Chopin – A Passionate Quilter From Texas – I love to share my Quilting projects with other Quilters. My goal is to share my progress on projects that I am working on. I would love for you to follow along with me during my endeavors. I hope you enjoy watching me tackle new techniques and projects. Hopefully you can learn from my "hiccups" and mistakes and make your journey easier.

August 13, 2022

Surprise Quilt Update – 13 August 2022 and To Do Tuesday

I have had an interesting week! Still hot as Hell here in South Texas with only 2 tenths of an inch of rain the other day! WOW Record breaking! Still 100 to 112 each day. Ready Refresh Ozarka Water Company cannot even find enough drivers to deliver our monthly order. So Far they are 12 days late and still counting. Then I had 2 dental appointments but all finished until mid September when I go in for a couple of fillings! BUT there is positive news on the quilting front!

I am so very excited about my Surprise Quilt. The Center Medallion turned out perfect. I wanted to continue with Stars for the next border but wanted a ‘floating’ star. In 2013 I had made a quilt called Floating Stars. I entered it in the Austin, Texas Quilt Show. The following paragraph was taken from a 2014 regarding issues with the pattern and the long arm quilter who quilted it.

“Now let’s talk about Floating Stars………..Nothing is easy in the quilting world……… The pattern had a cutting direction issue and it took me about 2 weeks of working with a practice block to get the star to float. Believe me, I have perfected this one! Thanks to Perseverance and Math! Again if it wins a ribbon – any place – I will be so very Happy. I really worked hard on color selection and placement. I am not happy with the professional quilter who quilted it – she must have had a bad week – so again – I think that 2013 was not my best year – hoping 2015 gets better. I will probably go back to quilting my own quilts or find someone who really cares about providing show quality quilting. I had worked so hard to perfect star, I could have cried when I saw the mistakes on the quilting.”

Now for my Surprise Quilt which is a Medallion Quilt that I am designing and making as I go along! I am extremely pleased with how it is coming along. I spent about 3 days working with the floating stars again because I had to do a lot of math in order to reduce the block from 6 1/2” to 4 1/2”. Those nice point pieces had to be re-worked completely. I tried about 3 different ways to get to the 4 1/2” unfinished block and it took a lot of time, but they have turned out perfect! I have enjoyed working on this project all week.

And here she is measuring now at 28 1/2” x 28 1/2”!

I will be working on the next border next week. I want to really study some blocks before I do and I am now going to work on my Churn Dash SAL from Blogger Chookyblue.

I have now finished the Center of Boo’s and Bat’s. Next is to figure out how to start on the outer border! There are some areas where the pattern alls for white but I am not sure I want to use white – maybe a light beige for the background. Plenty of time to decide!

I have a lot of batiks that needed washing and so I am starting that project and you all know what that means (that is if you pre-wash your fabrics) – a lot of ironing.

I leave you with the following political statement – Remember I am A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN AND DONALD J. TRUMP IS MY PRESDENT – currently he is on a forced vacation but will return on January 20, 2025! These are my thoughts that I have been trying to sit on for 6 days now. Always feels good to say what I feel about the Country! So enjoy if you love America!

WELL! How about a our wonderful Government. I want to thank them for ensuring that My President Donald J. Trump will be elected in 2024! Now if you are one of the 81 million who love Brandon, then you probably won’t want to follow my Blog! I am still in total shock as to how corrupt this administration is! Not one of the Cabinet members know anything about their responsibilities. And Brandon definitely does not know where he is as he told us proudly the other day he is the Vice-President. Along with High Inflation, High Fuel Costs, killers running wild in the country, no one will be safe in this country anymore. Illegals running around all over the country, Polio found in New York, another disease around, and many more. None of these people that were let in OR just slipped in under the radar of the Border Agents. Our country has a cancer and it needs to be cured. So if you love America and our President Trump, be sure to vote IN PERSON on 8 November 2022! I am praying that Wyoming helps Chaney find a new job and that in Alaska Murkowski finds a good fishing job. I am praying for President Trump and his family for strength and safety. It appears that the Evil Swamp Creatures in DC have planned another way to cause them pure HELL!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Hugs, Nanette

