Baby

Well, I am feeling a bit older today, as I am now a great grandma. One of my granddaughters gave birth to a healthy baby boy yesterday, Match 13. Ethan weighed in at 7 lbs 10 ozs, and 21 inches long.

Plans are to go and see him today.

Have to get busy with his quilt, and get it finished before his graduates to his crib.

Hope everyone is having a great Sunday.

Patricia

Spring....

Yesterday I saw a robin in our back garden, a sure sign of spring in my books, and several were back again today.
They visit a fruit tree (I think it is either a crab apple or cherry which still has fruit on it) in my neighbours back garden, they also paid a visit to some of the seed under by bird feeder. Rain is in the forecast for the next few days, which will help the frost out of the ground and allow the worms to come closer to the surface, a choice meal for the Robins.
The rain will also mean a few days to stay inside and quilt, what more can one ask for ---signs of Spring and a rainy days to quilt.
Have a great Friday
Patricia

Finished

Well, its finished, all but some additional embroidery to highlight the path and flowers.

The photo is a bit washed out due to the sun shining on it, and it was blowing in the wind, but it gives you an idea of how it looks. Now I have to decide what border to put on it and how I want to quilt it. Edited March 16, the size of the top is 74 by 78 inches but I have yet to add the borders.

I have learnt many lessons doing this project.

1.Organization. This is the only thing that kept this project manageable. When I decided to do this I went through all of my embroidery cotton and picked out the colours that were to be used for the cross stitch. I then pulled fabric out of my stash which was close in colour to the embroidery cotton. Each piece of fabric was then identified with the colour number and the symbol on the graph. One thing that I really didn't consider was the amount of fabric I would need.

2. Cut your squares to the exact measure using the same ruler for the entire project. This is true in all the fabric you cut, however, when dealing with such a small piece to begin with, it doesn't leave much room to compensate for that fraction of cutting error. I wasn't able to do much strip piecing due to the frequent changing of the fabric colour, so each square was sewn separately.

3. Sew a precise 1/4 inch seam. Use the same sewing machine for the whole project.

3. Pin all of the seams so that they line up. I spent a lot of time doing this step.

4. Patience.

5. Patience.

6. Patience.

7. The most important lesson. What was a thinking, was I mad???? a bit crazy??? a little bit on both counts. If you decide to do a project like this, DON'T, change your mind and forget it.

Don't get me wrong I did enjoy doing this project, and now that the time consuming part of it has been completed I am glad that I did it and I am very pleased with the result.

Hope you are having a great Wednesday.

Patricia

English Cottage Garden Quilt

Well after a year's work putting together this quilt the top is F I N I S H E D.


I have converted a counted cross stitch pattern into a quilt, each cross stitch equals a one inch square of fabric, and 5,424 squares later it is completed. At the present time I am embroidering tree branches and outlining some of the flowers and leaves, I am pleased with the way it is looking.


Now I have to decide what kind of border to put on and also how to quilt it.



Tomorrow I will post a photo and would welcome any suggestions you might have.

Below is a photo, (not a very good one) of the counted cross stitch as it appears in the magazine where I found the pattern.

Hope you are having a great Tuesday.

Patricia

Baby Quilt

My great grandson (am I really THAT old to have a ggs) is due this coming week, but his quilt won't be ready for awhile yet. The fabric was purchased some time ago, however, my life has been quite busy during this past ten days so have not started his quilt yet.

Finally chose a pattern I want to use, it is a easy one so once I get started it won't take too long to put it all together.


Here is a picture of the fabric I am going to use,(the colours look a bit washed out from the flash) however, it will give you some idea. His nursery is decorated with African animals, so when I saw this fabric at Joann's I just had to pick it up. I wondered if the colours might be too dark for a baby, but decided to use it any way.

Today is promising to be another lovely day, but mid week the forecast is calling for some snow.

Have a great Sunday

Patricia

Good News today

My Mother is now out of the hospital and staying with my sister until she gets back on her feet. The medications were very effective, however, it taking awhile for her to become her old self, as she gets older it takes longer for her to bounce back. At 92 years we can't expect too much. Unfortunately she will not always be able to live by herself as she has been doing. Dreading the day when that happens. Taking one day at a time, at least she is still with us, so what more can we ask for.
OH's Dr. ordered prednesone which is relieving him of the pain and the swelling is going down on his right hand. So that's an improvement, but it is making his sugar readings high and could cause his blood thinners to react differently, so more blood tests. We saw an arthritis specialist today, her report, he has a severe case of Tophaceous Gout, which has been in part caused by his kidney disease, and his other health issues. His health problems complicate the action to be taken to help the Gout. We will get it all sorted out one way or the other.
I was able to get into the sewing room last night, only three more blocks and then the top of the English cottage in finished.
Hope everyone is having a nice day.
Patricia

Hoarders

In our morning newspaper today there was an article about hoarding. Have you watched the TV programme "Hoarders", if not, it is a weekly programme which shows a different individual each week, and the stuff he/she hoards. These people collect everything from apples to zebra's (the toy stuffed kind) and lots of it. The show then provides help to get rid of the accumulated stuff. The solutions include changing their feelings, attitudes and relationships with their possessions, and underlying emotional issues are also dealt with by professional counsellors.
These things provide comfort -- no matter the discomfort and chaos the collecting causes. Hoarders waste away in all of the possessions and accumulations, yet they don't see it. Its their normal. The overwhelming clutter makes for chaotic living conditions which impairs daily activity, physical and mental health, relationships and living conditions. It creates fire hazards and health concerns not only for themselves but for neighbours and family.
We all buy too much, are attached to things and keep things we don't need, we are a culture of stuff. However, there is a difference between the chronically disorganized and hoarders. Disorganized people feel stress relief when organized; hoarders actually feel more stressed when organizing.
In this article it noted 10 of the most commonly hoarded items. The 1st. on the list was - Paper, especially newspapers. number 4--clothing, number 8--tools, nuts, bolts, screws and building materials.

Ladies and gentlemen: number 9 on the list------Wool, fabric and craft supplies.
Now, according to the information in this article I think quilters, sewers, knitters and crafters will all be OK and not be classed as a hoarder---
-fabric provides comfort, so we can't be overwhelmed with the need to acquire more-we have to keep the collecting under control --- Oh my goodness, I am in trouble already.
-we can't waste away in the accumulation -- we have to keep it organized--buying more shelves should do the trick---Oh my goodness, that's the second strike against me.
-hoarders have a distorted emotional attachments to items ---I love my Janome--Oh my goodness, three strikes.
-many hoarders are extremely successful and seniors in their areas of expertise---Oh my goodness, I am successful and I am an expert in many things.
I am a "Hoarder"!!!!
I don't mean to make light of this disturbing issue but just had to smile when I read this article while having my morning coffee.

Patricia