Quilting with a Purpose

A few years ago, while browsing in a lovely quilt store, a sample quilt caught my eye along with the lovely style of fabrics of which it was made.  I believe it was my first foray into batiks.  Batiks are a unique fabric.  Almost any combination of color and fabric design work together.  They make stunning quilt tops, whether the pattern is simple or complex.  They don't play well with most other fabrics.  They have their own particular dynamic.  And I love them.  

At the same time as I saw these fabrics, I had idea of doing "tithe quilts".  While not trying to specifically designate every tenth quilt to give away, I did want to do more with my quilting than just decorate my home.  However, I had no clue as to what I would do with these tithe quilts.  Stepping out, I bought some wonderful batiks, the quilt pattern, and brought them home.

The little wall hanging was also one of my first major attempts at free-motion quilting, and I discovered a passion that has taken me to where I am today with quilting.  Once the quilt was made, I still had no idea what to do with it.  We finally hung it above our fireplace, but I knew that someday it would find another home. 

Each month my quilt group makes flannel baby blankets for a local crisis pregnancy center.  About this time last year, one of the ladies in my quilt group who is a board member of the center, was talking about the recent silent auction fundraiser they had.  This is a yearly event, and evidently there is a woman who donates a bed-size quilt each year.  I knew that this auction was to be the place my little wall-hanging would find a home.  

This past month, Bali Fire brought in about $200 for the pregnancy center.  So long, dear quilt.  May you bring much enjoyment in your new home.

 

First Venture

We took a trip--my first extended trip since starting my diet journey.  And this is what made it all work:

It took some drawn-out planning to figure out how to manage my meals while away.  First, we planned to stay in a suite hotel that had a full refrigerator and a two burner cook top.  Next I checked to see if there was a Whole Foods at our destination and thankfully there was, only about 2 or 3 miles from where we were staying.  Thirdly, I read somewhere on-line about checking a cooler of frozen food when flying and called Southwest Airlines to make sure that was possible.  Getting the okay there brought everything into the realm of possible.  

The planning and preparation were still stressful, and by the evening before our departure I was not a happy camper.  Being out of my routine for two or three days, plus the stress of getting everything together was not a good combination.  Nevertheless, we made it onto our flight, and I breathed a sigh of relief.  After that things worked out very smoothly. 

The Whole Foods was very nice, confirming to myself yet again that while I am still not a great fan of the store in general, my local store in particular is just not a happy shopping place for me.  Even so, it is better than none at all.

We had a lovely time.  The weather was beautiful.  The sites were enjoyable.  And there was plenty of opportunity to take in some HGTV.  (Pictures to come.)

So, the strategy for future trips:  pick a state, find the Whole Foods (there is actually one in Honolulu :-)  ), get a suite hotel, pack up the cooler, and we are off.