Linking To: My Quilt Infatuation; Confessions of a Fabric Addict; Finished or Not Friday ; Em’s Scrap Bag; BOM’s Away; Sew Fresh Quilts; Crazy Mom Quilts; Oh Scrap; Scrap Happy Saturday; Slow Sunday Stitching Quilt Fabrication Mid Week Makers; Peacock Party; Design Wall Monday, Scrap Happy Days, Quilting Patch Linky Party, To Do Tuesdays

August 5, 2022August 5, 2022

A Surprise Update! 5 August 2022

I am so excited about the project I am working on. You will remember the quilt I made for my Housekeeper Georgia’s grandson Vision, it is the header on my Blog now. Well, the other day after cleaning out some drawers, I found that I had a lot strips cut and some left over blocks from the same fabrics.

I thought I would just go ahead and make me a quilt with the Double Hour Glass blocks after I made more. Then I started thinking about making a Medallion Quilt using a large 18” Star. Using my EQ8 Software I drew the Star out and colored it with 4 blues. I printed out the large block to have as a pattern. I use Elenor Burns rulers for the Flying Geese because you get 4 at a time and I need 4 with Dark and 4 with Medium light blue! I love it! I am truly inspired now to develop this quilt as I go along, so it will be called My Surprise Quilt!

I started with the DHG blocks and as I made more I realized I wanted the blocks to be the last border on a quilt!

Then I realized I wanted to use them for a border on a Medallion Quilt!

The blocks and Medallion are on the Design Board and now I will sew the Medallion together and start audition blocks for the next border! Not sure what the size of the quilt will be, but I know that I am really REALLY enjoying this project!

UPDATE – UPDATE! The Medallion went together perfectly! YEA. Now on to the next border – another surprise!

So for now, have a great week-end and see all on Slow Sunday Stitching!

Hugs, Nanette

August 2, 2022August 2, 2022

To Do Tuesday – 2 August 2022

Happy Day – I am posting on a Tuesday! Weather – same – hot and dry. Exercise – Exercise Bike again. Today is our 26th Wedding Anniversary! We are happy and blessed! There is a new Hamburger Restaurant in town, so on Thursday we will go and celebrate our Anniversary. All problems are either being taken care of or completed (the unforeseen problems), so I am really looking forward to a quiet August!

Check out what I have been doing the month and last week. Check out my progress and change in quilting direction here and here.

This week I will be working on my 20 Churn Dash Blocks for August! I am going to cut out the fabric for 40 Churn Dash blocks but only sew 20 for this month! The are easy and fast and cutting is one of the things I love about quilting!

I am also making a Double Hourglass quilt for me from the left over strips and fabric from the baby quilt I made earlier this year. This is very very easy and a no-brainer quilt. Strip piecing and cutting out the sections! Fun Fun Fun!

I do have a very large quilt that I made years ago that needs binding. The long arm quilting (in 2014) sewed the binding on with her long arm and gave me a mess to clean up. I would really like to get the bind on and hand stitch it back in the evenings. So this may be a start this week.

I am also looking through my patterns that I would like to make and reviewing the Designers directions, etc. If the pattern appears to have great cutting instructions and provides the size that each section should be, then it is a good pattern. Those that do not provide that information will be put away never to be made in this Studio.

In the meantime I will be working on Boo’s and Bat’s cross stitch project along with appliquéing Bunny Rabbits from In the Garden quilt. These are evening projects.

Inflation and now a Recession is here to stay for awhile. Be sure to thank the 81 million who put us in this situation! Again, I do hope they are suffering like the rest of us. Karma is a great thing. We have 100 more days before we can stop the Liberal Runaway Train! Don’t forget 8 November 2022! Red Wave Day!

