Category: Family

One of the Many Uses of Our Pool Table

You think it would be so we could play pool.  Nope.  It is really there so I can lay out quilts.  I went to Lowe’s and bought a board that fit perfectly on top. While it is not quite tall enough for me, it certainly beats trying to do it on the floor.  Then I would have dogs walking across it or laying on it.  Using the pool table just means the dogs are laying underneath it or at my feet.

This is totally a UFO, circa 1990’s.  But it has a bit of special meaning.  The second quilt I ever made was exactly the same.  This was from leftover fabric (obviously bought way too much).  It has special meaning, because I gave that quilt to my mother.  It was the first time she was ever impressed with something that I did.  Mom is not with us anymore, and I think one of my older sisters has the quilt.

I can tell that I did this quilt top a long time ago.  Still had not figured everything about quilting.  Totally ironed the seams like a rookie (open).  The sashing…”Good God” … horrible.  My use of a ruler was truly an issue back then.

I managed to fix it enough to get is square so I could quilt it.  I wanted to find the same thread I used on Mom’s, but could not find it anywhere.  It was a multi-color Sulky that was Black, Red and gold.  It really looked awesome of the quilt.  I wound up with a variegated black/gray.  It will have to do.

This is a simple quilt (basic 9 patch), so I will do simple quilting.  I will likely do a loopy meandering.

That is about the only thing I got done this weekend.  New Rheumatoid Arthritis drug, sort of kicked my butt on Saturday.  Crossing my fingers that this one works.  I am on Drug #4 in the last six months.  I do feel much better today though.  Just need to keep my immune system up since all these drugs kill your immune system.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Treasure your Family

Sewing for Charity with help from the kids

So, since joining a Quilting guild, that does lots of charity work, On Friday night, I decided to work on a few of those items.

Since my 13 year old was in trouble, I decided that she was going to be my assistant.  At first she made a face at me and then I told her potentially wat the alternative could be (something crappy), so she quickly changed her mind.

I explained to her that we would be making these hearts for the local Hospice.  Once someone is hospice passes, they write a message on one side of the heart and then all the nurses that cared for that person sign the back.  A very sweet gesture at a difficult time.

So, I let Haley pick fabric out of the scrap basket.  Then I gave her a pattern and had her cut out the batting for the hearts.  Of course she informed me that she was not good at that and I told her that she would have to practice until she got it right.  Then, Miranda felt left out and joined the party.  She became the chief ironer.

They did not do too badly, there were a few rejects, but overall a success.

Since I am finally feeling a bit better, I also go to work on my one monthly goal project.  I totally need to get it off my design board so I can put something else up there.

My projects have expanded out of my sewing room and are not taking over other parts of the family room.  I have stolen the pool table and placed a board on top of it so I could use it as a work area.  I also put my design board in the pool room.  My shape cutter is sitting next to the bar with several plastic tubs of important stuff and then of course I store a couple of things in the corner of the kid’s family room.  Then there is the long table on the other side of the bar where I usually do my quilting.

I should probably real it in a bit before I have a full scale family revolt on my hands.

Happy sewing

Happy quilting

Treasure your Family

Hospital Hexies again…

20170310_070254_resizedWell, I am at the hospital  making hexies again.  Today Miranda is having surgery on her elbow.  When she had her accident, she had a compound fracture of her elbow.  She also lost about 3 inches of the bone.  So today, they will take a bone from her thigh and use it to permanently repair her elbow.  She has limited movement, so hopefully this will provide her better range of motion.  The x-ray is totally scary looking.  I have a few others I will ut on her page.

For now, I will continue to make hexies to pass the 20170310_094411time.   I still have two more pieces to make for the entire bedroom set, so at least it is productive.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your family

Mom’s adventure to the Quilt Show (Circa 1993)

I mentioned in a post last week about a trip my Mom and Dad went with me to a quilt show 20170224_184935_resizedmany many years ago.  I talked about the picture Mom painted on fabric, but failed to post a picture of it.  I realized this as I stared at it lying in bed yesterday.   She certainly did not want to go to a quilt show, but found that she really enjoyed herself.  It is a memory I will always cherish.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your Family

Cute Quick Little Bag form the Crazy Dog Lady…..then why is it made with Cat Fabric?

So, I like to make gifts.  I am not always sure that everyone appreciates handmade gifts, but because a part of me goes with them, I like it.  I know I treasure the things that others have made for me. 20170211_210814_resized_1

Sorry, reminds me of a story.  My mother could crochet and knit beautifully. However, I had to try and do everything crafty.  For as long as I remember I was always doing something.  After I moved from home, my parents came to visit for a weekend.  I wanted to go to a quilt/craft show (Imagine that).  My Dad would go walk around anywhere.  He was easy to please.  Mom, agreed to go, but I knew she was doing it just for me, not because she really wanted to.  We stopped at a booth that was doing a demo of stenciling on fabric.  They asked us to sit down and try.  I am pretty sure my mother wanted to run away, but she did it.  She made the most beautiful tulip painting on fabric.  She was actually quite pleased with herself.  She hung it up in the bathroom at her house.  Every time I went in that bathroom, I smiled when I saw it.  Now that she is not here with me anymore, I still smile when I look at that tulip hanging on the wall of my bedroom. Enough reminiscing and missing Mom.

