I Did Good!

1/19/22
Below is a picture of a big accomplishment for me!  This is an English paper pieced design of my own choosing, starting with that green 8-pointed star in the center.  I plotted it out ahead to get placement of the rows of color.  One key to making this work is choosing the color (red, in this case) that will be in the row that goes all around the circle before it breaks down into the points.  These were color choices that I made years ago when I started making this.  I had a little trouble finding enough of the light turquoise pieces with the white lines, I thought I had enough but I miscut some and had to literally beg for more!  I was working at Bear Patch Quilting Co. and used the blog that I wrote to reach out to a few thousand recipients.  And it worked!  Someone reached out to me and was able to send me what I needed!  When I look at the design now, I wish I had had the forethought to fussy cut the pieces for the star points so there was a red dot in the middle of each one.

To really finish this, I plan on laying it out on a background of white or something similar.  Then I will applique (either hand or machine) the star in place.  I'm thinking maybe a wall hanging or a tablecloth?  Not an everyday tablecloth, and it won't be on the table when the grandkids visit!

There are 288 diamonds in the star.  I have removed all of the papers and basted the edge all around.  It needs some better pressing at home with an ironing board larger than the 12" x 20" mat that I work with in the trailer!  It's so fun to see it come this far!

Now on to the next one!  Or rather, back to what I was working on earlier in January, Hex on the Beach.  I got bored with it so it went into timeout so the diamonds could come out of the bag!

1/20/22
​I'm always interested it what is growing wherever we travel.  Certain things stand out to me, like the sea oats along the coastline, cotton fields along the way, and the tough lichens and/or mosses that are growing on the sign below.  They look quite artfully placed, don't you think?

Most days at this park we have been out walking on the beach or biking on the park road.  It's usually windy, so might call for long sleeves.  However, Bob always happy to kick off his shoes and walk barefoot in the sand.  My feet get very cold, so unless the sand has been well-warmed by the sun, I keep my feet covered, and deal with the sand inside my shoes!

I needed/wanted to pick up a few sewing notions, so I located a local shop and we drove into Pensacola to find it.  It's A&E Fabrics and Crafts, and they have a huge store full of lots of stuff.  Even amongst all that stuff, I couldn't get the 3 things that I went for!  While I was talking with people working there, they said their schools had been cancelled for Friday due to possible icy rain.  One woman said that they have ice infrequently, and everybody goes out on the roads and crash their cars!  I was quietly remembering all the really bad road conditions that I've driven through to get places at home, and haven't had a crash ever!  Glad I'm not doing that right now!