SLOW AND UNSTEADY!

Tuesday, I had to go in for a CT scan and an ultrasound to see why there is such a problem with my bladder.   I had to fast for these tests, so by the time I got in finally,  I was a bit shaky.  I did alright during the CT but the contrast made me even more unsteady.  Not to mention the problem getting the IV to work.

I was done in by the time I got home and I went right to bed.  

I was still 'off' yesterday, but did make the binding for the small rail fence quilt.  Bill was in the studio with me as a repair man-- our washer quit and he spent Monday trying to repair it, ordered a new part and decided that it was a no-go after all.  He had a 'spare'  old washer in a shed (we have seven) 

and so he was installing it while I sewed.  He even did a very good job of picking up when he was done!  After all that, we did decide that it was time to go ahead and order a new stackable washer/dryer to install in our large kitchen pantry, so that will be a big project for next week;  getting all of the prep work done I mean!  Think plumbing, drains, and ripping out shelves  

It will eventually be a win-win.

 

JUST A FEW

The binding is on the second hearts runner--just made it in time!

I did complete the first dishcloth and really bound my rhythm for doing the crochet colorwork.  In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I charted and started a second one !
 

THINKING OF HEARTS

This is what happens when you try to do an idea just from your head and without a bit of charting...

See how much better it is with a bit of space and equal space at that!  Have you ever done colorwork with crochet?  It takes just a bit of thinking but it is very pleasant to work on!

 

NAT'L QOV SEW DAY

This was my accomplishment for the day of sewing and making new friends during the sew day yesterday.  70" x 80"

We had a turn out of almost 39 ladies and several men, too! 

A wonderful time of dedicated people! 

 

SOME GOOD LOVE

I  finished putting the binding on one of the table runners

 and still have one to go.  

I was able to load the rail fence donation quilt 

and then it was time for a ...

family visit!  Bill's sister, her daughters and  granddaughter stopped in for a visit on their way to Disney! 

 It sure was a gift of love!

 

FRIDAY FINISHES

It's a finish!  64" x 88"  Handing it in on this Saturday, when we have the Nat'l QOV Sew Day!

And both table runners are quilted and ready for their binding which I need to dig through the pile and find something.  I'm hoping there will be enough left over backing to at least bind one of them!
 

A FULL DAY

I finished the last few feet of the 4-patch for QOV, 

took it off the frame and trimmed it up.  I hope to make and apply the binding today!

The first of the valentine's day runners is on the frame and the second one will load right after this one!

I ended up doing two rows of something I saw new on a reel I saved from FB but when I looked back to link it, I could see that I did it 'wrong' and ended up with a whole new stitch that works great for edging--it is thicker and very similar to an I-cord edging!  I added the second row to the back and like what I created!

The afghan finished out at 50" x 62" and I used almost 2 full skeins of the gray and the ivory Simply Flawless by Yarn Bee to make the solid granny squares.  The crochet edging and joining was from an odd skein of Caron yarn

And last night, it was a perfect way to end the day....

 

YOU HAVE TO BE BRAVE!

So, to the delight of my heart, my grandson called and asked me to make him a mallet that he needs for his job.  He gave me a rough idea of what he wanted and a YouTube link so I could make one for him. He had brought me a large fallen branch from his home a few years ago, so I knew it would be a perfect choice because it was Red Oak, a hard wood.  The turning happened without too much drama. (it was very cold in the garage and I could've used mittens to keep my hands warm but I didn't want them filled with wood chips! lol)

And since the wood was very dry, there were a lot of dusty sawdust that made a right good mess!

After sanding and a good rub with oil, I left it until the next day. 

 I took it off the lathe and sanded down the ends, signed it and oiled the ends for the big ta-da moment.

When I was getting ready to wrap and box it up to mail to him, 

I noticed someone peeking out at me!  I almost asked Bill to remove it but decided I needed to be brave and pull it out myself!  I was very afraid it would break in half--it didn't!  

He came out in one piece, I wrapped him in a tissue and squished him.  Ughhhhh!  I then dropped some CA glue down the hole to be sure there wasn't another one! lol

And here is the first of its kind from my lathe, 

a 10 1/4" oak mallet!  

I was very excited to be asked to make this for #1 grandson, 

but also to be able to fill the request! 

 Love does stretch your abilities!

 

ON THE FLY

I have all of the blocks made and now will stitch this together for a fun donation quilt.  It is out of the someday pile and will soon be keeping someone warm.  It's a good feeling!  (40" x 50")

 

A NEED FOR COZY!

I finished crocheting all of the blocks for the afghan! 

 It is wide and long!

 And very warm!

Since is was 20* when we awakened on Sunday morning and stayed in the 20's until 2:00 when it was all the way up to 40*! 

And it was that cold again last night.

But there is still work to do....all the ends need to be woven in AND I will be crocheting several rows around the whole.  No, I don't know what stitch yet but I'll know when I start to experiment!

 

A NEW SKILL

I added a bit of whimsy to this old acrylic paint pouring canvas;   it is  glue gun art inspired by AB Creative on YouTube.  

I chose a simpler pattern for my first one.

I applied the gold glue gun outline once it cooled down with just a bit of white glue.  Once it dried, I painted within the 'cells' with leftover paint form my paint-by-number little pots.

