Category: sewing

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

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

So Many Things to be Thankful for…especially Monnie and the Wool Coat Quilt

I often forget how lucky I am.  Sometimes, getting caught up in the day to day img_03301activities of life makes you forget a few very important things.

I am still here.  For this I am grateful.  I have a beautiful, healthy and smart twelve year old daughter.  I still have Miranda, which at one point in time not too long ago, I did not think I would.  She hobbles around the house today.  For this I am grateful, even when she gets on my last nerve.

I have Kevin, who in his very own way is a very kind man, who looks out for all of us.  He was most certainly my rock during Miranda’s accident.  Lately he takes care of me when I don’t feel so well.  Currently I struggle with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Dystonia.  They don’t go well together.  But, it will get sorted out, eventually.  Kevin son’s Bryce, who is cute as can be and such a helpful sweet boy.  I miss him when he is not with us, but grateful when he is.  I can’t imagine what it feels like not to have access to your child at all times.

I am grateful for my three sisters, even though we sometimes we get off track.  I am hoping to see them all at New Year’s this year, so we can work on getting things back to the way they used to be, or as close as we possibly can.

These photos are of a quilt that my sister Anke has.  It belonged to my Grandmotherimg_03321 Monnie (Uncle Donald’s sister).  She was one of my most favorite people and the reason I sew today.  This quilt is made of old wool coats.  Imagine how warm it is…  The history.  I wonder who wore all those old wool coats?

A big thank you to my sister for sending me the pictures.  I remembered seeing it, but it had been a long time and brings back the fondest memories of Monnie and reminds me of who I am.

At 52, I have already said goodbye to two husbands, both my parents and a couple of dear friends.  It is a lot.  Sometimes I think it is too much for me.  But then am I reminded of all those that are still in my life.  For this I am grateful.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your Family

Something for the Fur Babies

20161112_162030_resized_1My dogs usually tear off bandannas.  I think they are cute, but for whatever reason they come untied and I find them in the yard.  So, I decided to make some that slipped over their collar.  Super cute and easy.

My First model is Moka.  She was not happy about wearing the bandanna. Not sure why, It complemented her Ohio State collar and dog tags.  She wasn’t happy last Christmas when I put her in a holiday sweater either.  She rolled around on the floor for hours til she wiggled out of it.  She eventually found a way to get it in her mouth and I had to remove it before is got Mokaed (destroyed).

My second model is Snibble.  She liked her bandana.  Especially since it made our resident20161112_154733_resized_1 OSU fan happy (Kevin).  Snibble has been madly in love with him since she met him.  We are all OSU fans, but I have to say, Kevin is the only one that arranges the shirts in his drawer by: OSU Football, OSU Basketball, anything related to New York (that is where he is from) and misc.  Heaven forbid I put something in the wrong pile. LOL.

 

The lucky bandannas must have worked, because OSU won in a smashing victory and some of their top opponents fell also, which should make them rise in the polls.  Which makes everyone at my house happy.

 

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your Family

Mystery Quilt – What will it be???

20161101_204316Well, I got everything cut as instructed.  I had most of this fabric in my stash, likely for years….  Had to buy a couple of accent pieces, that’s it.  I like lime green and teal together.  Hoping it turns out to be something awesome!  We shall see.

I managed to get all the sewing stuff packed, now just need my personal items.  Hope to get that done later, but the 7th game of the World Series is on, and I am from the Cleveland area.  Hoping Mom is watching from above.  She was a big Indians fan.  My sister Kellie better have that gold Wahoo that mom always wore, on tonight.

Next Post from the retreat.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Treasure your Family

Mystery quilt and packing….

So, I am trying to get back to my normal life.  My daughter is home from the hospital, which is great.  But, you do sort of trade one set of circumstances for another.  Glad not to be running to the hospital, but there is a lot to do having her home also.  This weekend is the Quilt Retreat.  It has been a while since I have been to one.  Part of me feels like I should be staying home and part of me can’t wait to go.  Kevin tells me I am going…… I have been gathering my things together in my new wheeled “I am going to a retreat” case.

Since this is a mystery quilt retreat, I have been spending 10 minutes here and there cutting out the pieces that I need.  I am done, need to label them and get them into bags all sorted.  I have never done a mystery quilt, so this is a new experience for me.  I used some fabrics that I had purchased previously and then purchased a couple other coordinating fabrics.  I will post photos as we go.

