Welcome Back!

And that’s a Welcome Back to me, too, since it’s been nearly two years (YEARS) since I posted on this blog.  Some personal issues put blogging on the back burner, and, in addition, Facebook has kind of filled the space that blogging used to take.  I’m going to reverse some of my practices.

My blog is retitled “My Happy Place”, and the web address is the same:  www.suehecker.com/blog — or just go to www.suehecker.com and click on “blog” — OR sign up in the left-hand column to receive an email when there’s new content.  You won’t be bombarded with email, as I plan to post a once-a-month summary somewhere around the first of each month.  Some months might have a mid-month posting.  That’s it!  Once or twice a month.

My focus is the same:  Quilting & Stitching / Travel / Photography.  (This would be a good time to get a cup of coffee!)

Quilting / Sewing

I finished another project bag, this one a birthday gift for a friend.  The pattern is “Lola” by Swoon.  This is one of Swoon’s easier bags, so it’s a good first bag.  The machine embroidery design is from Urban Threads.

On a cruise I knit a “Wurm” hat, and I did some Hawaiian applique’.

We are just ending our Minnesota State Fair this year.  I entered three recently completed quilts.  My Christmas Roses kaleidoscope quilt didn’t place, but I didn’t expect it to.  It was in a very large class and it’s quilted with a pantograph, but that’s just how I wanted it for a snuggly December bed quilt.  Pattern by Sara Nephew.

I also entered my 9-Patch Challenge quilt from last summer.  It received a 4th place in the group category.  (Photo not taken at the fair).  Pattern by Edyta Sitar.  It’s made almost entirely from scraps.

And the big surprise was my Convex Illusions quilt receiving first place in the wall quilt, quilted-by-entrant category.  (Pattern is by Kwilt Art).  This isn’t a difficult pattern, but it does require accuracy and patience.  And accuracy.  And wine.

And no month would be complete without sewing up another bag.  “Carried Away” is the new Bag of the Month collective between Swoon patterns and Blue Calla patterns.  The first month’s pattern (released Aug 15)  is called Sierra.  The group is free to join.  There is a fee if you want the six months of patterns, of course, released on the 15th of each month.

Next Month’s Focus:

A new ongoing project are these sweet little hand-pieced stars.  It’s always nice to have some handwork ready to go.

I’m also working on a Sue Garman quilt, “Ruffled Roses”.  The center is hand appliqued.  Major progress needs to happen in September!!!  Goal:  Add the “matchstick” round and the lattice round; start the swag appliques.

I’m starting a new half-square-triangle exchange quilt (Goal:  Make 200 additional HSTs), and I have more Lola bags to finish.  Goal:  Two Lola bags.

TRAVEL:

We’ve traveled a bit in the last two years, so I’ll just share some  of my favorite memories in photos.  These photos are from a cruise from Galveston, TX, to Barcelona, Spain.  The bull ring in Palma, Spain (April 2019).

The harbor with a “super yacht” in Palma:

The beautiful twin crater lakes in Ponta Delgada, Azores:

I love this shot of an Amish boy taken in Wisconsin summer of 2018 during our annual meet-up with the Galvins and the Buckleys.

And due to Hurricane Harvey putting our TX condo out of commission, we spent some time on a Hawaiian cruise January 2018.  Some shots from Kawaii.

New travel plans are made for the upcoming months, but I have to save something for future posts!  I will tell you that in September, I’m going all the way to Chaska, MN (about 15 minutes from home) for a three-day quilting retreat.

Photos:

A major highlight for me this summer was the abundance of gray tree frogs.  Everywhere.  Especially in the flowers.

Please note that we have ups and downs, illnesses and surgeries, disappointments and headaches and taxes, just like everyone else.  However, this blog is titled MY HAPPY PLACE.  Just like most blogs, it’s not a true representation of my life, but it’s a journal of some of the best parts.  And also note that this is kind of a catch-up post, so it’s longer than usual.

I would appreciate it if you leave me a comment to let me know you stopped by!  (Inconveniently, the “comment” button is at the top of the post.  Sorry…)

Sue

5 thoughts on “Welcome Back!”

  1. So happy to see your Happy Place. I’ve missed your posts and hearing about all your adventures. Pictures are fabulous as always. May all the days to come be good ones!

Leave a Reply to Sue H Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Please prove you\'re a real person...thank you! * Time limit is exhausted. Please reload the CAPTCHA.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.