Finishes

When you’re homebound and do nothing but stitch, read, and watch movies, there’s not much to write about on the blog. But here are my latest stitching finishes--all started and completed last week. 

In honor of Memorial Day

 

Finished this one last night

More masks for Andy

---

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 05/31/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

Applause, applause! Love these two millifiori resettes. It will be interesting to see how they all fit together.

The mask fabrics are so cute! Have you read of those making headbands with buttons on them so the elastic bands on the masks don't rub the backs of ears? The elastic bands look around the buttons instead.

Hugs!

---

On 05/31/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

Make that "The elastic bands Loop around the buttons instead."

Hugs!
-----

---

Memorial Day Rosette

Yesterday, in honor of our men and women lost in wars, I began this patriotic rosette for my millefiori quilt. I got the pieces cut out, the templates glued on, and this much sewn. But at 11:30 p.m., after one Eagles concert and one Fleetwood Mac concert, I had to call it quits. I did also make daughter Andy some more masks to wear to work though. 

No Memorial Day celebrations at the Yellow House. It was just me and Jesse and the furbies. I made spaghetti for dinner and an apple cobbler (Bisquick recipe) for dessert. 

Rainy and cloudy here today. A good day for stitching.

---

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 05/26/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

Love your Memorial Day rosette with its stars, stripes, and flowers!

We didn't do much for the day other than putting the flag out. Dinner was soup for me and mac&cheese for DH.

Hugs!


-----

---

Strawberries and Hooties

I tried the wider spaced stitching, and it works fine. No gaps. But even so, this rosette took more time than any of the others. That’s because once it was finished, I decided the center was wrong. So in an attempt to take out the center and rearrange the pieces, I ripped through one of the pieces with my seam ripper, got rattled, and decided to just start all over. So I made a whole new center unit to replace the troublesome one.

---

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 05/26/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

Sometimes starting over is easier. Love the owls!

Hugs!
-----

---

I Think I’m Overstitching

I might have discovered a way to speed up this hand-piecing process. I have been studying some on-line examples, and it seems I might be taking twice as many stitches as needed. 

Example of my stitches

Example of their stitches

Even fewer stitches in this example

So for my next seam, I’m going to try cutting back on SPI (stitches per inch) and see how it looks. I’m not going with that last example though. I don’t trust that one. I’ll report on my results.

---

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 05/26/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

I'm playing catch-up today as I've been a bit under the weather in a non-virus sort of way.

You and I think alike that these stitches are a bit too far apart! I look forward to reading of your conclusions.

Slow-poke that I am, I'm still working on the Laundry Basket Mystery quilt that others finished about 6 weeks ago. I'm branching out away from the set pattern for my quilt's center. Tawanda!

Hugs!
-----

---

Two More Littles

Just a quick post to document my millefiori progress. Nothing much else going on around here. Time to get back to the sewing room and cut out and glue baste some more little rosettes.

Two more done; 25 to go.

The heart fabric (both of them) came from sister Joanne’s stash that I inherited when she passed.

I think this might be my favorite unit so far.

---

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 05/21/2020, Sylvia said ...

Beautiful! So much work.

---

On 05/21/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

Brilliant! Your fabric choices are spot-on and I love the heart fabric you inherited from Joanne. The frogs and bugs fabric is too cute, too.

Not much going on here except lots of rain.

Hugs!
-----

---

Movie Night

I watched two strange movies last night.

“mother!” (2017).

I was thoroughly confused until I did some internet research and got an explanation. I watch a movie to experience a story. But apparently, story was less important to “mother!” than the movie maker’s desire to allegorize the Bible or something. It could have been an awesome movie--but it wasn’t.

***

“Fantasy Island” (2020)

Sort of silly. It only got one star, and probably didn’t deserve anymore. But it was sort of fun too. One good thing: I learned how Tattoo got his name.

***

But before the movies, I watched “Graduate Together,” an amazing tribute to the American graduating class of 2020. It didn’t make up for the kids having to miss proms, senior trips, and commencement exercises--but I think it probably helped to know America cares. 

***

Yeah, I spent a lot of time in front of the tv yesterday. I had pain everywhere pain could be, and debilitating fatigue. So I couldn’t do much else. I did get a little stitching done while laid out in front of the tube. And I feel some better today.

Happy Sabbath to all. Be well.

---

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 05/17/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

I've never heard pf those two movies and think I'll give them a miss. Hope I can find Graduate Together so we can watch it. Well done of getting some stitching done!

It's good to hear you're feeling better today but am so sorry yesterday was a misery due to pain and fatigue.

Our weather is finally really warm and we have a good chance of rain for the next two days. I wonder if my joints are feeling that?

Take care, sweet friend!

Hugs!
-----

---

First of Many

 One down; 27 to go.

For some reason, I was surprised at how much faster the littles are to make than the bigs. I shouldn’t have been. It’s probably about a hundred fewer pieces to stitch. The stars are what eats up the time, and there are way fewer in the littles than in the bigs. Maybe I will make that August 31 deadline after all. 

I finished my annual physical exam yesterday. My doc declared me in excellent health--except for the daily battle with pain, which apparently doesn’t count. I mentioned to him that my knees and hips are going fast. He muttered, “Arthritis,” and scribbled something on his pad. Anyway, he said I could wait until the plague backs off a little (if it ever does) and then schedule my mammogram and bone density test. So I’m done for now.

Last sip of coffee, then off to the shower, and then to the sewing room

---

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 05/14/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

What good new that you're fit as a fiddle (aside from that bothersome pain) AND that the small millifiori blocks go faster!!!! Two causes for celebration, indeed. :)

Wishing you well, my friend!

Hugs!


-----

---

And On and On and On and On

It was a pretty grim Mother’s Day. No church, no big lunch, no family around (except Jesse). Andy left this beautiful pot of petunias on my front porch. She knows I love petunias.

Yes, I’m tired of being shut it. I miss seeing my friends and family face to face. I miss church. I need a hair cut. But the alternative, to me, seems a little grim to deal with. So I’m at home until such time as a cure, a vaccine, or something to make us safe is found. 

That said, I know people are hurting. My sister’s poetry group told about some folks in Queens, N.Y., who had not eaten in three days. All the food stores are closed and boarded up. The group sent a box of food, my sister has since sent two boxes, and I plan to send some. Thank God for the post office.

I’m still working on the millefiori quilt. I have all four of the big rosettes done, and I’m working on the first of what I think will be about 28 littles. 

Here’s a pretty lousy photo of my Bigs. I took it yesterday while my back was giving me all kinds of trouble. So I didn’t take pains--because I had pains.

 

Skipper Report 

Skipper and I were awake all night Sunday night. He panted and trembled constantly while I petted and tried to comfort him. As soon as the vet opened yesterday morning we were there. They did all kinds of testing: blood, urine, x-rays. His temperature was 103, but they found nothing that could be causing the fever. Sent him home with two kinds of antibiotics, which he is taking with peanut butter, one of his favorite things. He seems to be better today. He hasn’t panted at all nor is he trembling. But he does still act a little puny. But he’s eating well and drinking his water. So I’m hoping that whatever caused his problem is on the mend.

---

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 05/12/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

Your large millefiori stars are lovely and I wish you well on the smaller ones. It's still May so I'm rooting for your success in finishing this quilt before August!

Those pink petunias are glorious! Andy chose well.

I still see DH and DS2 daily so that keeps me from being too sad about staying home. I love to read so do that when I need to rest and am still slowly sewing the blocks for the Laundry Basket mystery quilt that other people finished back in April. Not me! I'm on block 10 (making four) of 14. Rather than make four block 15s for the quilt center, I'm going to make a 12" block instead. Why sew four blocks together to make the center when you can make one?

Take care, sweet friend!

Hugs!

---

On 05/13/2020, Jeanne Horacek said ...

So happy to see your post today! You hadn't posted since the 4th and I was beginning to worry that you were under the weather. Your millefiori blocks are lovely. Hope your puppy is back to his tricks soon.

-----

---

Zoom-Bee Meeting

It’s hard to get everyone well posed in a screen shot. So here we are, as we were. Nancy was never able to get centered, but at least we finally talked her onto the screen.

Our first Zoom bee meeting (and my second experience with Zooming) just finished up. Nine of us signed on from the comfort of our own homes to enjoy a couple of hours of visiting, laughing, and show-and-tell sharing. Some of the group didn’t feel computer savvy enough to join in (it’s really quite simple), and some were otherwise busy. I worked on the millefiori quilt while zooming, so now it’s time to rest my hand and let the carpal tunnel calm down.

---

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 05/06/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

I'm so happy so many of your quilting bee could join in by way of Zoom and I know the show and tell, laughter, and shared fun lifted everyone's spirits. Did everyone have a snack, dessert, or other yummy goodness to consume as the meeting went on? Hope so.

My quiltie sister in Australia completed two whole cloth quilts by having "a bit of a stitch" every day. Your plan to sew, rest your hands, and sew some more will get the millefior quilt done. We'll keep fingers and toes crossed that you meet your August deadline.

Hugs!

---

On 05/09/2020, Julia said ...

A bit late, but I just wanted to say thank you for the 'Easter Bunny' photographs, which made me laugh so much! Those poor children!

Also my husband, who is also 73, was very sad indeed to hear that John Prine, one of his favourites too, had passed away. Sad times indeed.

Stay safe and well.


-----

---

Deadline Looking Doubtful

Keeping the carpal tunnel thing manageable has slowed work on the millefiori quilt drastically. I’m still laboring away on the 4th and final large rosette. The star rings are the ones that slow things down the most. The ring I’m working on now, for instance, although it doesn’t go all the way around the rosette, requires more than a hundred little pieces to be cut out, glued to the paper template, and sewn to the rosette. Stopping to stretch my hand every seam or two (sometimes every stitch or two) eats up time.

But when this ring is done, so will be the last large rosette, and I can start on the small ones. I forget just how many small ones I need, but it’s a bunch. So if I’m going to have any hope of meeting my August 31 deadline for finishing my top, I better get at it, huh?

---

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 05/03/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

Well done on the amazing progress you've already made on this daunting quilt! Hope your method of stretching your hands often will allow you to complete the quilt before the deadline so someone else can quilt it for you.


I'm chugging along on the 9th lock of the Laundry Basket Mystery quilt. Many people have already finished all of their blocks as the quilt-along was finished about 2 weeks ago. I'm just slow.

Hugs!
-----

---