A dolly quilt by Dolly !

Hooray !  I finally reclaimed the front bedroom for a sewing room again.   That leaves us with one fewer bed, but a much more productive use of the space.

And while I was going  through some things in there, I ran across the bag of flannel 4 inch squares that my sister brought to me last Fall.  Remember, I made the blue baby quilt from them last month.
Well, today I played around with the pink ones and came up with enough squares to make a little raggedy quilt.
It finished at 22 inches square.

 When I made raggedy quilts before, I used to wash and dry them as soon as I finished one; but this one is so nice and pristine, I think I'll just leave it be.

Diamonds in the Dirt

I am happy to say that I finished piecing my "Diamonds in the Dirt" quilt top last night. 

 You know, it's funny, I started this top just to use up some old browns, and to postpone cutting into a newer collection of greens and yellows.  I'm not sure what I want to use the new fabrics for, so this was just 'passing time and being useful'.  Well, I am CRAZY about this top !    I only hope that I can get a chance to baste it soon.  I'm even CONSIDERING hand-quilting it !   

I KNOW !

I NEVER DO THAT ANYMORE !

I just love the way that the lighter pieces 'sparkle' throughout the quilt, especially in a low light situation ! 

This is not my original design........I saw something like this in a quilting catalog a couple of years ago and drafted it up the best I could.  I made it in a smaller size, but changed the design some this time.  I can see me doing it again, and that's saying a lot for me, because I hate to make the same design more than once.

I have a recipient in mind for this quilt, if and when I finish it, but I'll keep quiet about that as I'm terrible with deadlines and predictions.   I planned it as an extra-large nap quilt.......it measures about 56 X 80 inches.

This layout, without the sashing between the browns, has given me an idea for another setting possibility.

I almost left out this block.......it was an extra I made......but Dorothy Tucker at the quilting get-together the other day said that he just had to make his way into the quilt.   I'm not sorry that he did.......thanks Dot !

Moving right along........

.....I've been working on the brown quilt.  I did get to go to the quilting get-together yesterday, and it was SO enjoyable.  You know, I can sew just about anytime I want, for as long as I want, here at home, but there's just something so great about doing it in a room with other people who are as interested in the craft as you are.  There are projects going on all around you, with opportunities to give an opinion (when asked), or share a tip.  You get praise and constructive criticism (if asked for) on your own finished and in-progress projects.   I miss my Oklahoma Outlaws so much, but this was nice !

When I awakened yesterday, to a temperature of about 15 degrees outside and a powdering of snow on the streets, I was afraid that the day's activities would have to be cancelled for me.   I have no experience driving on snow.   But I went out and swept the back porch, and the snow was so dry that it was like sweeping flour or something.  So I reasoned that the road wouldn't be slippery, and I was right.   I got to go at around 9 a.m., and I stayed until about noon.

I worked on the square-in-a-square blocks that are a part of this newest quilt.  Surpisingly, I only got 12 or so blocks done.  I am using the flip and sew method of making the triangles around the square.  After I sew on the marked diagonal line of the squares, I make another seam 1/2 inch outside of that first seam.   That way, when I cut off the corners, I have already stitched together the leftover half-square triangles !  Usually, I throw them away after they've set awhile needing to be stitched together.  This way, they're done along with the quilt, and suddenly I wind up with usable piecing for this or another project.  Maybe I can work them into the back of this quilt.

At any rate, I've gotten to sew some more this morning, and I've finished all of these blocks.  When I laid them out on the bed, I was struck by several ideas for other quilts using this block, and even these colors.

 I never realized how well red and tan went together......too bad I've cut up about all the reds I have.  Time to restash, I guess !

Work in Progress........

........I've gotten to where I don't post pictures of my quilt tops until they're nearly done.  That makes it look like, POOF, I just whipped something up overnight....ain't I amazin' ? 

I guess I've gotten into that habit because as sure as I announce a project, like this one, I'm just as sure to get side-tracked onto something else.

