October 2020 – Chopin – A Passionate Quilter From Texas

October 27, 2020

To-Do-Tuesday – 10/27/2020

What a great morning here in South Texas – Winter is here for the week – hope it stays for 6 months. We had the lowest temperatures (48) about 7 PM last night since April 2020! This morning it was 38 degrees with the chill factor. Loved it! It has been one of the longest streaks of horrible high temperatures and humidity in the last 11 years. 2009 was really bad, but the 100’s only lasted about 3 months! Glad it is over with I enjoyed my walk with only a turtleneck shirt and slacks!

These were my goals for the week of 19 through 26 October:

Enjoy my “at home Vacation”! DONE!
Continue on Sweet Stitches November Block. In Progress
Work on Stonefields – Pipe Dream – hoping to get enthused again
Depending on Vacation Mood I can either applique or do some piecing.
- OMIGOSH – No Progress
- Blue and Beige Reproduction Quilt- No Progress
- Begin Applique for Stars Around the Garden. No Progress
- Sew Mary Brown corner blocks together and cut bias strips for the vines. Progress-halfway finished

I have basically had a much better week this last week. I am on schedule for my goal to finish the stems for Celebrating Mary Brown. This is the upper right corner blocks.

And here are both top corners finished and ready to go to the “waiting room” for me to finish the rest of the quilt (no end date for that one!).

The stems really do make the block sections don’t they! I was looking at the Sunflower block. It is interesting the the flower on the lower right hand side does not have a stem!!! I just noticed it and checked the pattern. Guess we are to assume that it is behind the leaf? I think I will leave well enough alone. (Me and my critical eye!!!). LOL

My goals for the next week – 27 Oct-2 Nov will be to work on the following.

Finish appliquéing stems on the bottom 2 corner units for Mary Brown.
Sweet Stitches October Block.
Work on Stonefields remaining Sections – Preparing blocks for applique and piecing blocks
OMIGOSH Blocks (Maybe?)
Blue and Beige Reproduction Quilt (Maybe?)
There are 3 fee on-line BOMs that I want to do a block a week – these will be called “diversions from boredom” projects
- Melva’s Pieces from the Past
- Autumn Jubilee
- Jen’s Monthly Color Challenge – I purchased fabric for this project in December 2019!

Well, this is it for my weekly goals and am looking forward to peace and quiet, boredom sewing, and waiting for the Election to be over with and so happy about Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Bennett! A fellow Cajun!!!!

Have a wonderful week, enjoy the change in weather!

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, For the Love of Geese,Scrap Happy Days, Quilting Patch Linky Party To-Do-Tuesdays

October 25, 2020

Slow Sunday Stitching 25 Oct 2020

Happy Sunday all! I am back to my “off vacation” schedule – Time to get back to earth and back to walking in the heat. The weather was a little warmer and more humid during my 1.5 mile walk this morning. It is a two shower day and hoping to be (maybe) the last one for the winter (?) as we are expecting a Norther tomorrow. Looks like the temperatures will dip into the 40’s at night and 70’s during the day – I can live with it!

I had a much better week – ONE EXCEPTION – OF COURSE – It is called AT&T Directv! We use the Genie and Whole Home but they have changed the software to where the Genie and the HDDVRs do not work together anymore (or at least with the new software upgrade) so we switched to the mini-Genies instead of the DVRs. The order was messed up (charged us $300.00 when the upgrade was to be free) and they did not leave us the Genie Remotes (minor things Huh?). Usual problems with businesses these days. But after a few days and few calls (?) to them, all is fixed.

I made a lot of progress on my Celebrating Mary Brown this week. I am hoping to accomplish more today! I have been adding the stems for the leaves and flowers for each of the corner blocks. I completed the top left corner and half way finished with the right hand corner of the quilt blocks.

OOPS, I see where I need to re-adjust the stem on the top where the two blocks are sewn together the stem is not flowing like I want it to. Funny how we do not see things so clearly until we study a picture!!! Easy fix! This one will be completed and I will move on to the bottom corners.

I have started working on Sweet Stitches October block, but not much headway. Hope to have it finished by next HQAL (next Sunday!).

Have a great Sunday stitching!

Hugs, Nanett

October 21, 2020October 21, 2020

Celebrating Mary Brown Update

Well…..still summer here in South Texas. Maybe next month!

Today I sewed the 4 corner blocks together for Mary Brown. I had to square each individual block to 10 1/2”, then make sure all blocks were in the correct place.

Tomorrow I will cut the bias strips for the Vines. They will not take long to applique.

I did not get this done without a Nanette “goof up”! First I somehow sewed the sunflower on the left corner upside down. I corrected that one easy enough ONLY to realize I had the Sunflower and Pineapple on the bottom corners REVERSED. That was a big 😡.

But all is fixed and I am pleased with where I am on this project.

