure him that there was probably a "Colin story" (it was the day before that I had gotten some earlier pictures).  He was beyond ticked when I got home and I didn't mention Colin's name for awhile.  The police arrived while I was there and wanted to make sure I was okay. (Note:  not a good idea to say to the police you are going to kill your wife when she gets home!).  He got over it pretty quickly as I fixed him a very late dinner and kept my mouth shut about the many times he has disappeared on walks for hours and how worried I get!!  My daughter told me it was not a good idea to mention this so I just begged forgiveness.

The Complete Wilmington Experience and -- Meeting Colin Again...

Well, if you look closely above Colin's shoulder, you will see that I succeeded in getting his signature for his quilt!!!


I have my friend Debi to thank for this, in fact two Debi's as that is his assistant's name as well. I had read in the paper this morning that they were filming yesterday in downtown Wilmington for both One Tree Hill's final episode of the series and Arthur Newman, Golf Pro.  I figured there was a chance that one or the other would still be filming and I could show Debi a bit of the process.  


Now you have to understand that my friend Debi is the most outgoing gutsy person  you will ever meet.  We saw film crews but didn't know what they were filming.  Debi opened her window and found out which and then we hunted for a parking place.  She found another crew member and asked where specifically we might find them filming and they told us.  We found a parking place literally almost in front of the place.  Unfortunately, they were only filming inside today. 


 I spotted Colin's assistant sitting in the SUV that he gets carted around in but told Debi I wasn't going to approach her for fear she would think I was a stalker.  I did have my quilt block in my hand though as I had put it in the car several days ago, just in case...  Well, Debi just says nonsense and marches over to the car and tells Debbie (Colin's assistant) that her very shy friend didn't want to bother her again.  His assistant waved to me and we talked a bit  and she remembered me (I knew she would).  Well, I couldn't believe it but she got out of the car and went into the building where Colin and Emily were filming and as he came out, she motioned him over (he was in costume of pjs and the ugliest bathrobe you  have ever seen).  He was obviously in a huge hurry to get to the next set but he graciously signed my block!!!  So Debi and I both got to be up close and personal again with Colin and saw Emily from about three feet away!  Can you believe it!!  This all happened in about a five minutes I might add.  We then ate lunch outside in a nice little restaurant and were instant celebrities with the staff because of the autograph!!  What utter fun...

Earlier in the day, Debi wanted to go fishing in Kure Beach so Warren finally got out his rod and set us up on the pier and then deserted us!!  This was Debi's first fish -- a Blue fish which she threw back.  She had about three different men helping her with the reel, one even crawling on the pier to get her hooks when they got stuck under the pier.  I told her she would never be a widow for long as she is definitely an old guy magnet!!

This is Debi's second fish -- a Pin fish.  This became bait for one of Debi's new male friends.

Several of our fishing helpers.  The Grackles were relentless also, grabbing the bait right out of the bag (shrimp).

This was an unusual place for our friendly neighborhood ibis -- atop the electric pole next to the house.  We  have three that visit almost every day in the yard.

A sunset last night looking back toward the forever wild area two blocks behind the house. It was actually quite warm and humid today but has cooled down already.  Tomorrow is Debi's last day here and I will be very sad to see her leave for home.

Despite Two Cats, Colin is Moving Along

Well, the above is the progress on the Colin block.  I am using my own hand dyed fabrics for this.  You can see the five different values.  I think it is beginning to look like him.  George and Chener both kept climbing up in the middle of the piece -- I think they love the plastic.  I am truly amazed that the fusing is going so well as the greys I am using (my hand dyeds) are really on a print cloth instead of a firmer fabric (like Melody Johnson recommends).  I haven't had good luck with the looser weave before but this time, it is working like a charm and the Wonder Under is doing its job with no problem!!  I am beginning to think this collage of the stages might make an interesting quilt in itself!! Hmmmm.... maybe I will change the plan....  Now I know Colin is leaving the area soon, but wouldn't it be nice to get this autographed? 

This and the picture below are of the latest of the one block wonders that I have finished down here.  I am working on the last one right now and then have two smaller tops to finish.  One will be perfect as a lap robe for the cooler evenings we  have been having -- hate to turn on the heat just yet as I had ac on yesterday!

Well, can't get the text to go next to the pictures for some reason!  I was pretty sure this was a starling when I took its picture this afternoon but he was all by himself.  I think the winter plumage is actually pretty!

