Some Progress

I had hoped to have a completed top for my Cynthia England project before January 1.  That didn’t happen, but I did make a respectable amount of progress given the busyness of the season.  This is what the completed sections look like along with the patterns for the remaining sections.  I estimate that I’m about 88% done.

 

My two amaryllis bulbs have put on a show for me.  The over-achiever I showed in my last post eventually had six blooms on the stalk.

 

My other bulb had fewer blooms but they were showier and the plant reached 31 inches tall.

 

I wish all my blog friends the happiest New Year holiday.

 

 

The Season Is Moving Faster Than I Am

The Cynthia England project is about 76% pieced.  I discovered a bad wrinkle in the middle of a unit and had to correct it.  It was surrounded by so many intersecting seams that I ended up ripping out a portion and restitching using a hand applique stitch.    I’ve found that this project is so intense, that an hour passes before I realize it. 

 

Saturday, I attended a Christmas gathering at a friend’s new home, and took a peek in her stash closet.  I was blown away by how organized she is.  This certainly puts my own space to shame, but I am still working to improve that.

 

One of my amaryllis plants bloomed today.  It must be an over achiever because the packaging it came in said it would bloom in 8 weeks but it has only been 16 days.

 

My Birthday Gift to Me

 

I have wanted better storage in my sewing room for a long, long time.  So, I used my recent (non-landmark) birthday as an excuse to order these two cabinets.  It took hubby and me all afternoon yesterday to put them together.  The assembly instructions consisted of a series of drawings with the only text being the much-repeated warning to delay totally tightening screws until all were in place.

 

Some “colorful metaphors” may have been were employed in the process.  Happily, we finally finished putting them together without destroying them in the process.  I was able to get an overloaded laundry basket of semi-sorted scraps off the floor of my stash closet and there is even some space left.  I also purchased the apothecary style chest sitting on top of them.  Almost all the furniture in my sewing room is now on rollers which is very handy.  At least one corner of the room is tidy.

The Season Moves Onward

Thanksgiving was wonderful, but the preparation, clean up and recovery from it has largely kept me out of the studio.  I have, however, been diligently working on my thimble/tumbler project in the evenings while “watching” television with my hubby.  Perhaps I should call it my “Formula1-baseball-college-and-pro-football-and-golf” quilt.  Anyway, here is what it currently looks like and I have six more rows that are waiting to be added.  After that, I’ll decide how much more I want to push forward on it.  It’s large enough now, that it’s no longer comfortable to work on in my lap.

I have also managed to launder, document and store the quilts I removed from my quilt ladder.

Two of my cacti are in bloom.

 

And Fred and Ethel, a mated pair of Egyptian geese, have returned for this year's acorn crop. 

 

The State of ...

...the Cynthia England project.  

I’ve delayed posting progress on the Cynthia England piece I am working on because it is moving so slowly and doesn’t lend itself to being photographed while in process.

 

Here is a picture from the pattern. 

 

And, here is the largest completed section of what I have done.  Some of the freezer paper templates must be left in place until units are joined together, and I’m afraid to try to do a better job pressing it for fear that I might loose some of them.  So, it looks pretty sloppy.

The instructions divide the project into 25 units that have pieces approximately totaling 400. I have pieced 16 units with approximately 255 pieces, so about 64% of the piecing is done. 

 It’s a real struggle to keep working on this as the busyness of the holidays approaches and I hear the call of other, less intense, projects.  I’m trying to focus all of my machine-work time on this because I’m pretty sure if I set it aside, it will never be finished.

Meanwhile, I will be getting the house ready for the Thanksgiving meal Thursday.  I have dates with the vacuum, dust cloth and mop.  Hubby brought home an 18-pound turkey for the four of us.  I was relieved to find that it fits (just barely) in my largest pan.  Julia will bring dessert and has volunteered to make the gravy (but she’s bringing store-brought gravy as a backup).

 I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday.  I know I have much to be thankful for.

Something red this way comes...

 

When hubby decided he wanted to get a bigger television requiring a bigger piece of furniture to support it, my quilt ladder had to move.  No more excuses, I needed to change out the quilts.  This is an assortment of the red and mostly red quilts I have made over the last several years.  I was surprised when they went up to see that three of the five had been hand pieced using the English paper piecing method.  When I took that guild workshop with Mickey Depre in 2014, I never expected to use the technique again!  The quilt that came out of that retreat is the one at the top. 

