Sunday, December 26, 2010

It's time....



It's time to get back to the sewing room. I spent much of September, October and November in a wheel chair with absolutely no desire to sew and not able to stand to quilt.

The first of December found me taking tentative steps with a walker - not really walking, just stepping. Even though my sewing machine was calling me, I still didn't have much enthusiasm to get down to my sewing room and get going on anything.

Now, it's time. I am still only "stepping" and still in a full leg air cast, but I need to get back to doing what I do. So, a quick ride down the new stair lift, and there I was - back in my sewing room. I spent a few minutes working on a "10-minute block" project from a Moda layer cake that had been sitting on the shelf for months and months.

After about an hour and a half of sewing, It became apparent that I do NOT have the stamina for the up and down sewing, pressing and cutting method that I have used for years and years. It's going to take me a bit of time to get back fully into the swing of things!

So, I decided to really take a look at things and see exactly what is waiting for me down there. Here is what I found (and the list may change as I find more projects hidden away in the cupboards and cabinets of my sewing room.

QUILTS THAT I HAVE PROMISED ( guess I should work on these first)

1. Emily and Paul's T-Shirt Quilts - graduation gifts.

I have a tried and true method of doing t-shirt quilts, so a I'm ready to go with those as soon as I can stand long enough to cut the shirts.

2. Elise's "big girl" quilt. Elise's quilt will be made from Moda's Butterfly Fling line and I have a gorgeous bundle of fat quarters ready for that project.

3. Donation block for the 2011 fair quilt

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UFOs (Unfinished objects - projects that have already been started)

1. Candy Kisses Lap quilt

2. Civil War Tribute BOM quilt (I should be getting the final three months blocks from my niece's quilt shop - Two Sisters Quilting in Bear Lake, Michigan any day now

3. Fiddlesticks Floral - this quilt is all cut and ready to be pieced

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PIGS (Projects in grocery sacks)

1. Moda's Legacy Pineapple quilt - kit

2. Wildflower Serenade - two kits but will probably combine into one queen size

3. Beep Beep toddler boys quilt. Will finish and put in my Etsy shop

4. Mary Rose - shabby chic throw

5. Oriental fabric throw

6. Gathering Leaves kit from Moda's Alspice collection

7. Oak Leaf and Reel - Moda applique quilt kit

8. Snow Crystals kit

9. Shimmer Stars quilt kit

10. About a dozen novelty print pillow cases for the grandkids

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I also have quite a collection of Moda Layer Cakes, Jelly Rolls and fat quarter bundles that I have not decided yet on a pattern.

PLUS, a multitude of bins full of fabric scraps for making my favorite quilts. SCRAP QUILTS! I have dozens of scrap quilts planned out in my mind! Not to mention my favorite scrap quilts designed by Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville Bonnie is currently running a quilt mystery called Roll, Roll Cotton Boll. I would love to be in the middle of this mystery quilt but I am afraid that I am not quite up to doing the fabric cutting that this quilt requires. I have however, printed out each and every clue that has been posted and I will do this quilt at some time in the future!

It appears that I could piece quilts for about 10 years without ever setting foot back in a fabric store.

It’s time…..

Monday, December 6, 2010

8 new screws - still healing





I'm still healing - and still not sewing. I've now spent 10 1/2 weeks non-weight bearing in a wheelchair. My initial incision did not heal well so I returned to surgery on October 25th for more surgery. I am getting pretty antsy to get downstairs to my sewing room. However, I wonder if the pain meds I am taking will allow me to concentrate enough to sew! Perhaps it is not yet time for sharp things like pins, needles and rotary cutters.

My surgeon has just given the okay for me to do some "partial weight bearing" while wearing my big ole boot and using a walker. With any luck, I will be graduating to a cane by the first of the year!

I have a whole list of things that I want to start working on. The top of the list is a "big girl" quilt for my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter who is moving from her crib to a big girl bed. The next thing on my list is the current
Bonnie Hunter Quiltville Mystery Quilt - Roll, Roll Cotton Boll. I have printed out all of the clues and my mind is just swimming with all of the fabrics in my stash that would be appropriate for this quilt!