Getting courage from Rayna

 Rayna has a lot of courage in her life and in quilting.  I am getting courage from her!!  She says in this book that we can do it...we can all do it...She understands that we think sometimes that our fabric is too beautiful to use...oooooo  got that one..She says that there is no point in saving fabric for the great garage sale in the sky...How did she know??? She thinks we can get over it....Ok...

I did it...my new today fabric, I cut a 2" square and used it..not in a prize winning quilt, but in a potholder...gotta start somewhere.  Thank you Rayna!  Sorry, elephants(:

Fabric.com...were you jealous??

Thirty minutes after my treat from Sing Me a Song came in the mail....Fabric. com came by UPS....My husband answered the door.  Now, it is not that I didn't tell him what I had done...but when I saw how big the box was....well anyway...do I need to explain why this picture was taken on the dirty laundry room floor??  All in the wash already...my heart a-beating....a good thing...

 

FYI..the laundry room floor is right near the washing machine???  Yup, it is..I think my dizziness is lifting:)  And, just maybe my husband's bites are better???????

Sew Me a Song.....

Sew Me a Song I love you...you are the first of the four extravaganza's I succumbed to.  I couldn't help it...I had a concussion!!  Yours is the first to arrive and I am thrilled.

 My husband was cutting the grass yesterday and he ran over a Yellow Jacket nest.  He is upstairs on Benadryl trying to work from home, leg up and swollen.  I am downstairs surviving my concussion.  The big thunderstorm turned off our lights twice....but I have Sew Me a Song to brighten my day!!!!!

One hour--glass at a time...

I have timed myself today for progress...and if I am honest, for control.  I am able to stand and work for 15 min before I must sit or lie for dizziness as I recuperated from the effects of the concussion.  That means that I can get something done in those 15 min.  This top is now finished.  Design error...my brain was not working...lattice should have been 2" inch cut and not 1/5 to make quilt less busy with a better place for the eye to rest.  What can I say ..glad I could do it at all.

Marni and I have been friends for 20 plus years.  When she and her mother, with Dementia drove thru Charlotte to visit my mother with her Parkinson's,  I decided to give her a quilt.  She will be 60 in September.  Since my fall, I have once again realized that we are promised nothing.  Living in the day, she chose from four quilts, her birthday quilt.  Now...in the present...yes!  I thought that the Hourglass was very very appropriate.  ( In a less positive vibe, broken dishes could be appropriate too.)

"A man who is of sound mind, is one who keeps the inner madman under lock and key", Paul Valery  Hey Paul, this is Diane here....I am trying!!!!

Red and black quilt and red and black eye

My eye and the rest of me is now in its glory.  I am all  red, black and blue.  But TBTG for all the wonderful fudge and M&M's I eat because I am well padded, thus breaking nothing but my pride.  Below is this quilt on my design wall...trying to decide on the size of the cross.  I think that the picture is too close up to judge.

I am a bit discouraged.  I cannot think clearly.  The hospital called for an eval of my visit.  I gave them a glowing report of the ER doctor...But later I realized that the doctor's name was not Abernathy, it was Scarborough...Jeeze.Why would they even call someone who had had a concussion for that info...They should have waited till 2013..My husband drove me to see my mother because I am still a bit dizzy.  We had a nice visit and I am still dizzy..Poor me...Well, the one spot that is not bruised is my typing hand..you know, that one which is so able to press "Order now" on the following:

Fabric.com $3.95 blowout sale

Sew Me a Song Etsy shop

Equilter--50% off sale

Hancocks of Paducah--50% off sale.

I mean really, I could have died and then what????  No more fabric shopping??  Gotta get it done now while I am still here..  Off to bed, again, says the whiner.......

The red block process and the concussion progress

I am feeling better...11:30 at night and well enough to sew these blocks together and put them on the design wall.  For past quilts, I have made so many of these 2.5 or 3 inch blocks attached to 6" strips, that I decided to try something different.  The dizziness has finally gone from my head..TBTG

Every 4th of July, someone knocks on my door to ask if it is ok with us that they use the cul-de-sac for fireworks.  I always say that it is not my cul-de-sac and I am fine with what they want to do.  Three families, I think with lots of children.  They certainly know what they are doing.  They are very safe with water and rules, etc.  AND they must spend at least 3,000$$$ between them all for these fireworks.  Every year my husband and I sit on the outside bench and watch.  City of Charlotte has nothing on these folks!! It was truly wonderful. I did feel sorry for my mother though.  She loves the 4th of July and the flag.  My father was career Air Force.  But, it could not be helped.  I couldn't go there and she couldn't come here.  She sounded so sad.  Maybe she was just worried about me.  Me, a silly goose with a goose egg or two, or three or four!!

