April 2021 – Chopin – A Passionate Quilter From Texas

April 30, 2021May 1, 2021

Life in 2021 and an Interesting History Lesson!

Greetings to all! We are home from our getaway and do I have a story to tell! But first, I forgot to post a picture of the block for Santa Fe SAL ! So here it is! I am using Elija’s Indigo fabric line by Betsy Chutchian for this project. The block is 12 inches square! Now for Block Number 2 (tomorrow – still catching up on emails so no sewing today!)

OK here we go on our trip to Durant OK and what an eye opener it was. We stayed in the Grand Hotel which is located in the middle of the 3 hotels. The one on the far right will open up in August! We left early Sunday morning, it is a 7 hour drive (with 3 quick stops) from the East of San Antonio, Texas to Durant OK. We were very blessed because the traffic through Dallas was very easy and no stopping because of backlog or wrecks (at least going North). I will say that the Hotel facilities and Casino was extremely clean and we had no worries about that. In fact there were not a lot of visitors Monday and Tuesday, but it was packed when we arrived on Sunday! The Valet Service, Housekeeping, Players Club personnel, and the Front Desk personnel were fantastic! Evidently, like all other businesses, they are hurting for Service help. In fact on Tuesday, they were having a job fair and offering $1,000.00 sign up bonus if you accepted a position with the Choctaws.

Who would have ever THOUGHT that our Government would pay people more money than they were making while working. The current people (?) in the Government has established a policy to just give out money like it was candy to entice people to NOT work! We saw the effects of it first hand. We applaud each and everyone of the young people who were college students and working at the facilities. They will be the leaders of tomorrow. Not the ones who chose to let the Government take care of them!

Here is a little history about President Andrew Jackson who was the benefactor of the establishment of the Democratic Party in 1828. I will share with you what happened to the Five Civilized Tribes based on President Jackson’s Indian Removal Act of 1829 below. I firmly believe that if the current Democrats remain unchecked, that bad things will continue to get worse – have you ever thought that maybe the Government could take your land or take your property and spread it around to others who are too lazy to work? Read on!

Clay is a member of the Choctaw Tribe and a 7th generation grandson of Chief MoShuLaTubbe one of the original Choctaw Chiefs. He is also a member of the First Families of the Twin Terrorities of Oklahoma. MoShuLaTubbe fought in the Creek War of 1813–14 and at the Battle of New Orleans with Andrew Jackson, who eventually became a traitor to him and his people when Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act of 1829. MoShuLaTubbe was a very influential Chief and one of three Choctaw Chiefs who signed the Dancing Rabbit Treaty. President Jackson broke the treaty with the Choctaws along with Cherokees, Creeks, Chickasaws, and Seminoles and (The Five Civilized Tribes) and sent them on the Trail of Tears where many of the Indians died. They forced them to leave on 26 December 1832 in the dead of winter. The total of deaths from each tribe were: Cherokee (4,000), Creek, Seminole (3,000 in Second Seminole War – 1835–1842), Chickasaw (3,500), Choctaw (2,500–6,000), Ponca (200)

OK enough history! We were scheduled to come home on Friday, BUT, on Tuesday while Clay took a nap, I decided to call our local County Commissioner and discuss some road issues. From that conversation I was advised that last Saturday evening, a Van dropped off a group of ILLEGAL ALIENS close to his daughter’s home. The ILLEGAL ALIENS came to her door and knocked. Scary! Then he advised me that in La Vernia area a van dropped off another group of ILLEGAL ALIENS. We live in a rural county and do not need this type of problem. San Antonio is having issues with home break in’s along with the Hill Country area and of course the Law cannot arrest them thanks to the current administration’s DOJ. Within the year we will all be in the same boat as they have now started to put the ILLEGAL ALIENS rights ahead of American Citizens.

Back to my story! When I was advised about the above news if I had been 10 years younger, I would have had our suitcases packed and on the road by 5PM heading home, but we waited until Wednesday morning. Our home is on 5 acres and we have our buildings alarmed ( getting things ready to add more alarms) but we needed to get home to prevent anyone coming on the property. I do not believe we will be taking anymore week long trips until President Trump is back in office – this country is not safe enough for us to travel other than a short day trip!

So now I can really whip out all my UFOs, quit complaining because we have not gone on a trip, etc! Never again because I do not like doing all that packing and unpacking anymore and not have the comforts of our home. OH how I miss our RV! We could go anywhere and only have to stop for fuel and I could cook my special food. But at our age, we must accept that we are past that phase. We had 16 wonderful years of traveling and now it is time for day trips and maybe someday more Quilt Shows to attend.