The first bluebird (a female) I have seen.  Seems the birds come to visit when a cold front comes in!

Some Leftover Colin Pictures

This is one of the pictures I took of Colin and Emily Blunt from Brunswick St. in Wilmington.  This was a beautiful sunny day and I was across the street.  They were rehearsing the scene before they moved into the house.  You literally couldn't see the house at all for all the equipment.

 A nice picture of Emily Blunt chatting with Colin between takes.

I didn't take this picture but found it on Facebook  today so I don't know who did take it but thought it was absolutely the cutest ever!!  This was taken on the day Colin was shooting in Raleigh with Anne Heche and Emily Blunt.  I sure wish my picture was this cute.  She is about the same age as my granddaughter.  There were a lot of pictures online from the Raleigh day of shooting.  What a nice man!

The Colin Block - The Process

Warren has headed to Lisa's for a few days so I thought I would take this time to move forward on the Colin quilt -- seemed quite fitting somehow.  George, of course, has different ideas and climbs on whatever table I choose for working.  Even if I wait until he is asleep, he hears that paper crinkling and he bounds for the the middle of my project.  Next step is locking him out of the room!!


Anyway, I thought I would share my process here. 


1.   My first steps are choosing the photo, converting it to black and white (to see if there is enough contrast for interest) and then posterizing it (most photo programs will do this).  I chose five levels of value for the Colin block.  You can see it peeking out from under George.

2.   My next step is to blow up the picture to the final size that I want.  I use free poster software to do this or take it to Staples if it is small enough.


3.    I then outline by tracing over all the different areas using a piece of clear plastic (tablecloth thickness).


4.    I then number all of the different sections.  These last two steps are done with black permanent marker.

5.    After I have numbers assigned to all the sections, I take a piece of paper and make columns of the number.  This will provide a map for three things -- a.  whether I have traced it onto the fusible or not, b.  is it a background or foreground (ie do I have to leave extra bit around the edge if a background piece) and c.  what value is the piece (1 - 5).


6.    Turn your piece of plastic with its numbers upside down and trace onto the paper side of fusible all the separate pieces, leaving space between each one.


7.   Rough cut around each of the fusible pieces, leaving extra for those called background but also leave a little on the foreground pieces.


8.    Group all the pieces for each value with its corresponding piece of fabric and fuse the fusible onto the fabric.  Then trim all the foreground pieces to the tracing line.  Leave 1/8 to 1/4 inch around the background pieces.


9.    Apply the fabric pieces to a  piece of background fabric.  Use your plastic outline as the template for where the pieces will go.  Easiest to do this by pinning the plastic to the top of the background fabric (right side up again), lifting up the plastic as you place the pieces.  Apply the pieces back to front, ie, place the background pieces down first and keep layering, ironing as you need to as you go along. 


10.   After you have the pieces all fused, then use matching thread and satin stitch each piece down using thread that closely matches the piece you are applying.  Some of the background pieces won't require any thread as there will be foreground pieces covering all the edges.


Now if George will just leave me alone long enough to get this map done and the tracing onto the fusible completed.  Once I have it set  up, the rest is easy.  As I plan to make several of these blocks using different fabrics, I will get a lot of repeat use out of this.  

George has been ever present since Warren has been gone.  Above he is "relaxing" on the porch.  Here he is helping me straighten up the latest quilt I have machine quilted.  I literally pick him up and put him down several times and finally just have to close the door with him outside!!

More Arthur Newman, Golf Pro Set in Downtown Wilmington

These are from the day I met Colin Firth.  I was amazed at the amount of equipment that they had.  The entire street was filled with trucks and even two identical cars that they were using in the "shoot".  There were probably 50 crew members as well.

One of the Mercedes convertibles on the set.  The other one was being used for some driving scenes as it went up and down the side street several times.  I am looking forward to seeing this scene in the movie.

You can't even see the little house where they are shooting for all the reflectors they have set up.  It is a small cute house on the corner of the street.  Again, you can see all the crew and commotion.  I am not sure I will ever look at a movie the same way again!

Colin and Emily seem to be relaxing and chatting between scenes here.  That big light was used later on to simulate sunshine outside the house (while the action was going on inside).  She is really pretty and of course he is just gorgeous!  The weather was perfect this day although got a little cooler after the sun went down -- I was there a long time!!