 

The two at the bottom are also English paper pieced.  I am working on another EPP red and white quilt which can be added, if it is ever finished… Progress on it is exceedingly slow these days.

 

Much as I love spring, I think fall is becoming my favorite season, especially after the summer we had.  We’ve had an inch of rain in the last 48 hours and the high today did not get out of the 50s.  I treated myself to a chrysanthemum plant a few weeks ago and it is approaching its peak.

 

Changes

Sometimes, things just work out for the best.

A group I have been quilting with since 2007 has a new location.

 

Our New Sit and Sew Place

We got our start during “Sit and Sew” Tuesdays at a quilt shop.  When that shop closed, we started renting any space we could afford.  Even during Covid lockdown, when we couldn’t gather, our core group continued to pay rent. 

This August, after eight years, we lost our lease.  Other tenants had vacated the building and the owner felt, probably correctly, that he could make more money renting out the entire building to one business rather than trying to rent bits and pieces of it around us. 

 But the rest of the story is all good news.  Almost immediately, a property became available that would work for us.  It only adds 10 minutes to the drive, mostly on rural highways.  The building is all on one story.  And, although smaller, we can all sew in one big room rather than having to split into smaller groups. 

 Making the move happen took a tremendous amount of effort.  Over the years we had become a dumping ground for quilters getting rid of their stash.   A LOT of purging was required.  Logistics for the move came together surprisingly fast.  One of the longarmers used by our group also has a landscape business.  We were able to hire her crew to move the heavy items including a refrigerator to the new site on October 3.  Our new landlord helped us install our big design wall. And we have been happily organizing and sewing ever since. 

This is my nest.  When I’m not there, I tuck my machine away so the space is available for my “table mate” who sews on other days.

 

My Nest on Tuesdays

Whoosh...

...and just like that, a month has passed since my last post.  No question, I have been in a blog slump for a while.

Since my last post, I have been at work on the project that came out of a Guild workshop with Cynthia England.  I thoroughly enjoyed her lecture.  She has done some of the most awsome "artsy fartsy" (her term) quilts I have ever seen, including one named among "The Twentieth Century's Best American Quilts." Here is a link. She is also funny and actively interacts with and encourages her students.  

I'm glad I did the workshop and lecture.  After all, it's not often I have the opportunity to interact first-hand from someone who has won multiple prizes at the Houston Internation Quilt Festival.  However, I am really struggling to continue with this kit.  I have so much effort already invested in it, I don't want to give it up.

Her paper piecing method, which differs from foundation piecing, makes it possible to join pieces of fabric that are extremely small.

I don't find this process relaxing.  It requires so much concentration that I cannot listen to an audio book or have other desitractions while I'm working on it and I have to take frequent breaks.  Here is what a sample of a section's roadmap looks like.  

I can honestly say, that I have nothing but the greatest respect for her work.

Treasures

After our guild meeting yesterday, a friend let us examine some antique quilts from her husband’s family.

 

All date back to the 1840s and were made by Quaker quilters.  At least two of them were signature quilts, and what beautiful signatures they were.

 

The workmanship is fabulous.

 

I love the way this border was pieced and quilted.

She and her husband have been in talks with a quilt museum in hopes of finding a home for them where they can provide proper care for their preservation. 

 

Today I will be attending a guild workshop led by Cynthia England, and I gave my Featherweight a little TLC in preparation.  Much as I appreciate the conveniences provided by modern maches, it is always a treat when I can take it for an outing.

 

A few days ago, I spotted a roadrunner in our back yard.  It’s pretty unusual for us to see them in the neighborhood.  I had to shoot this photo through a window, so it’s not the best focus.

Quilt Retreat

My major accomplishment at last week's quilt retreat was finishing this log cabin top.  It has 2002 pieces and each log finishes at 1/2 inch.  I'll go into greater detail when the quilting is complete.

While at retreat, we took an outing to Heritage Quilt Barn, a part of the Homestead Heritage complex in Waco.  I found some fabric for the backing.  The dark red fabric in the center of the blocks will also be the binding fabric.