I am enjoying my “de-stressing” Vacation and am getting back to normal. I hope that everyone is stitching up a storm.

Have a great day!

Hugs, Nanette

October 19, 2020

Slow Sunday Stitching

Yea – I finished the horrible 2nd Sunflower Block! Now all 4 corners are complete and ready to be sewn together and add the connecting Vines.

Have a great day!

Hugs Nanette

Linking up to Slow Sunday Stiching

October 19, 2020

To-Do-Tuesdays and Others

Greetings from lovely South Texas where we just refuse to let a cold front come in! I gave up walking this morning (Monday). Hopefully Tuesday I will just “do it”! We might have some cooler weather starting this week-end. Keeping my fingers crossed.

If you have ever heard of the how the Fight or Flight works within our bodies, I can tell you that mine has been on hyper all year. Last night I decided that the only way I would be able to get off that Choo Choo Train would be to go on a “at home Vacation week”. Being a Type A, a planner, and a perfectionist, it has always been difficult for me to just take a day at a time. But Sunday evening I decided that one way would be to follow Clay and how he does each day – absolute no planning, just doing what he feels he can do for the day.

So the first day of my Vacation was great. I FINISHED the hated Sunflower block for Celebrating Mary Brown.

I procrastinated finishing this block for months, doing anything and everything else in my UFO and new projects stash! A small group of quilters (see below) decided to start on this quilt doing one block a month. I THINK I am caught up with the other Ladies. I chose to do the corners because they will have to be sewn together to applique the vines. I will do this either on my vacation week, or next week, remember I am de-stressing!

Here are my blocks, ready to be sewn together and then applique the vines. I am using the same fabric that Corliss Searcy used for her background. One thing that I figured out (of course after I had done all the applique) was that cutting the background blocks like I did was not the smartest thing I have ever done, unless this was the way it should be. Me think that I will not be happy with the way the blocks fit together, but too late for tears!

Now for To-Do-Tuesday Goals. I have redone my goals for the remainder of 2020. My goals for the week of 13-19 October are here.

I completed the 2nd sunflower block.
No luck on Stonefields
Started on the November Block for Sweet Stitches
Completed 14 blocks for Stars Around the Garden

For 20-26 October I have the following UFOs to work on depending on my mood.

Enjoy my “at home Vacation”!
Continue on Sweet Stitches November Block
Work on Stonefields
Depending on Vacation Mood I can either applique or do some piecing.
- OMIGOSH
- Blue and Beige Reproduction Quilt
- Begin Applique for Stars Around the Garden.
- Sew Mary Brown corner blocks together and cut bias strips for the vines.

We shall see if I have chosen the right thing to work on some time to de-stress and work on my UFO projects rather than starting new ones. I have a great list of projects for 2021 all ready – they are the projects I wanted to do this year. Maybe life will get back to normal in 2021.

Hugs, Nanette

In September 2019, Karen and Cathy selected Celebrating Mary Brown as their next project and invited anyone to join in the fun! The following quilters are participating. We will be showing completed blocks on the 30th of each month! Take the time to visit them to see their completed monthly blocks! If interested let Karen know you are interested in joining the group.

Karen – Log Cabin Quilter (Lead)

Cathy – Biglakequilter

Jennie – Overthehillandrunning

Julie K – Juliekquilts

Robin – solsticestudio

Nanette – Doitrightquilter

Jan – I will post her pictures with mine

October 17, 2020

Stars Around the Garden

Greetings from South Texas again – a nice overcast cool day – but tomorrow summer will be back! Oh Well!

Last Sunday I finished the 14 blocks for Stars Around the Garden. The center Medallion is prepared and waiting for me to applique. I met my goal (well, OK a few days late) but who is keeping track anyway? This is the first time I am using the great setup that Clay did for me as a way to show quilt tops or blocks as I progress without having to move my cutting table!

So I give you the 14 blocks for Stars Around the Garden from beginning to end!

I will need to trim my piece of batting for future use, but this works so well and saves me bundles of time! Thank you Clay – he is just such the Mechanical Engineer! Next on my list is to get the center Medallion applique! It is not a difficult one, just lots of leaves!

Have a week-end and enjoy stitching.

Hugs, Nanette

October 17, 2020

Goals for October-December 2020!

Greeting from South Texas where it almost feels like Fall, at least for yesterday and today! I have now recovered from the 11 days of Hell from the Meniere’s Testing on 6 October.

I am going to update my goals for the weekend and through the end of December 2020 as I will not be sorry to see this year go into the history books.

First, I will not be making the 3030 quilt. If I start a quilt and have problems with the first block, even if I have followed all instructions 100%, I am done. I have decided to make a 1930’s Wedding Ring quilt with the fabrics I purchased. This will kill 2 birds with one stone as one of my 2020 goals was to make a Wedding Ring quilt! I am not sure when I will start it, maybe after I catch up on my UFOs.