Have a great week, and keep on stitching, but only projects that are FUN!

Hugs, Nanette

August 2, 2022

OMG Goals for August 2022

Good morning! Another wonderful day in the Desert! We are averaging 110 each day! Lovely, but there is some good news – things should calm down by mid-September. To celebrate the coming of rain (some year) and lower temperatures (some year), here is what I want to do this month, they may not be 100% finished, but I plan on working on all of them during the month. We shall see if things stay peaceful and quiet!

First and most of all work on FUN projects! If I am not having fun working on a project then it is trash can time and move forward to something that will be FUN!

I will continue working on my Boo’s and Bats Cross Stitch. I am half way finished with the last Bat!

Next will be to start working on my applique project In The Garden. I want to work on the Bunny Blocks! There are 4 Bunnies – 2 light and 2 dark.

I will be working on my Moda Holiday-Stitch-A-Long, an embroidery project. I just finished Block 4 (done after Block 5).

Cannot forget the 20 Churn Dash blocks that I will complete – This will bring the total to 60 with 20 more to go in September. I have a couple of quilts that will be made from the 80 blocks. They are so much fun to make and the 6” and 3” blocks are my favorite! This is the fabric I will be using this month! More 1930’s fabrics.

Last week I enjoyed cleaning and straightening 5 drawers of fat quarters and scraps left over from previous projects. I sent Jaydee a care package just for her to enjoy or share with others. She was very happy with the fabrics. During the cleaning of fabric drawers, I went through a drawer where I keep left over fabric from quilts. I had made a baby quilt out of blue batiks earlier in the year and found that I still had strips cut out for the project, so now I am making myself a quilt. They are fun, fast, and easy to make! It is a Double Hour Glass! Mindless sewing, but so much fun again! This is a picture of the baby quilt.

I have 2 sets of fabrics that I want to make some Double Hourglass blocks. This will be just for fun as it may not work out like I am planning it to. I will post about this when I start the projects – which may be in September.

My goal for the month of projects to finish will be Boo’s and Bats, Churn Dash blocks, and at least one bunny, and Block 6 of the Christmas embroidery block. The other’s will be for fun!

Have a wonderful week!

Hugs, Nanette

July 31, 2022

Slow Sunday Stitching – 31 July 2022!

Today I hope to be working on Boo’s and Bats Cross Stitch. I only have one more bat to complete and the work on the outer portion and border! I love the Cross Stitch – it makes all my problems go away! It is called ”the ability to FOCUS” on something FUN!

Clay fixed my magnetic board to where it will stand up. This was a very very inexpensive way to have the patterns to be upright as I need to use them for counting stitches!

He is my go to guy when I want something improved on!

Last but not least, I finished Block 4 of Moda Holiday Stitch-A-Long!

Tuesday we will have been married 26! What blessings we have in our lives even with all the complaining, I do I know that God love us!

Have a great Sunday and a great stitching week ahead!

Hugs, Nanette

July 31, 2022July 31, 2022

OMG for July 2022

Well, this has been the month that was and may it not come back! Still lovely 100-112 heat wave, but I have adjusted. I just do not go anywhere, stay in the A/C, and figure out what I can mess up next! LOL

Here is what I have completed or advanced on this month!

Boo’s and Bats Cross Stitch – One more Bat to go and then I will work on the outer part and the border. Maybe this will be an August finish!

Next is Block 4 of Moda Holiday Stitch-A-Long. On to Block 6 of 14!

I made 2 placemats for our TV Trays! I really enjoyed making them and have one more larger piece that I plan on making a cover for my D1!

Finished my 20 blocks for July for Chookyblue’s Churn Dash Sew Along!

Remember this ”wanta do”? Well, now you see it on the Design Wall!

And NOW you don’t! Here are the Stories behind this Squirrel that died! Number One and Number Two!

