First Frost

Scientists speak of people’s need of sunlight to keep up one’s motivation to do things. I agree that on dreary days it’s hard to accomplish anything. The arrival of autumn seems to give quilters a burst of energy. Autumn gives a show of color to inspire great works of quilts.
It’s my opinion that the autumn colors give quilters their peak of creative energy. The cooler weather entices us to use the burst of ‘color energy’ to create a new quilt to snuggle under. As the summer events, family vacations, etc. settle down, it’s now time to quilt in earnest. Many quilt-related activies also happen in the fall, which also inspires our creativity: Houston Quilt Festival being the biggest and well known event amongst many others.

Enjoy the color and let it inspire you to create, quilt, or write about a beautiful quilt.

Autumn colors

Autumn is in the air! The leaves on the trees are beginning to change color. I put an Autumn quilt on top of my bed. I just finished quilting and binding the quilt this last month. I chose a pattern on my own design. The "Ahoy" pattern that appeared in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 1. My goal is make the same block in as many layouts as possible.

This quilt has fabrics with leaf prints in bright colors of greens, yellows, oranges, reds all on a cream colored background. It really perks up the room. Like many people I had been collecting the fabric for a while. A year ago I began cutting and sewing. This summer I finished quilting it with a maple leaf design. Now it is on my bed, just in time for these cool nights.

Quilt Show Rained out

A hot summer and a wet autumn. We can’t seem to get it right. A hurricane and a tropical storm within two weeks left our area water logged. Each year a local historical site - a small plantation- hosts an out door quilt show. Quilts are hung out of doors, speaker’s present lectures, vendors set up tents, and tours are given of the house. The show goes on rain or shine for one Sunday afternoon. It’s a lot of work for one day. The region looks forward to the show has a sign of autumn’s coming.

This year the show has been cancelled. The storms rained several inches over the region and many streets flooded. The park where the show was to be held on is saturated and it would be impossible to set up. The poles for quilt hanging would droop and leave the quilts hanging in the mud. The tent would not hold up and booths would sink. The auto park would be a quad mire of mud with cars becoming stuck. It was the correct decision to make.

The decision was made just a few days before the event. The participates were informed
and the word was placed on the Internet to the local guilds, quilt shops, and etc. The word spread like wild fire among quilters.We will have to wait another year for the next Sully Plantation Quilt Show. Hope the weather is better next year.

What I did on my summer vacation

What a hot summer we have had, not as hot as the south and mid west, so there is a bright side. A quilting friend of mine as a pool; so along with another quilting friend we try to swim each morning for an hour. Actually we tread water and tell ourselves we are toning our muscles – we know we are not losing weight!

We seldom meet but 2 or 3 times a week due to schedule conflicts, appointments or teaching commitments, etc. We talk about quilting or family. Mostly the water feels good and it is away to connect and give support if needed. Our swimming will come to an end at the end of this month. One of us will have knee surgery and we will shift our activities to the indoor.
Hope your summer has been a memorable one.

A Compliment

I recently had a wonderful compliment. I received an email from a lady asking for permission to show a quilt made from a pattern I designed. The quilt block is based on an old public domain block. It seams she had made the quilt from a pattern I did for a Windham Fabrics collection – Worn and Loved 2. It was available on the free download section of Windham’s website.

She made the quilt and offered it to an exhibit for the Houston Quilt Festival 2011. Houston Quilt Festival accepted it and it will be on display this fall. By the way, she did ask Windham Fabrics for permission also. We were happy to agree.

Most quilters do not think to ask the designer for permission. Perhaps they do not think it is necessary because they bought the pattern or perhaps fear that the designer will say no. Seldom will the designer say no. It is an ego booster to learn that someone liked the pattern so much that they entered the quilt into a contest or exhibit.
Laura, marketing director of Windham Fabrics, and I look forward to seeing the quilt in person this fall.

Short trip to Holy Land

I just posted the blog entry I wrote in April. I had written it and saved it on the computer. Sometime the doctor will say, 'don't make any important decisions for X days", and you think "I'm fine." This was example of why you should listen to the doctor.

I am posting a few pictures of the 'short' trip to the Holy Land. The men fishing in the boat are on the sea of Galilee. The sea is really a large lake. I always wonder why the men went out on the water, couldn't they see a Storm brewing? No, the sea/lake is surround by mountains (used to be a volcano) the wind blows through one gap across the water, hits the mountains and bounces back over the water causing the storm and waves. Now it makes sense to this simple mind of mine.

The ancient boat ruin was found a few years ago after a drought lower the sea of Galilee. It was under layers of mud which protected. The archaeologist were pleased to have it tested to the time of Jesus.

Regardless of what ones religious believes are, I hope you enjoy the pictures for the historic time table if nothing else. (my disclaimer)

The hotel we stayed in Jerulasalem had an olive tree in the atrium. They claimed it was from the time of David. Perhaps, nice effect anyway.

Souvenir from the Holy Land

You may notice a lengthy space of time between this and my last entry. There is a good reason. In mid-February I fell while on a trip to the Holy Land. I broke my left leg and wrist. Both breaks required surgery and I will forever set off metal detectors.

It has been a long recovery process. My focus, as you can image, has been entirely on healing. Looking back I find it interesting that I had little interest in quilting or sewing. Mind you I said ‘little’ not ‘no’. It is only in the last week as my strength has returned and boredom has set in that the desire to quilt has returned. Interesting how the body sets the important priorities.

Finally I am able to wiggle my fingers and slowly type this entry. I wish for you Easter or Passover blessings or if these do not apply I wish you good thoughts to you and all of yours.

I hurt my thumb

I over used my thumb last and now its swollen and painful. I made a queen size flannel quilt which I am very pleased with but I pushed myself to finished the binding. In fact I then finished the binding on two lap size charity quilts. I now am suffering with a pre carpel tunnel sym. effect. I had hoped the swelling would go down by now. No such luck. Tomorrow I see the doctor.

I have several projects I want to work on, sewing or cutting in out of the question. Even holding a pen to write the monthly checks for bills is painful. Now, I understand the importance of a pose able thumb.

Lesson here is don't push your luck with hand work and wear a support glove. Take care of your body, it's the only one you have .