San Antonio Riverwalk Trip

My mojo to create blog posts still lags, but I am at least working on several projects.

 

My collection of EPP thimbles for another red and white quilt is growing. The green tool in the picture is a needle puller.  I'm learning to use it in the hopes that it will relieve some of the stress on my hands.

 

More proof that I’m actually working is the new strata of pink basting thread in my orts jar and empty spools.  This project went with us to San Antonio last weekend where we celebrated our 45^th wedding anniversary on the Riverwalk.

 

I’ve always found the Riverwalk to be a near magical place this time of year. 

 

As often as we have made this trip, this was my first time to discover Love Lock Bridge.  Each lock has a couple’s name on it.

 

I’m sure there must be a story about how these blue jeans ended in a tree top along the Riverwalk.

 

Hubby treated me to a stop at Las Colchas, a quilt shop near downtown San Antonio.  It has been in business 40 years and is housed in a Sears “house kit” that has been beautifully maintained.  I confess to contributing to the store’s continued financial success.

 

Celebrating our anniversary on the Riverwalk used to be an annual tradition.  Then came Covid.  This was our first trip since 2019.  Much as I love the Riverwalk, we will probably seek other destinations in the future.  San Antonio is a very old city with narrow streets, many of which are one-way.  Parking is a real problem and road construction created near grid-lock situations several times.  But I am so glad we had this trip, especially after the serious health challenges hubby endured earlier this year.

 

Checking In

Periodically I seem to go through blogging slumps for no particular reason.  I enjoy my blog and appreciate the interaction with other bloggers.  I also love having dated records with pictures of my projects and other quilting activities.  So, I really don’t understand this lethargy that creeps up on me from time to time.

We recently replaced my computer and, to my dismay, it appears I can no longer download the free Picasa 3 program that I’ve used for photo editing ever since I started blogging.  Many of the replacements require annual subscriptions and work online rather than as a program installed on my computer.  And I rather not use something that requires my photos be stored in a cloud.  I would love to hear what others are using in lieu of Picasa.  This is my first attempt at uploading pictures to Blogger using the photo editor capabilities in my Microsoft package. Perhaps that will be all that I need.

On the quilting front, I’ve added quite a few log cabin blocks to my design wall.  In digging through my stash of reproduction fabrics I even found some 5-inch charm packs.  I certainly don’t remember purchasing them or what I had in mind to do with them.  Fortunately, they are perfect for adding some diversity to this project.  The pile of fabrics I pulled for this may be going down … but that’s probably just wishful thinking.

Wanda at Exuberant Color has been sharing pictures of her indoor cacti garden.  She has an abundance of blooms this year.  My own cacti blooms are not nearly as prolific, but the orchid I received for my birthday a couple of years ago, is putting on a show!

Wishing any who read this a very happy and safe Thanksgiving.  It will be just the two of us this year, but that’s okay.  We expect to have a number of other family gatherings in the coming months.

 

Comfort Work

I came across the phrase “comfort work” while reading a recent blog by Austin Kleon.  He defines comfort work as “the work I do when I don’t know what else to do.”

I suspect many quilters, including myself, can identify with this concept.  How many hours have I sat in hospital waiting rooms, hotel rooms and long car rides doing handwork projects for just this reason?  And when I’m at home, I have a new comfort work project to do on my machine.

I have accumulated an abundance of 1800s reproduction fabrics.  Most are small cuts.  These log cabin blocks are paper pieced and the logs finish at ½ inch.  While paper piecing is a messy process, these blocks are proving to be great therapy sewing.

 The golfers have started gifting us with very colorful balls, but they are not the reason for this broken window.  This was the result of debris thrown up by a weed trimmer.  Fortunately, this is a double pane window and only the outer pane broke.

We have been experiencing wonderfully mild weather and even had .96 inches of rain last week!

I’ve run out of quotations about acceptance, so I’ll end this series with this one. 

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 Open-minded people just accept all of life’s perspectives and realities by doing their own thing in peace without judging anyone. Can’t say the same for the ones who force their beliefs on others. –Donald Pillai

 

New Handwork Project

We spent much of last week visiting family and friends in Dallas.  It was a good visit but I needed a new grab-and-go project for travel.  I will be working on another group applique project in the coming months, but that is a project that does not lend itself to bumpy car rides and dimly-lit hotel rooms.