Have a wonderful week-end and happy stitching! Enjoy your home and stay vigilant as the ILLEGAL ALIENS will be coming your way too!

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;PHD in 2021;

April 19, 2021

To-Do Tuesday – 20 April 2021

Well, don’t fall off your chair, but I am working only To Do Tuesday post today (Monday)! I have some completions to show and am so happy as I am getting closer and closer to finishing all the “old” UFOs that have been around as long as 10 years! YEA!

Last Thursday I had my Radio Frequency Treatment and it was very successful. I did lose a couple of days with my quilting but feeling great since Sunday! Yea!

I have listed a short recap my goals for 2021 that I had listed in January!

Jacobean Lights – 4 blocks remaining – Completed Started in 2010!
Stars Around the Garden Medallion – Waiting to be sewn into a quilt top.
Dresden Heaven – Appliquéing to background blocks
Stonefields – Finish Sections 6-10 – 60% complete. No Progress
Celebrating Mary Brown – 2020 project on hold – Maybe in June
A Bountiful Life – Ready to add borders this week
OMIGOSH – Completed
The Arrowhead Block project – Cancelled
Sweet Stitches – Completed
Antique Blue and White Quilt – New to work on after May
Eleanor Burns Egg Money Quilt – New to work on after May with 1930 fabrics
RSC Challenge 2021 – NEW – Cancelled

I have FINALLY started Dresden Heaven. I believe there are 105 mini and 10 large Dresden Plate blocks to applique to background squares. The small ones are appliqued to 5” Squares. I cut a section of the background fabric and draw a grid. This makes it much easier to applique when working with small blocks.

Background fabric with grid drawn for placement of mini Dresden Plates

I am very pleased with my progress so far for the month of April. ! I have completed 3 UFO quilt tops with A Bountiful Life to be completed this week! I am FINALLY beginning to see the light at the end of the UFOs. Now to get with the long arm quilting in May! I do believe my back will support me and can possible catch up with my quilting.

My goals for 19-26 April are as listed below. I am trying to work in some BOWs and SAL just for fun.

Work on Dresden Heaven in the evening
Complete border for A Bountiful Life
Start Redwork Baskets BOW – New
Begin working on Stars Around the Garden Setting
Start Sewialites – Starting with 2 blocks. New
Santa Fe Trail SAL – Block 1 completed – (Blocks come out every 3 weeks) New

I will be working this week on my projects, but next week is vacation time! YIPPEE! Have a great week and will attempt to do a post from afar next week!

Have a great week and happy stitching!

Hugs, Nanette

April 19, 2021April 19, 2021

Jacobean Holiday (Lite)

Good morning and hope all are having a great day – if you are interested, check in on Mike Lindell’s new web site for Conservatives! Very interesting! Great guest and for the next 2 days it will be live! After that, it will be a site for Conservatives to voice their opinions without their voice being cancelled!

Now to my happiness on UFO finishes! I started this quilting in February 2010 while in Sierra Vista, Arizona for the winter. I believe this was the first Block I made.

I looked for other blocks that I made during the process and the only other one is this one! Not sure of the date as to when I finished it.

So after 11 years, the quilt is finished! I did remove approximately 7 blocks that I just did not want to do. I am on a mission to complete all UFO quilts this year. I have 2 other UFOs that were started within the last 4 or 5 years that will complete my goal. I believe that I may have them completed by the end of May. So here is my version of Jacobean Holiday by Pat Campbell.

I am so happy to have completed the quilt! It is a total different setting for her original pattern and I am pleased with the gold and black borders! Enjoy!

Have a wonderful day and see you tomorrow on To-Do-Tuesday!

Hugs, Nanette

April 18, 2021

It’s an HQAL and Slow Sunday Stitching Day!

Good morning Quilters! It is HQAL and a Slow Sunday Stitching day all in one! Take the time to click on the ladies (links below) who participate in HQAL and review their latest projects.

We are now the new Desert for sure – 66 days without rain, and 141 days with some rain, but nothing over an inch or two! Setting up a piggy bank for tree cutting – maybe I need to get a part time job because the tree cutting business is beginning to really boom in South Texas and probably all across the state. The area lakes are down about 49 feet! We will just pray for rain because there is nothing in the forecast forthe remainder of April.

Now on to Jacobean Holidays. I finally have it on the Design Wall and know what I will do with it! The last 4 blocks (along with a few that were finished but did not make the Design Wall) are in the “trash drawer” never to be used! I think I just may hand quilt this puppy as the background fabric is very light weight and probably would not be a good candidate for the long arm machine. I have one more border to add and then I will do a post tomorrow for To Do Tuesday.