This was my first visit to Homestead Heritage.  Had time not been so short and if the weather had been cooler we could have also toured other parts of the crafts village including:   a pottery house,  blacksmith shop, cheese-making house, woodworking and fine furniture-making shop, and fiber-crafts cottage that features spinning, knitting and weaving. I have already told Bob that I would like a day trip there when weather cools.

The retreat was a much appreciated break from my routine.  Per usual, I ate too much and exercised too little.  When I got home, I immediately rolled my ankle, leaving me gimpy for a few days.  That gave me the legitimate opportunity to take a few recovery days and further delay household chores.  Now that I'm recovered, I guess I will have to reintroduce myself to the vacuum and dust cloth.

We have had no relief from our drought.  The weathermen classify it as exceptional.  At least the morning lows are now in the mid-70s rather than low 80s.  Today's high is expected to be 101.

Retreat

How I have missed going to quilt retreats.  Today begins my first in two years.  Our guild is again sponsoring the event at the Compass Centre in Mt. Calm, Texas.  It’s about a three-hour drive, but I always love the time with my friends. 

This is one of the two projects I will be taking.  It is a Bonnie Hunter project called Maymont.  No triangles, but I’m glad I made one block and a corner unit before leaving.  I also grouped fabrics for more blocks and even cut additional fabric after realizing I did not have nearly enough.  This is a project I had started while prepping for another retreat when I thought I had cleared a wait-list.  At the last minute it didn’t work out.

Here's hoping I’m able to make progress on this and the other project I’m taking.  Also I'm hoping I won’t have to be strapped to the car’s roof with bungee cords.  There are three of us riding together.

A Finish

When you work as slowly as I do; and you are drawn to projects with itty bitty pieces, as I am; reporting a finish is particularly satisfying.

My first blog post about this project was May, 2018.  It began as a take-along project during a road trip to the northwest.  I finished piecing the center in April, 2022.  After I appliqued it to the border, it waited to be quilted until this year.

Vital statistics:  63 X 48 ½ inches; 1,575 hexies measuring ¾ inch per side.

Our string of 100+ degree days continues.  The high so far today was 111 degrees and it’s not even 4 p.m.  

 

It’s been too hot to enjoy sitting on the porch this summer, so hubby and I cobbled together this DIY birdbath that we can watch from inside the house.  Cardinals and sparrows have been enjoying it and our hummingbird feeder is getting lots of action too.  Since the birds are not interested in posing, you will just have to trust me on this.

Getting Close to a Finish

I am getting so very close to a finish on this project.  Three sides to go on the binding and, of course, a label.

Our very hot weather continues without a break.  The high registered so far today is 108 degrees.  

New Project Bag

 

As much as I love my long-term projects, sometimes I just need to finish something.  When one of my Tuesday quilting friends showed up with a project bag she recently made, I had to make one too.  It was my first attempt at sewing in a double-pull zipper.  It was a lot of fun, and I’ve already started using it.

We are still in 100+ degree days and are predicted to remain so for a while.  According to the Austin station we watch, we are now at 22 plus consecutive days.  We had another AC scare last week.  Fortunately, only a capacitor needed replacing.  The AC guy who got here promptly the morning after we reported the problem continues to be my hero.

 In other news, an armadillo has adopted us.  I knew something was toppling my flower pots over during the night, but I didn't know if the culprit was an armadillo or a skunk.  Both dig holes in the yard.  I finally caught it in the act of trying to dig his way out of the yard while one of our dogs hovered a few inches away barking loudly.  Fortunately, he was right next to the gate and I was able to open it and give him a nudge with my foot to get his attention.  That’s when I learned that they make a nose between a grunt and a growl as they run away.

 

 

We live close enough to a pond to see a wide variety of dragon flies every year.  This one actually posed for me.

 

...and yet another frozen yogurt lunch.

…my “assistant” asleep on the job, again.

 

Group Project Finish, and Staying Cool

Last week I happily turned in this block to the group project coordinator.  It was definitely the most complex applique I have ever attempted, but at least I didn’t have to tackle it alone.  In addition to the friend who finished off the embroidery, another kindly helped me prep some of the more difficult shapes.