I laid a coloring book page  under a piece of silicon sheet and used the glue gun with a gold glue stick and just outlined the seahorse!  It was much easier than I thought!  Once it is dry, it peels right up and it surprising sturdy.  You just have to make sure that you have a continuous bead of glue.  I just made a bunch of glue 'blobs' (which you can see at the top of the page) to use as bubbles!

A SQUIRREL OR TWO

I changed my mind about the borders around the center panel and stitched them in place.  I had bun with the heart blocks.  It's nice to do a top that is just because you want to! 

Bill decided to put up a squirrel feeder....

It is right outside of Lena's window--about 2' away!  She loves it;  her very own squirrel tv show!

 

SUCCESS

Something old is new on the design board;  I have had this panel and the jelly roll to match for years.  Well, its day has come!  I have had my pencil and graph paper out and have made a design which works with blocks and borders to make me happy!

 I bought some new backings on my reward shopping after the rheumatologist appointment yesterday.  I can't believe how wonderful it is to find two new-to-me doctors who are both thinkers and not just robots in a white jacket!  I have high hopes for this year and working on building my body better to be able to participate with less pain and fatigue!  Thank you, Lord, for bringing me to a good team of doctors!

SOMETHING NEW AND BLUE!

I have wanted a brad nailer for several years; in fact, back when I crawled on my hands and knees for weeks drilling pilot holes and hammering finishing nails into the baseboards in my whole house!!!

There were a few spots that were not quite completed and today, I filled in some of those gaps--the ones behind big pieces of furniture and this corner.

I had to pull the bookcases  out from the wall to fill in the baseboard behind them, too.

 I still have 3 major ones to attack but one is off the list and this tool is a life-saver! This is a souvenir of the grand-dog's visit. 

I will save it for another day--I am not going to ruin the piece by trying to remove it from the wall--I am going to use wood putty!

(I still have to crawl around on my knees, though!  UGH!)

When I was totally undone from walking back and forth to the chop saw in the garage and into the house over and over again, I sought comfort by piecing the batik blocks into a sweet little rail fence quilt top!  I even spent some time at the frame and the last QOV is more than half done, too!

Today I am headed to a new Rheumatologist's appointment;  

Mary will go with me and we will do our usual shopping and lunch also.  I don't know why, but I am feeling nervous about this appt! 

Just take a deep breath and pray on the exhale... 

 

MAKING BLOCKS

Because I love to piece more than I love to do the quilting frame, I did only one row on the frame and enjoyed a lot more time piecing these rail fence blocks!  I had one block left over that will end up sewn into the backing.  Today I hope to get this sewn into a top!  Which will have to be quilted eventually!

In the evening I enjoy stitching here, where it is cozy and warm!  I know, no snow here, but it is very cold at night (high 20's) which is a very brutal winter for us!  I have all of my blocks now crocheted and will have to get them all crocheted together and then add a border.  Lovely evening work!

 

JUST A PICTURE

A new yarn shop (River City Yarn and Fiber) opened in a new location and posted this picture of a pattern. She discussed the pattern and stitches and all the yarn stuff that thrills me.

So, I bought the book, used some birthday yarn and began to stitch.  It is so satisfying to play around with an idea and see it come to life.  I don't know about you but for me,

 it is as exciting as mountain climbing!

 

STAND UP AND BE QUILTED!

This hasn't happened in a very long time---

a cat divot in my TAUT quilt layers on the frame!!! 

Since I hadn't started any quilting on it yet, it wasn't a big deal to fix it but it doesn't bode well for future projects!!!

 

I worked all day but got the quilting done, applied the binding and even sewed the QOV label on the back!

And then before I could drop, I loaded the second QOV that needed to be quilted.  I hope to work on it when I get back from getting my x-rays that didn't happen on Friday!  (Bill dropped me off, I waited in line to sign in and was told that they were so backed up they couldn't get to me so could I please come back on Monday!  A quick call to Bill and he came back and rescued me!)  

OCEAN DREAMS

I have the ocean on my mind

 but I laughed as I looked at these paint-by-number canvasses because each one of the views has a chair along with the ocean!  Just my speed!  

 

WORKING WITH YARN

 I'm still working along on this afghan;  I bought more yarn to make it larger so I have been making a pile of blocks and then I add a row.  I always crochet the lengthwise rows together and then do the width ones last.  I don't think it matters but it is my routine!  As soon as I laid it down on the floor to check the size so far, Lena had to come and check it out! lol

Today, I have to go in for some x-rays so the rheumatologist will have the results for my appointment next week. 

 Too much fun, I must admit!

Bill will drop me off so I have a skein of yarn and my hook so I can make some more of the solid granny square blocks while I wait for him to pick me up again;  with yarn in my hands, I can be very patient!  No wonder it keeps my blood pressure down!

FAT QUARTER CLUB HEARTS

Two table runners were made using last February's Fat Quarter Club from my local quilt store and this month's kit!  I need to hurry up and  get the big quilt off the frame so I can make these in time for the new month!  I will keep one for me and gift the other.

Lately, Lena has used my sewing chair when I go in to sew--she runs in first and gets all settled.  I go and get another chair but this one is too low so I have to use a pillow.  I was complaining to Bill and he said, " You could move her you know!" 

 The thought never entered my mind! lol