Counting down the time to head to our favorite Casino! Cannot wait! Have a great week!

Hugs, Nanette

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piercers to share and motivate one another. We pot 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, Deb, Sharon, Sherrie, Gretchen, Karin, Daisey, Connie, Sherrie

April 13, 2021April 13, 2021

To-Do Tuesday – 13 March 2021 – OOPS 13 April 2021

Happy Tuesday! The weather in South Texas is really something this year. The Oak Pollen was up to 40,000 and it got me this time! The trees are blooming so pretty this year even with the horrible drought. There is a chance that the next 5 days will bring some rain and I am hoping for a gully washer! 10 inches would be fine with us as we have had about 2 inches all winter. We used to average 30 inches a year, but that stopped around 2006.

I accomplished a lot this past week. Life has been peaceful but the pollen caused me problems with my Meniere’s. I did complete the insurance problem so that is a DONE DEAL FOREVER!

Here were my goals for this last week:

Applique Jacobean Lights – The 3 blocks are win the trash drawer!
Sweet Stitches Borders and into a finished top – Goal 12 April. Completed
A Bountiful Life Border – Still working on X
Dresden Heaven – prepare fabric background grid – Completed
Stars Around the Garden – Begin working on Setting – Still working on X
Stonefields – Either finish the last 4 sections or forget them – May
Celebrating Brown – prepare 2 blocks for applique –May
Antique Blue and White Quilt – New Project – May
Kaye England’s Mystery Medallion – New Project – May
Quilt Autumn Jubilee – Still working on. X

The 3 blocks remaining for Jacobean Lights will not be finished, as I have had enough of that quilt. I will take all the finished blocks and put a top together. Hopefully it will come out nice without those puppies!

I did finish Sweet Stitches. I did not like the fabrics that came with the blocks, so I found a black fabric with red, blue, yellow, and green tiny dots in my stash. I pulled some batiks that matched the dots and started with a different color for each block. I was hoping that by doing it that way when sew together the corners would pull them together. That did not work like I thought it would, so I ripped the corner squares out and decided to put a blue, red, yellow, and green around each block in the corner. I am very pleased with the outcome! (My colors remind me of the Microsoft image! LOL) The fabric used for the background and borders is a beige Crackle fabric, some of my favorites for embroidery. Today I will finish with doing a buttonhole stitch around the little add on’s that came with the patterns (i.e., Easter eggs, flag, etc)

For Dresden Plates, I have cut fabric and drawn the grids for 5″ blocks for appliquéing the Dresden Plates. There are 109 small plates and about 10 of the larger plates. If I become “dedicated” to it at night I might finish the quilt by the end of May!

My goals for 12 April – 19 April are:

A Bountiful Life Border – Select fabric and finish!
Dresden Heaven – prepare fabric background grid – Applique Plates to background
Stars Around the Garden – Begin working on adding borders and blocks
Load Autum jubilee on long arm
Start on Sewcialites – Maybe!
Make a block for Melva’s Santa Fe Trail

We will be traveling later this month, so my To-Do list is rather slim. But May will be a full month and I will be busy continuing on with UFOs and hopefully by June I can start on some new projects. Life and time will tell the story on this goal! LOL

In the meantime – have a wonderful week and enjoy stitching!

Hugs, Nanette

April 11, 2021

Happy Slow Sunday Stitching!

Happy Sunday to all. I am very happy as I have completed the package for BCBS Insurance on the BAMC reimbursement! We received a letter yesterday from Clay’s secondary and this morning I finished up a cover letter and a few other things and the 250 page package is in the Priority Box and going to be mailed in the morning. I have now quit my billing job! Life has been back to normal in the last month and now looking forward to our trip this month.

I have been experiencing more Meniere’s attacks lately (having one today) with the weather and Barometric Pressure going bonkers! Oh well, nothing compared to being BAMC’s billing agent! LOL.

This week I have completed 2 quilts – OMIGOSH and Sweet Stitches! Great week of sewing and so peaceful and quiet! I love the way Clay fixed a way for me to hang my finished quilt tops to take my pictures, but even hanging the quilt does not do them justice in the pictures as they seem to flare on the bottom. Knowing Clay, he will devise a way to correct that issue! The borders are not wavy, they just appear to be on OMIGOSH. This quilt is heavy!!!

Sweet Stitches was a BOM from Kathy Schmitz which included fabric in each monthly block. The project was originally designed to make 12 individual blocks to change out each month, but I wanted to make a quilt from the blocks. I selected a black fabric for the setting blocks that has green, blue, yellow and red dots. (Does not show in the picture) I wanted to add some color to the quilt and am very pleased with the outcome!