Yesterday while trying to find my brain I had a great FaceTime visit with Kathy and a great phone calls with Jaydee and Lori. They are wonderful caring friends and it is great to visit with other quilters either on FaceTime or a great phone call.

After the visits I sat down and spent time relaxing and looking through all the beautiful projects that I want to make in the future and to prioritize them for 2021, which is coming sooner than later. Additionally, I want to get back to where quilting is fun and not stressful. I have a book for 2020 that listed all the projects/UFOs that I wanted to complete this year. I really had to smile looking at it – I think I can just put December 2021 on that puppy.

In the meantime, I will be working on my UFO List left over from 2019/2020. They really need my attention and it would be great to finish them.

Celebrating Mary Brown – Applique (Produce 1 block a month starting in November)
Stonefields – Applique – Finish preparing the remaining Sections.
OMIGOSH – Continue making blocks – hope to finish the quilt in 2021
Stars Around the Garden – Applique the Center Medallion. Possible finish in 2020.
A Blue and Beige Reproduction quilt (pattern from my EQ8)
Dresden Plates (need to cut blocks and applique the plates to them)
Finish the last block for Sweet Stitches and put the blocks together
Work on an Embroidery project from The Art of Home Club called Happy Little Things. I joined this Club a year ago and have not had time to even participate, much less read about all the happenings in the Club. I rejoined and am hoping that things are now on the road to be better.

I am praying that I will have the energy to load and quilt one quilt a week on the Longarm. I am so behind on my quilting as you can see on the list that I made on 22 December 2019 and there are many more tops to quilt other than the list below.

Button Hole Stitched Leaves 2002
Aspen Gold – 2007
Linda Ballards Purple and Beige Quilt – 2008
Angela’s BOM – 2012
Christmas Quilt – 2004 – First pieced quilt I made
Rosemary Young’s BOM – 2015
Capital T – 2019

For my To-Do-Tuesday Linky Party between now and the end of the day Monday (want to get back on a weekly goal track) here are the 3 things I hope to work on.

Complete the Sunflower Block for Mary Brown
Begin preparing the remaining blocks for Stonefields
Complete Block 11 (October) for Sweet Stitches

Have a wonderful week and enjoy stitching!

Hugs, Nanette

October 16, 2020

Life is Not a Bowl of Cherries- But Better Than The Alternative

Greetings from a nice cool breezy morning from South Texas! But this will be short lived as humidity will return by Monday! When I was growing up in San Antonio, the first real cold front that would start our winters would be on Halloween, which happens to be my birthday, and I always received a new coat. It has been years since that has happened. Each year I hope that it will happen again, maybe this will be the year since we are still in above average temperatures in October.

Now for some insight as to where I have been since last Tuesday (6 Oct). As most know I have Meniere’s and Fibromylgia. I deal with it, but stress will impact how those immune issues will be wide awake or sleeping.

This year was highly stressful for Clay and I. Our year has consisted of gun shot wounds, surgeries, aorta valve replacement, eyelid surgery and a multitude of doctor visits, I a bad decision in July to change ENT doctors. The new doctor wanted me to be retested for Meniere’s and BPPV. Once a person is tested for Meniere’s they never want to go through it again. It had been 25 years since I was first tested and I swore I would never do it again, but I did. I am paying for that decision. They have changed how they do the test and it is a torture test and will increase flare ups for a couple of weeks. I have had more episodes in the last 10 days that I have had in 5 years. It has also increased my stress levels and affected my Fibromylgia. This year has turned our normal quiet lives upside down and my ability to work on any projects OR even enjoy my days. The stress has lasted longer than I ever envisioned.

One of the projects that I wanted to make was the 3030 quilt which is geared for Paper Piecing. I am not a paper pieces – I am a traditional quilter and If I cannot get it right that way, then I go to the pattern to see where the problems are – me or the Designer! Then I make a decision whether or not to continue on with the quilt. PP technique is not the use of more fabric, but dealing with the paper, plus a technique that I never developed a desire to perfect. I love the challenge of sewing quilts and applique the old fashioned traditional way.

After finishing all 14 SAG blocks (another post on that) on Sunday afternoon I planned to start working on the 3030 quilt project, but Monday consisted of dealing with a severe Meniere’s attack that lasted over 12 hours, so that day was GONE. On Tuesday I did work on 3030 – the first block! When I completed the block there were 2 or 3 star points that were going to be cut off when sewn together. I followed the pattern 100% and was extremely careful on sewing. That did it for me – I had invested over $200.00 for fabric for this quilt – it was time to cut my losses and try to lower my stress level.