I especially like to make gifts that help me practice a skill (putting in zippers on this one) and are useful.  This cute little bag could be used for makeup, keeping credit cards/money,20170211_210808_resized_1 receipts.  Whatever you want.  It was fairly easy, considering there was a zipper in it (which initially scared me).  I obviously have friends and family that are cat lovers, even though I live in a “Dog” house (Ha! Pun).  I will put some candy and/or lip gloss and give this to a friend for her birthday.

This pattern is available for free at WWW.Craftsy.com.  Search for “Easy Zipper Pouch”.  The Exact title is “Easy Zipper Pouch … Two Ways”.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your family

 

 

Finally, some time in the sewing room…and some Quilting I don’t hate.

20170211_112954_resizedI actually completed something.  The English Paper Piecing Dog Bone Hexie Dresser scarf is complete.  I even went as far so to clean off my dresser and put it in its home.  Three more to go, but they are all smaller pieced.  Two for nightstands and one for the tall Dresser.  Overall, I enjoyed English paper Piecing.  I had never done it before and started it when my Daughter had her accident.  For weeks I was at the hospital and this gave me something to do in the ICU.  It was quite a while until she was able to talk, so it was mostly sitting there listening to machines.  I am really glad for that to be over.  Much easier to deal with when you have something to occupy your mind20170211_113029_resized and hands.  I just about have one of the nightstand scarves done also.  As for the quilting, I don’t hate it (like usual).  As I mentioned in a previous post, I would choose a different marking method (Not the clingy plastic wrap).  The dog bones I quilted actually resemble dog bones.  How about that.  Shocking.   It might lead me to get more adventuresome with my quilting.  Who knows.

I also completed some Uncle Donald blocks.  Since these are scrappy, there are memories that go along with each one.  For me, that makes this more enjoyable to do.  As I piece these, I take a trip down memory lane.

So for my Uncle Donald Blocks, I have “Becky’s Block”(my niece).  This was made from the scraps from her college graduation quilt.  It was a picture quilt with many photo’s of her growing up.  Addison’s Block (Addison is actually Becky’s daughter, my Great-Niece) are scraps from her baby quilt.  It was charm squares and I chose not to use any that had dark colors since I was making a baby quilt.  The Crazy Dog Lady Block is totally mine, since I am the crazy dog lady.  These are scraps from many dog fabric blocks. Then we have Derrick’s block.  Derrick is my later husband whom I miss dearly.  He always wore camo.  Sometimes I had to ask him to wear something else.  He always made me laugh.  Only the good die young.

udHappy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure Your Family

 

Fat Girl Falls Down (come on laugh, I am talking about myself)

I though hard about my title.  Didn’t want to offend anyone, but I am talking about myself.  So, this past Saturday, I was taking my daughter to her “Power of the Pen” writing competition.  While they were scoring the essays, they put us all in a theater to watch a movie.  Haley and I went to the back so she could sit near her friends.  At some point I needed to answer my phone, the closest door was about 8 feet away at the back, so I decided to use that door.  Somehow I was now on a 1 and half foot platform in total darkness.  I didn’t step up onto anything when I sat down, but I certainly took a swan dive off this mysterious platform I never stepped up on.  My gut is always to protect my artificial knees, so I fell on…….my hands.  I hit the right one hard enough to bruise it clear to my elbow and open up and bleed.  My only saving grace…..it was so dark no one saw me.   I eventually had to go and have them x-rayed (I put it off as long as possible, but my bruises were scaring people at work).  Fortunately, nothing is broken.  I did compress all the bones in cartilage in my left had (not sure what that really means.  They used a big long medical name).  They put braces on both so they could heal (which I am). Oh, and I found a goose egg on my forehead.  I didn’t even realize I hit my head….Duh.

On a positive note, while Haley did not get a trophy, she is moving on to the semifinals at Wittenberg College.  I will make sure not to sit in dark theaters….or just watch where I am walking.

So, there has been very little quilting/sewing (actually none), which tends to lead to crankiness on my part.  I am thinking that I should be able to get back to it soon.  Ugh.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Treasure your Family

It’s dangerous to walk around in the dark

The holidays totally got the best of me…..

20170107_184745_resizedI had some time off, but I was not off during the entire holiday season like I am used to. I user a lost (most) of my vacation time with Miranda’s Accident.

As always, I have big plans for my quilting/Sewing and it did not happen. My sewing room is a disaster, because we had company for new years. This means that everything got dumped in my room. I look at it right now and it frightens me. Trying to move stuff a bit at a time, but it seems to be daunting task.