Now for the what to pack?….  Wine (check), Diet Pepsi (Check).  I am guessing I should consider a sewing machine and other supplies.  We will be leaving at 6am Friday morning, so I really need to be ready by Thursday night.  That should be a challenge.

We are staying at the Berlin Hotel and resort.  Since it has been so warm here, the trees are just starting to change, so it will be very beautiful.  Fall in Ohio tends to be very picturesque.  Can’t wait to go to one of my favorite shops , Millers Dry Goods and there is a shop hop going on.  WooHoo!

I totally stole this from Lynn

So, my friend Lynn and I are going to a Quilt Retreat a week from Saturday weekend in Amish country.  Yeah,   A little getaway after a long couple of months.

So, I stopped by Lynn’s the other day and her awesome family had got her the most 20161019_212129_resizedawesome birthday gift to haul sewing machine and quilting supplies around.  So, I ,copied and went and got one myself.

I have to say, remembering my last retreat, where I hauled a bunch of plastic crates of stuff.  Add the fact that I have been recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.  Yup, I  needed one more thing.

This thing has room in the bottom for your sewing machine.  It has a giant case for supplies and tons of room for Fabric.  And, it is on wheels.  No lifting pulling dragging all that heavy stuff.  I bought it at Lowe’s.  $79.99, well spent.

So, My daughter, Miranda came home from the hospital.  She still can’t walk, but we are getting there.  Thanks to those that follow her Page.  Some day I will be normal again (whatever that is).

 

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Treasure your Family

Progress, in several areas

Well. my hospital hexies are finally looking like something.  I feel like I have made progress.  I believe my plan will be to make a scarf for my dresser.    Seems fitting since I am the crazy dog lady.  As I type this there is one at my feel and one on the chair next to 20161003_195603_resizedme and one on my lap.  This is a great travel project because everything I need fits into my little dog bag (of course).  In my photo, you can see my Ruger.  This was my late Husbands “Hunting Dog”.  He weights six pounds and is scared of ants, so I am not sure what he would hunt.  Cute as a button though.  He is the only male dog in my herd, so he thinks any female is his.  He frequently rolls all over me as if he is making me his and then gives Kevin the evil eye.  Miss Moka’s paws are on the table where they should not be.

Other progress is with my beautiful daughter Miranda.  I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It has been six weeks now since her accident and she makes progress everyday.  I update my Miranda’s Journey page often.  It has saved me many many phone calls and texts.  Friends and family know they can go to the page and get an update on how she is doing.  We still have a long road ahead, but we will get their.  Thanks to everyone for their support.

A Day Off

So, today I did not go to the hospital (Check Miranda’s Journey page for the latest updates). Last night I fell asleep after dinner (before 6pm) and did not wake up until 8:30 today.  Guess I needed it.  So, I did some laundry and made dinner.  I also got  little sewing time in.  Decided that I needed to see something finished.

20160925_175920I actually made these bibs for my future grandchildren (just in case I don’t get to meet them).  They are made from recycled jeans.  Jeans that belonged to me and my late husband Derrick.  I am hoping that will someday mean something to Haley and/or Miranda.  No to bad on the applique portion.  Over time I will make more to give away.  But, sometimes you just need to see 20160925_175930something finished.

I am still working on my Hospital Hexies.  I should have an update on that soon.

Thanks to all my quilting and blogging friends for caring about Miranda and my family.  It truly does mean a lot.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your Family

Hospital English Paper Piecing

So, since quilting is my stress reliever. and I am spending a lot of time at the hospital with my daughter since her accident, I decided to try English Paper piecing.  I haven’t got much accomplished, since I still can’t think straight.  Miranda is doing better, which I am grateful for.  We still have a long way to go.

I don’t really have a plan for my “Dog Bones” (I hope that is what they look like), but it could turn into a table topper for dresser.  I guess that would make it a dresser scarf or something.  Not really sure.  Depends on how difficult it turns out to be.  So far, not to hard and it doesn’t take up to much space to work on, so that makes it easy at the hospital.

Thanks to all for the kind words during our difficult time.  They have been much appreciated.  To Follow Miranda’s Progress, please click on Miranda’s Journey Page.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your Family