New Adventure

This small calendar wall quilt is a pattern given to the local quilt guild as a project last fall. I had all of the blocks completed but still needed to make the hundred and fifty half square triangles for the last border. Those have been completed the last two days. I still have some little details to finish on a couple of the blocks such as the handle on the umbrella. Now to get it quilted and bound.

The big adventure in my life started a couple of weeks ago when I went for my physical. A dark spot was detected on the mammogram that was not on the last one. So I was called in for a sonogram that showed the exact shape and size of the lump. The next day I had a biopsy that turned my breast into a blue/green/yellow batik-looking bruise. Three days later--yesterday--I had an appointment with the surgeon and made a decision about removing the lump. Today I am waiting for confirmation of the time for the surgery which should be within a week. This has been a surprise because no one in my immediate family has ever had breast cancer. My daughter-in-law is a surgery nurse, so she is helping guide the process. It's a new adventure for all of us. The prognosis is good and I'll keep you informed of my progress.

Back to Sewing

The sewing room has been a busy place today. This morning I finished washing an old quilt made by my grandmother. It had yellow stains, so I used a product called "Restoration" and soaked it overnight. I also made a quilt label for it so that I can give it to the next generation.

Last year I pieced a top called Vintage Moments by Marsha McCloskey. She is famous for feathered star blocks which makes up the middle of the quilt. Today I sewed the backing and delivered the quilt to my long arm quilter. So another quilt almost finished. I really love this quilt. I purchased the pattern and fabric several years ago and was waiting for my quilt skills to improve before making the quilt.

This afternoon I have been trimming 1.5 inch half square triangles for a small calendar quilt that I made this spring. The half square triangles will be the outer border. I still need some more triangles before I am ready to put on the final border. This little quilt has my first attempt at hand applique. I may even try applique again.

We are off to dinner with friends. A great ending to a holiday week.

Ready for Christmas

This is the stack of gifts my Bernina has been gloriously stitching for the last couple of months. I'll show you more after tomorrow. Most of the boxes and packages contain things that I have made or have embellished in some way for three children and spouses, seven grandchildren and three greatgranddaughters. This is the first year that I have not made several quilts. We are going to our son's house who lives just one mile west of us, so it all has to be moved in the morning. I have it sitting on my husband's creeper, so it will all move easily.

The napkins are from the OESD Christmas Collections 2008 #2. They are so fun to make and are beautiful. These have been made from some cloth napkins I found at WalMart. You do have to buy an extra to use for cutting the inserts. I am sure several people will get a set of cloth napkins next year.

I wish every a very Merry Christmas!

Jane

Embroidered Christmas Cards

Yesterday I made a trip to Lawrence to Bob's Bernina to get a few supplies. One of the items I picked up was the bonus OESD greeting card disk. This is the embroidered Christmas card. The cards are lovely and can be made for many occasions. Several people will have one in their mailbox soon.

I am also stitching the reindeer and sleigh that is part of the OESD Christmas 2008 collection. They are beautiful. I hope to show them to you when all the pieces have been stitched.

Card Holder

This is the business card holder that is part of the OESD Christmas Collections 2008. It is elegant. I have made it to send to a friend who works as an assistant superintendent in a school district. I know she will love it. I have also made two angels from the collection.

I have been very busy finishing up Christmas projects but can't publish any pictures until later. I still have another small sweatshirt jacket to make. I'll have that completed in a day or two. Many of the presents have been wrapped. Jake, serving in Iraq, should have received his box by now. I know he will like the food goodies and the electronic games that were wrapped in Christmas paper.

We have two grandchildren staying with us since Sunday while their parents are in Chicago at a meeting. We had a snow storm last night and this morning in Kansas--got about 4 inches of snow. Now it is hitting Chicago, so we may have them for another night. They are fun to have around and we have enjoyed them immensely. Spike, the rat terrier, is also visiting. He and Charlie, our Australian shepherd, are buddies and like to run around the house. We have been having a good time with everyone.

Christmas Apron

This is the apron that I received from Janet in the December exchange we had at Bob's Bernina in Lawrence. It was made by Janet and last year I received the napkins she made. Such a coincidence. Every first Wednesday of the month, Bob's has a sewing group that meets in the store. We share projects, learn about new techniques and tips, talk about Bernina feet, and make a small project. It is such a fun group with varied interests. I always learn something new at the meeting. A big thanks to Carrie and Diane who work so hard to make this an interesting learning time for everyone.

My Blue Visor

Today I worked on a visor that I can take with me to Arizona when we leave after Christmas. It is light blue in color. I completed the embroidery work and then added some crystals for a little added punch. I have also been working on digitizing some redwork. So far I have not gotten the design to look like I want. I did find a blog that had a lesson about redwork which was very informative. It will take me some time, but I will have a picture before long.
Our fifth wheel has been at the shop to take care of a refrigerator recall and a little problem with the bedroom slide. We were able to bring it home Friday, so with the nice weather, I have shampooed the carpets. Today I cleaned the rest of the trailer and generally have it ready for a big trip. Stowing my clothes, loading my sewing machine and projects, and stocking the fridge will have me ready for the trip. We will leave the day after Christmas--weather permitting.
This has been a long weekend for Charlie--our Australian shepherd. We are having a new deck put on the front of the house and Charlie just does not like someone banging on the house. Hopefully the job will be completed in another day.

Last sweatshirt post

I made two more sweatshirt jackets this weekend. They both are for great granddaughters. I just love putting the chenille on them. The chenille is the finishing touch the really make the jackets so cute! I used chenille for the flowers and and around the butterfly. On the back is a red flower for which I made my own chenille. It is really easy and works as well as the purchased chenille.

The gathering for the sleeve trim, neck trim, and bottom trim was all completed with the serger. I had to serge it three times to get it tight enough, but it was very stable when sewing onto the sweatshirt.

The white jacket still needs some little white buttons for the placket. The purple jacket is much brighter and the skirt has much more purple and pinks in it. Sorry the picture is not better. One sweatshirt is a size two and one is size three.

My other major project is to get the blocks ready for the guild members for tomorrow's meeting. The next donation quilt pattern and fabric has been chosen. It will be Midnight Garden from Possibilities. We will be giving out the pieced blocks and the directions for them tomorrow.