My new kitchen

The best thing about the new house is the kitchen. Lots of room. The table can fit with all four leaves.
Just wish there were a few more drawers in the cabinets.

Unpacking

What a chore. So much stuff. ugh.

Moving

Moving is kind of stressful. Not a lot of art or beauty to be found. Oh well, this too shall pass.

Houston Quilt Show

Just got back from a wonderful visit to the Houston Quilt Show. I'll never be able to produce a work to go into the show, but I do a super job of enjoying it.
At least four of the Alzheimer's quilts that I made sold, earning about $200 for Alzheimer's research and I feel good about that. I have another that is in the registration process.

Good thoughts

Good thoughts.

Good thoughts

I'm reading The Circle of Simplicity by Cecile Andrews. I really like her philosophy of living frugally, with a sense of "enough". Not self deprivation, but self-fulfillment.
Love her comments about eating out:

"I would much rather be sitting with my husband in a neighborhood cafe having dinner- meeting neighbors, reading, enjoying the feeling of community.
So my conscious choice is to do less cooking and eat out more often.  Now some of you are thinking, you could save so much money at home.  But living simply isn't just about saving money.  That's only one factor.  As we will see later, living more simply also involves building community, and for me, eating in neighborhood restaurants builds community.
I finally concluded, though, that eating out probably does save me money.  When my husband and I cook at home, we are just plain irritable.  I figure that eating out saves on marriage counseling and it's certainly cheaper than a divorce."

Photography Class

I'm taking a Lifetime Learning class in digital photography and Photoshop. Such a lot to learn. I'd like a more powerful camera but will wait until I have more time to experiment with it; my point-and-shoot is doing ok for now. So far we've had field trips to
the Capitol,






the City Cemetery,










and the Park between Town Lake and the Long Center.


I've found some new settings on my camera that help me take pictures inside. I've tried the panorama setting but haven't had success. I've learned how to use Photoshop to a limited extent. All in all, a good class.

Found a house

I've offered to buy a house in Pflugerville. I think it will be quite comfortable and easy to keep up. Funny how I won't buy a pair of shoes unless they make me smile, but I will buy a house that doesn't. But I guess if I were wearing borrowed shoes, I might buy some that are only adequate.
It may be fun to decorate it and do a little bit of landscaping. There definitely need to be more trees around. So I'll plant at least one, so that I'll leave it better than I found it.

In yesterday's "Digging" garden blog, I saw an arbor that I might be able to copy at the new house. I definitely plan to take out some of the grass and put down some gravel or crushed granite. Less mowing, more texture. Better platform for potted plants.

House Hunting

Been house hunting and not seeing a lot of beauty. Will keep looking.

Art Show

Last night I went to Genuine Joe's Coffee H0use for an open house. A friend from watercolor class, Toni Silver, has a showing there through the end of the month. I am excited for her. Her work is for sale, but even if she sells nothing, it must be quite a kick to be able to display your work publicly. Wonder if I could do that some day.

Yellow Purse

I love combos. I took the first weaving I did on the Inkle loom and used it as a strap for a purse. The purse pattern was a freebie from Lazy Girl, although I used different proportions. I had bought a fat quarter of batik from Fantastic Fabrics at the Austin Area Quilt Guild show; I used it as is. If I get tired of the purse, I have almost a full fat quarter of fabric available!

This is my friend Alice, with her ribbon-winning quilt.

AAQG Quilt Show

Last weekend, the Austin Area Quilt Guild held its biannual show. I entered only one quilt this time, a miniature. Walked by it several times but never caught anyone looking at it. So many beautiful quilts there to see!

Water Lily

Office Depot scanned my waterlily and my Hibiscus pictures for me. I'm having some note cards made and am really excited, waiting for them to be delivered. Hope they turn out well.

Kaycee's Birthday

Nothing is as beautiful as grandchildren.