For some good/bad news, on Wednesday I had my hearing aids adjusted to the new hearing test I was given in late July. I have lost 10db in the left hear and 5 in the right ear. Amy told me that it could be attributed to stress and of course Menieres. The adjustment is great though because I can hear better! A PLUS!

Yesterday I was able to submit my last invoice from BAMC to my Medicare-Novitas contact through email. I do not think they want another Congressional from me. There is a very strong indicator that we will not be reimbursed close to $3,000 if Medicare will not process/deny the hospital facilities charge from BAMC. My point of contact now has that problem and the last invoice and it is their problem! I have done all I can do. This problem will continue on through January of 2021 because Medicare has not processed this claim correctly and taking longer than I thought to process the entire claim (almost $7,000.). To reduce this stress I am not going to be concerned anymore. I will wait for Medicare to do the correct thing and then I will have to do a smaller package to BCBS. I pray to God we never have to use BAMC ever again for any treatments. No pity party here on the $$$ – because Clay is doing fine and we are still together. Clay and I are so blessed because we both worked 38 years, found each other when we were 51, and have great insurance and financially secure. So there is no need for us to stress on this issue EVER!

I have now reset my To-Do Goals and will do a post on that also. Looks like today will be a day to get caught up on goals and status on projects.

I know that this time is so difficult for all who cannot get out and about like we all used to. It concerns me that we no longer can have physical contacts such as a hug from a friend because of the Chinese Virus. I feel for the children who cannot go to school and enjoy their friends. I wonder what damage this will do to them in their adult years because trauma that happens when a child is young, will stay with them forever. They must be taught to be strong and that these challenging times will pass, but others will come again and they must learn to go with things as they come.

Well, anyone who got down to this point in my post deserves a medal. I do believe that documenting where I am and how I am going to begin the process of DE-STRESSING from the last 9 months is so important. Thank you for listening.

Enjoy life – By the way did you know what the word BIBLE represents? Here it is:

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth!

Have a wonderful week-end and enjoy each day go with the wind (if possible)

Nanette

October 11, 2020

Celebrating Mary Brown – Slow Sunday Stitching and HQAL

Good morning all! South Texas has returned to summer – 103 yesterday and today will be hotter! What is happening to Fall. Maybe it is an indicator we will have a cold winter as it seems as though we have be HOT for 7 months!

I have been working on my Stars Around the Garden quilt and have one more block to finish! YEA. Beginning to meet my goals inspire of Medicare, BAMC, Eye Doctors, and now Ear Doctors – I am still trucking! LOL.

For HQAL, I have (finally) finished Block 15 for Celebrating Mary Brown.

Here are the blocks that I have completed since I started late last year. I chose to do the corners first as they will need to be sew together before I will do the vines that connect these blocks. (Looking at the blocks I have completed it seems like another lifetime ago that I completed them!)

The missing block is the 2nd Sun Flower – I do not like this block! Funny how we can procrastinate on finishing something when we just do not want to do it! I am determined it will be finished in a few days! I will probably not prepare anymore blocks until November as I will be working on the last block for Sweet Stitches (the October block) and the Medallion for my Stars Around the Garden quilt!

On WordPress. I have found that if I do my posts on my iMAC that I can easily use the Classic and not the Block. I guess I will learn the Block for when I use my iPhone or iPad for posts (if we ever get to travel again). This took a big load off of me for the time being! Life is beginning to get boring here – I LOVE IT!

I do hope all are well and doing fine – other than missing our freedom and life as it was in 2019. BUT all things happen for a reason and we must accept that saying. I really miss a trip to the Casino where I can tune out the world. Have a great week and happy stitching!

Hugs, Nanette

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another. If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Margaret, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Susan, Nanette, Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Connie, Bella, Gretchen, Daisey ,

Connie, Monica, Sherrie.

October 4, 2020October 4, 2020

Slow Sunday Stitching and SAG

Great Sunday Morning! We are having very nice weather and I guess it is considered “Fall” for South Texas. My morning walk is cooler but still not cold enough for me!

I have made a little progress on one of the 2 blocks that I need to finish for Mary Brown. It is the 2nd Basket corner block! Maybe I will become inspired and finish the last flower tonight!

I have finished 14 blocks so far Mary Brown. Once I complete the remaining 2 blocks, I will then sew them together and be able to add the vines.

I am also working on SAG. I have completed 8 blocks of the 14 blocks. There will be an center applique medallion that will be completed later. Here is my progress so far.

I just found out that WordPress has now made their beta the default and I am totally lost and now feel like those on Blogger did when they updated. I do not want to spend the time trying to figure it out. Although I have figured out how to get my pictures into the post. I could yell and scream, but it just means that I won’t be doing anymore posts until I take a day and adjust to this mess. I want to quilt not learn new software!!!!! I am capable of doing it, I just do not want to take the time now. And to think that I pay for this Blog!!!! UGH

Nanette