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.