Thursday, 21 April 2022

4 Bits of Wisdom, Fabulous Fishy Cake, Amongst the Mostly Masked, New Quilt Start-Panama Pyramids

 My research of one site showed this was a Thanksgiving cactus. Because it bloomed at Easter, I thought it might be one programmed for spring, but no. I couldn't remember the colour of the original plant, but turns out this is pink. The Geranium there is also budding.

I just have to show you the cake Daughter Beth made for SIL' s birthday. He is a sports fisherman and Robbie said make a fish cake when asked what kind of cake should they make. 

She used a little Air Brush for Cake Decorating tool to get the colouring right. She said she is still wiping up green in the kitchen as I guess there is a learning curve with using that tool. šŸ˜

I'm enjoying this book. Successful over age 50 women from all walks of life  speaking about what life has taught them. 
Here are 4 ideas that resonated with me...any of these strike a chord with you?

That it is empowering to nurture and encourage people, animals, nature, etc. (not confined to mothering and grandmothering which applies, of course).

That I, too, have been many women throughout the years, some still with me, some come and go. For instance, I'm still coming to terms with being an over 70 year old white haired woman; while my body feels pretty much like I did at 40, my mind needs to catch up or something. 

That I too wish I had had the confidence at 30 that I discovered I had at 50. 

That beating myself up over some words I used in a conversation decades ago is senseless. I've forgiven others so time to let myself off the hook too. 

Stitching

With Fans and Wildflowers finished, on a cold, lightly snowing April day, I decided to make a new start.  A project I first mentioned maybe two years ago so has been on my list for a long time...Panama Pyramids, pattern by Linda Collins.... more EPP, my favourite!! This is another big scrappy project-want it to be a real quilt so it will be with me a while. Still working out the fine points of the templates I made out of cardboard. I think I will check out if I can get plastic ones online. This scrappy project was featured in Quiltmania magazine, 2013; any of you work on it?? I would love to share your work here on the blog if you like.  Etsy Link to Linda's pdf patterns and pretty quilt here.

I used pinks for these first blocks and will link up with So Scrappy on Saturday. 

I've been busy walking, reading, writing a bit, shopping (I'll show what I bought next post), bird watching and visiting family. Not spending as much time in my own head as it were which is a good thing. It feels wonderful to be out and about amongst the mostly masked folks! 

33 comments :

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

cute cake! All of my cactus open in the winter so I guess I have the opposite variety. Collective wisdom! if only we knew in our 20's what all we have learned over the years - I too am trying to accept I will be 70 later this year and to embrace my change of hair color

Tina W. In Oregon said...

Iā€™ve always wanted to make that pyramid quilt too! Iā€™ve even purchased the plastic templates from Paper Pieces. Search for Panama on their website. I purchased both 1/4ā€ plastic template sets. Currently they are listed for $21.50 per set.
Donā€™t know how far Iā€™ll get since this would be one of many projects currently being worked on, but Iā€™ve pulled out the templates so maybe Iā€™ll get a few done! Thanks for the ā€œpushā€!

piecefulwendy said...

The cactus is so delicate and pretty! That cake looks amazing; she's done a great job on it! I tried that EPP years ago, and now I'm wondering what I did with the few blocks I made. Hmm. Will enjoy watching your progress!

LA Paylor said...

oh, this post is so touching. I love the wisdom and it started me thinking how I'd respond to "what have you learned over the last 60 years" I'd like to get out of my head.
the fish cake is inventive, great job on airbrushing

PaintedThread said...

My cactus usually blooms in the spring as well as the fall, but it doesn't seem motivated this year. Wow - that fish cake is much larger than I thought. The shape and the colors! Your daughter is really talented.

Ah - learning to let go is always such a hard lesson for me.

Mmm... lots of good stuff this week!

Jenny said...

What a fabulous very green fish cake! Your daughter is very talented indeed. I bet if you asked for a sewing machine cake she could do one for you, no trouble at all.
Nice to see another new project started, we all seem to have so many ideas in our heads, waiting to be acted on. I'm intrigued about you being upset from using certain words when you were younger, were they slang words perhaps?

audrey said...

Love your Panama Pyramids blocks, so sweet. I've looked at similar patterns a lot over the years, but not into EPP at the moment. I have similar regrets over past words and conversations. Love your advice to forgive yourself like you have others.:)

Home Sewn By Us said...

Hi Jocelyn! Your Thanksgiving cactus is such a lovely shade of pink. I find they seem to bloom whenever the mood strikes them, and the previous conditions are favorable. Your daughter truly has a talent for cake decorating!! That fish cake is awesome and looks realistic in a fun way. Words of wisdom, indeed. Please forgive yourself - you've already found that there are no do-overs but you have learned from the experience. {{Hugs}} It's okay - we are human, we make mistakes and we forgive. Happy Thursday to you. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

Your cactus is blooming. Mine is looking a bit peaky so was brought back into the darker part of the house to hopefully get better. Great cake, yeah the air brush is a challenge even in the best of circumstances. Love your triangle quilt.

Libby in TN said...

That last bit of wisdom -- that's me. And it goes back to the 6th grade. I sure hope the recipient of my words didn't understand the context. I now try to be like Thumper's mom advised -- if you can't say nuffin nice, don't say nuffin at all.

Jackie said...