I hope that everyone has a great week, I am looking forward to my RF back treatment on Thursday and getting some extra energy! But I know that I am back in the groove of quilting and that makes me happy! Now if Mr Meniere’s would go pester someone else it would really make me happy!

Hugs, Nanette

April 6, 2021

To-Do Tuesday – Happy Day 6 April 2021

Greetings! April is turning out to be a great positive month for us! Things are really getting back to normal. Weather is acceptable and we have a trip planned for this month! Finally something to look forward to for fun!

Yesterday I took time to evaluate my weekly and monthly check out my thought process for my UFO goals. Taking the time to do this has encouraged me that by June I just may be caught up!

Applique Jacobean Lights – Work on the 3 large blocks by Goal by 20 April or forget it
Sweet Stitches Borders and into a finished top – Goal 12 April
A Bountiful Life Border – Goal 12 April
Dresden Heaven – prepare fabric background grid – Goal 12 April
Stars Around the Garden – Begin working on Setting – 12 April
Stonefields – Either finish the last 4 sections or forget them – May
Celebrating Brown – prepare 2 blocks for applique -May
Antique Blue and White Quilt – New Project – May
Kaye England’s Mystery Medallion – New Project – May
Quilt Autumn Jubilee

If I do not complete the 3 remaining blocks for the Jacobean Lights then they will be put in the “never never’ drawer and I will put the other blocks together for a top. The other 3 goals will be doable in the next week and it will be great if I can achieve that goal. As far as quilting tops, my RF has been delayed until the 15th of April. I should be able to quilt at least 1 top this month. The trip will prevent me from accomplishing other things, but the getaway is worth it! I will come back ready to get on the “Catch up” quilting train!

Now for the finishes! I am thrilled that I am completely finished with OMIGOSH!

This quilt was my challenge quilt and so glad I did it! I will say that I have never seen so many strings and raveling of fabric in my 20 years of quilting. This quilt will be quilted soon as possible because anytime you touch it there are more strings on the floor!

I love being able to hang my quilts when taking pictures, but have not figured out how to get the bottom from appearing wavy. The quilt is square even if it looks wavy! I forgot to measure it and will not until it is complete finished but it is close to 60″ x 70″.

Next goal completed! I have finished hand quilting the main part of Indian Summer. I have decided to put it away for awhile to let my fingers rest. I also need time to study the borders and decide the best way to quilt them. The quilting will be 1/4″ to prevent flaring, so I need to allow myself the time to do it correctly. The last last time I hand quilted a quilt was in July 2013, so I have really enjoyed the hand quilting and moving this one into the finished column by June. I remember when and where I purchased this fabric in 2002, and I never thought I would ever complete it but I am close to the finish line!

Have a wonderful day and today is hair cut day for me – long time in coming!

Hugs, Nanette

April 5, 2021

Reviewing UFOs and What is Next!

Well, it is 5 April 2021 and Spring has come and gone here in South Texas (the new Desert) and Summer is here – they are predicting 90’s this week – and the walk this morning was back to the Sauna! I am getting used to it again (not really).

I finished OMIGOSH yesterday! (Check out my To Do Tuesday post tomorrow) I remember when I purchased that pattern and how I wanted to make the quilt but could not decide on the fabrics and if I really wanted to drive myself to work with such small blocks. I finally decided to use Barbara Brackman’s Ladies Album, Richmond Reds, and Union Blues fat quarter bundles and Bella Solids for the background. Now that I have completed this challenge quilt, I need to review where I was at the beginning of the year and if I was able to accomplish any of my goals.

On 1 January 2021 I posted a listing of UFOs! I must continue to ask myself WHY did I do that? The insurance issue was not yet resolved, and it still is not, but we have both taken a different approach and view of how to handle whatever the outcome of the reimbursement happens. The attitude is now ‘WE DO NOT GIVE A XXXX”. Clay and I are blessed and we just want to get back to a normal peace and quiet life! I will say that the problem is in the appeals process with Medicare and WebTPA. As soon as we get the EOBs back from Web they are going to BCBS and whatever they pay on is it! Our lives have left the train station leaving Insurance Idiots in the dust! LOL

So here I sit on 5 April 2021 trying to make a decision on what I want to do next. So many things that I want to do. Knitting, Cross Stitching, Embroidery, Lap Weaving, Sashiko, and Quilting! I have just too many hobby projects that are near finish, halfway finished, not even started, etc. But I take comfort in the fact that I am not the only one and that makes me feel a little more sane!

