A Sun Shiny Day

Sunshine on My Shoulders

 This morning I found my Clematis with a few cousins..  How sweet it is.

A trip to Walmart and to the Easter clearance shelf landed me these fat quarters!!

Aoife just loving that girl in the mirror!!

I have not made one of these in awhile.  I just loved this cat....took the cat food bag from the recycling bin, cleaned it up..and Voila...Every time I make one, I end up giving it away.  The clerk at Aldi wanted mine, the guy at the pool wanted a few for his daughter for Christmas..Years ago...

Did you know that scraps are endless.  I am getting a bit tired of pink scraps.  I want to get on to my African fabric...I want to make funky!!

My darlings went to the beach with their mother.. I did not want them to go.  I mean..Covid and 4 children with one parent and dear Ava having had 4 brain surgeries...and,,,and,,,and...I put a clothes pin on my lips and off they went....I can see they just love it.  Now I am not the grandma of 3 year old Ava.  The other kids want me to be, but dear Ava has her own grands who love her so....Lynsey is always saying that I have three granddaughters... We settled on the name, Grammy-D.for me..I do love her too...look at those lovely faces!!  Ava looks just like her daddy!

And when did Dylan start changing..OMG.  He will be in middle school with his sister next year..OMG OMG  He is starting to look like his daddy and have his build. He already has his daddy's hair cut.

These girls love to smile...These boys are another story.  Thank goodness their mother made them pose for grandma.

Evan is two months short of 16 and Dylan is 11.  Evan favors his mother and Dylan favors his father...in looks and personality..

Boys...I think that caution sign is perfect!!

The strangest thing happened today.

In my mailbox was a big package of backing fabric.  Two blue pieces for two backings..??

There was no invoice and I did not order them.....I will keep them safe, until someone knocks on my door asking for them...The package has my name on it...hmmmm  Secret??

The next zoom sit and sew, I am definitely going to finish my project bags...Deborah's tute. Or maybe I should work with my luscious Marcia Derse fabrics.  Of course, there is dear Aoife's toddler quilt that I have not even started and before long she will be needing it.

It is two am, my favorite time of night...tomorrow Linda on the porch day...We are going thru my Civil War fabric...sigh...I love all fabric.

I am dreaming of the new solids I bought on Connecting Threads.  I have never tried them.  Problem is that I like to sew with friends...and guess what?????  That nasty Covid interrupted my life style!!

Next week I might start meeting friends outside for my mental health.

Reading:  I heard this was a great book.  I put myself on the library list...Hmm..I was number 455...On Amazon, it was $14 in hardback...so I bought it. I mean at my age, I may not have time to wait to be number 455 on the list..... Stay tuned!

Tuesday's post  below: Linda does splendid work.

Below is her star Civil War reproduction quilt, she made in a sew along with Barbara Brackman.

We spent an hour today admiring all the fabrics.

Then we went through my five boxes of Civil War fabric.

Today was the first time a friend had come in the house in over a year.

I opened all the windows and doors and put on the ceiling fans. It was a stunning day. It was 82 degrees with sun and Carolina blue. sigh...Already I feel better.

We wore our masks even though we have both been vaccinated..no hugs but a wonderful time.

She even came in my sewing room for 15 minutes and in that time, her organizational skills fixed what the last year could not do for me.  Remember Jean Piaget and this Grandma are cousins!!

Such a good day.

Easter Comfort

This morning brought the first Clematis of the season.  New life and hope at Easter.

Stitch always spreads love.

The easy herb garden.   It all sprouted nicely from last year.

Little work, lots of comfort.

Easter breakfast.  Thank you Chile.. Thank you America.

Aoife's first Easter.

The family bunny...bonnet made by her mother.

I did not get pictures from my other grands...sad, but OK!!

Good bye Easter...Hello hope...

Ending this post with a scrap quilt in progress!!!

Like my man always said:  Just go sew...and tonight,

a glass of wine and my sewing machine helped end the day with joy!!

Nothing like sewing..xo

 

The Duck and The Creative Process

My outing today included Staples, where they laminated my vaccine card for free!!

It is recommended that I show you the back side for security reasons!!  For me it is Pfizer with absolutely zero side effects.

