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August 2026 Wrap-Up

Posted on by Econogal

Monsoon Rains for The High Plains

While the triple digit heat remained in the first half of August 2026, monsoon weather grew stronger as the month passed. We have had rain almost every night for the last ten days. Quite the respite from the dry windy days. However, the amount has not been enough to erase the drought.

So, gardening (aka pulling weeds that grow out of thin air) in the mornings and quilting or reading filled the afternoons. The dog days of summer are slowly passing by. Other locations in the world have not been as lucky. Melting glaciers and flash floods have filled the headlines. Mother Nature continues to rule over man.

New Quilt

Another baby quilt was completed in August 2026 and yet another started. A traditional Log Cabin was made for the younger of the “Cousin Twins.” Since it had a panel for the backing, it appears to be two sided.

The new quilt is a corner Log Cabin. A twist on my favorite pattern which I have not made before. The eight blocks are complete, and I am playing with the configuration. Reds, greens and creamy yellows make a nice combination. My goal is to complete this one in time for Christmas gift giving.

Both of the fifteen-month-olds seem to like their respective quilts. The oldest received his just in time for his birthday. While one of the fabrics is key in both, they are quite distinct. I may do the same with the identical twins since it worked so well with the “Cousin Twins.”

Panel Backing
Traditional Log Cabin; Center Square Fabric from her Dad's Baby Quilt
Possible Arrangement One
Possible Arrangement Two
One quilt block enlarged to create an entire baby quilt in blues and whites
Quilt for the oldest of the Cousin Twins

In The Library in August 2026

Fantastic finds from the new release table at the public library made for great reading this month. However, I grabbed a book by a popular author on Friday to read over the weekend. Less than a quarter of the way through I put it down. She has written over 150 novels and if I have read any of them it was decades ago. The dialogue was stilted and the plot sequence was terrible. I hope these well-known New York Times best-selling authors have not resorted to using AI.

Furthermore, the publisher should be ashamed for releasing a book with so many errors. And maybe it is time to give a new author a shot. Harper Collins, I am directing this at you.

On the positive side, the end of the year list will be difficult to determine. Many new authors as well as new to me authors are writing remarkable stories. The second in the series by Alice Henderson was checked out and I like to read books in order when they are in series format. So, I found another debut novelist. My hope is for a much better experience than above.

Mixed Fruit Jelly in August 2026

The robins devoured my seedless grapes out by the Big Garden but stayed away from the vine in my back yard. But the green grapes don’t yield the prettiest color for jelly. In addition to extracting grape juice, I mixed peaches, apples and blueberries together and combined the juices. If I can reproduce the outcome with a second batch I will share the recipe.

Looking Forward

The final days of August 2026 produced shorter days with highs in the 90s instead of the triple digit brutal heat that started the month. As we count the days down to the equinox, the trend should continue, However, a freeze on Labor Day such as in 2020 is not on the table.

Several more book reviews are already in the pipeline including the outstanding Fishbone Cinderella by Elizabeth Lim. Outstanding fiction is everywhere, so I will no longer finish a book just to finish it. People do change over the course of a lifetime!

Changing Gears: Outdoor to Indoor Hobbies

Posted on by Econogal

Quilt top before layeringWe are about halfway through the fall season. Much of the time it feels more like winter. However, we still have some afternoons that are enjoyable without jackets. The changing weather means it is time for changing gears with respect to hobbies. The garden has been put to bed and the quilt room is now the focus of activity.

Late last spring I wrote about panel quilts. The Love Quilt was patiently waiting for me to finish piecing. So that is where my time has been spent this week. The strip blocks had been completed. But the four side blocks remained a mystery. So it was time to consult my quilt books. The trick was to find or adapt patterns to fit the 9 inch width I needed to line up with the strip blocks.

This is not an easy task. Instead of focusing on watering schedules and harvesting time tables, my mind is changing gears and contemplating fractions. Two of the blocks are old favorites; the Log Cabin and The Trip around the World. Two were new patterns. All involve math.