I am moving on to other goals and projects starting 1 August 2022! We are ending the month with all problems resolved, and that includes the new one that appeared uninvited about 24 hours ago – Septic Tank issues. But we were blessed with a company that came out this morning and pumped the little darling out and he will be doing some repairs for us starting tomorrow! Best to meet those issues on the first of the month!

AND I just cannot leave without thanking Biden for inviting us to the Recession and doubling the cost of repair work! Such a sweetie along with the other 81 million idiots!

Have a great Sunday and set those goals for August!

Hugs, Nanette

July 31, 2022

Christmas in July, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov and Dec!

Well, here is what I accomplished on my Moda Stitch-A-Long embroidery project! Not my favorite block, but I finished it!

I now have 5 of 14 blocks. Maybe Block 6 will be more fun! I purposely skipped over Block 4 and did Block 5 previously. I will hope to finish it before December.

Be sure to check out Kathy’s Blog for her Christmas projects. She really has excelled in this project!

Have a great week.

Hugs, Nanette

July 30, 2022

Evaluating My Choices in Quilting – July 2022

When I select a pattern to make there are many thoughts that go into my process. I have learned (the hard way) to read the pattern closely to make sure that the Designer has provided clear and easily understood instructions, measurements for each segment of the blocks, and if blessed a great visual to follow along. I have been quilting for 20 years now and I learned 15 years ago how to look at a quilt and figure out the pattern.

I seem to have forgotten some of my rules for my quilting. Mostly the above process. I never have problems with color with my quilts, UNLESS – UNLESS, I step out of my little box and attempt to shut my eyes, throw scraps in a bag, reach in and just sew! My logical thought process stops me from doing that. I have tried and tried, but it seems that my success with any scrappy quilt means using small blocks, i.e., Reproduction Quilts such as Dear Jane, OMIGOSH, and Sitar’s 9 patch quilt (the blocks were 3 1/2”).

This year I reviewed the mountain of patterns that I have because I saw a quilt, loved it, and had to have the pattern! When I was entering my quilts in Shows, it was challenging to make the quilts as best as I could and I learned from a lot of mistakes. I learned how important it is to have fabric movement in the quilt to compete in Quilt Shows. Colors were extremely important. In the last 8 years scrappy quilts have become the most popular along with the Modern Quilt movement. I knew I was going to have issues with both of the movements that were taking hold in the Quilt World.

As you can see I am a fish out of water now and still in the Traditional Method of quilt making. This year I have tried 3 quilts and given up on them before completion. Sitar’s Alaska (problem with templates and pattern); The Medallion Quilt that I gifted Kathy all the fabric from that project (could not stand to have it around anymore); and now the Double Wedding Ring. Yesterday I began sewing the blocks together and I found that there was an issue with the seam allowance (at least that is where I think the problem is). Things were not coming together as they should. BUT, the biggest is the colors I chose. They are not my colors, I was attempting to do a scrappy in Batiks, and I should know better. To make this quilt it takes time, effort, and care! Each section must be perfect, or the quilt will not shine!

When I left the Studio yesterday, I was frustrated with it. I had all my normal indicators that I should have stopped this project early on and ignored them. Check out the Saga here. Additionally, I could see that rather than be excited about the project, I was finding any reason to stay far away from it. But I was determined to not give up!

After supper I told Clay that I was not going to continue on with the DWR and that I needed to go to the Studio and put it away in the never never basket. He convinced me to wait until this morning. He also told me that he could tell that the project was weighing heavy on me as I tried to push through it. I woke up about 4:00 AM and could not get back to sleep. We got up at 5:00! Long story short, DWR is now in the history books for me and gone to the never never again land!

I do believe that I now understand where UFO’s come from! We quilters see a quilt that we would love to have, jump into it 100% only to find out that we become bored, frustrated, and decide to put it away for another day! I believe this is happens because we do not want to give in or give up on something that we spent money and time in making a quilt that we “thought” we loved! There is nothing wrong with having UFOs, but I know my time is limited in this life so it is important for me that I stop this madness and sit down and go through patterns that I have always wanted to make BUT before I make a selection, I will have to read the pattern to ensure that the directions are clear, concise, and provide measurements of each segment. I need to go back and make practice blocks before I just jump into making the quilt.