The concussion

I cannot believe I did a post last night...I really must be a blogging junkie...OMG  I had a concussion. With the morning light, I have a black eye, a swollen face, a fanny bruise a swollen leg and hands that are sore...I am dead sure you want to know all this!  Anyway I am fine.  My husband was a saint.  He knew all what to do and took great care of me.  I am so afraid that if I walked in on him unconscious at the foot of the stairs, that I would just pass out right on top of him.  My sewing foot works, but I doubt these sore hands, that must have braced myself, will be sewing today...but maybe...Thank you for listening to my sad but lucky tale!

the great day turns yucky

Just back from the ER...guess I am still in shock..so I am posting while my husband frets.  He had just called from the farmer's market on the way home when I decided to put fresh sheets on the bed.  Marni gave me a chair lift for my mother.  She never used it, but for me with my arthritis, it has been a luxury.  Tonight, I grabbed the sheets and up I went.  Of course I did see that it was broken, but why would that bother me????  Wonderful me??  My husband came home from work to find me unconscious on the floor.  I remember nothing of how I got to the floor...l remember nothing of getting into the car to go to the Urgent Care.  When I did not know the date, they called the ambulance to take me downtown to the big place...jeeze...Got xrays and a head Cat scan...Remarkable that they found nothing in my head:)..Doc said I will be totally sore for days...nice...one more statistic...elderly woman falls down stairs and cannot sew for decades.  So that is my big bang for the fourth...Hubby said to bed..I think he is right...you will hear me howling tomorrow...

Tuesday, GW and me

This is all Melissa's fault.  She is a GWG (Goodwill groupie).  When I see what she gets..oh, my heart skips...and today is Tuesday.  Please do not go to GW on Tuesday if you are not a ________.and thus deserve, well earned....a 25% discount.  Because on Tuesdays at GW, there are no parking places, there are lots of people and a bit of pushing going on...not me of course.  And, all the handicap spots are filled.  I hit two of them today, both on Hwy 521.  My catch of the day is below....men...no..men's shirts, not men...believe me.....the shirts were the better catch at the GW today...So, the first one is Fat Albert.  Perfect for me.  Our mother's name is Alice.  When my brother, now 60, was in his adorable and disrespectful adolescence, he would call our Mother, Fat Al.  She had a very small middle aged spread at the time..and he would come up behind her and shake her shoulders and say something like..How is Fat Al today?  Memories....of course I was no better.  I would huff with disgust pontificating that I would never let myself go like she did!!  Ha..payback...not nice..And so this shirt screamed buy me, so I did.

 More on the conservative side, still 100 percent cotton...All shirts are already in the washing machine getting cleaned from GW and ready to be cut up for quilting.

 $3 a shirt and 75 cents for these bats to replace our broken ones for the grands...

Such a wonderful day.   First, I was off to the pool for some exercise, home just in time to work an hour...then lunch while I shopped the  Fabric.com $3.95 blowout sale.  For an hour I put beautiful things in my cart.  It all came to $80 some.  Now upstairs in our home there is an austerity program going on, downstairs not so much.  But, even I know that $80 is too much, so I just closed out the whole thing.  Sometimes Fabric.com will send a coupon the next day for an empty cart...if so then I will rethink things...if not, I had a great time at GW...thank you Melissa.

Multitasking or Ennui??

I have decided to quilt this tomorrow.  Why not?  It has only been sitting around waiting for forever.. I have always loved fabric...smelling it, breathing it, touching it...and sometimes even using it.  But, I was sketchy about folks who also loved thread...till now.  Till now and my Aurifil.  This perfect shade of light blue for the bobbin...just right for the backing.  Sigh.....

 I open this box and I feel like it is Christmas...glory....

 Certainly not delaying...but..before I quilt the Christmas angel quilt, I "needed" to sew these two patch blocks into four patches...for a rainy day.....

With an apparent desire for a change of direction..I whipped up a few small four patches.