 

Since I have a lot of red scraps, I decided to embark on yet another red and white quilt, this time English Paper Piecing thimble blocks.

 

Compared to my last hexagon project, these pieces are huge.  Dare I hope it might move along just a little faster and that the level of red scraps will shrink?  More and more I am having to be careful not to overtax my hands, but I am really enjoying my start.

 

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 

The first thing a kindness deserves is acceptance, the second, transmission. –George McDonald

 

A Finish and the Start of a Start

My scrappy double four patch is complete.  I enjoyed working on it, but wasn’t in love enough with it when finished to look for a place to store it.  So, I donated it to a local charity.  The four patches finish at 2 inches square.  

 

And, in the meantime, I have been diving into my overflowing bag of red and neutral scraps for my next handwork project.  This is only a part of what I found.

 

To be continued…..

 

 

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 

Panic causes tunnel vision.  Calm acceptance of danger allows us to more easily assess the situation and see the options. –Simon Sinek

 

Temporary Change of Focus

Some time ago, I promised a friend that I would contribute some covered journals for the boutique at our guild’s quilt show in February.  Even though we still have a few months, I knew the pace of life was going to quicken as we approach the holidays, so I decided the time had come to start work on them.  Here are the 12 I have made so far.  Now, I feel like I can resume working on my other projects without feeling guilty.  I used Wanda’s tutorial at her blog, Exuberant Color. I’m relying on themed fabric rather than a lot of piecework.  One of the things I especially like about Wanda’s tutorial is that it calls for fusible fleece which gives the covers a nice substantial feel.

Meanwhile, I have really enjoyed the cooler temperatures we have had this past week even though there is none of the rain we so desperately need in the forecast.  We have been told that repairs need to be made to the dam that creates our water supply and the lake level will be lowered several feet for the next three months.  We are being asked to cut water usage for such things as lawn maintenance by 50%.  

 

 

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 

These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn’t even know existed. –Ricky Martin

 

A Finish

My latest hexagon project is now bound, labeled, done!  Someday I’ll find my notes that served as my roadmap in making this wall hanging, but I do remember there are more than 300 hexagons that measure 1/2 inch per side.  These are the smallest hexagons I have ever used.  The design was one I copied, with permission, by Carmen Maria.  Her Instagram address is https://www.instagram.com/laboresenelatico/.  

While this is my fourth hexagon project, I tried some different techniques.  Because I knew the exact pattern I was going to follow, I put it together in strips, rather than starting with rosette units.  I would lay each row out on my ironing surface and stick them to a strip of painter’s tape so they would stay in order as I pieced each row while “watching” tv with hubby.  I believe this was a more efficient approach, but it would only work for small quilts.  The little dab of tape on the end piece was to help me avoid adding a piece out of order.

In April I posted about the quilts made each year for Hope Hospice by the New Braunfels quilt guild.  Here is the quilt made for 2022.

  

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 

Wisdom…is knowing what you have to accept.--Wallace Stegner

 

Hexagon Medallion Quilt Top

The hexagon medallion project that has served as my therapy through a challenging spring and tortuous summer is now a complete top.  I have finished appliqueing the center to the background.  Since this picture was taken, I have sandwiched it and taken the first few machine quilting stitches.

I was in need of some instant gratification and also wanted to give a friend a thankyou gift.  These potholders were the result.  My potholders are made of the humblest of scraps with recycled terrycloth towels used for batting. They are meant to be used and abused, so I don’t bother to add hanging tabs.  I expect them to be shoved into a drawer until needed, scorched on the grill, and perhaps, covered in spaghetti sauce stains.  My only criteria for this pair is that they be made with fabrics that struck me as happy.

We have had a series of showers over the last week for a total of nearly 3/4 inch.  Temperatures have dropped below triple digits and you can see the relief in people’s faces.   Our lakes are low and we could certainly use some more, but we are ever so grateful.

 

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 

Humility means accepting reality with no attempt to outsmart it. –David Rico

 

Group Project Progress

Those of us working on the group quilt to be donated to the Guild Silent Auction gathered Tuesday and put the corner pieces on the design wall.  Only one was not finished and it was complete by the end of the day.  We are still trying to reach a decision on how to address the question of borders and finishing.  At least my assignment is finished and I can return to my own projects for a while.

