Healing Hands = Healing Hearts

As a quilter, I want to make quilts for those in need. and this is a perfect

opportunity to assist.  This will keep my hands busy and know that

I'm doing a small part in the healing process for many.

Fat Quarter Shop is offering this lovely quilt pattern to aid in the

disaster that is Harvey.  This PDF pattern retails for $9, and every cent will go to the JJ Watt Foundation Houston Flood Relief Fund.  It will be available until October 31.  Fat Quarter Shop will also be auctioning off a quilt sample made from this pattern starting on Tuesday (today), and those proceeds will go to the Rebuild Texas Fund.

  
You can purchase the Healing Hearts for Harvey PDF here.  

In The Midst of Chaos.........................

In the midst of Hurricane Harvey and Irma,  I've tried to keep my hands and

mind occupied with various things.  And today I don't even want to think about the date........

September 11--2001.  Memories roll back into your mind--and we shall never forget!

I found this in my stash pile--a magazine with fabric--yes,

I know where I bought it--Paducah, KY--the one time I went to

the quilt show there!  absolutely, a fun time!  and I bought so many fabrics

at such great prices!  This is certainly aged--from 2008! 

This bundle was a special price so I picked it up--thinking, I'm not really found

of poinsettias but maybe someone would like it.

So here is the book with pattern and all the fabric to go with it--

I'm set.  Open book, find pattern, read and begin

Looking at the photo, I thought maybe all those lovely 12 blocks

with poinsettias were appliqued--by hand--but once I finally

read the notes--nope, it's machine applique--whew! relief!

Then, it's trace all the patterns onto fusible, cut and press 

I usually cut out the big areas in order to have a less stiff

application--these little cut outs got somewhat 'squirrely' 

when I was trying to lay them out to press--

but, all 24 were accomplished--thats' 12 in red and 12 in pink.

There is more cutting--I can do that when I'm listening to a book or

watching a sappy movie--look rather elegant once laid out.

Now, just press on background fabric and begin hem stitching--

soon we'll have a completed quilt!

Aprons--Ties That Bind!

Aprons is the topic for today--why?  Because there is an apron challenge

at Pat Sloan's website in conjunction with the Grandma's Kitchen 

Sew Along.  Last week the block was Grandma's apron--mine is above--

Now, here is the question--do you wear an apron?  Did your Grandma

wear an apron?  Anyone in your family wear an apron?

Several months ago, I wrote about an art apron exhibit that was presented at

International Quilt Festival in Houston--It was called Cyber Fiber-art Aprons.

Here is that blog post, if you're interested.

anyway, back to aprons topic.

This popped up in the Pat Sloan group--aprons a way of life--

I have this pattern in my collection--don't think I ever made the apron though!

And the dainty apron that looks high fashion--

oh, to wear an apron and look this good while cooking!

I Should Be Knitting........................But

Yeah, I should be knitting--fall is just around the corner and then comes those cold breezy days of winter---BRRR!  I'll need a shawl, a sweater, some gloves, a hat, a scarf--.......But, I'm sitting here typing on this blog!  Go figure!  I can rationalize that my fingers are doing something useful--instead of washing dishes, folding clothes from the laundry, ironing those few shirts that need touching up--no, I'm just sitting here, pondering what the day will bring........oh, hmm!  There is dinner to think about--no, not now--or maybe, think about that long list of errands that need to be done--nope, not now!  I'm just sitting here!

Do I need a pick me upper?  Some new vitamins to pep me up?  Maybe, a cup of coffee--nope, that won't work, I'm caffeine free--I'm just sitting here......................................where has my motivation gone?  I should be knitting.......................................................................................but, I just can not decide which pattern to begin first.........................

This lovely easy diagonal float stitch pattern. Only knitted and slipped stitches makes smooth curves. Kaarre hat by Maria Kostamovaara

OR

Multnomah pattern by Kate Ray,  garter stitch body and a lovely feather and fan edge

OR

 By Jenny F--three color cowl

OR

Bowerbird by Cath Ward

This crescent shawl knits up quickly in a delicious 4ply heavy silk lace yarn and includes a feather motif in its border. It is knitted from the centre top down to the border in one continuous piece. The elements of the shawl are a succession of 8 stitch repeats, which flow from the top to the border of the shawl.