 When I put my new gifted blocks next to my medallion start...I wondered if I should just make it a political quilt...Maybe in this season, I just have not had enough politics?? Tigger reflects no political affiliation what-so-ever.

 Finally sharing the successful birthday party...My son with his son..and a dirty wormy cake! Perfect!

Saturday...just sayin...

Fine...after two crabby trips..(.I tried to be sweet.)...to the grocery stores, I read this book...sigh...Thank you Nora.....you really got it...I am in a better mood now.. Sorry you had to go...

Then, I made Mugg's chicken salad for the party tomorrow...with grapes and celery and onion and a few boiled eggs and this Lawry seasoned salt thing and some Marzetti slaw dressing added to my mayo...anyway...done...yummy and done...I have barbecue beef in the crockpot..just dump the beef, onions and a bottle of barbecue sauce...hmmm... lazy but good and no cooking in this heat.  Aldi is my best friend when it comes to rolls and fruit and veggies...

Cake is made...gotta get my 7 year old grandson to believe that I had to get the frosting from the garden when it really is crushed Oreos that Barry brought me..with gummy worms running thru it...all chocolate--y and nice.

All day chicken broth cooking from scratch..a la..Susan Branch.  I know it is hot outside.  But, my mother needs homemade chicken broth for the times when she cannot swallow.  After I take the fat off it tomorrow, I will put it in small freezer bowls for the food emergencies.

And a little love from my friends....

Big girl that I am, I am learning how to upload library books for my Kindle...Proof..that I am am a techie:) albeit, kindergarten techie!  Now off to start or finish or work on a project before bed.

Green Star finished

I had a great time yesterday at Mugg's Sit and Sew...great friends, good food and good sewing.  Not to mention very cool inside and not working outside in 104 degrees.  I finished this orphan block, wonky lap quilt.  Even though the learning curve is not my favorite thing, I am pleased that I tried a different free-motion style in each block.  Sherry is right, once it is washed all the flaws go away and it is just comfy and pretty.

Being "creative" in my photography..ha ha...actually I was braving the heat under the tree..chicken me. 

I am once again off to the grocery store for things I forgot for the bday party tomorrow.  Useless to wish that my kids would take over the party scene for this old lady...but grateful that I have a wonderful family anyway.  And when it is at my house, I do not have to go out in the heat.

FYI Links and misc

9:26 PM (34 minutes ago)

So much to say....this blog The Mermaid Sews shares today an interview with our very own Jennifer from Ellison Lane.  She is pretty, she is smart, she can sew and organize and quilt and lead and everything.  Jennifer started the Charlotte Modern Quilt Guild last year...She taught herself to sew two years ago and already has an original design in the new quilting magazine,Quilty.  You go Jennifer..you are a hard act to follow and we love you.  

Then there is the bargain in Aurifil thread to be found at Sue's going out of business thread sale, Sew Ez Designs.  $6 a pop with postage that is so so so reasonable...Of course I almost bought the store out so you had better hurry.

Sharing the simple card with the simple stamp from Michaels Craft Store..years ago... This was on the package for the baby shower last weekend...

And then, my Evan's seventh birthday.  Happy Birthday Evan....sure like your original birthday hair style you did yourself!!  So creative!

I cannot wait till our Sit and Sew tomorrow at Mugg's house.  I am all packed and ready and the fudge is not only made, but tasted for perfection!!

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Baby changing pad

Today was the day.  Up and in a good mood...wow...then visiting my mother....down I go..she was choking, unable to swallow, couldn't take her meds and in Parkinson's pain.  I left in a down mood...Home to sewing...not my billing or my housework...etc, but my sewing....Up I go again...there is absolutely nothing like the feeling of making something nice, in short order...such an accomplished feeling.  So here is the baby changing pad made with laminate and cotton.

The one Emily made turned out great.  Today, I decided to try one too.  Off to Hancock's with my coupon to look for laminate.  Their selection was poor for a baby, but I had coupon in hand and was too lazy to drive to JoAnn's so I bought this.  5/8 of a yard gives two changing pads.  If I had bought a yard, I would have had enough to make a small packet for the wipes.  So easy...I used my walking foot and didn't even need the Teflon foot.  I cut the fabric in half to make the two pads and squared them up.  Because I use Warm and Natural batting which shrinks at least an inch, I prewashed the batting.  I did not know how the laminate would look with a batting that had shrunk.  Outside, I spray basted on the batting, then smoothed down the cotton backing..turned it over and spray basted the batting again, smoothing down the laminate.  Then, I took a piece of sewing chalk to plumb a line down the middle.  Using the metal stick on my machine to determine width of sewing, I sewed about 2.5 inches in channel quilting using the wiggle stitch.  I remembered to keep smoothing it down, there would be nothing worse than having to take stitches out of laminate.  I self bound these and I love them.  I think that after the baby has used them for changing, they can be put under the high chair for catching spills or used  as table protection when the toddler is painting or doing play doh...Just have to wrap things up and I am ready for the shower.  One pad to give and one to keep for the next baby shower.