But, having said that, I wanted to mention, here, that I've cut out and am in the process of beginning a couch-sized quilt.  I wanted to get into my 'browns' drawer and use some fabrics that I've ignored for quite a while.  Looking through a sketch-notepad of quilt designs I've drawn, I ran across one that I made up once before.  I reworked it a bit and started cutting.

I've wasted today, when I could have been sewing, because the next part I want to piece is also the part that's easiest to transport.  You see, our quilting group meets tomorrow, and since we don't meet in the months of November and December, due to holiday busyness, I'm really ready to see these girls again.  Tuesdays are also the day that we unload the truck at the church for the food-giveaway, so I can only devote a couple of hours to the get-together.  Hopefully, I can take my featherweight sewing machine and my piecing and spend a couple of joyful hours in good company.  I certainly hope that the cold temperatures don't keep everyone away ! 

So, here's the beginning layout of the latest adventure.

This photo lets me see where I need to move a few pieces around for better balance.  Love that !

January progress

 I've been slacking on my blog posts this week.

Last weekend, just in time to take the quilt to church on Sunday, I received the backing flannel for the blue baby quilt.

The squares for the front were already cut in a package of squares that my sister brought to me in September.  She had cut a lot of flannel into squares and then decided that she didn't want to fool with them.  I used the blues for a quilt for a new baby boy born to one of our young church couples.

 The penguin fabric for the back was on sale on Etsy for only $1.50 per yard !  I got the 2 yards and it worked out great.  I got it quilted and didn't have to bind it, as I made it 'pillow-style', turning it inside out to stitch around, and then 'birthing it'.

I got the borders sewn on the Snowflakes quilt top and it ended up measuring 46 inches square.  That should work out great for hanging on my wall quilt rack.  I like the stripes.  I hope I can get this one basted soon.

Then, remembering that Alyissia didn't have enough doll quilts for the 3 babies we were playing with the other day, I whipped up an extra little quilt.

 I just used two pieces of pretty, leftover flannels that I had for the top, and some of the remaining penguin fabric from the blue baby quilt.

 On top of all this, I snuck out into the cold yesterday and got the front brakes replaced, and the rear brakes scraped and cleaned.  This cold is a BEAR, but the LORD is graciously providing us with a warm home, and plenty to eat.......GOD IS SO GOOD !  Be blessed !

HE'S HOME !

Welcome home, Tim !

Here's one happy wife (my daughter !)

Her hubby, my son-in-love, is home after a 9 month army deployment in the middle east.

We are so proud of him and his unwavering devotion and service to keep our country safe and free.
And besides that, he's just a REALLY good husband and daddy !    We love you, Tim !

This is what I call 'a woman who knows HER place' !

  Thank you to ALL our soldiers, all over the world......you are special, and may God bless and keep you in the shelter of his wings !


There's a special assembly planned at the school where my daughter teaches and where their three children attend.   Wish I could have been there........it's gonna be an AWESOME SURPRISE !

I'm On a Roll !

And.........I'm dead tired !    

I've been sewing since 9 a.m.

But....I finished my x and plus quilt top.......except maybe for a border to make it a bit bigger.  BUT THE MAJOR PIECING IS DONE !

I made 26 blocks many months ago, and couldn't decide on whether to make it the usual way .......

 or sash it to gain some size.  

 The only fabric that I had enough of for one-color sashing was a bright lime green.

 I wasn't happy with either option, so I put the blocks away, but not so far that I didn't run across them every time I tried to start something else.

Looking at them yesterday, I noticed that I had a LOT of extra 2 1/2 inch squares and 2 x 6 rectangles.  Playing around with the blocks, I realized that I could make sashing from the extra pieces instead.  This way ......

 .......I have plusses EVERYWHERE ! 

             X's...not so obvious,........but they're there.

 I like it this way......from a distance.  And, yes, I added the cross on purpose.)

 Up close, it's just bright CHAOS ! I think I have finally gotten over my obsession with bright quilts.  