It is now in my wallet with my driver's license...Good Grandma!!

Grandma O'Quilts walks like a duck.  My cataract repaired eye is still blurry.  ( common I read) It affects my already wobbly walk.  Thus...I walk like a duck. An old duck. 

Going today to Fresh Market to do my exercise while pushing a buggy.  I could only walk half the store as I lost four days exercise due to the eye thing.

However, an adorable blue eyed 16 year old boy walked me to the car.  This is my vacation as the children are with their mother.  So as cooking is not listed as part of my vacation goals  I got a few things that are financially viable for two, but not for 4...especially children who eat like crazy!!

My creative process started with with scraps leftover from my curved quilt.

They were cut into squares, made into HST (half square triangles)  HST then made into Hourglass, shown below:

I was questioning what to do with the Hourglass blocks when I found these dog blocks in a random basket.  A little rearranging gave me this look.

On my design wall that was ruined when a certain kitten (Stitch) climbed it.

When life is stressful, it is best to start creating new exciting projects!!

OK...a million of them!!

Here we have our Aoife, no longer a newborn...

I have strict instructions that if I ever ever get to meet her, I am not to give her a lollipop as I thought was my right as a grandmother!!!  Sigh!!

Oh, well...my sweet kisses will have to do.

Aoife....Where is the infant I never met???

Who is this big 8 month old  girl??  Who??

Even though I am disappointed that my eye is still blurry, I must carry on...now up to 30 Bicep curls with  number 6 weights...I just might order number 8!!!

Easter this year will be ignored like St Paddy's Day.  However, I am getting better and next year I am determined to do holidays again.

Jean Piaget and Me

This shows to go you that Creative Minds are Rarely Tidy!!!

There must be a sewing machine in there somewhere!!

 

My Survival Journal

Starts with friendship to support me thru my mess.

Suzette sending me a stunning green batik from Bend, Oregon.

Memories to sustain me...Below Johanna's quilt made from her paintings put on fabric.

Below a first place win for me...forever ago..

Quilt memories, since I have not been sewing and we cannot have a quilting blog without a quilt.

March-29-21, Is the day I survived my first cataract operation. First up was the financial lady.  She was from Trinidad.  I used to fly in to Trinidad ---almost, almost-- just to eat Rum Raisin ice cream. My new friend insisted that Cherry Coconut was better. In November she had taken a vacation to Belize.  She said it is open because the economy is based on tourism.  That there are police everywhere to be sure everyone wears a mask...Wow...

Next up, the pre-op lady.  She insisted on weighing me.  I had her note it only in metrics so I would not know what Covid and PTSD had done to me.  My  nurse had lovely clear skin, she is only 28.  She had an earring in her ear for Migraine head aches.  Her second baby is due in two months...but there she was all cheery and helpful.  They had asked for my shot card.  Guess that will be the new deal...Everywhere we go, we will have to show our driver's license and our vaccination card.  I heard that the big office supply stores will laminate them for free. Walking into the waiting room, I really, really thought that I was in the wrong place....all these old people with canes...OMG Then, I caught sight of myself in the glass...hmmmm, I see that I was so in the right place...sigh!!

My whiny self became subdued when I realized that in the pre-op room, the folks on either side of me were children. They had parents with them for solace.  My anesthesiologist was young and handsome and charming.  My eye surgeon was too...sigh...After the pretty fireworks in my eye, I found myself in a wheelchair being wheeled to my sister who was right outside building the door.  No pain, a bit of light headedness, no memory of the surgery..Amazing organization...All amazing...TBTG I survived...  I was told not to use heavy machinery today....eg Janome, Bernina...etc and not to read???  So I just looked at pictures....online Kona cotton sales....Love!!

Yesterday's thoughts:  3-28-21Thinking again about Aoife. Her mommy says that her personality is quite developed.  She is not supposed to go up the stairs alone.  However, she starts toward the stairs anyway. She looks at her mother who says...No.  No..makes Aoife crawl faster toward the stairs.  If Aoife puts something in her mouth, she refuses to open it when her mother tries to retrieve it. I guess I have forgotten how smart 8 months can be.