OR

I could go on and on--

there is a pattern for socks and fingerless gloves...........

I just don't know where to begin, so

I'm just sitting here! 

WIP

There are always WIPs--aren't there?

Those Work IN Progress are what keeps us going!

There are some WIPs that I would like to RIP (Rest in Peace!)

I get so tired of working on them--put them out of sight

and hopefully, another day they'll find the newness again 

in my eyes!

One day last week I walked into our local quilt shop--shouldn't have

done that, but I did--and I saw some wonderful wall hangings--

I was immediately hooked!

"how do I get that pattern?"  "it's only kit form" "really", said I.

I don't usually buy kits but this one was super keen looking--

Holy Smokes--this fabric was awesome!  "Sorry, we're sold out of the Spring; but,

we do have the summer.  And soon, fall will be on the market."

Well, darn it!  "I'll take the summer one and sign up for the fall"  

I can look for the spring online, I hope!

Now,, that summer is gone there is no reason to work on either the summer

or the spring one--I'll just wait for the fall kit to arrive and hope it's soon!

It is still plenty warm in September--so I'm working on my

snowmen stitchery pieces to 'think' my brain into cool temps!

Closing Out Summer.................................

How will you spend your Labor Day holiday?  To me, this is the close out to summer--the beginning of cooler (we hope) temperatures, school back in session, the last hoorah to summer, --and --FOOTBALL!  

This weekend is a chance for families to spend a lazy time together-

-we have the grandkids with us--here in Hill Country.  Our grandkids (!!) are adults so they want to attend a grape stomp--it's harvest time around these parts and there is an abundance of wineries hosting grape stomps--so, we'll stomp those grapes-- 

purple feet here we come!

We'll grill some burgers! 

have some delish fruit drinks in the shade of the patio

my drinks NEVER look like this!!

and watch some football!  

Hope you have a special summer closing celebration!

Labor Day is called the "unofficial end of summer"^[9] because it marks the end of the cultural summer season. Many take their two-week vacations during the two weeks ending Labor Day weekend. Many fall activities, such as school and sports begin about this time.

In the United States, many school districts resume classes around the Labor Day holiday weekend (see First day of school). Most begin the week before, making Labor Day weekend the first three-day weekend of the school calendar, while others return the Tuesday following Labor Day, allowing families one final getaway before the school year begins. Many districts across the Midwest are opting to begin school after Labor Day.^[10]

Holy Bats---Man!

Recently, we decided to take an evening visit to the Bat Cave--okay, it's really 

an old railroad tunnel, but now it hosts over 3 million bats.  These are

Mexican free tailed bats and each evening, near dusk, they emerge

from their safe cool housing to darken the skies for their

evening feeding time.

At the top of the valley, we sat in the viewing stand with other

curious visitors.  Knowledgeable volunteers and a Texas park 

ranger give us the low down on this species of bats.

In August,  the pup has been born, so they will be first out of the

tunnel, flying erratically in an upward spiral to  draft off each other.

Swirling, swirling, swirling from the tunnel into the bright

blue sky--It's an awesome sight! 

Black lines dot the skyline as the bats continue their

journey up the valley to find a food source and water.

Mexican free-tailed bats are primarily insectivores. They hunt their prey using echolocation. The bats eat moths, beetles, dragonflies, flies, true bugs, wasps, and ants. Bats usually catch flying prey in flight.^[9] Large numbers of Mexican free-tailed bats fly hundreds of meters above the ground in Texas to feed on migrating insects.^[10]The consumption of insects by these bats can be quite significant.^[

Females become sexually mature at about 9 months, while males take even longer, at two years. Females enter estrus once a year, which typically lasts five weeks in the spring. The gestation period of the bat lasts 11–12 weeks, with only one young being born. A number of pups are left in "creches", while their mothers roost elsewhere. The female uses vocalizations and scent to identify her pup. The mother imprints her scent on the young early on.^[24] However, young try to steal a suckle from any female that passes through the cluster. A mother will nurse her young daily, and by 4–7 weeks old they are full grown, fully weaned, and independent.^[25]

They will journey until their bellies are full--and then they will return

to their home.  This could mean 1 AM or 6 AM--

Next time we go, we'll sit in the area near the tunnel entrance--

of course, that means the smell will be worse too!