"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jer 29:11 (NIV)

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Something Smells Fishy Blog Hop - My Day

 



Our projects this month were to have something to do with fish.   And that gave me the push I needed to get a UFO out and then finish it up.

This quilt was one that the top was made for a commissioned order, Unfortunately the order was canceled (mom-to-be changed nursery theme) after I had made the top.   So it sat in one of the UFO totes that I have until this swap   The pattern is one of my own designs and I had a lot of fun with it.  The customer had wanted something to do with the sea and this is what I'd come up with.

Whales and anchor were scraps, background was a remnant from my stash.
Backing is a cute boating print.  Border and binding fabric was a  remnant that featured red & blue goldfish.  The background of the front is a funky kind of bluc, but the blue in the binding just matched it.   

Will likely put this up for sale.


Gratitudes:
1.  For my eye sight in the left eye slowly returning to normal after surgery

2, for AC out here in the 115+ degree temps in Phoenix this summer.

Monday, July 15, 2024

ScrapHappy - July 2024

 Welcome to ScrapHappy day!   Today's the day where we post about all the scrappy goodness we've been working on.   Don't forget to go check out what everyone else has done this month.

KateGun, EvaSue, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Tracy, JanMoira, SandraChrisAlysClaireJeanDawnGwen, Sunny, Kjerstin, SueL,  Vera, Ann, Dawn2, Carol,  Preeti, VivKarrin, Amo, AlissaLynn, Tierney and Hannah

As for me, I didn't have much time to work on a lot of scrappy stuff due to have 4 commissioned lap quilts that needed to be completed.   Those were finished up last week (well except for the binding on the final one....that was today).   


But then my life took an unexpected turn after having an unexpected reaction to an antibiotic given after a root canal.   Seems the med aggravated a tear in my left retina that I didn't know was there causing a nasty floater and blurred vision.  Trip to the eye doc on Monday resulted in a trip to the retina specialist on Wednesday, and then surgery Thursday afternoon.   Came out looking like a ringer for a pirate....lol.


Finally after 2 days I'm back to looking mostly normal and back to sewing because there isn't much else I can do at the moment.

Now mind, I'm not quite sure I'm ready to start cutting fabric with only one eye that is functioning normally at the present, but there are oodles of projects where either I've got precut pieces or are ready to quilt.   So I shouldn't be bored.  Will also be working from home for 3-6 weeks depending on how fast my eye and vision heal.









Knowing I was going to have the surgery I quickly went thru my pink scraps and cut enough strips to piece 4 long strips.   I'll use these as the 2nd border to go around the remnant that will be the center of this quilt.  The black w/multi color stars that is left over from another project will be the first border and binding, and perhaps a third border as well.
The card with the candle features a long ago finished needlepoint candle,  Border on it is a ribbon remnant from my mom's stash.  Background on the cards (5 total) was from a left over piece of shirting from a long ago project.
Back of the cards were made from a couple of remnants in my background stash.

Gratitudes: 
1. For the adverse reaction to medication, because it meant the retina tear was found quickly and there should be no lasting damage to the vision in my left eye.

2. For the friends who have been willing to drive me to/from doc appts, surgery and even to Starbucks so I could get a drink there.

3. For the docs who fit me into their schedule and didn't put me off when I said something was wrong.

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

For the Birds Blog Hop - My Day

 


This month's challenge was to make something that featured birds - Angry birds, crazy birds, whimsical birds or flying geese.   If it's a bird, this is their time to show their colors.

This theme gave me the needed ideas to get the stitching finally finished on this piece.     It was put into the CQ piece 10+ years ago, and I don't even remember what state I was living in at the time when I did that.   Might have been Indiana.....or Massachusetts, or Wyoming..............lol.      

I've loved this piece of cross-stitch since I saw the original kit.   This was stitched probably stitched 20 yrs or so ago (and before you ask....yes I have ones older than that.....LOL).  It was put into the CQ piece 10+ years ago, and I don't even remember what state I was living in at the time when I did that. 

I added the hand-dyed dragonfly and the flowering vine along 2 sides of the cross-stitch at the time I made the piece.




Tree branches with hanging flower clusters and leaves were added.   I used beads for the flowers.  Then added 2 hummingbird buttons to this section. These hummingbirds remind me of one of my best friends who I've known for a lot of years, and who has been helping me with the house I inherited last year.



At the bottom of the piece I added another tree branch using some of the same ribbons I'd used in the tree above it.   Then added a bird's nest with a couple of eggs made with freshwater pearls.   Mama bird is off somewhere out of sight because I couldn't decide what kind to make....lol.



