I have only to watch the news to know everyone is dealing with extreme weather.  So, I’m not indulging in a pity party when I report that every day since my last post we had highs over 100 degrees.  I’m only noting it here for my own future reference.  One day had a high of 111 degrees.  How are we dealing with the unrelenting heat?  Well, we went to a nice cool theater to watch the latest Indiana Jones movie one afternoon; and one day we had frozen yogurt for lunch.  Basically, it’s just trying to take it one day at a time. 

 

This is where you’ll find me most evenings for another week; watching recordings of the Tour de France and working on hexagons.

July 4th Check-In

My Tuesday sewing with friends’ group won’t meet today because of the July 4th holiday.  Instead, I will be working on this project at home.  I thought I was ready to start on the border and then discovered another section in the center that needed to be quilted.

 

Four more rows of my thimble/tumbler quilt are pieced and ready to be pinned to the design wall.  It looks like they are smiling.

 

I think our July 4^th will be a quiet one as we are not expecting visitors this year.  Bob has his daily recording of the Tour de France and I have my projects.    

 

 

It's Hot!

 Julia was with us Fathers’ Day weekend and it was a wonderful visit.  The only problem:  an AC that decided to go on the blink during…

 

My new hero is the AC guy who came out Monday and quickly had it back in working order. 

 Also on Monday evening, we experienced a rare weather phenomenon called a heat burst.  By 8:30 our outside temperature was down to the mid-90s.  Suddenly we were being pummeled by ferocious winds and the temperature jumped back up to 106 degrees.  We lost several sizable limbs, but fortunately the experience was quickly over.  I don’t know what the wind speed was, but I’m certain some of the gusts would have knocked me off my feet.  Heat bursts, I learned, usually happen in the evening or nighttime as thunder storms decay.  This week is predicted to be even hotter.  Good weather to stay in and stitch.

 

Part of my sewing time last week was spent prepping little applique circles for the group project.  They certainly aren’t perfect, but I’m calling them done.  After they are stitched down I go back and use a moist cotton swab to get rid of the excess starch. This is the last bit to do before handing it over to a kind friend who agreed to embroider the stems.  It’s been decades since I embroidered.

 

Now that log cabin blocks are off my design wall, I was able to pin it up.  It’s a long way from done, but I’m really liking it.

 

Another turtle rescue happened last week.  It’s as big as the first one, but I don’t think it was the same turtle.

This and That

Whenever possible, I spend my Tuesdays sewing with a group of friends.  I joined the group in 2007 when a local quilt shop let us meet there.  Since then, the quilt shop has closed and we continue to meet in spaces we rent.  By our estimate we moved into this space in August 2015.  The group has lost and gained members over the years.  Some of our members are winter Texans.  Our Christmas gathering usually has about 12 in attendance. This Tuesday I wore a t-shirt that makes a statement and worked on a group applique project.

I’m closing in on a finish.  Just a few tiny circles and some embroideries are left.  I can probably foist the embroidery part onto a friend, but no one is interested in doing the tiny circles for me.  I really, really want to finish this so I can spend more time on my own projects!

Today is Flag Day.  I purchased this pre-planted arrangement at the garden center and have it positioned by our front door.  When the flag has faded, I will be able to replace it with something else.

Every year turtles manage to trap themselves inside our fence.  The dogs alerted me to his presence this morning and I was able to rescue him.  I don’t know enough about turtles to say whether this is a “him” looking for love or a “her” seeking a place to deposit her eggs.  I only know our yard with its two dogs is not a place for either.

 

A Small Finish

It took far more effort than I expected, but my foundation pieced block assignment for the guild’s donation quilt is finally finished.  I already had my workstation set up for paper piecing and expected to make short work of this.  I had forgotten, however, how challenging paper piecing triangle shapes are for me.  I finally had it done and up on the design wall for a picture….

 

…Wait, that’s not right!  The only comfort was, the mistake was in the instructions and not my work.  Fortunately it was where I could get to it and correct it.

  

…much better.  The block is called Crown of Thorns and we were instructed to leave the paper in and not to do the final trim.

 Our thermometer registered 102 degrees yesterday and despite what the graphic below shows, will probably reach 100 degrees again today.  At 1:30 we are already at 97.9 degrees.  The rest of the week looks pretty hot too.

We are expecting company for Father’s Day, so I am in house-cleaning mode this week.