Finishes

I finished several things today. 

The last few blocks for my Citrus Quilt.

A watercolor painting of a fir tree.

And two Coronas. 

 

Pictures for a bedroom

 My niece admired some of my watercolors and asked if I could do a large one for her bedroom.   But I don't fee skilled enough.   So I made 3 "normal" sized ones for her and sent them. 

Her sister copied the pictures and collaged frames to set them off.   

I think we make a great team.

Not Welcome

 

My quilt won the Night Visitor challenge at the Chisholm Trail Quilt Guild contest this year. It was based on an actual experience I had a few years ago.

I love yellow

 My daughter, who stages homes for a  living, gave me these yellow flowers a while back.   I think they look good with the little quilt that I made to test out a new pattern.

Large Unicorn

 Last year I volunteered at Cinderella's Closet in Taylor.   This organization lends prom dresses to area high school girls.    It's a great idea.

Due to COVID, all proms were cancelled last spring.   Wouldn't be surprised if this years are, too.  

But the organization still has expenses, so it's running a fundraiser soon and has asked for craft items from its volunteer staff.   

I'm donating this acrylic painting.   Seems like something a teenaged girl might like.   

UPDATE:  This sold on the first day of the sale for $60.   They'd love to have another one (or two) next year.

Deep in the Summer

Update:  I didn't post this because it was so whiny.  It's now November and I've gotten used to things.   It's not as hot anymore, also.

Here's hoping for a better year in 2021.

August 13, 2020

It's hot.   COVID is raging.   Social quarantining is necessary.  Polictics are in the forefront and not pleasant,    Racisism is at high levels.

I'm tired.

I feel very helpless, but I'm not.  

I've given lots of masks to my friends and family and neighbors.  I've made and donated Quilts of Valor for ex-servicemen.   I've mand and donated Linus quilts for children in difficult situations.  

I've taken walks and called out "hellos" to my neighbors. 

I've encouraged and been successful at getting several of my groups of friends to meet in parks or yards and keep face-to-face communication alive and well.   I've called friends.

I've donated money to my political candidates of choice.   I voted (by mail) in the primary elections.

I've send extra money to family members for school supplies, as there are often extra needs at this time of year.

Most importantly, I've been careful about social interactions and I've stayed healthy.

But I'm still tired.   And sad.   

I need a hug from a grandchild or great-grandchild.   I need chocolate.   I need wine.  I need to whine.

Sorry, guys.   It will get better. 

Mystery Qult

I've been working on a mystery quilt while Staying at Home.
Laundry Basket Quilts publishes a new block everyday.   Somedays the directions tell us to make 4 blocks.  Often it's 8.   One day it was 16!
I've almost stayed caught up.   Don't know where it will go when I'm done, but it's been good to focus on something positive. 

This is  the top without borders.   I have not decided how to finish it.

In this picture, I am showing it to my Bee friends, as we meet in the front yard of one of the members due to the restrictions regarding groups.   We bring our own lawn chairs and sit in a large circle and enjoy seeing friends in person.  

Update - My friend Marily volunteered to add appliqued borders to this top.   We chose fabrics and pattern and she has started the applique. 

The Bee is still meeting, this one was in a local park.   Social distance, outdoor venue.  But still good to be with friends.  

The pink  quilt that I am showing was sent to my great nephew for his expected baby girl.   He still has the remnants of his baby quilt that I made him at least 25 years ago. 

Texas Grand Masters: Timeless Quilts

The Quilt Museum in La Grange, Texas, put out a call early this year for quilts made by Texas quilters over the age of 75.   I thought  "Wow.  I have half a chance at getting accepted for this one!"

It took me a bit to get through the application process, but I submitted photos and descriptions of three quilts. 

One quilt is named Joy.   It was made using  red and green "orphan" blocks from my collection spanning many years.   I made a few new blocks and assembled them all into this fun quilt.   I embellished it with buttons and jewelry and crystals and lace and lot of fun.

The oldest blocks spelled out Joy.   They were made in a workshop with Connie Huffnagel in the late 1980s.  

The nine patches were laid out in patterns learned in a Lifetime Learning class using the Nine Patch Pizazz book.

The bearded Santas were supposed to have been made into a vest, but never got there.

The Hexie block was a gift from a workshop coordinator at the Sisters Quilt Show some years back.   Many of the wonky trees were made at that show in Freddy Moran's class.

The border blocks were supposed to have made a quilt by themselves, but never made it that far.

This quilt was not accepted into the Museum's show.   Pity.   It's so much fun to look at.

The next quilt I submitted was The Vanilla Quilt.   It's a simple, traditional pattern made in a very limited pallette.   The Pineapple blocks were constructed over several years using Gyleen Fitzgerald's ruler.   Very easy.  But because of the color scheme, kind of boring. There are hundreds of different fabrics in this quilt, but all are very "low volume".   It was quilted by Janie George in a pantograph.   It won a Judges Choice ribbon at the Chisholm Trail Quilt Guild show in 2015,     It's permanent home is on the wall in my living room.   It adds wonderful texture and interest to a very bare wall. 

