Just Relaxing Stitching

My collection of double four patches, the product of mindless and therapeutic stitching, continues to grow.  I will be cutting more of both the white and four patch units this week.  I haven’t decided how large I want this project to be or how I will handle the borders.  I may use a solid row of four patches that were rejected because of too-little contrast for the borders.  We’ll see.

 

I used this orphan block to try out a new stencil for the background quilting using some washout markers that had been recommended.  The stencil is one of Cindy Needham’s twisted grid designs and I like it enough to use it on a larger wall hanging, but the search continues for markers.  Perhaps it was the background fabric, but I never managed to get all the marks to wash out and the quilting does not show up in the photograph.

 

And finally, I used some scraps to test a paper pieced school house block.  I think this will become my next project.

 

As I type this, we are experiencing a nice moist day.  So far, one-third inch has been recorded, and that’s very good news since we have returned to drought status.  Cold weather is expected to move in about Thursday.

 

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 

The pain will not go away by getting angry or bitter, it will go away when you learn to accept life’s challenges with grace and ease. –Unknown

 

Covid Blues is Bound-Labeled-Done

“Covid Blues,” is bound-labeled-done.  I began work on it in May, 2020, as my pandemic project and finished piecing the top in June, 2021.  Since then, it’s been hanging in the to-be-quilted closet and I was ready to be done with it.  The final stitch went into the binding last Tuesday night. It is quilted with a meander that I tried to make a little looser than my usual.  I used a light blue variegated King Tut thread I had in my stash.   Everything except the backing fabric came from my stash.  It is so big and heavy that it took both of us to pin it to the design wall.

Meanwhile, I continue working on double four-patch blocks for those times I crave mindless machine piecing.  The nice thing about working with scraps is I don't need to stress if I don't like the way a particular block is turning out.

 

We had a visitor outside our fence yesterday.  We’re a little concerned about him because he looks very thin and pretty much ignored us and the dogs.  Also Arnie, the armadillo, is again visiting our yard but I never have my camera when I see him and it’s usually after dark, anyway.

 

Moving Forward

After handing over my guild officer papers to my replacement (bless her) this week, I was hit by a spurt of quilting energy. 

 

This little paper pieced wall hanging has been on my design wall, mocking me for months.  I added the borders yesterday and now I’m trying to decide how to finish it. 

 

Meanwhile, I’ve been wrestling with this one as I attached its binding.  I don’t recall its exact dimensions, but I had to order a queen size batting for it.  That makes it the largest project I’ve done in quite a while. I hope to finish it in the next few days if my hand doesn’t give out.  I would love to have something for Show and Share at next week’s guild meeting. 

I only had one 2022 resolution:  start the year with a tidier desk.  I intentionally did not say maintain a tidy desk since I’ve never been able to do so in the past.  Sure enough, it was on its way to disasters-ville today. 

 

But it’s better now.  Maybe occasionally posting a picture on this blog will help hold me accountable.

 

Yesterday’s weather was perfect:  light breezes, sunshine and a high in the mid-70s.  Today it’s still beautiful, if looking out a window, but red flag wind warnings make outdoors activities a challenge.  The neighborhood pond has white caps.  Surprisingly, I’ve seen a few golfers brave the course.  It’s in the high 40s now.  The cold temperatures arrive tonight.  Time to cover up the plants I’m trying to save.

 

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 

My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance, and in inverse proportion to my expectations. —Michael J. Fox

Hello 2022!

December 2021 was the warmest on record for our area and we had a high of 81 degrees today.  Our yard is still green and it had to be mowed Friday.  Golfers were still wearing shorts this afternoon.  Things are expected to change tonight, though, with a freeze in the early morning hours.

I stopped making potholders after I had completed 16.  Eight were gifts, 8 for the guild boutique and materials are available for several more.

 

I decided to turn my attention to some mindless chain stitching this afternoon.  I’ve been making these double four patches as a leader-ender project and am beginning to get an accumulation.  One four patch in the picture is backwards and I have pulled it for a redo.  Others won't make the cut because they don't have enough contrast.  I got the idea for this project from Julie at Me and My Quilts blog.  She is calling her version Smitten.

 

My goal today was to begin 2022 with a tidy desk.  I keep remembering that Corps cadets at Texas A&M are only allowed to have 3 things on their desk at a time.  How can they possibly manage that?  Not to be a pessimist, but experience has taught me that it is unlikely my desk will look like this much past mail delivery Monday.

My 2022 word is "Acceptance".  The changes all of us have faced during the last 2 years have been a challenge for me.  Also, I’ve noticed that things in general are different since I was 40 … 50 … err 60.  And why did I walk into that room, anyway? I believe the reality of situations must be accepted before they can be dealt with.  So, there you have it.

Take care and Happy New Year everyone.

 

Acceptance -- My 2022 Word

 

Acceptance doesn’t mean that life gets better; it just means that my way of living life on life’s terms improves. –Sharon E Rainey