 

Our home weather station was gradually beginning to fail and we decided an upgrade was in order.  We reached 104 degrees (again) yesterday, but today we had a lovely shower giving us .43 inches.  It has even cooled off to 79.7 degrees.

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 

What you deny or ignore, you delay.  What you accept and face, you conquer. –livelifehappy.com

 

Sometimes a Detour is Necessary

I belong to a small group of quilters that mostly focuses on applique and other handwork projects.  We have had a very difficult time resuming our monthly meetings.  First came Covid and two years of waiting.  Then, when we began to venture out, many of our members could no longer host the group in their homes due to changed circumstances.  Hopefully, we have found a solution in a community room at a local restaurant.  We can use the room for free provided we order lunch.

Our first decision was to make a group quilt for donation to the February Guild silent auction, and I was one of the members tasked with doing a portion of the applique.  I had been so involved with other types of handwork that it took me a while to find all my tools and get into the rhythm of this kind of prep and stitching. 

So, for about a week, my other projects took a rest.  Here is the result of my part of the project.  It will be a small quilt and the applique is simple because we wanted to finish it in time to get it quilted.  The design came from one of Kim Diehl's books and the fabric was donated by our members.

Now, back to my regularly scheduled projects.

 

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 

Perhaps one reason we are fascinated by cats is because such a small animal can contain so much independence, dignity, and freedom of spirit.  Unlike the dog, the cat’s personality is never bet on a human’s.  He demands acceptance on his own terms. –Loyd Alexander

 

 

Messy But Fun!

Thursday, I attended my first quilt workshop in a very long time.  Timna Tarr, a quilter and artist from Massachusetts, gave a trunk show and taught us how she makes string quilt blocks. She currently has her Noble Menagerie collection on display at the Texas Quilt Museum.

My Blocks

I made a string quilt several years ago, so I probably won’t launch into one immediately.  But it was a fun day with friends and lots of inspiration.  Unlike some workshops I've attended, there was no sense of having to hurry in order to keep up with the group.  Timna’s website has lots of inspiration.

 

Everyone's Blocks

After collecting all the blocks made in class, she walked us through her process for designing a layout for a scrappy quilt that has a cohesive feel.

 

Our Messy Table

I'm pretty sure my table (shared with a friend) was the second messiest in the room.

 

 

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 

Don’t try to understand everything, because sometimes it is not meant to be understood, but to be accepted. –Unknown

 

 

Six More to Go and Rain!

By my count, I only have six more rows until this piece is ready to applique onto background fabric.  Not only that, the longest rows are behind me!   This has become my go-to project while Bob and I watch the Tour de France. 

We had 6/10^th inch of rain last night and possibly a couple of days without highs in the triple digits.  It didn’t break the drought, but it sure lifted our spirits.

 

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 

Granted, I’ve changed internally as I’ve gotten older – I take it easy, I know when to stop and take care of myself, I laugh much more with by belly and soul – but this comes from the confidence and acceptance that comes with maturity. –Iman

Scrappy Top

I finally got around to stitching the last two seams and pressing this finished top.  Hopefully I will be able to find fabric in my stash to use as a backing. 

 

I was inspired to start this project because Julie at “Me and My Quilts” Blog was making a similar quilt.  It provided the type of mindless stitching I was craving at the time.  Although I dove deeply into my scrap collection, I can’t tell it made it any smaller.

 

Our July 4^th holiday was a blast.  Julia and Aidan decorated our golf cart and rode in the neighborhood parade.  Bob and I found a place to park in the shade and took folding chairs so we could enjoy watching the fun.  Then we grilled hamburgers and played cards until time to find a spot on a hill where we could watch the city’s fireworks display. 

 

Summer has really set in and we are expecting water restrictions to be implemented soon.

 

 

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 

Acceptance of one’s life has nothing to do with resignation; it does not mean running away from the struggle.  On the contrary, it means accepting it as it comes with all the handicaps of heredity, of suffering, of psychological complexes and injustices. –Paul Tournier

 

 

Half Way Done!

I have really been enjoying this EPP project.  I am just over half way through it.  The next row to be attached is shown with it.  I may not get to work more on it for a couple of days.  We are expecting family later today through Tuesday morning.  My hands will appreciate the break.

Happy Fourth of July!  Stay safe and cool.  We are expecting a high of 99 degrees this afternoon. 

