Blackberry Creek

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Showing posts from January, 2020

Out of the Scrap Basket

January 30, 2020

Here’s a look at my scrap basket. The last couple of times it was full, I gave the scraps to quilting friends. This time, I’ll use at least some of them myself, making mini blocks.

Do you have a basket, box, or bag of fabric scraps that you don’t know what to do with but you don’t want to throw them away? If so, here’s a perfect quilt-along for you. Each Monday, quilter Leah Day posts a new video and instructions for a mini block, just right for making use of those scraps. Each block is 3 1/2” with seam allowance (3” finished size).

My first Mini Quilt Monday block, a 3” Churn Dash.

I just discovered this quilt-along today, thanks to the post of a quilt guild sister, and I immediately sat down and made the first block (there are four posted so far). They take just a little time to make, so I figure I can catch up quickly without taking time away from my other projects, of which, as you know, I have several. Here’s the website address if you’d like to make use of those scraps. Leah also gives you projects to make from each of the blocks, but I’ve decided to save mine and make a mini quilt when I’m finished.

https://leahday.com/pages/mini-block-monday-quilt-piecing-tutorials-with-leah-day

In addition to making the mini quilt today, I also cut out the pieces for the next round of the millefiori rosette. Yes, I’m still working on the first one. But it’s big, and remember it’s hand piecing, and with shaky, arthritic hands, it takes a while.

But I’m done for the day. I’m afraid I’ve pressed my back past its limits. So I’m going to rest it a little while until time to make dinner.

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 01/30/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

What a lovely idea and I thank you for the link! I'll be off to check it out shortly.

I finished making the parts for the 2nd Twinkling Star block today and have the parts for the 3rd star ready. The 5 blocks I intend to make will be 12" centers for small Christmas wall quilts that will go to friends from Junior High and High School when Christmas rolls around again.

Hugs!

On 01/31/2020, Sue, a Florida Farm Girl said ...

I have several containers of scraps of various sizes. I use them when I can but could certainly part with some of them. I don't think I could ever handle finished blocks that small though. The little pieces is why I don't do Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilts. Hope you are feeling better today.

On 02/07/2020, Deb said ...

Thanks for the Leah Day link, Susan! I had not heard about that. Yes, I have a scrap bucket...it includes my own scraps plus I've won several bags of scraps from various bloggers who have giveaways. I've loved using those for an improv quilt. I do have a few different projects in the works now, but I'm going to check out Leah's posts for some in between sewing. Thank you!
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Monthly Thrift Store Visit

January 29, 2020

Pretty Quilt-themed tins for holding projects

Wooden Noah’s Ark plaque

Just had to have it.

The price was right.

If you’ve read my blog very much, you must be familiar with sister Ramey's and my love for thrift store shopping. We try to visit our favorite one at least once a month. We both had a good case of the thrift store itch yesterday, so I took a big old pain pill (the first time I have taken an entire one since I got the prescription in March, which brought my total consumption of them to 2 1/2 pills) and off we went. By the time we got to the shop, the pill had taken effect and my pain had decreased enough that I was able to enjoy the trip for about an hour.

It was a right profitable trip too. As you can see above, I found some treasures. I had been wishing for some pretty tins to hold projects that I’m working on, and I found two. I wasn’t looking for the Noah’s Ark plaque, but when I saw it, I couldn’t pass it up. I’ll find a place for it later, but right now, it’s sitting on the hearth.

I have never really been a jewelry hound until the past couple of years. Costume jewelry, of course. I’m still not sufficiently enamored of the stuff to spend a lot of money on it. The first necklace above caught my eye as soon as we were in the door. It was priced at $25 with a 50% off tag. I deemed that a good deal, but still had the clerk put it back in the case and let me think about it. By the time we finished shopping, I had thought about it a lot. And what I thought was that if I went away without it, I’d be sorry. So I snatched it up. The other appealed to me only slightly, but after all its discounts, its price came to something like 75 cents, I thought what the heck. I got it too.

In other news that really isn’t news, not only has my back pain not gone away, I feel like it is getting worse. And worse. And worse. I have a call in now to the doctor to see if this is normal. It has been a week and a half since my last procedure and three and a half weeks since my first. One would think improvement would begin by now.