As I sat here writing this post, Jaydee called – talk about an Angel appearing! Here is the outcome of that phone call that helped me make decisions on what UFOs I will finish and I mean finish by June 2021!!!

We discussed my UFOs and she suggested that I just go ahead and do a border for the Bountiful Life (it will be a surprise) and call it a day on that quilt.

Then she agreed with my decision on the border for Stars Around the Garden – add the border and do the appliqued flowers in each corner! YEA another one on the road to completion.

Next in line is Dresden Plates quilt. I am going to select the background fabric, cut out some background fabric and draw a grid and start appliquéing them at night. I will take a few days to make a final decision on fabric.

I am going to take a break from hand quilting on Indian Summer as soon as I finish the section I am working on now and just let it sit until I know what I really want to do with the borders.

Jacobean Holiday is a quilt that I started in or around 2010! I have 3 large blocks ready to applique. They are the Christmas gift box, the Tree with Angels, and the Pineapple above the box. I will give myself 2 weeks to either finish the 3 or forget them! That is it! If I do not finish them then the quilt will be put together without them! Final Decision!

Sweet Stitches requires little borders sewn around each block (fabric came with each pattern) so it will become an embroidery quilt with some scrappy borders! I will also have to do button hole stitching around the little goodies that came with each block (i.e., the Birds, Easter eggs) as they are ironed on. Call it a close finish!

Once I am caught up with these projects, I will again start working on Stonefields, Mary Brown, and my Antique Blue and White Quilt which is a sewing project. I signed up for Kay England’s Mystery Medallion quilt but will not start it or the Blue and White until I have completed all of the above UFOs! I am going to shoot for June 2021!

I have enjoyed writing this post. It has given me a way to logically approach the remaining UFOs and I have needed that. Sometimes when we work on UFOs it becomes more of a job than fun, but I have invested a lot of hours in these projects and there is no sense in letting them just sit for someone else to finish them when I am gone!

Now the next very important goal is to get with the long arm and quilt. I may try to get one done before my RF treatment on the 15th. We shall see. If I do it will be Autumn Jubliee OR, OR, OMIGOSH. OMIGOSH is a very heavy quilt and I will do a rather large meandering with a looser stitch length than I usually use. I do not want to have problems with it and I would like to see it on the quilt rack finished. I may have time to do both before we go on our trip. If not, I am certain that in May I will be doing a lot of quilting on my long arm, or start selling the tops!

Well, this is it for today! I will have my To-Do Tuesday on time this week with a set of a goals that are reachable for next week. Have a great week and stay positive (well, as positive as we can with all the craziness).

Hugs, Nanette

April 4, 2021

Happy Easter – Slow Sunday Stitching

Happy Easter and may you have a peaceful day. The weather is nice here in South Texas, but summer is a coming this week – into the 90’s! We have scheduled a week away to Durant Oklahoma and a Casino Visit! I am so looking forward to this trip. It has been over 20 months since we have been able to take a trip. It is so wonderful to have a trip to plan. We will mask up and go listen to all the noise and I will come home refreshed and ready to quilt and just enjoy life!

Today is Slow Sunday Stitching with Kathy! I have been working on my Indian Summer quilt and am almost finished with the “mountain” side of the quilt. I should be able to finish this portion today. Then I will study the 3 borders and decide what to do next. Jaydee always tells me that the quilt will let me know what to do next! I am listening! LOL

The last week I have been pampering myself with some French General fabrics. Clay and I visited the Mesquite Bean Shop in San Antonio about a week ago and I picked up 2 pieces of the line along with some 108″ backing fabrics. If you purchased the end of the bolt you received 10% off and 2 of the bolts that I liked were a little over 4 yards each – fairly good buy.

Jan Patik fabric on the left and a Grunge on the right

I purchased some French General Fat Quarters last year – in fact I accidentally purchased 2 of the Le Beau Papillon packages – think I was not thinking! LOL But the fabric will not go to waste! The first fat quarter bundle I purchased was from their Chafarcani line. I purchased 2 yards of Chafarcani and La Rose Rouge from the Mesquite Bean Shop. I did not have any of that line so I went shopping at Hancocks of Paduchah and found 3 sets of fat quarters to be able to make another French General quilt. I love the reds that they have and all of the entire lines will go together. French General has been around a long time, but I am just now getting to where I wanted something different and this is it!

OMIGOSH is a quilt top! I have auditioned fabric for the border and decided on a nice reproduction red. I am going to follow the pattern with a 1″ finished border of the red and Bella solids and then a 4″ border of the red. There are 5,400 pieces in this quilt. It will be approximately 56″ x 66″.