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Let's  give 'em something  to talk about

Just finished the latest quilt, "The Complicated Queen", for my sister-in-law, Sherry. This quilt took A LOT of thread!!! Seems like I've been quilting this sucker for months . . . and I HAVE!

I'll be finishing the accompanying quilt/lapse video this week. I still need to go out and take some pretty pictures and time lapse to end the production, and it looks like today will be a beautiful day for it . . . . possible thunderstorms and LOTS of gorgeous, white, puffy clouds!



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Alec Ramsey: "You know what I saw? It's the most fantastic thing . . . come look!"

~ The Black Stallion


To know me is to know that "The Black Stallion" is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE movies!!! Definitely in the top three!


I will never forget the first time I saw this movie. It was the Summer of 1979, and Dad came to me and said, "Todd, you HAVE to see this movie! You're going to LOVE it!" And while he was describing the synopsis to me, he mentioned that one of the best things about this movie was the cinematography . . . particularly the first half of the movie where our young protagonist, Alec Ramsey, is stranded on the island with "The Black". It was all presented without dialog, narration or any extraneous devices to tell you what you were watching. THIS is my favorite type of film making! Pure story telling with just pictures (and music). And this movie EXCELLED at that.


The next day, I hopped on my moped that early, warm Summer evening, went to the 'Cinerama', and had no idea how much this movie was going to affect me, all my film making . . . . and the rest of my life! WOW! It truly was one of the most beautiful films I had ever seen. I bawled like a baby at the end with the triumphant Derby scene. I was completely obsessed! And director Carol Ballard and cinematographer, Caleb Deschanel became my instant idols. I saw it a few more times that Summer and bought the soundtrack of Carmine Coppola's exquisite score. Easily, one of my most listened to CD's. In fact, I used many pieces of this soundtrack for my final documentary when I was in television production school.


So, I think it's time to revisit this soundtrack once again, 41 years later, as the inspiration for my next big quilt/lapse production . . . "Into the Woods" (eschewing some of the obvious musical choices from Sondheim).


I can't wait to get this one started! I'm almost ready to begin stitching and shooting. But in the meantime, this is happening;

'The Complicated Queen" should be arriving shortly . . .

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A re-imagining


"JUST WATCH". It's the whole philosophy behind "Quilting in the Fast Lane". I'm not selling anything. I'm not really even teaching anything. Someone recently called it "music videos for quilters". I like that. Because I'm really only inviting you to this experience to . . . . just watch.


So, it all seemed so appropriate that this year's big quilt and big quilt/lapse production was going to be called; "JUST WATCH". A year of collecting fabric and planning with various city leaders, law enforcement, various merchants, and many people from my own little community, this year's BIG quilt/lapse production was going to be my 'love letter' to Port Townsend, WA. The plan was to shoot ALL OVER town, throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall, using PT as my backdrop. I wanted to involve hundreds, if not thousands of people in town, parks, beaches, farmer's markets, parades, the many festivals, outdoor events, etc. Everywhere people gather in large numbers . . . because that was going to create GREAT background time lapse motion!!! But I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this . . . .


The world-wide Corona virus pandemic of 2020 has changed everyone's plans, including everything I was preparing for "JUST WATCH". So, that's just going to have to be another quilt and another production for another time. Perhaps next year.


But in the meantime, I'm still BUSTING to make this quilt!!! I love this technique, I love these colors, I love the fabric that's been collected and waiting . . . . . . and I LOVE THIS QUILT! So, I'm moving ahead with my plans on completing it this year, along with a new name and a new idea for a quilt/lapse production. It came to me this morning while I was having coffee in my backyard . . .


You've seen it in a few of my last productions . . . . .


I

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