Fall in bloom

These are some of the plants currently blooming on our patio. Top to bottom: Caladium bicolor "Pink Beauty"--the flower is the ugly brown thing to the left; Portulaca grandifloria, variety unknown; Hosta lancifolia--the flowers are pale purple; Kalanchoe "Flaming Katy"; Tacoma stans "Esperanza"--known as Yellow Bells; and Crinum powellii "Alba". DH has two green thumbs for sure--hostas and crinums aren't supposed to do well in South Texas!

On Saturday afternoon I went over to my friend Carol's house. A friend of hers had a friend who was a quilter who had recently died leaving a huge stash that her family was not interested in keeping. Carol agreed to liquidate the stash for them, making sure the bulk of the proceeds go to charity. Her dining room is full of boxes and bins of the most beautiful fabrics you could imagine, as well as books, magazines, kits, and patterns. I helped her sort through about a quarter of the boxes, drooling as we went. It was a lot of fun, even if it wasn't my stuff. It was like going on a shopping spree just to browse. The quilter was obviously very knowledgeable, and didn't hesitate to spend money to get the good stuff. I want dibs on some of the things when they go on sale! Although Carol asked me to take anything I really wanted, it wouldn't have felt right to take much. I did, however, take 4 magazines that I had been trying to find on eBay. I figured that was "pay" enough for two hours of work (even if it was more like play to us!) The poor woman, a former nurse who was just my age, died of myasthenia gravis. I'm sure that near the end it must have been very hard for her to do any quilting, but it was obvious that she did her best to continue as long as she could. I felt that it could just as easily have been myself who had been affected, so I really felt good about helping Carol out, and will gladly help her again to sort out more of the boxes.

In a similar vein, on Sunday DH and I went to the storage unit that holds the lion's share of my stash (temporarily, while DS and DDIL are living with us.) I had a list of six things I wanted to search for, and I expected it to take at least an hour. To my surprise, I found four out of the six within about twenty minutes; as well as a few other things that I didn't know I wanted until I saw them. I found all my silk ribbon and embroidery floss, some perle cotton balls, some Dye-Na-Flo paints, two quilt tops that I want to finish soon, and a case of spools of punch-needle yarns. I didn't find the blue-green fiber sheets I mentioned here before, or the book on fabric dyeing which is something I want to try soon. I know they are in there somewhere, but I wasn't willing to tear up the whole place just to find those two items. I have another dyeing book on order from eBay anyway, and hopefully it will get me started.

I haven't forgotten my promise to try to become more artistic in my work. I have started on a small wall piece with a Buddha theme. I am finding it hard to let go of the perfectionist side that wants everything pristine and exact, in order to work more freely and casually with the fabrics.

I also bought a children's board book with large sturdy pages. I intend to make it into an altered book piece, using mixed media collage to express the theme "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." The first step will be to paint over all the pages with white paint--and even that is hard for me to do. Once that is done I think it will be much easier to work on it. I will keep track of my progress on this blog.

Military benefits

DH and I went to the pharmacy at the base hospital yesterday; we walked out 20 minutes later with 90 days worth of all our prescriptions FOR FREE!! How neat is that?? Hurray for Tricare! He's been showing me around the base so I will know where all the amenities are. We went to the commissary and I couldn't pass up the gorgeous roasts they had. Most things are priced close to what they are in the local supermarket, but there's no sales tax.

I finally got my military ID card updated--it had expired a year ago. Now if DH's Medicare cards would get here, we'd be in business. I did find out that I can be reimbursed for up to one year of prescriptions, so I got the paperwork for that.

At OES last night I got called up to the front. I figured I was in some trouble now! but as it turned out, they presented me with a certificate that I am now an endowed member! an Eastern Star for life. DH had paid the steep price to do that for me, and kept it a secret while it was in the works. I was astounded, and the others there were appropriately wowed. I'm only the 5th member of the chapter to be an endowed member, and the other four are people who have not been there since we joined in January.

DH often does things like that for me, and I am very appreciative. Today is his 65th birthday. Happy Birthday, honeybun!

I am on a quest to find a type of non-woven fiber sheet called Lutradur. I have heard a lot of artists talking about how cool this stuff is. Sure, I can order it off the net, but surely there is someplace locally I can get some. I've tried all the craft stores, and Lowe's. My search is not over--I know that florists use it to wrap flowers, and it is used for some construction purposes in a heavyweight form. I intend to keep looking until I find some. I've got some stuff I picked up after a formal dinner a few years ago. It had been used to cover the white tablecloths and was a pretty blue and green mottled color, similar in weight to a sew-in interfacing and sort of the texture of dryer sheets. Maybe this is Lutradur, I don't know. I may try using it for the same purposes to see if it works. I just have to find it in the storage unit. What a hassle! I have to get someone to spend the time to go with me, I don't feel safe spending much time alone there. Hopefully I can get DH to go with me this weekend sometime, if he has a couple of spare hours.