 For some reason, the other day, I was looking out my sewing room window toward the greening of the trees. It was my choice of joy.  The big bad storm did not come, rather a grayness with rain that colored the entire day. When I asked myself if that were my last day on earth, what would I want to be doing. That was it.  A small happy, the peace of just being and appreciating life

Looking around my sewing room.  Who works like this?  A little piggy room with a million projects in different stages of ending and beginning....the process.  Me.....I like to be like this.  I love clutter in my sewing room.  A dog at my feet, a cat or two on my table.  A bowl of ice cream would top it off.

Today is day three after my surgery....certainly better than joint replacements

Thank you to Jane...of Jane Likes to Putter....for your encouragement on my surgery..Actually a big thank you to everyone.

Suzette sent this interesting article...Thank you Suzette: Female Fire Lookouts

More memories...Lynsey just born and her admiring granddaddy and big brother Evan.

Both parents so beautiful and so young.

This one is my favorite.  My mother told the staff at assisted living that her daughters were oh, sooo busy...Meaning that she should really have more attention and visits...Whatever...!!

Then I find this in the facility newspaper...My mother at a local winery with her friends...

My Red Onion living at least 12 years in Miami.

Back to the friendship deal.

A million, trillion thanks to Carol, for getting appointments tomorrow for my son and niece.

If anyone wants something done and done now and done right...

It is Carol you need to be friends with. xo

Grandma O'Quilts Rediscovers Herself

What do I like to do???

  How do I care for myself??

A trip today to an antique store..

The two quilts below were tattered.

Taking a picture was free.

 This one below a bit odd...

Self care means...6 pound weights, 25 bi-cep curls a day, among other things.

I tried bigger ones, but they were too much.

Always a picture of our Aoife.  Eight months, sitting up alone!!

Cousins...without Aoife...Oh, well...

Ava turned three years old today.

She is going to preschool in the fall...OMG

My daughter spent today making this back yard swing for her girl.

Aoife's growth seems spectacular to me.  First she crawls rapidly, then she stands up in her crib, then she climbs all the way up the big stairs in their 1907 house.  Now she sits up alone. All by eight months??  How ever does this happen.????  Especially with never having seen her grandmother!!

Got myself focused to make Hourglass from scraps...

Supposed to be a bad storm tomorrow. if so, I will not go out.

If there is a break, I will stop by the grocery store.

Walking with a cart in stores has helped my balance tremendously...as do the 

exercises given to me by the most wonderful physical therapist in the world!!!

Joy Pfuhl at KCP physical therapy

This grandmother is finding the hope!!

Trying not to be nervous about the cataract surgery Monday.

Fabric Play

Blocks rescued with a little help from a friend.

The green fabric is original 30's fabric.  It even had a 39 cent/yd receipt with it.

I purchased it at a quilter's estate sale.  The other prints are reproduction.

The first layout is by far my favorite.  Chill time for me with 10 days off.

.  Today was 77 degrees. I languished in the sun relaxing.

Everyone sees it but me. I am stressed and more..

Tonight, I realized it, as the stress melted away when I played with fabric.

Relaxed and happy...a balance.

Leftovers from my "Spring in Motion" quilt....fabric from Jennifer Paganelli

If I am not too lazy, I will make them into Hourglass blocks.

Tonight I watched two movies...and I usually never put the TV on.

Making my list and checking it twice, 

Tomorrow I am going to an antique store, with my mask of course.

Then, reading a book under the tree and enjoying my meeting in the evening.

Maybe, I might even tidy my sewing room...just dreamin'....

Yet, as the children left for their mother's house, 

Lynsey gave me 10 big hugs, one for each of the days she will be gone.!!!

I miss them already

 

Just Stuff to Know

 Aoife invites you to lunch. 

 Place: Portland, Oregon, a backyard.  Meal:  black beans and berry yoghurt.

Aoife says....her daddy is soooo much fun!!!

A present to my heart...little blue scissors with a cover.

I just love scissors...Thank you Linda!!

Mental Health experts vs our unhealthy Puritan side of American culture

I can see this bird stock her nest from my sewing room window.

The Carolina Wren found an empty bird feeder.

She is not here, but she thinks this is a lovely place for her eggs.

Fat quarters of:

Art Gallery: "Lower the Volume"

My common sense brain is telling me to go to bed!! Guess I will listen.