I haven’t even got out of my pajamas today, but I have got a couple of loads of laundry done. Now I’m going to lie on the couch with Skipper and read. I’m working on getting through The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom. While I admit the author’s writing style is beautiful, I keep wondering, where is the story? Lovely syntax is just not enough to cause me to enjoy a book. I must have story. I have to finish it, though. It’s the February selection for the book club that I belong to.

A memoir, yes. Almost a free association.

NOTE: The doctor’s office just called back. I was asked a bunch of questions about my pain and physical symptoms. At the end, I was told again that pain was to be expected for the first few weeks after the procedure. If I am still in considerable pain after six weeks has passed since the procedures, I am to call back for an appointment.

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 01/29/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

Love your thrift store finds and hope you feel lots better very soon!

Hugs!

On 02/04/2020, Sandie Poe said ...

Just love the thrift store finds also. Bless you
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Another Week Begins

January 27, 2020

I really didn’t want to get out of bed this morning. But Skipper insisted that I feed him and let him out, so up I got. When I awoke, I was uncharacteristically pain free. I wanted to just lie there and enjoy the rare condition.

I’m still feeling pretty good. Have to go to the grocery store. I’m going to make a pot of beef stew, and I don’t have any stew meat. After all that is done, I plan to work on my millefiori quilt.

I worked on Joanne’s Pyramids on Friday while the Merry Maids were here. I discovered that she had cut out only about half of the triangles needed to make the quilt. So I started cutting out triangles. Still don’t have enough--but I have plenty of fabric that matches what she was using--autumn colors and prints.

SPOILER ALERT

Over the weekend, I watched a lot of tv. Binged on the new last season of Netflix’s “The Ranch.” I was positive, until the last minute, that the character of Rooster would return. He was presumed dead after a motorcycle accident in season 6, but his body was never found. This plot twist was written in because the actor, Danny Masterson, who played Rooster was accused of rape. I won’t get into that as I have no clue what the true of that is. I just know Rooster was the best thing about that series. It was never as good after he left.

But the final season did not see a Rooster return, at least not in body. He did show up in the voice of “Siri,” trying to talk his brother Colt out of freezing to death when he’s trapped outside in sub-zero weather. But, of course, Siri didn’t sound like Rooster at all. She never once uttered the phrase “badass.”

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 01/27/2020, Valerie said ...

That embroidery is absolutely beautiful. I didn't read about the Ranch because I thought I might want to watch it. lol

On 01/27/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

Your embroidered pillowcase is lovely and says it all about Monday is the day to change the sheets!

Haven't seen even a minute of The Ranch so have no frame of reference.

Hope you remained pain free even after that trip to the grocery store for stew meat.

Be careful not to get bitten by a Lone Star tick as it may mean you (like me) can no longer digest beef. What a bummer! I miss pot roast, beef stew, and hamburgers SO much.

Hugs!
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Museum Visit

January 25, 2020

Ramey and I had a great visit to the Birmingham Museum of Art on Thursday. We saw lots of interesting and beautiful art, including the Civil War-era quilt below. We also saw the “Barbie” room, which I have yet to understand the significance of. I was impressed, however with the mandellas made from hundreds (maybe thousands) of Barbie shoes. The title of the exhibit is “Barbie: Dreaming of a Female Future.” But I don’t get the connection between that title and a doll that isn’t even shaped like a real woman.

After we perused the museum exhibits, we had lunch at the onsite restaurant, Oscar’s. We had a yummy chicken-mushroom soup and a tasty salad. I recommend the restaurant for anyone in the area. And the museum.

Sister Ramey with the Gunboat Quilt, made by Martha Jane Dickson Hatter of Greensboro, Alabama (1815-1896)

The center and corners of the quilt were created using the techniques of Broderie Perse, trapunto, and embroidery. I suspect that the brown background fabric was once another color--perhaps green or rose. I’ve seen many older quilts that once had bright fabrics that have now faded to brown. The quilting is done with tiny stitches very close together, no more than 1/2 inch. Of course the batting of the time was probably hand-carded cotton that required close quilting to keep the raw cotton in place.The piece is called the Gunboat Quilt because it was used to raise money to purchase a gunboat to defend the Alabama coast during the Civil War.

Just think of the scores of Barbies who went barefoot to create this. It’s the only part of the “Barbie” display that impressed me. It reminds me of the rosettes I’m making for my millefiori quilt.

I found this photo online. I didn’t think to get a shot of the entire Barbie-shoe piece. I don’t know that lady. I suppose she is supposed to represent a real-life Barbie. If so, her shape is all wrong.

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On 01/25/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

What a wonderful place to visit with Ramey and to have lunch together at Oscar's.

"Gunboat" is a lovely quilt and I wonder if Martha Jane was sad to part with it.

I agree with your bewilderment at all the fuss about Barbie and that it actually rates museum space. Go figure.

Hugs!
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The Perfect Backing

January 23, 2020

I found the most amazing fabric that I’m going to use for backing of my millefiori quilt. Yeah, I already ordered it, even though I haven’t even finished one unit of my quilt and may never live long enough to finish the entire quilt. But just in case I do, I had to have this fabric. It’s perfect. It’s not quite wide enough for my quilt as i have it planned. So now I’ll start the search for the exact shade of solid blue at the edges so that I can border it and make it wider. Or, after I make a few of those paper-pieced units, it’s possible I will downsize my quilt.

Not much going on in these parts recently. Then why do I feel like there’s always too much to do? I think that’s because I take so long doing everything, not being able to stay on my feet very long at a time. At any rate, between everyday chores and rest periods, I haven’t got any sewing done in several days. Today I promised sister Ramey I’d accompany her to the Birmingham Museum of Art to see a quilt that she is to give a presentation on soon.

It’s raining and cold. And I think I’d much rather stay in. But we’ve been planning this for a while.

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On 01/23/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

What a gloriously perfect backing fabric for this delightful quilt you've bravely embarked on making. What would have thought there would be such a great fabric out there waiting for you to find it?

Who made the fabric and what is it called?

Happy dancing for you! Hope you'll soon manage to happy dance for yourself over this miraculous fabric. :)

Hugs!

On 01/23/2020, Lisa Allen said ...

It's perfect! Isn't that the way we are? I plan my backings at the same time I plan the fronts. Whether they actually end up quilted together is just a matter of time!

On 01/24/2020, Judy Cloe said ...

I love that backing and don’t blame you one bit for buying it now. Be sure to eat lunch at the museum. I had their mushroom soup recently and it was excellent!
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Rest In Peace, Dear Jack

January 21, 2020

This photo of Jack is many years old. But I don’t have a recent one.

More sadness for my family. My nephew Jack passed away unexpectedly last week. An embolism. This is the oldest son of my sister Joanne, who passed away in November. Joanne had three children: (in order of birth) Jenny, Jack, and Jed. Jed is the only one of the family still here. Jenny passed away of cancer in 2000.

I’m still dealing with the pain and soreness from the back procedure, so still not spending a lot of time on my feet, no more than absolutely necessary. I hope the doctor is right when he says that after “several weeks” I should be pain free for a year or so.

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 01/21/2020, Nicole said ...

Oh dear. I am so sorry to hear this Susan. My condolences.

On 01/21/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

My sympathy at the sad news of Jack's unexpected death and, very belatedly, of Jenny's death so long ago. It must be very unsettling to Jed to be the last of the family. Big hugs to all.

I hope your doctor is right!

Hugs!

On 01/21/2020, Jan said ...

I'm so sorry you lost your beloved nephew too soon. Jed will need your family even more at this difficult time.
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Millefiori Madness

January 18, 2020

At about the same time that I decided I needed something to work on from the couch when I didn’t feel like climbing the stairs to the sewing room, I saw a photo on Pinterest of a Millefiori quilt. That’s it! That’s what I wanted for hand work. So I ordered a book and some templates and got to work. That was about a week ago, and the photo above shows how far I’ve progressed.

The kit I ordered included both the acrylic templates for the Passacaglia quilt (the one I’m making, sort of) and also precut paper pieces to use for the English paper piecing technique, which I’m using to make my quilt.

***

I had my second radiological ablation treatment for my back pain problem yesterday. All went well. I told the doctor I had been having some pretty good soreness and pain since the last one. He told me that sometimes it takes several weeks for that to go away, but afterwards, I should have up to a year of pain freedom--at least that particular pain. So I’m taking it easy for a couple of days, as I was instructed, and looking forward to better days ahead.

This is the photo I saw on Pinterest that tweaked my interest in the Passacaglia quilt.

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 01/18/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

WOW! What an incredible and intricate quilt you've been brave enough to embark on making blocks (are they called 'blocks'?) for. How large to you plan to make your quilt?

I certainly hope and pray your doctor is right in expecting you to be pain-free soon and that the pain relief could last a whole year. What a miracle that would be for you and for others needing this help. Prayers continue! I'd been hoping you'd do a post today to let me know how the procedure went yesterday.

Big hugs!
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Snowless, Painful Weekend

January 13, 2020

It seems that placing various forms of snowmen all over one’s house will not bring on the snow. It hasn’t even brought on winter. So far, we’ve had a few cold nights, but nothing that could be called winter. And I hate that.

This weekend brought tornadoes, hurricane-force straight-line winds, torrential rain, and power outages. In January. In the “bleak midwinter.” No frosty winds making moan. No snow on snow on snow. Just 75-80-degree days and sweat-causing humidity. Global warming is not setting well with me.

Oh and, just so you know, there are many more snowmen around my house. But for some reason, my photo downloading function on my cell phone isn’t working, so I can’t download the rest of them right now.

***

What little relief I got from that first ablation procedure has worn off--totally. Not only did wind and rain come roaring through these parts this weekend, so did the pain. It’s back full-force and then some.

I’m scheduled to have the second procedure on Friday, and I’m going to go ahead with it. Maybe both combined will do something that one by itself couldn’t do. I don’t know. Whatever.

Today, I’m returning to the sewing room. Last week, I got a little done (but not ready to show). I’d like to see if I can keep the momentum going. But first, a big dose of Ibuprofen.

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 01/13/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

Love your various snowmen and look forward to seeing more when your phone and computer are playing nicely together again.

The weather is the same here and over this past weekend our highs were 72*F and we got the torrential rain and wind, too. I have several snowmen around the house as decorations along with snowflake votive holders and my Arctic Blast and Winder Star quilts on the walls in the wee entry hall. Come on Winter!

SO very sorry about the return of the pain. Do call your doctor who did the first procedure just so he/she is aware of the return of the pain. Be sure to have food in your tummy before taking Ibuprofen, too.

Enjoy that sewing!

Hugs :)

On 01/14/2020, Pat said ...

One of my favorite “winter” songs. I hope your next ablation does the job!

On 01/16/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

Wishing you well tomorrow and hope the 2nd procedure is a success.

Prayers continue.

Love and hugs!
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Treasures from Joanne’s House

January 09, 2020

I found the two framed photos in the back at Joanne’s house. (Left) Joanne and Vann at what looks like a Halloween party at Joanne’s house. I don’t remember it at all. Maybe they didn’t invite me.

(Right) Joanne and me many years ago. Mama’s rosary hangs over the frame. Somebody (I think it was Jesse) once said I look like Bozo the Clown in the shot. I can see that.

(Middle) Baby Sophie with her collar, footprint (partly visible at bottom of photo), and a bracelet from a memory gift from Andy. This photo didn’t come from Joanne’s. Vann took it on our way home from Warwick, New York in 2002, where we picked up our sweet Sophie when she was 10 weeks old.

I did get to the sewing room yesterday and put together another row of “Joanne’s Pyramids.” I didn’t get to stay as long as I wanted though. Skipper got restless and started a ruckus. So we came back downstairs where he was better behaved. I’m just about to grab another cup of coffee and see how long Skipper will let me sew today.

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On 01/09/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

Treasures, indeed! Love the photos and enjoyed looking at them after I clicked to enlarge the photo. Vann makes a good cowboy (or sheriff) and I am sure you must have been at that party.