Today's output

I made this pincushion this afternoon. It's a free pattern located on the Husqvarna Educational pages: http://usaapp.husqvarnaviking.com/education/pdf/2102Pinball.pdf and is very easy to put together. I used my specialty machine stitches to decorate the panels, and my name is stitched on two of the panels so I can take it to classes, etc. I added the buttons just to cover the joined points.

These are 60 4" squares of thirties reproduction fabrics I recently received, along with the 40-5" batik squares below, all from eBay.

That's probably all the fabric squares I'll buy for awhile. I love getting a "squishy" package in the mail, but there are things I'm planning to get that I need more than fabric. (Did I really say that??)

Corpus Christi is on a "boil water advisory" for this week due to E-coli being found in the water. It's a real hassle to have to buy water or boil it to cook with. We've been drinking more Coke and juices than usual. I miss my iced tea! We normally have very good-tasting water here, but the city is adding extra chlorine so it tastes pretty funky right now.

Tropical depression Erin went through with a whimper early this morning, giving us a good rain but nothing else. Hurricane Dean is headed this way, due to make landfall in the middle of next week. We'll be watching that closely to decide whether or not to put up the plywood over the windows.

Over the last few evenings I have been going through two boxes of craft and quilting patterns that I have downloaded from the Internet during the past few years, organizing them into categories and putting them in file folders. I have dozens of patterns for purses, tote bags, purse accessories, etc. I have always felt that I could never have too many patterns. My idea is that someday I may not be able to afford new patterns, fabric, supplies, etc. so I get them now so I'll have lots of choice when that time comes. In all actuality that time may never come (knock wood) but boy, will I be prepared! Of course, the two boxes of patterns I've gone through are only the latest batch--I have tons of stuff in the storage unit filed away, plus hundreds of magazines full of patterns as well. I have left strict instructions that when I die, all my stuff is to be sold on eBay--dust to dust, so to speak.

Life Improvements

These two pictures are of some fabric sets I bought on eBay. They are Gypsy Song by Susan Winget for Benartex. The top photo is of 40 --5" squares. The second is of 40 --2.5" strips x 44" long. Together they should make up a nice wallhanging or lap quilt. I love the color combination.


This is a photo of 36--4" squares. I'll add these to the other squares I've received to make something, although I don't have anything in mind yet.

Tomorrow I have to make up about 12 cups of party mix for my quilt group meeting. I have a new recipe for it that I got from Taste of Home magazine; it uses ranch dressing mix to flavor it. I hope it turns out well--I really shouldn't use a recipe for a group until I've tried it out first, but this once I'll give it a try.

Things are just teetering on the cusp of some major improvements in our finances, etc. DH checked on his SS payments--they should start on the first of next month. His Medicare letter and cards are supposed to arrive by the end of the month. He also went to the Naval Base to see what he needed to do to sign up for TriCare. They informed him that he has been covered by TriCare Standard for the last 5 years!!! It would have been nice if they had sent him some cards or some kind of welcome packet. 5 years!!! during which I had multiple major surgery, he had major surgery, and we both incurred thousands of dollars worth of medical bills and pharmacy bills which were only partially covered by BCBS, and would have been covered by TriCare. The lady at the base said it would be almost impossible to recoup any of that at this point, that the paperwork would drag on for years and we would probably only get a fraction of it in return. Oh, well--water under the bridge. On the first of the month he will be eligible for TriCare for Life, and I will be eligible for TriCare Prime. We will be able to keep our present physicians, and we only live about 4-5 miles from the base.

He also discovered that he might be able to get a part-time job as a civilian worker at the base, which he would love to do. He is not happy at his present job, but after 26 years as a Hospital Corpsman he would easily qualify to work as a nurse at the base hospital (he has been an RN for about 34 years.) I would really love for him to do that, as the stress has really been tough on him lately. Stress on him translates into stress on me.

All in all, the first of next month should mark the dawn of a new period of our lives, with more income, fewer expenses, and less stress. Other than winning the state lottery, I couldn't ask for anything better!

Finished!

I finally finished both floral quilts today. This one is laying on top of a quilt my grandmother pieced for me. How do you like the sashing? It's a Madras plaid that I think really works well with the blocks. The binding is purple, sewn to the back, turned to the front, and machine sewn with a feather stitch to the front. This is my favorite way of attaching a binding. The corners are mitered by the Eleanor Burns method. The backings are gingham check flannel, one in lavender and the other in lime green. I'm really pleased with them.

DH went to the oncologist yesterday to get the results of his tests. To our relief, they were all normal, so he did not need to receive the injection. His feeling sick is evidently not Carcinoid syndrome, but a result of the damage already done to his intestinal tract. He is scheduled to have some scans done next month--if those are okay his cancer will be considered to be in remission.

