HIT A SNAG

I hit a snag with my sewing....i did get my old machine back working again and now when i went to quilt my other little machine wont work....i have been away from sewing for 3 years so i might have forgotten something.....no sewing until i figure out how to get it going again.....it balls up under the quilt and then jams....i has been tempermental in the past so i wasn't surprised.....i got all stressed out and got my A-Fib in an uproar so trying to get that settled down before i try to deal with it again....things were going along pretty good until then....

My sleeping habit is still radical as ever.....tonight i will be up most of the night cause i get a lot of pain before it rains and its due in the morning for 2 days so i took pain med and it wipes me out then i sleep for 8-13 hrs then i am awake for maybe a day before i sleep again....gotta get busy my son brought my groceries from my list yesterday so have to put them up and start thinking about my next meal....with my sleeping habit meal times are all messed up too...who would have thought about making a cherry pie at 1am in the morning but that is what i did yesterday lol.....ok gotta get some decaf and start my day at 11pm more later...... 

Worked on some 16 sq. blocks

 I did some sewing of little 1 1/2 in squares the last 2 days to make some 16 sq blocks...i found 16 of them on my table and some sq already cut so instead of moving them around i sewed them up to get them out of the way....i'm finding that my arm just kills me to sew....i hurt it years ago, popped a bicep....the docs dont want to mess with it because of my bad heart...they told me it would be very weak the rest of my life....and boy does it hurt when i do too much....i found a couple bags of star blocks different sizes on the table when i started to organize things...so much to do in there but i will keep trying...i cant lose the use of this arm this is the one i use all the time....i will get some pics next week soon as i figure out how to get them out of my phone.....more later

TRYING TO SEW AGAIN

After 3 years i am trying to get back to sewing.....i had a second heart attack in that length of time and a bunch of other health problems.....i missed making quilt tops and working with fabric.....so i am making an attempt to go at it again.....My old sewing machine had quit in that time and the repair shop said it was too hard to find parts for it so i didn't take it in.....but i oiled it good and it is working slower but then me 82 years old is working slower also...that is what is so frustrating..

I left a mess when i stopped sewing in there so i am attempting to work on it....i have 2 quilt tops started for Quilts Beyond Borders to work on which will help with all the scrap laying around on my work table...

I cant sew like a mad woman like i use to though so i suppose i will have to get used to that....and not that long at a time,,,I used to get a top done in an evening but not now i dont think....but any sewing i do will be progress from what i have done in 3 years.....more later

Update on life

Oh my its been so long since i posted....i'm still hanging on here at home....so much pain in my back and legs i have not been sewing at all...

When the pandemic started i made masks for the hospital and family . Then while doing that my old machine decided to die....i think for the last time....the tech said the last time she went to the shop he was having trouble finding parts to get her going again..so i am trying to make a decision do i take her in one more time or buy a new machine...i have a small Viking machine that is set up for machine quilting....she is fussy now and then so not crazy about upsetting it...i have been looking on line with the pandemic stores arent open to the public so much so it hard to try to go in and operate any to see if i like them....

I am still trying to find a way to lay out my quilts to keep my back and legs happy enough to get them ready for hand quilting....i would rather hand quilt anyway as i do a better job....so i am still struggling to get back into sewing...there isn't a day goes by that i dont miss it...

I see there has been some interest in the posts i did on my grandmothers flower garden and the technique i use...this makes me very happy.....and i am happy those who followed me are still here...thank you....hopefully you will see more of me this year.....

The pandemic has a big grip on our county and i am still in quarentine .....i doubt my heart will make it if i get the virus so its very scarey.....more later

 

Quarantine Is Getting To Me

I'm having a bit of trouble tonight....I have been in self quarantine since Feb. and I am feeling a little stir crazy tonight.....I have a lot of health problems that put me on the high risk list....the only person I have seen is my son and maybe a person or two when I got a few groceries at the dollar store....

I am a tough old bird but I am getting bored though there is plenty to do here at home....but its the same thing over and over every day....a person needs a break now and then....

Our little county is just now getting the virus...we had escaped it for the most part till now and the amounts are growing....I guess I am a little scared too because I sure don't want the virus.....ya know its a terrible thing to be in the hands of people that wont take precaution against the virus and that a person can die because of it and cant do anything to stop it....I am not use to that....I have dealt whatever was given to me in the past to deal with but this is terrifying...

I guess I needed to rant tonight....its good that I have somewhere to let out my feelings...don't do this very often and I hope I don't do it again.....that is all for tonight....hope I can sleep...….more later.....

More Suprises

Yesterday I found an unopened package on my dining table....after opening it I thought yup there is the prints for the black bag I am going to make....I have a main print that has black, gray, beige and off white in it but I lacked pieces to blend with them in a patch bag....My grand daughter in law likes black and gray a lot so I thought this one will be for her.....the blue in the pic ….is probably for my stash...I use Hoffman solids a lot as they do blend well.....