Colin and I

Needless to say, it doesn't get any better than this!  A grinning fool with Colin Firth and his arm around her!!


I had no intention of going to the shoot again in Wilmington yesterday but was up in the area (after going to two quilt shops ostensibly to get thread but really to check them out).  However, I knew it was the last day of shooting that I knew about so I went.  I could get very close and was taking some pictures.  Colin's assistant came over and told me that if I waited until the shoot was over, she would bring him over and introduce him if they had time but she didn't guarantee it as they had to go to another location.


I waited and waited and waited.  They were supposed to have been done by 5 as they had another location to go to.  At 7:15, they finally wrapped.  She had told me a couple of times along the way just to wait.  Anyway, she brought him over and I asked if I could take his picture and he suggested that we have it taken together and asked his assistant if she would take the picture which she did.  We fiddled a bit about where would be best, he put his arm around me and poof (swoon).  I look so goofy in the picture but with eye candy like him standing next to you, there is no way to look good anyway.


What a singularly lovely man.  He was heading out to another location and his assistant said they would be shooting all night there (and he had been at this location since early morning).  I can't believe the endurance and patience. 

Finally......We Digress.....Colin Firth in Arthur Newman, Golf Pro

Well, thanks to getting my "heads up" on where they would be filming around Wilmington, I decided to see if they would be there as scheduled today (it rained pretty hard and they have rain days for outside scenes).  I must have timed it just right (they said anytime from 6 in the morning until 9 at night on the sheet I had.  I got there about 1:30 in the afternoon and they were obviously just filming the scene and it included Emily Blunt and Colin Firth.  I sat in my car across the street and aimed my camera out the back window!  I honestly felt like the paparazzi.  There was absolutely no one paying any attention to the filming.  Colin disappeared as soon as the scene was ended.  He was on his phone anytime he wasn't in the scene.

Emily and Colin talking with the crew in the foreground.  There is a Mercedes convertible that is also part of the scene.  This was shot on Market Street in Wilmington.  

You can see the overhead microphone and the guy with the camera down below.  There are soooo many people involved and so much equipment for even simple scenes, it is amazing.

Just like the movies, Scene X, Take X on his little digital sign.

Not quite a full smile here but unmistakable jawline and hairline.  These were the best I could do from such a distance!

The sun finally did come out.  Here you can see Colin discussing something with one of the crew or producer?


I must say that Colin in person looks nothing like the Colin on the screen.  I can understand why people don't recognize him on the street.  He is quite tall and very thin and still very attractive but different than his screen persona.  I can honestly say that I would not recognize him if I saw him walking down the street.  When I first started taking the pictures, I wasn't sure if it was even him!!  It definitely is though -- his walk is a giveaway.


So it looks like I won't meet him in person to say thanks so maybe a fan letter after all!!  Still one more day of filming in the streets (tomorrow).  Can't wait to see the film now!!

Arthur Newman, Golf Pro....

The title above is the name of the movie that Colin Firth (The King's Speech), Emily Blunt (Young Victoria) and Anne Heche (Men In Trees) are filming in and about Wilmington NC.  They are supposed to be around the area filming for the next month.  Unfortunately, I missed my very best opportunity to see Colin Firth in person yesterday.  He was in the water down at Ft. Fisher which is about a mile down the road from my house and where I had seen an HBO series being filmed about a month ago.    


Last night I knew (from the local newspaper) that they would be filming down the road in the other direction right next to Carolina Beach Lake where I go almost every day for a walk (when not at Ft. Fisher and my secret beach).  They were supposed to film from 8 pm to 5 am and had the main road closed for about four blocks.  They were doing a chase scene (with Emily Blunt and not Colin Firth - darn).  I took several shots of the setting up.  Considering I didn't use a flash and it was dark out, they aren't too bad.  When they were actually rehearsing and shooting scenes, we all had to back up quite a way down the street.  Before then, we were right there watching them set up cameras and lights.

The guy with the khaki pants and shirt is obviously a VIP as he was dishing out orders and I saw him in the newspaper pictures from the Ft. Fisher shoot.  It was fun to hang out for a couple of hours with the other locals and watch what was going on.  I stayed until 10 and watched the rehearsal of the "chase" scene with all the phony police cars.  They are filming again tonight so don't know whether I will go down again or not.  So far I haven't seen a picture of Colin Firth in the local newspapers either!

Couldn't resist taking a picture of this tree stump covered with mushrooms.  It always surprises me to see such a profusion down here as there is so much sunshine and I always think of mushrooms  in dank moist places (it is moist!).  This was at Carolina Beach Lake park.

This is a picture of the lake at night.

Relaxing Days at the Beach

This summer brought more than its fair share of drama at the beach house.  We had the transformer right outside the house hit by lightening which took out our elevator as well as other electrical devices in the house.   Of course in a one week period later we had a tornado near by as well as an earthquake and then of course Irene.  It took quite a while for the new elevator parts to arrive and for Jamie the elevator guy to install them.  I took this picture of what the inside of the elevator looked like without the elevator!!  Besides replacing the circuit boards, he tuned things up so now it is quieter, added an extra safety measure and rests on the second floor when not in use (important for if and when we have a hurricane surge which waters down the first floor -- at least the electronics in the elevator will be saved)!  So everything is up and functioning and I am completely unpacked finally.  The weather has been just beautiful here so no quilting has happened yet!!  I am beginning to get itchy though.  I definitely miss my dear husband as well -- who would have thought!

I have been in charge of Lisa's two kitties while she is in New Orleans of all places (she is very wet!).  They like sleeping together on the only piece of furniture which shows their fur -- I have since put a blanket down.

I haven't had much opportunity for picture taking but couldn't resist this dragonfly (or damselfly??) on my neighbor's bush.  He was not easy to get!!

The most excitement recently for me is that Colin Firth is coming to Wilmington to make a movie next month.  This is a posterized version of him that I was using as the basis for my next quilt.  I would love to be able to use my own photo instead of this one.  My plan is to do an Andy Warhol kind of interpretation doing this portrait multiple times in all different colors and different types of fabrics and then add in different movie quotes.   This will not be one of the complex pieced quilts but will rely on fusing as it isn't intended as art, only as fun!! (Let the mocking begin...) If  you have seen my blog in the past, you will know that he jumped to the top of my list of favorite actors of all time after I saw The King's Speech last January.  I am hoping that somehow, some way I will be able to see him in person just to say thanks.  It must be good kharma that just as I was getting ready to do this quilt that he will appear nearby.  In preparation, I am going to do the  Screen Gems studio tour (locally they call Wilmington NC the Hollywood of the East).  Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill as well as some Matlocks were filmed there.  I was surprised at the number of movies also filmed here --  independents.  So if anyone has any ideas about how I can meet him (or wants to join me on the hunt), please let me know!!  I can offer a Firth Film Festival  as I have many dvds of CF's movies down here with me (I  have a lot of non CF DVDs for entertainment as well)!!  I also have a couple of extra sewing machines and tables so  you could quilt as well!

The Race is On.....

Continuing progress is being made on the lions. Eventually I will get to a place where I will work every hour I can in the day to get it done but haven't gotten there yet. I have made several process improvements for myself which have made life far easier for me with this large very complex piece. As a large colored picture would be far too expensive to print, my only full color picture is 8 1/2 x 11. As the piece is 4 1/2 feet by about 6 1/2 feet, there was quite a bit of difficulty translating the places for the colors. My master is the same size as the final quilt and my piecing diagram is about 2 feet by 3 feet but is only the outlines. I finally took the outline I have been using and "Photo Shopped" it down to 8 1/2 x 11 and put it onto a transparency. It doesn't have any numbering on it but does have the lines, even though the areas are tiny in many places. It is enough to help me decide better on the shading and colors as I place it over the color photo I have. I had used an enlarged black and white picture originally to help me draft the pattern and set up the divisions between the areas.

After our preliminary discussions on the various dvds and tapes we exchanged this morning, Priscilla got down to work on the final quilting of her piece. Marcia has been relentless in her support of Priscilla getting this done by next Wednesday! I was forbidden to give her any excuses and Bill was only allowed to exchange a few comments before Marcia brought out the whip again. And just when we were getting plans together for the First Firth Film Festival -- date to be determined.

It is officially spring here as the crocus are blooming all over our front lawn. We still could get snow but it is easy from here!!