What a wonderful picture of your big sister with her adorable little sister! I had a very similar sunsuit when I was that age.

Wee Sophie is just too cute and too sweet in that picture of her as a puppy.

Lovely table top display and even lovelier memories.

Well done in getting another row if pyramids sewn together!!

Hugs!
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Bright Eyed, If Not Bushy Tailed

January 08, 2020

I was trying to get a good photo of the red couch (which I didn’t get here) and didn’t see Skipper with this sparkly eyes at the bottom.

Skipper and I slept late this morning. It was almost 8:00 before we crawled out of bed. Skipper is more bright eyed than I am, but we’re both moving.

I am still not certain how much good the ablation procedure on my back did, but I know it did something. I can now stay on my feet for a little longer than before without severe pain. And I’m not having the nighttime pain that often kept me awake.

I did some research on the procedure and found that it can take up to three weeks for the full effects to be felt, so I’m encouraged. I plan to go ahead with the second procedure on the right side of my back scheduled for January 17.

It seems that every day there’s something that has to be done to use up my meager stores of energy. Two days this week, I’ve had to go to the grocery store--once to buy groceries, and once to buy everything I forgot on my first trip. That chore is the most energy zapping of anything I do, so there has been no sewing room fun at all this week. I plan for that to change today. There’s laundry that needs doing, but it will still need doing tomorrow. I’m going to the sewing room today.

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 01/08/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

I'm glad to hear that you're detectably better and that you can look forward to even more pain relief as a few weeks go by.

I agree that going to the grocery is a wearying task and am about to leave for the grocery myself.

The Christmas stuff is finally all packed away and the boxes will be taken out tomorrow. Can't do that on a grocery day.

Have fun in the sewing room! Time spent in there is a good reward for getting up this morning! :)

Hugs!

On 01/08/2020, Linda Enneking said ...

If any of the grocery stores near you offer shopping service that might be a solution for you. You can place your order online, then just pick it up later. I think someone will put the bags in your car for you.

On 01/09/2020, Sherri C said ...

i agree that you should look into the grocery store services. Even Walmart offers the service where you can order stuff online and pick it up at the store without leaving your car. A friend did that when she moved into a new house (after a nasty divorce)where she needed al kinds of supplies.
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Bye Bye, Santa

January 02, 2020

Today’s the day. I have to get all the Santas (there are lots) and other Christmas stuff down and packed away. Tomorrow I go for the first ablation procedure for my back. A few folks I know who have had this done say it worked for them--but they also say there will be pain and soreness for the first couple of days. So I want to get this done today so I don’t have to worry about it later.

It’s very wet, dark, and cloudy--the kind of day that makes me just want to cuddle up with a good book and a cuppa and do nothing. But I have vowed to get this chore done, and get it done I will.

I have seriously considered (I mean seriously) leaving everything up until the next Christmas season. The years fly by so fast these days that Holidays 2020 will be here in no time at all. But since that is considered tacky around here, I’ll take it down--and put it all up again the day after tomorrow (or so it will seem).

New Years (Eve and Day) were quiet here. I made a pot of chicken wild rice soup for New Years Eve, but we ordered Pizza for New Years Day. No peas and collards. I have them to cook for later. Maybe today if I still have some steam after the decorations are put away.

“They say” that whatever one does on New Years Day will set the tone for what one does for the rest of the year. So I made a point of doing some quilt sewing. I got another row of “Joanne’s Pyramids” finished. But then it was time for Bama to play Michigan in the Citrus Bowl, so I had to shut down the sewing machine and turn on the tv. Congrats to the Crimson Tide on their win.

OK, time to get started. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.

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On 01/02/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

Roll on Crimson Tide!! Well done at the Citrus Bowl!!!!

I've given serious thought to leaving Christmas things up until next Christmas but methinks they would get dusty, so have brought their boxes in to pack them away during our coming rainy days. DH and I were commenting that we seem to have more memento ornaments and antique ornaments from my parent's and maternal grandparent's Christmases than we do plain colored round ornaments. That's okay with me!

I haven't gotten back to sewing yet but am glad to read you're making progress on Joanne's Pyramids. Good for you!

Hugs!
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