I wanted to make a page for all the items I really need to finish this year. Did not that done either. Of Course On December 30th I was at the Immediate Care with Bronchitis. It figures. Company coming and I am sick. I made it through, and had fun. Two of my sister came for the New year, which had never happened before. We had a Chinese gift exchange which involves stealing gifts etc…. I wound up with a toilet light. It was meant to be funny (and it is) but I also find is useful. Makes me not have to turn on lights when I get up at night. Unfortunately, my nephew Alex got the gift I provided. Cottenelle wipes, Toilet Paper and PooPourri. Needless to say He won for worst gift. It was worth a laugh though.

I did manager to work on my English Paper Piecing and finished the one that will go on my dresser. Dog Bones for the crazy Dog Lady. I have now begun work on the nightstands and will eventually get to Kevin’s dresser. I like to work on my English paper piecing while I am watching TV with Kevin or my daughters. Gives me something to do besides snack.
I plan to attempt to quilt dog bones on the dog bone dresser scarf. Will see how that goes.

Happy Quilting
Happy Sewing
Happy 2017
Treasure your Family

The Christmas Village complete with Quilt Shop….of course

Ha20161213_183932ppy Holidays from my house to yours.  We begin our trip through the Christmas village with a stop at the quilt shop (what else?).  This is one of my favorite pieces.  I hunted/waited for while to find it.

So, my village has multiple places that are important in a special way.  SO, I have the log cabin and wild animals, compelte with an outhouse.  This is Derrick’s place (my late husband)/  He was totally an outdoor guy and wanted a log cabin.  In front of that we have our Ohio State House and Fan center, complete with Tailgate party.  THis is for our biggest OSU an and my manfriend, Kevin.

Over on the other side of the village we have Uncle Donald’s place  Complete with Farm House, Barn, silo and tractor. Yep, the same Uncle Donald that made quilts.  Gong to his farm and visiting him and Aunt Helen was one of my favorite thing20161213_183936s to do.

Then of course we have a few of my favorite things.  A dog rescue and a dog training academy.  We have these in honor of my late great Koko, that spurred my deep love and affection for dogs.  We now have 4 dogs and have rescued many other and a few kitties along the way.  I tried to bring home a baby fox that came to my car one day, and Kevin put his foot down..  They were so cute.  I know he was right.  I am sure Momma was not far away.

20161213_183951

I totally love the fountain Kevin got me this year.  It changes colors and actaully has water in it.  It is so pretty.  He knows the things I love.20161213_184012-1

Of course we have
Bethlehem.  It sets up from the village in a
desert.  The whole village is about 15 feet long.  There are so many build
ings.  I even have more that don’t make it on to the table because I am out of room.

20161213_184006

One of the oldest pieces I have is the ice skating ring,  where there is actual ice skating going on.  I am sure I have had this one for nearly 25 years.  And yes that is Santa flying over the ice skating ring.  Christmas Music also plays as Santa flys above the village.  I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season.  My best to all of you and your families.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Happy Holidays

Treasure your family

Struggling Snowflakes

20161124_124600_resizedI made this table runner for my own table.  I usually don’t make much for myself, but it seems odd to be a quilter and not have quilted stuff all over your house.  It is an interesting batik and I was not appalled at my quilting this time.   When I did the quilting, I was sort of thinking/going for snow drifts.  It came out all right.

The snowflakes are not struggling.  I am guilty of that.  Basically I have been feeling like crap and am sick of it.  I have two conditions that are currently competing with each other in my body.  For years I have had something called Dopa Responsive Dystonia.  For me, it basically means that I have the worst Charlie horses all over my body.  Medication had solved about 90% of it until the Rheumatoid arthritis reared its ugly head.  So the drugs for that cause the dystonia to be a zillion times worse.  Like I actually have cramps in my jaw (awful) and my tongue (imagine how that looks and sounds when talking).  I spend a lot of my free time at work, hoping no one notices that occasionally my arm shoots across the table without warning and begins contorting, which often causes tears to run down my face.  They attempt to solve this with powerful anti-seizure drugs that I don’t want to take because they can be very addictive and when you have to take them around the clock.  It makes a person wonder.  Then there are the two doctors, the rheumatologist and the neurologist, who don’t really want to talk to each other, they just want to prescribe more drugs.   Yesterday I was at the neurologist and pretty much begged him to talk to the Rheumatologist.  Just got a dumbfounded look and an offer to write him a letter.  Really?

Actually discussed with Kevin last night if I should just stop taking everything, because I am not sure much is helping.  If you want the Rheumatoid to be better you have to screw with the dystonia drugs.  It is a no win.  My only saving grace is the inexpensive hot tub Kevin put in the garage for me.  It is really the only thing that helps. I find myself in it 2-3 times a day.

I know I should just stop feeling sorry for myself.  I just don’t want to always feel like crap.  On a positive note, my daughter Miranda is doing well after the accident.  Working on therapy.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Treasure your Family