Last night my body was in so much pain I went to bed and watched tv....there was a weather front coming in so I blamed the weather for all my pain....today seems to be a better day....Just getting started and the day is half over so I don't know how much I will get done...I might even sew a little before I take the machine off the table....for now.....more later..

It's Like Christmas

Look what I found on my dining table when I started clearing it off....its a fabric order I didn't put in the sewing room.....doesn't look like I had anything in mind for it....just adding to stash...but the blade and the needles are a welcome site....always need them....

I haven't been ordering much fabric trying to use what I have....I have a lot of 5 yard or more for backs built up for use if I get going again...which I hope is soon. Ok time to think about supper so till next time.....more later.



 

Plans In The Works

Today after I get woke up I am working on my dining table...it has been loaded with various things all summer....first I was passing down a set of dishes to my son that was taking over my corner cabinet in the kitchen...but he is terrible with glass...growing up he broke any that he came in contact with.....so I packed them good in boxes...being they are stone ware they are heavy so not many in a box...the table was really loaded with boxes for awhile as he would just take 1 box with him when he visited...long process...now they are gone.....

I am trying to find a way for me to lay out a quilt on that table without hurting my back....that is why I stopped quilting a couple years ago...I miss quilting!

I have a closet full of quilt tops 7 of them are grandmothers flower garden....I made each of my family one and I made one for me so those are important more to get done...I would like to get most if not all done before I leave this earth....

I also have been putting a box together for charity.....I made 1 binding for a quilt so far and 2 tops to send ….I have another quilt top almost ready to be done so I can send it too....I have to find out if they are accepting with the 'virus' upsetting everyone life....

Maybe later in the week I will have pics of something that is going on till then...…..more later..

I Am Still Here

Well here I am again....I haven't been sewing since the last post I made....a lot has happened to me since....

So far I have had 3 heart attacks each one getting worse and I almost didn't make it the last time.....My health is steadily getting worse but I am trying to function still being at home...don't know for how long....so many doctors now...

And with the 'virus' interfering in everyones life I am no exception....I have been self quarantined since Feb. only leaving home for groceries....

The only sewing I have done lately is making some face masks.....sewing hurts my back so that I just gave up and quit....I am trying to find a way to get my quilts laid out and pinned so it wont be so hard on my body...the quilting isn't a problem but laying out a quilt is a big problem....

I miss having something to show everyone on blogger because that is what this group is about....sewing and quilting....I am happy to see those that are still following and I am making an effort to come back even better than before....please have more patience with me.....more later.....

NO SEWING BUT A GOOD EXCUSE

Well its winter time here now....we have had 2 measurable snows those happened in October which is kind of rare....and it has gotten more cold than it should for the first part of November....

I started stocking my cabinet with groceries in early fall so I would be ready for winter this year.....we had a weird summer so I expected winter to be unusual also....I can get my meat delivered too...until recently I was getting produce from the local farm and they delivered too...was really great for my back...but now I have to go get my produce and carry....I do not want to have to get out in the snow and ice I am so afraid of falling and breaking something or worse...my legs aren't that great for stability...

My grandson was here last Sat. and I fixed him a steak supper...he helped me with things I could not do....after he left I wasn't feeling good...that stayed with me for about 4 days...stomach and lower trac wasn't just right....must have been bug....one of the local teachers said there was a bug going through the school so I must have picked it up too...

So as you probably guessed by now no sewing this week...I haven't felt much like doing anything....today though I had to go to the next town to pick up med...I got some lunch while there....it was a cold afternoon but at least the sun was out....cant seem to get warm since I got home....boy do I hate to see winter come in.....take care everyone...more later...….

ALMOST FINISHED QUILT TOP

 

This has been a sewing week and I have something to show for it....I have had these blocks forever it seems and now it

will become a quilt for some child....I have been making quilt tops or quilts for Quilts Beyond Borders when I can....All that is left to do on this top is make an outside border...I think a 2 inch one will be in order as to keep the measurement where they would like it to be.....

When I get this one done I am going to have to take everything off my counter put in a box so I can turn my mat around to the back....I have the green wore off and I think that is what is dulling my cutter so quick....I think I can avoid that spot by turning....I like having the grid showing when I cut and my mat doesn't have it on the other side...so I don't want to turn it over to use....I will replace it then use the old one for sporatic cutting when I use the dining table....then it will be fun sorting the mess out of the box and replacing the fq in stacks at the back of the counter...several projects that have been started are there also...

Getting back to the quilt top....I need to find backing to send with the top and there is another top finished also..not sure I showed that one it also need a back....I do have a set of binding ready to send and would like to make another for this top....