The quilt is going to be lovely once you finish. Love the colours.

The book looks very interesting, must see if I can find it.

Wow what a cake. A job well done.

God bless.

Brian's Home Blog said...

Such pretty plants and that cake is pretty darn amazing!

grammajudyb said...

Fabulous Fishy Cake is an understatement! Wow! Itā€™s amazing! Iā€™m going to ponder on your 4 bits of wisdom! They really made me stop and think! I was sharing with some friends today, that inside I donā€™t feel like the woman I see in the mirror. That older wrinkle ridden faded haired woman!

MissPat said...

I have at least 10 Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti and find that they bloom whenever they feel like it, some several times over the winter. My one Easter cactus is quite temperamental and has never bloomed as fully as the year I bought it.
I also suffer from spending too much time in my head. I've been doing guided meditations on the 10% Happier app since early January. It seems to be helping me "let it go".
Pat

Bonnie said...

I love your cactus, I've had the red one so I guess that is the Christmas Cactus? The cake your daughter made is a real work of art! I like your Pyramid quilt. I started a Thousand Pyramid quilt a while back but have not worked on it in a while. I really should get it out and finish it. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Linda said...

Good wisdom you shared Jocelyn. The fish cake looks fantastic, your daughter is SO talented. Panama Pyramids is so neat looking. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

That is an amazing cake, Jocelyn! It's so neat that your grandson suggested the design and your daughter figured it out - she is very talented. Your book looks like a good one, and I also love the Panama Pyramids design. Pretty fabrics!

Rosemary Dickinson said...

The fish cake looks very professional. I love your words of wisdom. So true! The Pyramid block looks difficult. I miss my Christmas cactus. I had it for years. I have to get another one soon.

Vicki in MN said...

Oh that fish cake is something else!! Beautiful pyramid project, you'll whip right through that since you love EPP so much.

Debbie said...

I need to read that book. I find your insights mirror my own struggles. And I totally agree with your wisdom at our age but not the body to carry it out. Wonderful EPP. I would like to join but have too many UFOs and projects going!

Susie H said...

Your Panama Pyramids look wonderful. I like that it will be a long-term project. What wonderful words of wisdom. Why is it so hard to forgive yourself when it was so easy to forgive others? I bet that resonates with a lot of us! Have a great week!

Angie said...

Jocelyn - that cake is truly a masterpiece. How did she create all those intricate scales? As for your bits of wisdom, the one that resonated with me was the one about agonizing over words spoken in the past. Forgiveness is for ourselves as much as others!

gladiquilts said...

What an incredible looking cake!! Panama Pyramids has been on my ā€œlistā€ for a long time. I have the Quiltmania Mag. and the pattern is also in one of my books so all I need is to make the final commitment some day! I do not, however, plan to do it via EPP - possibly FPP instead. Thanks for the thoughts on wisdom and have a lovely week!

FrƩdƩrique - Quilting Patchwork AppliquƩ said...

Lovely color for your cactus, Mine are blowing when they want to, and are mostly red and dark pink. Love this pale color.
What a beautiful cake! Your daughter is a cake magician, it looks pretty and delicious! I hope she's done with the green stuff ;)
Lovely pyramids, this is a pattern I would love to try one day.
Thank you for sharing your work and these words of wisdom, and linking up!

Deb A said...

What a great cake! Those words of wisdom are oh so true. I'll have to check out that book. I have a few of those pyramid quilts saved on my pinterest board. They sure are pretty. Have a wonderful week.

Karrin Hurd said...

Gorgeous cake, she did a great job! I agree with all 4 of what resonated with you. I too am over 70, and still feel as I was at 40. Hope you have a great week!

The Joyful Quilter said...

Fun cake and sweet PINK blooms, Jocelyn!!

Kim said...

I too have been reading "Collective Wisdom" of late. I love reading about the diverse stories of other women. Why, I was reading the other day that Betty Reid Soskin retired from being Park Ranger the other day; being 100 years old. How amazing! Those Panama Pyramids blocks are pretty. Goodness, the fish birthday cake is fabulous. Love that it oozes with chocolate and cream yumminess inside. How lovely to be out and about, and enjoying your beautiful springtime.

Ivani said...

Wow fish cake is cool, and looks delicious.
Panama pyramidis blocks look great, it will be fun seeing this quilt grow.

Michele McLaughlin said...

Love your pyramid blocks!! Your fabric choices are wonderful! All those words of wisdom resonate with me. Also it reminded me of a phrase from a song that "youth is wasted on the young." That fish cake is IMPRESSIVE! Have a great week!

Sara said...

The Pyramid blocks are awesome! That will be a lovely quilt. And your 4 pieces of wisdom really spoke to me as well. Thanks!

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

Great post! I wonder if we had to re-live our lives if we would really change anything? I think I have the Pyramid pattern and templates. It is of course waiting in the wings of going no-where! LOL. I love the fish cake and it looks so yummy!!!
Have a great week! Hugs

Gwyned Trefethen said...

Thanks for sharing the wisdom of women over 50. Why is it easier to forgive others than ourselves. I wonder if layered freezer paper would work for your EPP project. Not as stiff as cardboard or plastic, but three layers of freezer paper does provide support. Also, you can rule out a grid and then cut into individual templates. Not to mention the template can be fused to fabric and would be easy to remove after pieced with its neighbors.