This is an enormous load of stress off my shoulders. Dealing with cancer in a loved one changes your perspective on everything. Advance planning goes out the window. You tend to re-evaluate what you want out of life; day-to-day existence changes from running the rat race to just living in the moment. There are things my DH and I have always wanted to do but didn't think were viable options; we are re-thinking all of that. For DH that meant going back to growing plants. It has given him something to look forward to, a hope for the future. Now it appears he will have the chance to see his plants (and his nursery business) bear fruit.

I have been reading lots of other blogs lately, mainly those of art quilters, surface embellishers, and fabric dyers. I am getting lots of inspiration from them, and wish I could be as talented as many of them obviously are. I want to be able to express myself artistically but I have a hard time doing it. So far I have made things from other people's patterns, but I have been really nervous about stretching myself into the unknown. I think it's time to try some new things, and to experiment with art.

I suppose one of my problems with art is that I have a very logical mind. I am good at organization, and I like everything to be in its place. But art is not like that. It is free-form and spur-of-the-moment, an intuitive process. The pieces that most impress me are full of bright color, but still recognizable as what they are meant to represent. Abstract art makes little sense to me. I will have to really push myself to work outside the patterns. We'll see over the next few months if this effort pays off.

A Colorful Day

This is what my sewing area looks like now, with DS's dining table serving as my sewing table. I have room to spread a quilt out as I sew now. I finished the quilting on the second floral quilt this evening. Wednesday I plan on put on the binding on both quilts, time willing.

DH and I went out to eat at Luby's tonight, very good dinner. Then he took me to see "Underdog" which was lots of fun. It was a good job of translating the 60's and 70's cartoon into a live action film. I give it 4 stars.

These are some coasters I made yesterday. Our quilt group did these as a project last fall, and I'm just now getting around to finishing them! They also work as covers for the foot of a wine glass. I don't drink wine, though--so coasters they be!

I got this fabric postcard in the mail today. It's a pretty little fairy for a swap called Myth and Magic. Thanks, Sandra!


I bought these 6" squares on eBay Thursday and received them today. There are 9 squares of each of the 8 colors. Can you tell that I love bright colors? I have ordered some other sets of squares from eBay and will post them as I get them.

Today was a pretty good day. Tomorrow: oncologist appointment, grocery shopping, Eastern Star meeting with supper afterwards at Ihop; keep your fingers crossed that it is just as good a day!

New starts and improvements

I had lots of fun playing with the long-arm quilting machine today, as you can see. I tried every kind of design I could think of. The instructor, Becky, was pleased that I seemed to catch on so quickly. The lesson took two hours, and half of that was threading the machine and pining the quilt layers to the leaders. The second hour was actually using the machine.

Half the battle is knowing what design you want to make before you get to the point of doing it. The seagull design started out to be a duck but he evolved as I drew him. I was able to write my name (not shown) fairly legibly as well. Becky was very patient with me and let me try anything I wanted to try. Mainly I just doodled.

The hearts and the fishes were fairly easy to do. The fork-like shape--I don't know what that was supposed to be! I decided that I can do this as long as I have a drawing in front of me of what my finished design is supposed to be. The lesson was well worth the $40 it cost me. I'm nowhere near perfect, but it's good enough for my purposes.

DH bought this coleus for me and planted it in the front flower-bed. I wanted some instant color, and this plant jumped out and grabbed me at the nursery. He is replanting the bed to use as a demonstration bed for his iris. The air conditioner condensate drips into this area, so it's always moist--perfect for his bog iris and flags.

I had been wishing for months that I had a dining table, but we couldn't really afford to buy one. I suddenly remembered that my DS and DDIL, who live with us, had a dining table they were storing in our backyard shed. They were fine with letting me use it until they need it. So now I have a dining table that I can spread a quilt out on, or work on other crafts and be able to spread out. We won't eat on it unless we have company (we can't see the TV from the dining room!) I'll be spending the next few days getting all my sewing stuff rearranged to fit around the table.

Quilting Progress

I gave up on trying to use my sewing machine for free-motion quilting. I just can't get the hang of it. So I've put the feed-dogs back up and I've quilted one of my flower applique quilts that way. I echo quilted around the flower and around the block. It looks okay, and is close enough together for W&N batting. I've got four blocks of the second quilt done as well--I hope to finish it by this weekend. I need to find a fabric that will work as binding for both quilts. I'm thinking maybe fuschia or purple. I used quilter's flannel for the backings, a lavender check on one and a lime green check on the other.

I'll take my first lesson in long-arm quilting tomorrow. I have two pieces of white muslin, 44" square, and a larger piece of W&N batting for the sandwich. I hope to use colored thread for practicing so I can easily see what I'm doing wrong. I expect to have a lot of fun with it!

DH did not get his injection yet--they want to wait until his test results come in. He goes back for the results on the 7th. He is back to work now, and seems to be feeling better anyway.