So with that, I am now sitting at my table and reviewing the patterns that I have pre-selected and review them for the criteria that is important to me. I am totally enjoying the Churn Dash SAL. They are easy, fun to make, and I will be using up some of my 1930 fat quarters that have been around about 8 years, and some even longer.

I enjoyed making the placemats that I made – quick, easy, and finished in a day! I am enjoying my Cross Stitch and Embroidery projects. I want to start appliquéing again as that is really my first love and need to get back to it!!!

So without boring you anymore (this is more for me to remember how I got to this point) I will wish you a wonderful week-end and great sewing week! It appears that we might only have another month to have the temperatures so high. Yesterday we reached 112 about 5:00PM. I have adjusted to the heat, but now I need to find a quilt that I want to make and FINISH IT! I also would like to get back to quilting some tops because I do not understand why I am just not interested. I am still waiting on a long arm quilter to quilt 10 quilts…. I may have to search for another by September if there is no progress there.

Hugs, Nanette

July 29, 2022

Changes, Changes, Changes…A Double Wedding Ring Saga!

Have you ever decided to make a special quilt, using different fabric colors that you would normally not use. I am so tired of the ’rainbow’ colors that finding something different led me back to my stash and a traditional pattern. The Double Wedding Ring by Shar Jorgenson! I made one years go and gifted it to a friend, so I knew someday I would make one.

I started out by selecting fabrics – the first and second selections really bombed, so I went forward with the old fashioned way of fabric selections. Find a fabric (called Focus Fabric) that had multiple colors and finding fabrics to blend would be easy! I did that and came up with the following:

On the Design Wall without the Connecting Corners!

I decided that a orange would make it pop, so I tested that selection. (Not sure what mood I was in but it must have been a weird one.)

I pondered if I was getting the message that this would not be a good project for me to make, but most of you know I hate to throw in the towel….. So I went forward!

Found some Green for the Connecting Corners! SUCCESS

Then I realized that I did not have enough of the Hoffman’s 1895 batik fabric from my stash and started looking for more! I ordered 4 yards of a green that I just knew was the same with Hancock’s of Paducah and ordered it. (They have a great price on Batiks – $10.94 a yard. The fabric arrived today and it is NOT the same color!!! They are a great company to deal with as they will take back the fabric! So on to pulling my light greens from my large 1895 Stash! And here is what I have come up with (the 2nd fabric audition). I will be using this no matter what, as I believe that Hoffman has discontinued the color I originally wanted that is in the picture above.

So here we are now and I am going to close my eyes, and start sewing on this quilt. I hope that it turns out and that I love it!

There is a slight difference in the color for the connecting pieces and I think the lighter batik with more lime is prettier. Funny how our moods change and how it impacts our selection of fabrics.

Have a great week-end. At least I do not have to sit and wait for more fabric, just return the shipment and going forward! Wish me luck!

Hugs, Nanette

July 29, 2022

Christmas in July – 29 July 2022

I have finished Block 4, and it was not my favorite! I dislike circles of any type, but I pushed on and finished the block! This is a Moda Holiday Stitch-A-Long project that Jocelyn made in 2020 or 2021. The pattern is still available on Moda site.

This last week I worked on cleaning out 4 drawers and sent a surprise package to Jaydee. I hope she likes some of the ”surprises” I sent. She is great at making quilts that are scrappy!

I am trying to start sewing on my Double Wedding Ring but now have run into a possible shortage of the green fabric. I have gone through my stash 3 times and ordered some from Hancock’s of Paducah, but when it arrived today, it is not the right color! Drat!

So I will use what I have and if I am short, the quilt will be smaller! UNLESS I can find another piece in my stash that will give a similar look! Wish me luck!

