Unit 2 is Done

Unit 2 of Kim Diehl’s Esther’s Bloomers block of the month is finally done.  Four more units to go.  I was relieved to see that my piecing was accurate enough for the borders to fit with no problem.  The pattern calls for several more pieced borders. 

 The owner of the quilt shop where I purchased this kit announced she is retiring.  It’s too early to know how she will clear out her inventory.  I would say her shop is another victim of the pandemic, but I know this is only one part of a much bigger plan she and her hubby are launching.  I really miss the pre-pandemic gatherings we used to have at her shop on Second Saturdays.

In order to get an acceptable image at the beginning of this post, I had to fiddle with fill light settings in Picasa 3.  I would love to find portable, and not too pricy, lighting for when I photograph quilts.  None of our windows illuminate my design wall evenly and our ceiling lights are too dim.  A blogger I follow suggested using the ring lights that are made for selfies.  If anyone has suggestions, please let me know. I have one of "those" birthdays coming up next month.  Since parties, our annual birthday-anniversary trip to San Antonio, and even shopping sprees are not going to happen, maybe I can order some new lighting?  Just a thought.

Back to Regularly Scheduled Stitching...I hope

September was gone before it got here.  How can time pass so quickly when so much has been cancelled or postponed?  Now that October has arrived we are enjoying cooler temperatures.  I keep telling my friends that this is why we live in Central Texas.  Actually, I live in Central Texas because that’s where my heart is, but summers are really a bear. 

 

I finished my part of the guild group applique project, and very happily handed it off to the project coordinator.  I was flattered that they asked me to participate, but could not believe how challenged I felt.  My hand applique skills were really rusty. 

 

I was recently given the name of a new neighbor who happens to be a quilter.  I called to chat with her and learned she was about to deliver some of her excess fabric to one of the local thrift stores.  I snagged the tub which was so heavy it took two of us to load it in the back of my car. 

 

The contents were mostly quilter’s cotton that she just didn’t want any more, perfect for anti-ouch pouches which require a half yard each.  There were also a couple of unopened kits that will probably be donated to the guild’s boutique, assuming our quilt show goes on as scheduled in February 2022.  Smaller remnants can be used in our other two cancer support projects.  We make kangaroo aprons which are used to hold the drain apparatus and hoses after breast surgery.  Our newest project is cryotherapy mitts which are helpful for patients undergoing some types of chemotherapy.   As it so happened, today was the scheduled collection date for kits we completed in September.  I had 10 completed pouches and a lot of fabric to pass along, and it was wonderful to see some of my quilting friends (socially distanced and masked up, of course).

 

I’m looking forward to resuming work on the projects that had to be set aside while I worked on the group project.  Esther’s Bloomers block of the month by Kim Diehl is the one I'm most anxious to work on.  I’m in the middle to unit 2 of 6 and hope to really focus on it now.

 

We had some rain in September and I spotted a rainbow.  I have always loved seeing them.