This quilt was accepted into the show and is the first quilt on the upper row.   At that distance, it's hard to see that there are hundreds of different fabrics in it.

The third quilt is one that is owned by my daughter.   I made it for her living room in the colors she was currently using.   Her husband chimed in on color choices.   The pattern was loosely based on a quilt I had seen in the Austin Area Quilt Guild show.   It turned out to be a lot larger than I had anticipated, but is very striking.   

Unicorn for Tiffany

My (great) niece Tiffany had a birthday recently.   She loves unicorns, so I painted one for her.   I used the outline and tutorial from LetsMakeArt.   Such a great company.   I've bought a number of their kits and appreciate their tutorials and guidance.

Hopefully the last mask production run

I made 28 masks for use at the Del Valle jail facility.   Solid colros, no metal.  No filter pocket.
On these, I used ties rather than the single long tie.
Forgot to take pictures.

But here's the best mask of all. 

Really Easy Cushion Cover

I found a pattern for an easy cushion cover on The Creek Line House blog. 
 https://www.creeklinehouse.com/the-10-minute-diy-pillow-cover/
Courtney's instructions were very good, but here is my slightly altered version.

For a 16 inch insert:

• Cut one piece of fabric 17 x 36.
• Fold up each short edge about a half inch.   Top stitch if desired.
• With right sides together, fold up about 9 inches on one side.   Fold the other side up until the size of the folded fabric is 17 x 16.   There will be about four inches of overlap.
• Pin the cut edges carefully.
• Sew the sides with the cut edges, using a half inch seam.
• Turn the cushion cover right side out.   Use a bamboo skewer to poke the corners out.
• Press.
• Top stitch all four sides about 1/4 inch from the edge.
• Insert cushion form.
• Admire your work.

That's all there is to it.   I can whip two of these up in about a half hour.   I used a light upholstery weight fabric for my first ones and that worked very well. 

For a 20 inch insert, the fabric would be cut 21 x 44.    The folded square, before the cut edges are sewn, should measure 21 x 20.   Other than that, the instructions are the same.

Masks, masks, and more masks

After making about 100 masks, I moved toward a simpler design.   The mask is rectangular with no pleats.  It includes a pipe cleaner at the top to shape the mask to the nose.   It has a casing on either side.   I make a drawstring by cutting a one inch strip across a man's t-shirt (these have no side seams) and make a cord by pulling it tight.    I run the drawstring down one side and then up the other.   To put it on, one puts the loop over the head, tightens up the drawstring and then ties it at the back of the head.   It's very comfortable and easy to launder.  

 I've given dozens to neighbors.   At least 30 were given to nurses at local hospitals to cover the medical masks that needed to be used longer than they were designed for.   

About a dozen were given to a friend who is a realtor, who gives them to clients without on

e.                                      

Masks

The first masks I made had elastic ear loops.  They were pleated and contained nose wires made from pipe cleaners.

Most of these went to close family and friends.






The next bazillion used straps made of straight-of-grain fabric, using a bias tape maker to help with the folding and ironing.

Still using pleats and pipe cleaners. 

The ties used a lot of fabric and time. 

But the fit was pretty good.

I gave some to neighbors.

My friend and neighbor Brady asked for a larger one, so I obliged.  He has lots of plants and bluebonnets in his yard.

My daughter discovered that her cousin in Indiana had tested positive for the virus and was asking for masks for his family.   No one had gone into business yet and masks were unavailable.   I quickly made five (in colors of his alma mater) and mailed them off. 










My grandson goes to college in North Dakota.
So I mailed a couple of masks to him. (I included a yarn tassle toy for his cat.)

Two more went to my grandson and his wife in Louisiana.

Not long after, my friend who is a therapist at the VA Hospital in San Antonio passed on a request for masks for workers (non-medical personnel).   A specific pattern was required and I made 20 and mailed them offf.   These had a pocket for a filter and were made with one large piece of fabric.

c                     

   I made one for her, too, of course. 

Then the call went out to quilters from the local fire department for washable masks to wear while in the station house.   Our guild made several hundreds.   I made 46 for that effort.

             

Iris and COVID-19

My iris are blooming their hearts out.   I want to share them, but it's hard, since I've been told to stay at home.  Which I'm doing pretty much.   It's hard for me to do nothing.

My neighbor Daniel works at an Assisted Living Facility, which has prohibited visitors.  That must be very hard for the residents.  I has happy that they allowed Daniel to bring in a vase of Iris.  Not only are they beautiful, they are very fragrant.

I was also able to give a few to a neighbor, who was out doing yardwork.

Last week, I did  a watercolor Iris using a kit from LetsMakeArt.

Yep Yep

So during the time-out that COVID-19 gave us,
 I've crocheted 5 Yep-yeps so far. 

Just my luck

First time I've ever submitted quilts to a juried show and two were selected. 
They were hung on Thursday, but the Museum is temporarily closing down due to the pandemic.
What can I say?

Applications

The Texas Quilt Museum is going to have an exhibit of quilts made by quilters who are now over the age of 75. 

I've submitted 3 for consideration.

The Vanilla Quilt

                    

JOY

Windows 17