 

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 

When it comes to love and loss, acceptance is never easy.  We can’t make someone see all we have to give, make them love us, or make them change.  All we can do is move on and stop wasting time. –April Mae Monterrosa

 

Hopefully, I'm Back

No question, the past month has been difficult.  Since May 16 my husband has had three heart surgeries.  The first was open heart surgery for a condition we had monitored several years.  The other two dealt with issues that arose following the first procedure.  We are home, at last, and he is gradually getting better though I believe it’s going to a very long haul for his healing; and we are still struggling with learning to deal his post-surgery limitations.

I knew I would be spending hours in doctors’ offices, hospital waiting rooms and hotels, so I had prepped a new handwork project.  As it turned out, it was only after we came home that I had the heart or the energy to really start it. 

It’s another English Paper Piecing project, this time using ½ inch hexies.  I am trying to replicate a design Carmen Maria (@laboresenelatico) posted on Instagram November 13, 2021.  Her piece is done using an even smaller size hexie and reproduction fabrics.  I simply pulled leftover modern fabric from my stash so mine will look much different.  I contacted her on Instagram and she kindly gave me permission to use her design.  She also has a blog (laboresenelatico.blogspot.com), which is not very active, but between it and her Instagram account I’ve spent many happy hours admiring her work.  

Perhaps it is the gray background, but the colors are much prettier in person than in the picture.  I still need to baste a bunch more hexies, but could not resist starting to layout and stitch the design.  

Here was the extended forecast for our area.  We did reach 106 degrees Saturday.  That’s too hot for me to be out and about, so I’m going to put on a Netflix movie and work on my hexies some more.  Stay cool, everyone.

 

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 

You couldn’t relive your life, skipping the awful parts, without losing what made it worthwhile.  You had to accept it as a whole -- like the world, or the person you loved.  Stewart O’Nan

Getting There

The hand piecing on my hexagon quilt is finally finished.  I hope some fabric I purchased at a going out of business sale last year will work as an outer border.  The search for it begins, and I also need to decide how to apply the border.

 

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

Happiness is not dependent on circumstances being exactly as we want them to be, or on ourselves being exactly as we’d like to be.  Rather, happiness stems from loving ourselves and our lives exactly as they are, knowing that joy and pain, strength and weakness, glory and failure are all essential to the full human experience. –Kristin Neff

A Finish

My school house block quilt is bound-labeled-done.  I even added a sleeve to the back so I can hang it!

 

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 

Sometimes we fight who we are, struggling against ourselves and our natures.  But we must learn to accept who we are and appreciate who we become.  We must love ourselves for what and who we are, and believe in our talents. –Harley King

Quilters Serving Their Community

Last weekend, we visited our daughter and grandsons in New Braunfels.  While the guys entertained themselves, Julia took me to her office to view the memory quilts they have hanging.  She works at a non-profit hospice and each year the New Braunfels guild makes a memory quilt from fabric donated by families of the deceased. I am not a member of this guild. At 1 1/2 hours away it is too far to be practical, but I know many of its members.

When quilts are donated, a sample bock for next year’s project is presented.

Many quilts were hung in positions where I could not get a picture, but here are some I managed to photograph.

Here is one of several child grief quilts made from blocks donated by children who lost someone dear to them.

 

 

 

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 

Maturity, one discovers, has everything to do with the acceptance of ‘not knowing.’—Mark Z. Danielewski

 

Checking In

I’ve been pretty preoccupied with some of my husband’s health issues the last few weeks and haven’t felt much like sitting at the keyboard and composing a post.  I have been sewing though, for my sanity.

 

The only quilt related photo I have ready is this snapshot of my design wall where my double four
patch project is pinned.  I probably have enough of the white fabric to add another row and I started playing with borders made from dark four patches.  I think I will go with that idea, but need to sew more four patches.

 

During Removal

Sadly, we had to have a tree removed from our yard last week.  It was a lacy bark elm that had been there more than 15 years and was truly lovely when it was healthy.  The exceptionally cold winter two years ago really knocked it back and this year it never leafed out.  We had a plant biologist look at it last year and he treated it for carpenter ants and borers.  I guess it was just too far gone to recover.  The guys we contracted for its removal did a really good job and now Bob and I are considering whether to plant a replacement. 

 

After Removal

 

 Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 For after all, the best thing one can do when it is raining is let it rain. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow