Photo Play: April Summary

April was another month where I didn't get the camera out much.  Knee surgery and recovery made it difficult to get out and about.  We spent the week before surgery in Texas for the eclipse and that's about the only time my camera saw any use.  Walking was difficult, so I wasn't very enthusiastic or focused on getting good pictures. It was a nice surprise to find some visually interesting photos in the few that I took. 

Grad Girl wanted to pick up some new plants and I wanted new rose bushes for our garden, so we took a short drive over to The Antique Rose Emporium near Independence, TX. This place is as much a garden as it is a place to buy plants. The roses were past their prime, but I found a few other subjects worth photographing.  These photos were taken with my I-Phone 12. 

Imperial Pink Poppy

Geranium Leaves

From there we drove just a few miles down the road to visit Old Baylor park. This was one of our go to places for wild flower photography when we lived in Texas, but the Blue Bonnets were just about gone. There were other photo opportunities.  Photos taken with a Canon 70D with a Tamron 18 - 400 telephoto lens.

Fleabane

 

Indian Paintbrush

The total eclipse on April 8th was so cool to watch.  My Guy went to town with filters, I just decided to use my I-Phone to see what I could get.  I wasn't disappointed. 

Finding fun coffee shops is one of our things when we are on the road.  Polite Coffee Company in Bryan, TX is one of favorites when we visit Grad Girl.  Another I-Phone photo.  

Latte Lace

Our last expedition in Texas was to La Grange (can you hear the ZZ-Top song, yes it was about this town). We've driven by it many times when we lived in the state, but never stopped to visit.  After a very nice lunch, we drove up to Monument Hill/Kreische Brewery.  In addition to the remains of the brewery, the Kreische house is also open to visitors, but the barn made the most interesting photo.  Photo taken with the Canon 70D, 18-400 telephoto lens. 

My favorite photo from April is from the eclipse.  How often do you get to take a photo like that?  Flowers are always a favorite subject, making them memorable is hard, so I'm working on how to do that. My second favorite from April is the barn roof with the window.  It's a bit different from my normal subjects.  Do you have a favorite?  

To Do Tuesday for the Week of 5/14/2024

It's been a quiet week.  We spent the weekend at my Mother's.  Grad Girl was able to take a few days off to fit in a friend's graduation and Mother's Day.  We had a pretty chill weekend, she's back in Texas and we're back home.  I wasn't in my sewing room over the weekend, so I didn't quite get all my to do list for last week checked off. 

To Do List for 5/7/2024

1.  2023 SAHRR: Prep back for quilting - no progress

2.  Guild BOM: Assemble May block - progress

3.  Grandmother's Choice: Find blocks, fabrics, pick next block ✔

4.  Wild and Goosey: Make more purple blocks ✔

5.  Indigo Way: Continue as leaders and enders ✔

Not one of my best weeks, but I'll take the three check marks with progress on a 4th project.  

I've no doctor's appointments or other obligations this week, so hopefully I can do better with this week's to do list. 

To Do List for 5/14/2024

1. 2023 SAHRR (Quilting Gail): Prep back for quilting

The backing is made. It just needs to be pressed well and any loose threads removed.  

2.  Guild BOM: Finish may block

I've got some of the components completed. Still a ways to go to finish this block.  

3. Grandmother's Choice (Barbara Brackman): Cut and assemble block, choose next block.

 

Four flying geese are needed for the next block. Those are partially constructed.  I ended up discarding most of the blocks that had already been made, most of them are assembled so badly, that there is no way to square them up.  Oh well, I'll have fun picking my own blocks for the sampler.  

4. Wild and Goosey (Bonnie Hunter): Make more purple blocks

The purple pile is slowly grower bigger. 

5. Indigo Way (Bonnie Hunter): Continue making block B components.  

All the full block B's are completed. I still need 4 setting triangle block B's.  So making the block components continues as my leaders and enders project.  

That's my list for this week. Fingers crossed I'm more successful than I was last week.  Linking up with The Quilt Schmilt: For the Love of Fabric for To Do Tuesday. 

Stitching Stuff: Week 19 of 2024

Hope everyone has a wonderful day and that your kiddos remembered the occasion.  Grad Girl took a few days off to come home for a long weekend.  It's just not for Mother's Day, her long time best bud graduated from Vet school on Friday and she wanted to be there to celebrate with her. She'll have to head back to school tomorrow.   

It's been a good week on the stitching front. 

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/May =  11/11 days
• 15 minute days/2024 = 132/132 days
• Success rate = 100%

So far so good on the 100% metric.  I'm curious to see how long I can keep that streak going this year.  It's been a fun and new challenge for this year.  

Not so much with fabric organization this week, but there was still a bit of progress on the scrap bin. 

It's about a third full now. Not so much progress on the to be pressed tote. 

At lest the tote is no longer overflowing.  Still a lot of pressing to do.  Tackling it just a bit at a time is doable.  Fingers crossed there's more progress next week. 

That's it for my stitching stuff this week.  Did you have much luck getting in some good stitching time last week? 

1. Deb in Canada 2. Julie in GA 3. Melisa- Pinker n' Punkin Quilting

4. Gretchen 5. Quilting Gail 6. DonnaleeQ

7. Bonnie in Va 8. Frédérique 9. Andrée

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

Photo Play 2024: March Summary

The goal with my photography this year is to just enjoy the process and capture photos that bring me joy.  The lack of mobility due to my knee problems limited my photo excursions in March.  But I did get out a couple of times with the camera.  

One of our family photo challenges in March was "statue(s)".  That required a walk in downtown.  The first signs of spring were just starting to bloom. 

Red Maple leaves

Crepe Myrtle pods

I took a lot of photos that day downtown, but most of them are just a bit blah. I don't know if my camera settings were off or if I just wasn't paying attention. 

The second photo excursion was to Woodward Park in Tulsa. My Guy took his day off in March to survey the Eagle's nests near Tulsa. After his morning of surveying, we met up at the park photograph the spring blooms. He still needed a statue photo, so that location met both requirements.  

Pansies

Johnny Jump Ups

Dogwood

Japanese Snowball

Azalea

It's hard to pick a favorite out of this set of photos.  I really like the texture of the Japanese Snowball leaves, but that deep purple of the pansies is a favorite too.  I like the dreamy, almost painting like feeling of the Dogwood photo.  Definitely a good day with the camera. Let me know if you have a favorite photo.  

To Do Tuesday for the Week of 5/7/2024

I wasn't sure I'd be posting today.  We spent about 30 minutes in our storm shelter last night.  We live in the part of Oklahoma that took direct hits from a tornado last night. From the damage reports we've seen, we are no more than a couple of miles off the track it took through our community.  So we were very lucky. We have friends and co-workers that live in Barnsdall, the community that's been the hardest hit. Please keep those residents in your thoughts and prayers. So many will have to completely rebuild.   

A rather somber start to the to do list this week.  Last week's to do list was pretty simple. 

To Do List for 04/30/2024

1. 2023 SAHRR: Press backing fabric and cut panels ✔ 

2. Guild BOM: Assemble April block, but may block - progress

3. Wild and Goosey: Make red and purple blocks ✔

4. Indigo Way: Continue as leaders and enders ✔

Definitely a good week on the progress front. I'll take three out of four, with progress on the 4th.  So what goes on the this list for this week?  

To Do List for 05/07/2024

1. 2023 SAHRR (Quilting Gail): Prep backing for quilting

I finished assembling the backing yesterday.  The width required a spacer in the middle of the two fabric lengths.  My Guy really likes this fabric and it goes so nicely with the birds and colors on the front.  Prepping the backing usually goes pretty quickly, it mainly just needs a good pressing.  It's the quilt top that takes forever.  

2. Guild BOM: Assemble May block

I finished the April block and started cutting the pieces for the May block.  I'm not in love with my color choices for this one.  I'm hoping it all works out as we finish more blocks.  

3.  Grandmother's Choice (Barbara Brackman) :  Find blocks, fabrics, decide on next block.

These blocks were started back  in 2012 when Barbara started the weekly block suggestions.  I gave up once we got to the templates and curved piecing. I'm going to look thru all the blocks Barbara posted and see if there are any I'm willing to tackle. The plan is to finish this as a "quilt as you go" project.  I really want to learn to quilt on my domestic machine and this seemed to be a good way to start the learning process.   

4.  Wild and Goosey (Bonnie Hunter): Make more purple blocks

I decided to just stick with purple blocks for the rest of the month.  I have a lot more red than I do purple and I need more purple then red.  

5.  Indigo Way (Bonnie Hunter) Continue as leaders and enders

Progress is slow but steady.  I have to make up several component parts for the full and partial block B's needed to finish up the quilt.  

Not a super ambitious week, but we've got family plans for Mother's Day, so I'm not counting on a lot of stitching time over the weekend.  Linking up with The Quilt Schmilt: For the Love of Fabric for To Do Tuesday. 

A Bit of This and That

We had a wet and dreary weekend for the most part.  I came down with a 24 hour stomach bug Saturday night.  So I didn't get all that much done at the sewing machine.  I'm almost finished with the April block for the guild BOM. 

Just the last 2 sides to stitch on.  I need to cut out the pieces for the May block.  Hopefully I'll get to that today.

Since I felt so crummy on Sunday, most of my stitching time was spent on a bit of handwork while watching some National Geographic shows.  

I finished off the center body of the butterfly.  I've moved the hoop so I can finish the upper part of the second wing. 

All the pieces are cut for the backing for the 2023 SAHRR, so now all that's left is to stitch all the panels together.  Hopefully that will happen today.  

Not much of an update for the week.  Linking up with Design Wall Monday and Patchwork & Quilts  

Stitching Stuff: Week 18 of 2024

 

Getting into the sewing room got much easier as the week went on.  I still have to be really careful on the stairs, putting the wrong leg down first on either the up or down trip still hurts pretty bad.  The sewing machine foot pedal has gotten easier to use as the week has progressed. I heard from a guild member who also recently had knee surgery that she's been told that controlling the foot pedal is good physical therapy.  Hmmm, that definitely works for me.  

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/Apr = 30/30 days
• 15 minute days/May = 4/4 days
• 15 minute days/2024 = 125/125 days
• Success rate = 100%  

This is the longest I've been able to maintain a100% success rate. Usually I drop the ball in late April.  I won't be able to do it for the whole year, but it has been a bit of extra motivation each day to play with needle and thread to keep my 100% status. 

I took first quarter off from my fabric organization goals since I wanted to concentrate on finishing off my 2024 SAHRR.  There was a bit of scrap and yardage organization back in March, but Eclipse travel and surgery meant it was the end of the April before I did any other clean up.  

The scrap bin is now about half full versus where it was in March. 

And the to be pressed bin is a bit lower. 

It's getting easier to stand for longer periods of time. Hopefully that means a bit more progress on both efforts for next week. 

How are you doing at fitting in some stitching time along with some reorg/decluttering efforts?  

1. Gretchen 2. Frédérique 3. maggie f 4. Julie in GA 5. Karen

6. katie z. 7. Deb in Canada 8. DonnaleeQ 9. Andrée at Quilting & Learning 10. DawnyK April recap

11. Melisa- Pinker n' Punkin Quilting 12. amanda 13. Bonnie in Va 14. Quilting Gail 15. Dq at Dreamworthyquilts

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

Week 110 Photo Challenge: History

There was no photo challenge post last week. Grad Girl was running short on time and I was a bit immobile for most of the week before due to knee surgery.  We were all able to get photos this week.  It wasn't an easy subject. 

How do you photograph history?  

I've been cleaning out closets which is what brought the subjects of my photo to mind.  

Kate: Historical Sewing

Once upon a time I made a lot of my own clothes.  Especially for Halloween.  The flapper dress on left was made for a Halloween party when we were in grad school.  Even then all the fringe wasn't cheap.  On the right is the vintage dress I made as a mock up for my wedding dress 33 years ago.  The dress is made of very cheap muslin and the cheapest lace I could find. It actually turned out nicely, but My Guy very wisely persuaded me to buy a dress.  He didn't really want me to stress over getting a dress made. Thankfully, I listened to him. I ended up having gall bladder surgery 6 weeks before the wedding, I would have been hard pressed to finish a dress.  So my photo is a two for one on the history front: historical clothing from my stitching history.   

My Guy went a completely different direction. 

My Guy: Past, Present and Future

This flower is a Swamp Mallow. It only blooms for one day.  If you look closely, a past bloom is in the lower right of the photo, a current bloom is at the top and left side.  Just to the right of middle are the future blooms.  So the history of a bloom all in one photo.  My Guy always comes up with some amazing photos and very unique ways of interpreting the challenge.  

Grad Girl struggled with this one, she sent me a photo last week, but wasn't really thrilled with it. Then she found something she thought was a much better take on the challenge.  

Grad Girl: Family History

There's a story to this photo.  Grad Girl went to seminar last week where the techniques in this paper were discussed.  She decided to look up the subject during the talk because it sounded familiar and found this paper.  There was a reason it sounded familiar. This paper was a big part of my PhD thesis.  The brunette in the photo is me with my advisor. The paper dates from about the same time period as the flapper dress in my photo. The person who gave the seminar is one of her friends and she shared the paper with him. She thought it was fun that the paper was one of mine. 

History wasn't an easy challenge for any of us.  This week's is going to be interesting too. 

  

Grad Girl said it was a rather ironic challenge for a graduate student.  It will be fun to see what she comes up with this week.  

April 2024 PHD Report

Hard to process that April is over.  Between our travels for the eclipse early in the month and then knee surgery mid month, my sewing room time was down considerably.  Even so, now that it's May it's time to put together a progress report and link up P Designs USA for the April PHD report.  

There's been no change in my PHD spreadsheet.  No finishes, but no new starts either.  So I'll take that.  Even though there were no finishes, there has been a bit of progress on a few projects.  

Most of my stitching time in April was spent on this embroidered panel. I'm planning to use this as the center of a medallion quilt once it's finished. I've been working on this since 2012, so it may be a while before I get it to that point.  We have travel later this month, so it will probably see a bit more progress in May. 

Only one purple block was finished for Wild and Goosey (Bonnie Hunter).  That's still progress.  I'll be sticking with purple and red blocks for May rather than pink which isn't in my color palette for this project. 

 

The biggest progress was on Rhododendron (Bonnie Hunter).  The final border was added and that project is now a finished quilt top.  It's hanging in the closet with the other finished tops waiting for it's turn for a backing and quilting. 

April was much less productive than March, but there was at least was some movement on my progress tracker with Rhododendron moving to finished quilt top. 

 

Year to date there has been one finish, four projects are quilt tops, and one project has all the blocks completed. With 2/3 of the year left, there is still time for a lot more progress.