More and more I'm craving a softly colored, quiet quilt.  That will take SOME shopping, as you won't find THAT in my current stash.

Reminds me of snowflakes !

Speaking of which, we're supposed to get a FEW tonight....nothing more than flurries, the bigger amount expected to fall in the eastern part of Tennessee.  I am SO READY for one beautiful, 6-inch snowfall, the kind that blows into every crack and crevice of trees and fences !

Back to the quilt-top, though........lookie what I 'threw' together over the last few days.

 In an effort to declutter my little home, I've been cutting out quilt designs that catch my eye, from catalogs and magazines, trimming them into 3 x 5 inch pieces, and stapling them together .  I can then leave them lying around where they play the siren's call, without having a big mess covering every surface.   Well, one of the designs I cut out recently was a bit of a quilt that was shown as a kit in Connecting Threads' recent catalog. 

Now, let me make it clear here.....I generally don't buy patterns, because I don't NEED to.  I'm blessed with the ability, praise God, to usually be able to look at something and  figure out how to make it on my own.   If that offends someone who designs patterns, I'm sorry;  I don't mean to be unethical, and I always try to give credit for the inspiration or original design.

 Well, this one kept calling to me, and I dug out the quilt kit that Wanda gave me as a housewarming gift upon my purchase of this little home of mine.  Some of the blues in the kit didn't quite go with the kit-pattern's design, so I 'borrowed' them for this project.   JoAnn had also sent me some blue fatquarters that she was not too fond of, and they seemed to work perfectly too.  Since the design was easy to figure out, just 5 stars and 4 ocean-wave-type blocks, I made blocks Saturday and Monday, and I am just CRAZY about this little thing !

 I still want to add borders of some type, but you can see that it can't hang from my quilt rack if it gets much bigger.   I've been doing simple square and rectangular designs for quite a while now (and loving them), but I have to admit that the triangles definitely give this quilt it's pizazz !   Of course, I'll also admit that having to trim down each triangle square for precision's sake was a huge pain in the 'down under' !

Still.....................totally worth it !

The thaw has come......

....to the temperatures, but I'm frozen in place, quilt-wise !  I just don't seem to be able to cut those gorgeous fabrics.  My local fabric store doesn't have any solid medium-grey fabric for me to use as my shadows for the optical illusion, and the rest of the fabrics keep teasing me to come up with a different design.  ugggghhhhh!     It's maddening ! 

My husband sees me at the cutting table, staring at the fabrics, and he says, "what'cha makin'?"  I say, "As long as I don't cut, it can be ANYTHING.......but as soon as I cut and sew, it's a done deal, there's only the one quilt instead of the myriad of possibilities !" 

In a different direction, I ordered some flannel from a seller on Etsy, to use as a backing on a little quilt top that I pieced for a young mother at church's baby boy.  I had ordered some snowglobe fabric from Connecting Threads, but it turned out to be too aqua for the blue scraps I used.  This latest purchase is a penguin-bordered blue flannel for which she only wanted $1.50 per yard !  I bought the 2 yards she had in stock, and will be glad to have it whether it works for this project or not. 

My camera card is playing hooky again, so no photos today !

Be well and be blessed...........and productive, unlike me !

First finish of 2014

There's no use in making predictions of what your first project will be, because you just never know what is going to lure you away from that plan !

I thought that I should try out the optical illusion blocks before cutting out an entire quilt.  The inspiration for those blocks was this quilt by WhatComesNext on Flickr.  The dimensionality of this quilt of hers blows me away, and I am wondering if I can achieve the same look with my fabrics.    So, I cut out blocks to make a pillow, but I didn't use a white background because my blocks were in an off-white fabric.

  I don't think the experiment worked, and it definitely didn't do a thing to prove my project.   Oh, well, I got a new pillow-cover out of the  time spent, and it reminds me of my granddaughter's first big Christmas present, a rideable stuffed painted pony !  Thanks to Jodie Ann for the pony print !

