Wrapping up the day

It's a snuggle up in my quilts kind of day.

2012 December, My Status Update

So here it is near the end of another year, always a good time to look back and reflect on what the year held.  I did not quilt nearly as much as my heart desired this last year, but still did manage to complete a few quilts and make some progress on my "finishing up my works in progress" plan. 
For the record: I got a new full time job in February, found that working 40 hours a week is exhausting, started a new infusion therapy for Lupus (also exhausting), we took on an international student in the fall (only negative there is that I lost my sewing room), I saved hundreds of dollars by not purchasing much fabric this year, and most of this makes me feel like I am just in survival mode.  Honestly, that is about all that I can remember about all of 2012.  Mainly the working part, it is a real burden on me and my health, and my family, and a drain on what I have left to give my family.  On the positive side, we had a lot of medical expenses this year and the paychecks and the insurance were a huge help!

Back to the main subject of sewing stuff,  my Dad and his new wife Jean gifted me with a Baby Lock surger this year as well as a fancy Janomie sewing machine. 
I have done a tiny bit of mending with the Janomie so far, but that is all as of yet.  I am super excited to see how it works on a real quilt.  I do have a Sweet Water mid size quilt for a co-worker's baby that needs binding, so that will be next.  A new friend of mine at work has a long-arm quilter, and she was generous enough to quilt that one for me.  I do plan to have her quilt another project for a birthday next year...

Completed Tops
1. The twin to mom's quilt
2. Birds with blue n red on white
3. The retro 50's fabric quilt
4. The black and white dutch star
5. Jake's turquoise and black quilt
6. Two Square - Aqua and Lime
7. Breakfast at Tiffany's

In Various Stages:
1. Bliss wonky stars
2. Bliss applique
3. Bliss ladies and houses hanging on the wall
4. Bias spider web squares - an understandable slow project--no rush here

Projects Cut Out:
1. Perfect Blue quilt (my birthday gift to myself 2009- cut since then too)
2. Bliss Jellys and Jam (number 2)

Time

Been so long.

Little Ladies of Progress

Here is one of my favorite quilting books, which was also a gift from a special friend.

Here is the inspiration for my latest project.

One cute little house.

Sweet little lady with embroidery embellishments.

Can you see the tiny bead necklace on this gal?

Plus she has an adorable apron!


I have put feet to the words I often use:

You cannot base your life on feelings,

you must base your life on Truth!

I do not feel like doing anything.

But I know that I truly do enjoy quilting.

So I am doing some quilting.

I am also focusing on filling my mind with God's Truths.

So my little ladies are Little Ladies of Progress.

Much of my quilting and naming of quilts reflect my life's journey,

and here again; it is so.

What is up?

Been in a real quilting funk lately. I have spent quite a bit of time curled up under this quilt, birds and swirls. I have been sewing these little ladies and houses out of bliss leftovers, of course it is bliss. I have the previous post quilt, fandango, to finish quilting--but it is just so difficult to quilt something that big on my little machine (whine whine whine).
Also have strips ready for another jams and jelly quilt but I need a tone on tone to really get started on that one.
So I would guess that I have almost a dozen projects.
(pause while I count)
Maybe not as bad as I assumed, let's see:

(5)Three tops that need backs and quilting, nope ...make that four...nope, 5!
1. The twin to mom's quilt
2. Birds with blue n red on white
3. The retro 50's fabric quilt
4. The black and white passport leftovers dutch something or other pattern
5. Jake's turquoise and black quilt (has been sitting untouched in a box for 12 months)

(1)Then I have Fandango--which is in the process of being quilted.

(3)And then there are projects that have been started and are in various stages:
1. Breakfast at Tiffany's. Top is close to finished
2. Two Square - aqua and lime+ greens
3. The back yard garden project - greens and browns. Funny I have all of the difficult squares finished, just held up on the east ones!

(4)And then there are pieces and parts:
1. Bliss wonky stars
2. Bliss applique
3. Bliss ladies and houses hanging on the wall
4. Bias spider web squares - an understandable slow project--no rush here

(1)Projects cut out:
1. Perfect Blue quilt ( my birthday gift to myself 2009- cut since then too)

Ok worse! 14
And there are also a few projects that are so small at this point that I am not counting them. :)

I did make a beautiful baby quilt for one of Bruce's co-workers new baby.
Maybe that is the key, I just prefer to work toward something.
Maybe so.

Red Couch Day

Feeling rotten again! Again...ugh, it just never seems to be gone for long. This morning I am curled on my "red couch" playing on my laptop. It is an easy way to get a lot done without moving much. So it is almost like I have been busy this morning (oops it is 2:15 already), balanced the checkbook, paid a few bills, did some work for The Rogue Angler, read my mail...pretty busy huh?

Anyway, while surfing I ran across this wonderful writing on what it is like to have Lupus. I am posting a link to the article on the writers web site: But You Don't Look Sick.

The Spoon Theory

http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory-written-by-christine-miserandino/

Also I am working on a new quilt called Fandango designed by Kate Spain. But I have changed up the pattern arrangement a little. I kindof prefer more of a color pattern, So I am alternating greenish pinwheels with orangeish ones. But the fabric is WONDERFUL!!!

In A Quandary

Remember how I mentioned last time that I did not do well following directions? For example the first block I put together was block B and you might also remember that I altered the pattern to better fit what I did. Anyway...the above block is my block B. (Horrible picture, way too much sunlight, I really need to take a class on how to use my camera, or be more willing to take another picture when I see how they turned out....) Back to my primary quandary, I like the block B pretty well. It is a happy block that makes me smile.

So then I moved on to tackle block A. To begin with, I did not like that mini-pieced star center so I substituted additional applique--those little centers are very cute. Then I worked out the inner star and so far so good. Next came the outer border and I almost choked when I started counting how many of those red, pink, red formations I was looking at. Honestly I finished one little section and it felt like I should be completely finished with the square. Note to self: Some quilts are really a pain to do. If all my quilting was like this...this might just be all of my quilting. The block A finally completed.


Still, as I look at how cute the blocks are and back to the pattern and count four of block B (the easy one) no problem; and only five of block A (lets see that is one down, so four to go times four of those blasted red, pink, red border combinations...that is 16) Can I really commit to finishing 16 more of those? Wait! I actually have one more that I put together with the first four, so no we are talking 15..hmmmm....maybe.

Then I put the two alternating blocks together and I hesitate. I am not sure I like it. It seems SO busy. What do you think?

Honestly, I think this is going to take some consideration. For all that work, I should LOVE it, Don't you think? I just don't know what to think. maybe I am going to have to alter the pattern again to give my eyes some resting space. I am open to ideas.