I had a question about our Project Iron Quilter that will be part of our 2011 GVQC Quilt Show to be held the first weekend in June. Full details about the show and information can be found at http://www.gvqc.org/. The Project Iron Quilter information is there as well. It will be a contest to finish a quilt (three layers with some kind of binding) in about four hours. Contestants will be able to bring one piece of fabric they can use but the rest will be chosen from a large pile at the beginning of the competition. Contestants will be told the theme of the competition at that time as well. There will be many prizes with the main prize being a Bernina sewing machine. We have room for 20 quilters and 16 have signed up. The last day for signing up is April 15 but you can send a note to me or Priscilla Kibbee (her blog is on my sidebar) or Marcia DeCamp (ditto) if you want to participate. There is a $25 charge but that gets you free entry to the show on Saturday (but you will be busy). Genie Barnes has agreed to be our judge and our main goal is to have a lot of fun.

The finished quilts will be auctioned off by Pat Pauly and the money raised donated to charity.

A Day of Problem Solving.....

Spring is finally beginning to look like it is coming although the temps don't seem to match that expectation. The sun is shining very brightly but one still has to bundle up to go outside. The lions are beginning to hear a little better (they have ears now) and on the bottom are the pieced greens for the foreground.

Priscilla's leaves are really taking shape now and she is rapidly running out of time. Next will be fusing and then sewing. Yesterday was spent at Marcia's studio working on my lions and solving the problems of the world (which we do best). Priscilla, Marcia and I are co-chairs for our version of Iron Quilter which will be Saturday of our big GVQC quilt show in June -- we currently have 13 participants so it should be lots of fun. Genie Barnes has consented to be the judge for the competetion and for all those that know Genie, that should add a whole layer of more fun to this!!! We have finally picked our theme (a secret) and are selecting our prize categories and prizes! Mark Lipinski had been our judge but had to cancel at the last minute because of impending surgery. I think Genie will be at least as much fun if not more!!

Mary W joined us in the morning as she wanted some photos taken of this quilt for a competition she is entering. Beautiful quilt!

Of course part of aforementioned problem solving was our opening discussion of Colin Firth and the fact that he will be live in a play in London next fall. Les Mis is also playing there still so a trip may be in the offing for Priscilla and I...... I saw The Kings Speech for the second time last night and it was even better than the first time -- it has been probably forty years since the last time I wanted to see a movie a second time. I still didn't want to leave the theatre! Priscilla thinks I need an intervention!! (I might add that Priscilla has been to see this movie twice too.)

This is another of Mary's beautiful quilts. It has exquisite hand quilting but you can't see it too well in this photo. Of all the dumb things, I brought the wrong camera to Marcia's yesterday to take pictures for Mary! Can't believe I did that but luckily the old camera still had some battery life and had good sized SD card in it!

The Lions are Beginning to Purr....

Even though it doesn't look like much yet, this is actually three sections almost done on the quilt top I have been working on from a design standpoint for months. I decided to start with piecing the background on this one rather than the foreground as I was a bit intimidated by the detail work. It was a wise decision as It is beginning to be easier to work on. This stage literally involves putting pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle -- a very detailed one!! There are 31 sections and probably over 1000 individual pieces which all will be backed with their freezer paper templates. I have been working on it a section at a time. There is some risk in this approach as there will probably be some "do overs" if the sections to merge well color and value wise! Ruth McDowells recommends putting all the fabric up before sewing anything together but I wouldn't finish this one in a lifetime.


This is Marcia in a jacket made from fabric she got from a friend who is retiring from dyeing. It's even nicer in person!


Last week was spent working on the beginning of fabric placement on my lions quilt top. Yesterday was spent at Marcia's beginning to actually construct the top (as you can see above). None of this started, however, until I had regaled Priscilla and Marcia with synopses of the latest old Colin Firth movies I had seen since last we met! I have been obsessed since seeing The King's Speech which is easily one of the most perfect movies I have ever watched! I don't mind being the butt of the amusement my obsession has provided to these ladies!! It is always good to laugh first thing in the morning. I do feel like, however, that I could start a standup routine on this!!

This is Marcia's latest quilt (although the bottom part was blocked by a table). It really is quite wonderful.

And oh, my! This is what greeted me when I entered Marcia's studio. It is the quilt top that Priscilla has almost finished (only needs its borders). It is made with all Kaffe Fassett fabrics (which I LOVE) and is just gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!

Priscilla is also well on her way to finishing this top in anticipation of a juried exhibit coming up. Marcia also encouraged her to enter it into other quilt venues. Priscilla is such a perfectionist, we may have to do some convincing along the way!!

It is always such a pleasure to work in Marcia's studio with such great company!