The final bit added was this prickly pear cactus and rock.   Both were made using a padded satin stitch.  two blooms are on the cactus.   This one holds a lot of thoughts and associations - my home here in AZ, my immediate family who are now gone, one of my best quilting friends , also now gone.

This tree was made with several different fancy ribbons that came in a CQ assortment.   It also was one of the first things added, but took forever to decide what to add to it if anything.   While looking through all the various things I'd collected for using with the postcards I make I found this owl charm and thought it was perfect.  The owl reminds me of one of my best friends and her family.   The tree also reminds me of all the places I've lived that have real winters.

At this point, the top is done, but not a finished project.   That will come in the future because I've got multiple commissions with due dates in the queue that are on a time crunch....lol, nothing new for me i'm afraid.








Don't forget to check out everyone else who is blogging today -  




Gratitudes:
1. Colonoscopy is done and I'm back to a normal diet again.  =)

2. For the blessing of AC in this 112+ degree heat out here in Phoenix.









Saturday, June 15, 2024

ScrapHappy - June 2024

It's that time of the month again to share what we've been working on made from our scraps.

Don't forget to check out what everyone has posted this month - 

KateGun, EvaSue, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Tracy, JanMoira, SandraChrisAlysClaireJeanDawnGwen, Sunny, Kjerstin, SueL,  Vera, Ann, Dawn2, Carol,  Preeti, VivKarrin, Amo, AlissaLynn, Tierney and Hannah


This month first found me using part of a panel that that I'd picked up as a remnant several years ago (don't remember how many, but it has seen at least 2 moves).  The squares in the panel were 6.25" and easy to square up to a 6.5" cut size.    Alternate blocks are string-pieced ones  I made from batik scraps 10+ years ago.  Black border was cut from scraps of black Kona leftover from another project.   Binding will be cut from the same scraps.
I had pieced these strips together several years ago.   They were all from a group of strings from one line of fabrics that I found at a TX quilt shop.  Words sewn onto the postcards are scrapbooking pieces found at Dollar Tree.  Two of them will be sent out shortly.

 Scraps left after cutting up and repurposing a cotton shirt were used as the backs for the postcards.  



Gratitudes: 

1. Remediation work at the house has been completed.

2. Finally managed to get the much overdue colonoscopy scheduled and done. 

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Birdie blog hop coming next week

 


The For The Birds blog hop starts on Monday the 17th.   Be sure to check out what everyone blogs about.

June 17

MooseStashQuilting

Karrin’s Crazy World

Quilting Between the Rails

Selina Quilts

Quilt Doodle Designs

 

June 18

Homespun Hannah's Blog

BeaQuilter

Words & Stitches

High Road Quilter

Quilted Delights

Quilted Snail

 

June 19

Patchouli Moon Studio

A Quiltery

Ms P Designs USA

Stitching Farm Girl

Scrapdash

 

June 20

Just Let Me Quilt

Isabella’s Whimsy

Quilting Gail

Hazel's Daughter

Songbird Designs


Gratitudes:

1. For friends who are willing to take time out of their day to drive me to medical tests when needed.

2. For being able to work from home when needed.

Thursday, May 23, 2024

On the Road Again Blog Hop - My Day

 May 23








This month's challenge was to make a project that shows travel vehicles of any kind.
Planes, trains, automobiles, bikes, trucks, tractors, or whatever gets us
from one place to another. Use your creative imagination to show us ways to travel.
Or, make a project showing a place to travel to.
The options on this challenge are pretty open...you can do it!

Here are the one's posting today - 


For my quilt, I started with a pieced panel that I had found in a barrel of scraps back at a local quilt store that was close to where I lived for a while.  This panel had two appliqued trucks on it.   The panel was cute, but I then struggled to figure out what to do with it.  

Several years ago and in a different state and many quilt stores later, I found a couple of cute fabrics with all sorts of traffic signs in a could of colorways.    I inserted the panel into the one yard piece of the yellow background.

Final top was pieced in a 3" cross-hatch pattern.   This is the first time I've almost done a whole cloth quilt. Not something I would normally do, but for this project seemed to be what was called for.
The grey background print, I used for the main backing fabric and used a solid grey to piece it out to the right size.


Don't forget to check out what everyone else has shared with us today.


Gratitudes -

1. Remediation work is underway at the house, with restoration starting as soon as cabinets can be ordered and built!

2. For a job that is willing to work with employees having health issues.