The first of the new patterns requires the kaleidoscope tool. This plastic wedge indicates block sizes along the edge. The tool had a 9 inch grid. Thus the decision to include this block.

The last of the blocks involved using a new technique. I cut a 9 inch square and then folded it diagonally. Next, I sewed strips of various widths to half the block in a triangle pattern. The second half was folded back so it would not be caught in the seams. After enough strips were joined, edges were trimmed and the bottom triangle removed.

My reluctance to use this technique stems from a concern of wasting fabric. But I am saving the triangle in one of my scrap boxes which I do dive into often. This way of piecing was much faster. If the extra piece is used in the near future, I will be more likely to repeat the process.

Changing Gears- Indoor Hobbies and Activities

In addition to the extra time spent in the quilt room, my attempts at acrylic painting continue. At the recent book sale I purchased Creative Painting from Photographs by Rudy De Reyna. My hope was to improve my technique.

Inspired by a former colleague’s beautiful aspen paintings I have attempted some of my own. In the picture to the right, I attempt to copy the popular technique seen in many galleries. The second painting (still unfinished) is from a series of photos. I have found De Reyna’s book helpful. Once that painting is finished, I will post it in one of my monthly wrap-up columns.

 

Of course changing weather gives more time for reading. I am into part two of Book One of The Stormlight Archive. This is Brandon Sanderson’s novel The Way of Kings. Quite captivating so far. However, the thousand plus pages will take some time to read.

The holidays are just around the corner. Soon I will add baking into the mix. I may be changing gears from outdoor to indoor, but activity is still at full speed. Retirees can be very busy!

Quilt in a Day: Log Cabin Quilt Book Review

Posted on by Econogal

Eleanor Burns’ Quilt in a Day log cabin pattern was the first how-to quilt book I ever purchased. I still use it over thirty years later. Burns is very straightforward with her directions. She begins the book with a brief history of the log cabin pattern. Then the detailed instruction begins.

Charts

Burns provides multiple charts to aid the planning of a log cabin quilt. First are worksheets to pin fabric swatches on. These sheets keep the sewing order on track. Also included are yardage charts. Each of the charts indicate the application of block arrangements. This is useful because only the Field and Furrow arrangement can always work. The many other arrangements require specific numbers of blocks. So if you want a Barn Raising Log Cabin quilt, you must make sure to use the correct block arrangement.

The yardage charts also provide the accurate amount of fabric to buy. The yardage varies by the size of the log cabin quilt and the placement of the fabric within the quilt design. I have made many quilts using these charts and I have yet to be short or overly long on fabric.

Log Cabin quilts key on color contrasts. Burns breaks up the charts between lights and darks. However, contrast can be between colors opposite each other on the color wheel. An example is using red and green in a Christmas themed log cabin design. In such a scenario, just assign one of the colors to the light chart and the other to the dark side.

Burns labels the next chart the tearing chart. She is big proponent of this technique. However, I am a rotary cutter fan. The tearing charts still apply. Preparing the strips all at once is key to this method of quilting.

Log Cabin Block Assembly

After all the fabric is in strips, the blocks are ready to sew. Burns provides the illustration in assembling the quilt. For a first time quilter, these diagrams are extremely helpful.

Once the blocks are made they can be previewed in the various log cabin variations. Burns includes diagrams indicating block arrangement for each log cabin variation. The book is a fantastic guide for the many designs.

The next section gives instruction on piecing the blocks together. Burns discusses the practice of butting the pieces together. This allows continuous sewing and saves time. Also, the technique avoids wasting thread.

The author does an excellent job of walking the beginning quilter through the entire process. The log cabin quilt is one of my favorites. I love the contrasts of both color and hue. Values of color really show off the different arrangements. If you are interested in learning to quilt, I highly recommend this book.