Baby shower presents

I am no longer young..guess I have not yet learned the lesson...It is 12:30 at night and I have procrastinated about the baby presents for the upcoming shower.  Excuses of course...a stomach virus and a broken foot pedal..but really those are just excuses..  Just finished now are three reversible bibs...made from Emily's pattern...a perfect bib pattern..attached with velcro.

 Then from Fairy Face Designs, I made some washcloths..

Using this pacifier clip tutorial, I made these...two sided ones..

 And for me...oh....forget you saw this...

Maybe tomorrow I can do a changing pad or else maybe not..

Liberated orphan blocks..

Liberated star top finished.  Using orphan blocks given a new look and fabric from the past.  Even using a piece of table cloth I bought in Moscow when I studied there 40 years ago...ha ha..good use of my vintage.

 This quilt was so pastel that I was stuck..cutting this and cutting that.  My sister with her good eye, substituted a thin orange for my thin brown and voila.

.Grandchildren.

Great..I pushed the publish button instead of the preview button....Ok, well..Evan spent the night last night...cheered me right up...  We did what was important.  First we visited my mother at her place.  She loved it and so did we.  She was stable enough, but the new Mother just stares sometimes.  I talked and she listened and responded with a clear mind..She is different.  Parkinson's processing and Parkinson's speaking  takes a long time.

Next came the library.  Evan had an agenda and asked the librarian for a book on making paper airplanes.

 They had the coolest house made of books...Evan waited for a vacancy and then jumped on it.  He spread out his book and paper and started his airplane.

We played the board game, "Sorry" and Granddaddy threw the baseball and Evan hit it.  We had a wonderful time without the little sister and brother.  And it was all free..that is the "new age"  free.

Green star process

My medallion is taking a nap...so I took back up these green wonky stars...left over from Gabriel's quilt..I was planning on making more stars but,  hearing Gwen's voice in my head...I added other things to make it more interesting.  I will mess around with it tomorrow if I have time.  Would be nice to have something done instead of adding to the pile of WIP's/ UFO's.....

The old person reminiscing..Ha or just re-purposing..

This dress is one of two dresses saved from the 20 year old box of clothes in the attic...you know, the ones I had forgotten about....I had a wonderful time in this dress when I was younger and thinner and prettier...etc..

Now, my fun dress is reduced to this little vintage pile of cotton, perfect for my medallion quilt. I had such a hard time cutting it up..you can call me sentimental...or of course, you could call me a hoarder:)  You would be right on both accounts.  My mother and I used to quip..."used to doesn't count"..sigh..

 of course..the vintage buttons too..nice..

In reminiscing, it is easy to think that yesterday was different...not so quickly...I am, this week, the person who when visiting my mother last week, came out to my car 40 min later to find, not only the keys in the car, but the car still running...and then the already posted episode of the water left running in the sink.  Documentation here in the label of this dress reminds me that just maybe, I have always been a bit like this.....

Keeping me honest.!!!

The Medallion Process

My youthful illusions led me to believe that I was a "free thinker"...flew by the seat of my pants, mostly landing on my feet...the result of which I was never a groupie...until now...Gwen Marston...you have changed me.  You have role modeled that we can do our own thing like women before us and throw away the rule book.....just my style.    I was sitting on the back porch this morning on a stunning Carolina spring kind of day looking thru my favorite books, again. 

My heart started it's quick quilting beat....I had to leave the lovely day and start sewing..

 This vintage piece of hexies I purchased at a local antique shop 5 years ago for $2...

 Last year I  hand appliqued it to a piece of bright red cotton.  Today I found the piece, and squared it up.  I found some Minick and Simpson fat quarters in my stash..and started my medallion quilt..sigh...

  Now this piece will have to ferment for awhile before the next borders emerge..