  My second project just kindof fell into my lap. While grocery shopping,  I went nosing around our little WalMart's new yarn section and I found a yummy-soft super bulky yarn by Lion Brand.

Old-lady-style.....yup, that's me !

I bought one skein, and then I did an internet search for a knitted head-wrap pattern.  I came across this one that sounded really easy.......it's called "It's a Cinch" headwrap pattern, by Elisa McLaughlin.  It was so simple ! 

I changed the number of stitches from 20 to 16 because of my thicker yarn, and it still came out wider than I need; so when I knit it again, and I'm sure I will, I will try maybe 12 stitches with my size 13 needles.

I'm really tickled with this yarn, though......it's super soft and squishy for an acrylic........and I like the look of the wrap from the front.  The back is a bit strange looking in this width, but it is so warm that I'll put up with that.

So, we're preparing for the single digits in temperature, a rare thing in this part of the south, but I'm praying that everyone will be warm and dry, and that this storm moves on out of here quickly !

2014 - Praise the LORD !

Happy New Year, everybody........it's going to be the best year ever !

I wish I had been able to post this yesterday, but I was too busy drawing up a new plan.   Hopefully, this will be my first quilt-top for 2014.

All I have to show right now is the graph-paper design I've drawn.  I lost EQ4 or 5 (can't remember which I had) when my computer crashed last Spring, so I have to resort to paper and pencil again.......and, thankfully, a good ERASER !

Bits and pieces of ideas.  It will be interesting to see what all parts of this design I use.

My camera has decided to go on strike again, and I haven't been able to find one that I liked enough/could afford with which to replace it.  So, even though I took pictures of the fabrics that I'm considering using, I can't share them because I had to reformat the memory card and lost the images after I had already put the fabrics up !



I'm torn between doing a yellow, green, and white quilt, or going ahead and making it many-multicolor.  Not sure how I'll decide !   But I bought a good white fabric today and am fixin' to go put it into the dryer right now .

This quilt was inspired by several different quilts, so I'll wait to give credit when I see which parts I use !  Nothing is totally original when it comes to quilting.......it's all in how you put your own spin on it !

Oh, Praise be to GOD !

I underwent a 3 hour upper G.I. and swallow study/x-ray yesterday, which showed that there was NO obstruction anywhere, and then my surgeon's assistant removed my feeding tube. 

With her scope, she could see that my remaining good vocal cord is already compensating almost fully for the 'dead' one !  Good reports everywhere. 

The surgeon said that he didn't know what could be causing so much acid reflux, but that maybe now that the tube is out, it would improve.  Well, IT HAS !   I slept so much better last night, WITHOUT the saliva seeping down my esophagus and airway !  

And, right now, I'm enjoying a bowl of chicken and rice soup, filled with crumbled crackers, and it is going down SO EASILY !    I am just flabbergasted !  (Forgive me, Lord, I should not be amazed by your mercy and grace at this point, but I am still humbled by it !)

2014 is going to be a FANTASTIC year !

Christmas passed...........

........in such a peaceful manner.  Praise God, our Saviour lives !

   When the tree is taken down, and the ornaments and home decor is stored away, I hope to set up my cutting table SOMEWHERE.  I just don't start many projects because of the aggravation of getting everything out, and then putting it all away after only a few hours' work.  I have some fun new fabrics, and some ideas floating around for ways to use them.  I MUST get my sewing fix........SOON !

    I guess that means that I am starting to feel more like my old self again !  I have been trying out different foods this past week and I have found that I can eat quite a few things if I take my time, swallow carefully, and sip skim milk or water after pretty much every bite.  In essence, I am washing down my food, but, hey, I'm eating !  Praise God !   I reached 137 lbs, so far, at my lowest weight, but am back up to around 140.  I still drink an occasional bottle of Ensure Plus, just to make sure I get a little more protein and other needed things that my limited diet may not give me. 
 
   The sleeping situation is a little better, too.  My next doctor's appointment is this coming Monday, and I feel confident that they'll be removing this feeding tube !  Hooray, hooray ! 

