Checking In

When I made the decision last year to continue my blog, I set a goal of posting every week.  This is late because I had to get past the pity parties and stinky thinking first.  Things are going well...not according to MY plan...but just as they should.  The most effective weapon in my arsenal for this kind of sorry state of mind is gratitude.  Whenever I stop to concetrate on my blessings instead of my inconveniences, I do much better.

I ordered an EPP kit to work on while I recover.  It is a small-ish project with fabrics and templates included.  Unfortunately, I was later notified that part of it had to be backordered.  So, for the sake of my sanity, I tried to come up with an idea that involved tools and stash that I could reach from a wheelchair.  Standing at a design wall or cutting table or even sitting at a sewing machine is just not feasible right now.  I am forbidden to bend my injured leg.

Eventally I remembered this Apple Core template I had purchased eons ago but never used.  And then I remembered all those lovely batiks (many from Wanda) that were stored low enough for me to access.  I honestly don't know how far I will go with this, but I will keep it small.  It's a good project that will keep my hands and mind busy and give me a chance to learn how to handpiece.  However, learning to handpiece on curved seams and batik fabric is proving ambitious.

 

Luann Kessie has a tutorial on how to use this template that she posted in 2009.  I'm sure I purchased it sometime around then and it's time I put it to use.  YouTube has some helpful videos on handpiecing as well.  This is what I did last night.

Update:  I had my follow-up appointment with the ortho doctor this morning.  He is pleased that the fracture has not gotten any worse and is optimistic that surgery is not called for.  I still can't bend my leg, but I have graduated to a walker and am encouraged to start putting as much weight on my leg as I can tolerate.  Progress.

Just call me "Grace"

Last Tuesday I wasn't paying attention and tripped, falling with my full weight on my right knee.  My leg broke just below the knee.  It's not a bad break, as breaks go.  If I can avoid falling again or doing something else to make it worse before my next appointment on the 17th, I probably won't need surgery.  In the meantime, I'm learning a whole new set of skills, like moving from a wheelchair to anything else without bending or putting weight on my right leg.  No sewing has taken place since last Tuesday.

Members of our church family are kindly providing meals and hubby is also learning some new household skills.  It's just life...

Disruptions

Life certainly does not go on as usual when the interior of a house is getting painted!  Our painter is working very hard to make the process as painless as possible, but there seem to be continual questions to answer and decisions to make.  So, except for brief excursions for meals, we’ve tried to have one of us present all the time she is working.  My sewing room was the second room to be addressed and it is the most crowded room in the house. 

 

Here are some of the items that had to be moved out in order for her to work. 

 

The room finally became functional again Friday and I managed to add seven 16-patch blocks to the ones already completed.  I understand the new paint needs to age a little before using Command Strip hangers, so the design board is propped against the wall.  Otherwise, things are pretty much back to normal there.

 

Good thing, too.  My husband says sewing does for me what beer does for others, and I definitely am needing it through this process.

 

I'm not sure where last week went...

...but if anyone finds it, please do let me know.

My happy, messy work space.

More 16-patches on the design wall.

The baby wrens fledged last week.  Mamma wren was either so fast or so small she never activated the motion sensor camera we had aimed at the nest on our front porch.   This is the first time that has happened in several years, and never in a potted plant.

 

And another puzzle completed.

 

I don’t know how the next three weeks will play out.  After 19 years we have decided to paint our entire home interior, and possibly replace some of the carpeting.  There may not be much opportunity for stitching.

I almost forgot to mention that yesterday was the 15th anniversary for this blog.  About this time last year I was wrestling with a slump and seriously considered discontinuing it.  I'm glad I didn't.  I value the connections made through this blog.

Thrift Blocks and a Real Stinker

Last week I foundation pieced 21 Thrift Blocks and added three 16-patch blocks to the one I had already finished.  If my math is right and I don’t mess up any blocks while doing the final trim (both highly unlikely), I am within 31 blocks of reaching my goal.  We’ll see!

 

The only other news to report…

 

Somebody had a too close encounter with a skunk.

 

 

Side Tracked

Several of my quilty friends have been showing off these zippered bags.  Of course, nothing would do but that I made one too.

 

This was the result of my efforts.  I had been cautioned that the instructions for the zipper were counter-intuitive, but I lucked into a tutorial on YouTube that helped a lot.

 

One of the appealing features of this bag is that when it is open and the sides are turned down, you have easy access to the contents. It took a lot longer to finish than I expected.  My seam ripper and I bonded over the experience.  This week I hope to return to my regularly scheduled projects.

 

We spent Sunday in New Braunfels celebrating our grandson’s 22^nd birthday.  Such fun.  He heads back to Texas A&M this week for what may be his final two semesters.

 And…it begins again!  I'm pretty sure I'm addicted.

Happy to be Home Again

The quilt retreat last week was wonderful, and I am so happy to be home again!  The retreat center we used is in Mt Calm, Texas, and meals composed of comfort foods and desserts were provided.  Plus the snack table included lots of chocolate. It ended up being a 2-pound trip.  Now the sugar withdrawal and portion control work begins.  I believe I spent 17 days in July on the road.  That's highly unusual for me.

 

I completed 68 Thrift Blocks bringing my total to 328.  If my count is correct, I need 56 more.  I also decided to make my first 16-patch with the blocks.

 

The last day I was there I pulled out my Picnic Quilt pattern project using Kaffe fabrics and threw the completed blocks on the design wall.  When more blocks are made, I will be able to space out fabric repeats, and I expect some of the goodies gleaned from Wanda's Kaffe scraps will make an appearance.

 

One member of our group wears an apron when she sews and I liked the pattern so much I, of course, had to make one too.  So, my retail therapy there consisted of the pattern and two yards of fabric (on sale).

 

As I was packing up for the return trip, this guy decided to hitch a ride.  

The predicted cool down for the weekend has been a disappointment.  As I write this, the temperature is 98 degrees, and the showers missed us though we did hear a little thunder Saturday afternoon.