This morning I am up early as I have a doc appointment...the last one of this year...I finally got them all to make it so I don't have to go into the city till spring so I hope this one will do the same....so much better as we get a lot of bad weather that I will not drive in anymore....so now I gotta end and get ready to go.....more later....

DID MORE SEWING MOVING ALONG

I did more string sewing today and this evening got 16 small blocks made making 4 big blocks....28 more small blocks to go and then I can put the border on...for those that might be curious the size of the paper foundation is 4 1/2 inches...I chose that size because I have a 4 1/2 inch ruler and its just handy for straightening up the block after ward.....works out great...

I cant sit very long at the sewing machine anymore so I guess I have to be satisfied with 2 hr. intervals of sewing now....I worked this afternoon and again this evening for a bit...I got more done than I thought I would....

Ok going tolook around the net and see if I can find another easy pattern for another child quilt....at my age now I don't want too complicated things to deal with anymore....I don't concentrate good enough anymore.....more next time......

STRINGS AND MEETING ON LINE FRIENDS

I picked up sewing again today...its sporatic with me now as it bothers my back so but I wanted to work on this quilt...I have 1 row done and 3 more to go....I send tops to an organization called 'Quilts Beyond Borders'...they take quilts finished, tops and finish them and distribute to kids world wide....all my string quilts so far have gone to them....and my basket of strings is pretty full at the moment....

Last week I had the opportunity to meet with 2 ladies that I have been on line friends with for 16 years in a quilt group...one ws from Alaska and the other was from Michigan....we met at nice restaurant about half way from where they were visiting....it was so nice to finally meet them and we all agreed to try to do this again....

I have had 2 irons quit working on me this week....I have one standby left and I hope it doesn't go bad before I get another.....I think the ones that have auto shut off go bad  quicker that the others...the best iron I have had is a cheapie  and it has out lasted these....

I have a partially done bag sitting on the counter to be finished and I would like to make more of them....maybe for Christmas presents....going to try to do more sewing ….I just cant sit very long at one session and that frustrates me to no end.....we will see how this works out.....more later....

HOW I STARTED TO QUILT

I found this that I wrote a few years back on how I started to quilt....maybe worth reading again


THOUGHTS ON MY QUILTING

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When i was first beginning this adventure of quilting was back in the 60's when i was accumulating lots of fabrics from sewing for my 2 girls....i had a huge box of scrap...my neighbor, an avid sewer encouraged me to make a quilt...so with her guidance i ventured into this world....i bet i picked her brain at least twice a week after that...lol

I learned a lot from her and from what i am told it was bred into me, as my grandmother was next to being a pro at quilting selling her quilts thoughout the county...she passed on when i was 5 so didn't get to know her long....i do have a big box of her quilting things though my aunt and mother passed onto me that i get out and go through now and then...

one of my early thoughts of hand quilting as you had to make sure the design was continueous without breaks all around the quilt...and another thought back then was no line shal cross another....so that played a role in getting me started...i was afraid i would make a mistake and they wouldn't fit right....now i am not afraid to be adventurous...lol...those thoughts came about from the older ladies at the time...when rules were strict and rigid about sewing...boy am i glad that changed lol....it has opened the door for  many new products and ideas for the sewer and quilter....

I will never be an expert quilter but i can do 18 stitches to an inch...now that is counting the top and bottom stitches...i am told that is how you count them...most of the time i average about 15....which i think it still ok...at least they dont look galloping along lol...

i have been teaching myself to machine quilt...not really good at it so i will stick to a lot of hand quilting along with learning new things so i am sure i will be adding little thoughts on hand quilting as i go along.....more later....

 

This has not been a good 2 weeks...I have developed some new pain along with the usual so no sewing, for that matter not much of anything going on here...I feel so frustrated as I have a special project I am wanting to do...more on this later...

SCRAPPY STRINGS TURNED INTO A QUILT

This is a block I worked up a few years ago trying to use strings from all my scrap...I liked it so well that I developed it into a quilt later...

Right now I cant tell you the measurements because it is hanging in the closet ready for borders...but it is really a striking quilt in person the picture doesn't do it justice....

As I remember I don't have a clue what to do with the center of each block....I am not sure I would quilt a flower in there as it could go to male for a gift...

At first I thought of southwest stencils but there isn't too many of them around and I am not sure I am that good of an artist to do any drawing of my own...

Also as I recall it will need a border I think so I was wondering about using the string borders I made also years ago...I think it would really accent it.

But then it might call for a plain ivory outer border...just a lot of decisions to make yet...its always in the back of my head to do it this way...it will all depend on the size of the quilt itself..

There is 2 years of catching up with my quilting and sewing that I haven't blogged I need to get busy lol....more later.....