God is FAITHFUL

I have no long explanation about the trial that I said was coming up.  The amazing thing is that my blog friends have never asked me to explain; they have just supported me blindly, praying for my well-being.  In today's world, that is the rarest of jewels.

Having said that, giving all of the glory to our LORD God Almighty, I humbly tell you tonight that truth willed out, and I was found NOT GUILTY by a jury of my peers. 

I will never forget the support, encouragement, and especially prayers that were expressed to or for me throughout this ordeal, both by people who know the details, and those of you who don't.  I can honestly say that my heart is filled with love for you.  I love you, you are true kinsmen in Christ.

Now.......let's get back to healing and quilting !

December is quickly passing.........

..........and I finally have something quilty to share !

I took a few days to work on a gift for my neighbor, Rose.  She has been such a wonderful friend to me and my hubby, and she admired the ten commandments wallhanging that I have up in my home.  Remember this one?

So, I set out to make one for her.  Unbeknown to me, her son was replacing her living room carpet with hardwood this week, and the finished quilty is just the right color for her new living room decor

 She called me today and told me that she had opened her gift and LOVED it .  I'm so glad.

I didn't think to take measurements, but judging from the photo taken on top of the cutting mat, I would say that it finished at approximately 22 by 32 inches.  I rounded the top to make it look like a stone tablet, but it was a last minute decision after printing the text by hand.  If I had thought ahead, I might have spread the commandments over 2 tablets, more appropriately, but this came out a very good size, so I'm satisfied.  

I machine-quilted it with my walking foot that I bought earlier this year.......it was well worth the extra bucks to wait until I found this one with the wide-open foot so that I can really tell where I'm quilting. 

Photo courtesy of Connecting Threads

My purchases from Connecting Threads arrived and are awaiting inspiration.  I especially loved this photo on site, which prompted me to order the kit.

I don't know if I'll make a quilt like the photo, or just use the yummy color combination for something else delicious (see, Wanda, just gotta start playing against the rules again).  Whatever the case, it's nice to get an infusion of new color into the stash.

On the health side of things, I am still eating only cream soups for lunch, and using the Ensure to fill in the rest of the diet.  I still have to sleep in a semi-upright position to keep from drowning in my own saliva secretions.  But, you know, things could be A LOT worse, and I know the healer, and I am just waiting to see the evidence of things not yet seen......know what I mean?   If not, you can read the 11th chapter of Hebrews for a clue !


Well, tomorrow and the next few days are going to be rather busy, so I'll send my love to you all right now, and thank you for all the prayers and support.

New court dates

December 16th has been set as the date for the judge to hear my lawyer's motion for dismissal.  If the judge denies the motion, the trial is set to begin on December 18th. 

I am praying and trusting in the LORD.

 Psalm 56 feels familiar........

"Be  merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up.  Fighting all day he oppresses me.  My enemies would hound me all day.  For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.  In God (I will praise His word).  In God I have put my trust.  I will not fear.  What can flesh do to me?  All day they twist my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil."

I ain't dead yet, praise God !..........................

.............and I KNOW that, because although I haven't touched a rotary cutter in weeks, I still can't let Black Friday pass me by without ordering something for 50% off from Connecting Threads !

Yep, I wound up just ordering a couple of strip sets of the batiks, but that was enough to satisfy the after-Thanksgiving crazed feeling.

Cyber Monday has been pre-empted !

  Last night, I did my Walmart run.
Got there at 4:30 p.m. and the wristbands had all been passed out to pick up the Funai, 32 inch t.v.s for $98.00 that were in stock.   The electronics guy said I could still get the one-hour guarantee (and pick up a t.v. later when it shipped to the store) if I got in line at 6 p.m. "Don't worry, the line won't form for another hour", he says. Ha ! I thought I'd just wander over and peek at the line location, and uh, there were already 20 people or so in line, so I joined it immediately. At about 5:40, a young man came along passing out the one-hour guarantee cards to take to the register. I sailed up to a cashier, and, of course, she told me that I couldn't pay until 6 p.m. So, with no one waiting to make regular purchases, I began a line right then and there at her register, and people started filing in behind me. At precisely 6 p.m., I paid for my t.v. and booked it on home. I went on line and registered the purchase. Now let's just wait and see what happens when 750,000 people all over the country do the same thing. Think we'll get them before Christmas?