Have a wonderful week-end. I am done with problems with Caremark and the stupid Credit Union that thinks that they need to continually change the software that they use! Grrrrr! Will they ever quit messing up what works?

I have decided that I now live in Fairy Land USA. This is not the Country I was born in and so I will just stay up with some of the news, and then move on to Gunsmoke and pretend that I am in the Fairy Land and La La Land like Alice in Wonderland that the 81 million who voted to bankrupt and ruin the standing of the USA in the world are suffering more than the Middle Class in this country! Maybe they will drown in their Swamp Land, Washington DC!

Hugs, Nanette

July 26, 2022

Churn Dash Status for July 2022!

Greetings Churn Dash Lovers. I have finished 40 Blocks for June and July which are one-half of the 80 that I am making for this project.

Now on to August blocks! Have a great week!

Hugs, Nanette

July 26, 2022

To Do Tuesday – 26 July 2022 – On Time!

What can I say? Is it hot – YUP – going into August with about 90 days of 100+ behind us and more of the same ahead of us. I have been busy fighting with Caremark Mail Order Prescription idiots! But after 3 weeks problems fixed and now I have a permanent Advocate that will handle our prescriptions! Pays to know the person who oversees the Government Contract with Caremark! I take just so much and the I contact her and she gets them on their toes!

I have been working on the Double Wedding Ring quilt – s-l-o-w-l-y! The story behind this quilt (all quilts have a story don’t they?) is interesting. I started with a total 3, yes 3 fabric selections to use in this quilt. The first 2 bombed! The final selection made it, although I have gone through a few days when I doubted that I wanted to really finish this project. I have decided to make 16 blocks for this quilt and have finished all the pieces to begin sewing the blocks together. BUT then I had a problem again! What fabric color would blend into the quilt for the connecting pieces. It certainly was not going to be this!

I realized I needed to obtain a few different opinions on color after selecting the yellow/gold (above) for those connecting pieces. I talked with Wanda and Jaydee regarding their suggestions for the connecting corners. We discussed using the print and the yellow, but while talking with Jaydee I picked up a piece of the green fabric that is in the rings, and the quilt popped! I loved it! It made me want to finish the quilt rather than put it away (after a lot of hand cutting and machine sewing)! Thank you Wanda and Jaydee for your help,

I quickly put 4 blocks on the Design Wall and quickly cutting out the green connecting pieces! The green absolutely makes this quilt unique in the fact that it is not a traditional Double Wedding Ring which is something different for me. This is as scrappy as I will ever be as I am just a 2 or 3 color quilt maker! I have spent more time selecting fabric than the time spent in sewing, but I feel it will be a beauty when finished! I will be sewing it together this week.

Next on my list of on going projects is Boos and Bats Cross Stitch project.

I purchased a very inexpensive magnetic board to hold my cross stitch patterns and Clay fixed some great magnets to hold the pattern. Then I realized it would be nice to have it stand up while I worked on my projects, and here is the result of him doing that for me!

A little Squirrel jumped in the other day – we needed new placemats for our TV Trays. We love the Southwest and years ago I purchased a lot of Southwest fabric. I made the mats out of some panel fabric. I machine quilted diagonal lines as I felt it went with the clouds. I used a black batik for the binding. I hand stitched the binding down in the back.

Goals for next week will be working on Double Wedding Ring Quilt, Churn Dash’s will start on Monday, and I have another easy quilt that I want to start working on. I am also going to take a 10 minute walk early early in the AM and 20 minutes on the bike. I do miss the time outside and need to walk.

As far as Cabin Fever goes, I believe that I have conquered it by continuing my exercise program each day and sitting in the early morning sun for 10 to 15 minutes. (OK I have been known to sit in the hot sun about 11:00 am for 10 minutes). Vitamin D is so important to our moods!

Have a wonderful week, happy stitching, and if you are in drought land like we are – pray for RAIN!

Hugs, Nanette