A generous woman advertised Inkle Looms on Freecycle. Not only the loom, but a weaving lesson. I accepted her offer and have finished one strap which can be used as a belt. It is primarily yellow, with a varigated yellow, orange, and green stripe in the center.
A second one is started, using some fuzzy purple, yellow and green yarn that I bought somewhere on sale. It took about four tries to load the loom properly, but I did it.
On my own. After looking at the instructions. Twice.
Just what I needed. Another hobby.

An Inchie Birthday

I love birthdays that go on forever. Since I hadn't seen my friend Alice H. in over a month, she hadn't been able to give me this wallhanging. It's about eight inches wide. Each of the six squares are separate quilts, one inch by one inch, and are called Inchies.
I hung it in my bedroom, just inside the door, where I will see it every day and be thankful for friends.

Iris - Outside the Lines

Iris watercolor, by Linda Nuenschwander, that I saw in Art Class. Love the outlines that are not colored in precisely. My version is not as attractive, but I'm proud of it nonetheless.

Texas Hibiscus

Last night I framed the Texas Hibiscus watercolor that I started in class. I'm pretty pleased with it and have it propped on my mantle for now. It will migrate to the bedroom later.

I have another frame for the Gladiola and hope to get around to trying it out tonight.

The watercolor class has been fun. Too bad that the LLI Advanced Quilting will be scheduled for the same day and time. Guess watercolor will have to take a break.

Friday Art Class - Gladiola

Today's class was fun. Linda brought in a bouquet of pink gladiolas. She asked that we do something creative, but I just did a closeup of one bloom. I managed to keep some white in it this time; not easy for me to do.

After class I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a couple of mats and frames - one for the gladiola and another for the Texas Hibiscus, which I haven't finished yet. It needs a bud in the upper right hand corner.
But I've been working on my class reunion page instead. Oh well.

Fish Bowl

Free class at Wells Branch library on Sunday. Daughter and I painted a fish on a bowl. Totally meaningless, but fun. Never used glass paint before.

Twin Elm Vacation

Twin Elm Guest Ranch hasn't changed much in twenty five years. Still has rustic cabins, ancient room air conditioners, and beautiful scenery. Grandson JackMan had about as much fun as his mom did when we were there before.

Lots of scenic fences. A few wildflowers.

Little Houses and even Littler Baskets

• Destined for the AAQI. The house blocks were leftover from the awards made for the AAQG show many years ago. The Basket is in Brackman - #407 - although I followed the instructions in a pattern by Nancy Johnson-Srbro which I've had for at least 10 years.
  
• I can't find a webpage for her.

Eggplant - Ruth McDowell pattern

This block was in my orphan drawer. I added a piece on the right and quilted it. After I get permission from Ruth, I plan to submit it to the AAQI auction.

Emilie's Haus Visit

Great food - this dessert was a layer of cake with Amoretto, pudding, fresh peaches and a blackberry. Beautiful presentation. The chicken picata was good, too, with San Antonio squash on the side. And the pecan encrusted catfish was really nice.





Six of us went on the retreat. I finished a Bonnie Hunter quilt, made some sample blue blocks and nine patches. Completed a tiny basket piece with four baskets.

Maxine's Blue Blocks

This is a quilt that Maxine made after seeing a similar one for sale many years ago. I can't find the block in Brackman nor in Malone. So simple, but so sweet.
Gotta try it.

Sewing with Jack

Grandson Jack made some PJ bottoms yesterday with a little help from me. Flamed guitars and "Rock and Roll" on a black background. He loves it. And I love him. My heart overflows.

Birthday Flowers

My sister came over this morning to wish me a happy birthday. She brought bright daisies, astromeria, and some-other-kind-of-flower-whose-name-I-can't-remember.
I added them to the carnations that Randy and Susie had brought the other day and the astromerias I had bought.
I love fresh flowers.
The notecard is destined for Randy and Susie but I want to enjoy it a little longer.

First Watercolor Class

This is my first watercolor. The class is taught by Linda Neuenschwander and is held at the Senior Center. I am really enjoying the class.

Bluebird of Happiness

Today's composition is the Bluebird of Happiness. Applique and embroidery from Betty Aldermann. Pinwheels from the Orphan Block drawer.
Destination: Art for Alzheimer's Quilt Initiative.