  I went back today and leisurely browsed, found a couple of cheaper flannel shirts for my husband to live the winter out in, and saw that everything was thoroughly picked over.  Glad that hubby and I did our main shopping weeks ago, even if we did miss the 'special' prices.  I think it's kindof sad that everyone will have the same seven or eight gifts under the tree that were in the special ads. 

Thanksgiving came with Jeff and Judy blessing us with two plates heaped over with goodness.   I tried, I really did, but couldn't eat anything........back to the Ensure bottle !    Doctor is talking about putting the tube in the belly come December 30 if I'm not able to eat by then.  DON'T WANT THAT,.........but.....what will be, will be.   It could be worse.

Happy Birthday to granddaughter, Zoe...........

...........and to ME  !

I was just in here catching up on some blogs that I follow, and doing a little pre-black-Friday snooping, when a knock came on my front door.

  Lo and behold...........haven't you always wanted to say that?..........there was a beautiful arrangement of flowers for me,.....sent by my dear best friend, Wanda, out in Oklahoma !    What a sweet, sentimental sap I am to break into tears !   Thank you so much Wanda, I love you
........it's dreary here, and I was in the middle of another one of the never-ending, but much appreciated, tube feedings, and you lifted my spirits greatly.

  Much like the surprise a couple of days ago when I received a priority flat-rate envelope from other best friend, JoAnn.........containing the CUTEST Vera Bradley cross-body wallet.............and THE funniest letter I have read in EONS !   Thank you........I love you so much, Jodie ! 

  This is already the best week I've had in a very long time !

WAIT---------it gets better !   Wanda says that the florist left out my roses.......so they had to come and bring me another bouquet !  Squeeeeeeaaaaaaaaal !

5 weeks post tumor surgery............

..........found me hospitalized again !

I went up to Vanderbilt on Monday for my one month post surgery checkup.   I thought I'd save my brother the trouble of driving me up there, and just take the public transportation that they offer here at home.   I booked a round trip for $30.00, but my doctor decided that he could save me a trip back up there another day by hospitalizing me overnight for a procedure that I needed.  So, I wound up having to pay the return trip fee, AND staying 2 nights ! 

   My vocal nerve has not recovered at all, so he injected silicone or something into it to protect my airway and give me a little more of my voice back.   Scheduling got aggravating, thus the extra long stay. 

  I've thrown up the last two nights since being home, so it's been quite trying.  I've lost 14 pounds in 5 weeks, and need to stop and maintain my weight from here forward, but I can't eat anything much by mouth except for creamy tomato soup.  The tube feedings make me sick when I take the amount they prescribe, so I've got to develop an alternate method.  Sleep is still difficult without aspirating saliva into my airway.   My dentures are causing sore places in my mouth because of all the weight loss/ misfitting now.

One day at a time, with the grace of my Lord, I WILL get better.

3 weeks post surgery

Monday, I had a new swallow study/X-ray performed at Vanderbilt Hospital.  The specialist seemed to think that I was improving right on schedule, praise God .  She released me to start eating soft foods, but left the feeding tube in as I can't eat enough to get the nutrition I need from solid foods right now.


I've had potato soup for a couple of lunches this week, and overcooked some macaroni and cheese today (just the way I like it) and I ate a half cup of that.  It's actual work, with a lot of coughing and clearing my airway just to get through a little meal like that, so I have quite a ways to go.  As of this morning, I weigh 145 pounds, down from 158 on day of surgery.

I see my actual doctor on November 18th.  I hope he can explain the pain and modified movement I have in my left arm/shoulder.  Fun days !

Keep the faith !