Taking The Plunge

It's back to work on Monday, back to the regular routine. I've enjoyed the time off,  but admit I'm looking forward to having my income again.
Rehab went well, and I have a  list of exercises I need to continue with, my doctor tells me I can get rid of the walker and progress to a cane. I'm still not totally confident or stable but time will fix that I'm sure. 
I certainly haven't spent my time just sitting. I used the time and took the plunge into hand applique. Not just one but two projects.
Having spoken to Bren and getting lots of pointers I decided it was time to also take the plunge and try hand quilting. This is what's in my frame, one leaf done and lots left. 

I said I'd done two hand applique projects, the second is the Henrietta BOM. I had so much fun stitching this quilt. We'll see how well this hand quilting goes, and I may surprise myself and hand quilt the BOM quilt as well.


Happy Stitching
Linda

Great Buys

I couldn't let the day go without helping the economy. If you're looking for a good sale then hop on over to this website they have a great sale going on for today, 20% off everything.

 I have no idea what I'll do with these lovely fat quarter bundles, but they were far too good to pass up.

Thanks for the suggestions on Jenna's quilt, I decided to go with Linda's idea of another Seminole border and then the piano keys.

Happy Stitching.
Linda

Border Suggestions Please

I'm stuck, I have the body of Jenna's quilt made, but it still needs to be bigger. It currently measures approx 74 inch square and I want it to be able to fit nicely on a queen sized bed. It obviously needs another border or maybe two. I have plenty of fabric to play with, I had thought of adding a nine patch border but that would make it too big and it would still end up square, which won't fit on a queen bed. I then thought of a four patch border and decided what the heck lets ask for some ideas.

 These are the first two borders I've added, a plain strip with a Seminole border.

What would you suggest to make it the right size?

Happy Stitching.
Linda

For the Kids

My work is holding an auction on the weekend to raise funds for the local Children's Hospital and my supervisor asked if I could help.
So this pattern came to mind straight away. One that I made a couple of years ago and I loved making.
I went through my fabric shelves and scrap bin and came up with enough for a good sized crib quilt.

I always love the way a quilt looks once it's been washed and dried.

I delivered it to work this afternoon. It was nice to get out and to catch up with the girls from work.
I've been working on the Henrietta Whiskers BOM  and thoroughly
enjoying the hand applique.
 I hope to get back into the sewing room tomorrow and work on Jenna's quilt, that's been sitting since well before the surgery.

Happy Stitching
Linda

While I Wait

While I wait for these lovely wool's to arrive.

I've been putting the last stitch's into the applique on this.

Once the wool arrives I can do the last of the applique and get it quilted.

Until then.
Happy Stitching.
Linda

Verandah Views

The blocks for this little wall hanging have kept me busy this past week.

I managed to get into the sewing room to piece the blocks together.

It took several days.

As  trying to work with a walker isn't that easy.

Plus I tired easily.

As I can't stand for too long.

But after a couple of days I had it put together.

Ready for quilting.

Which I managed to do in one afternoon.

Simple cross hatch quilting and a lemon binding.

All this sitting becomes very old, very quickly, and I discovered, it doesn't matter how much you pay for your cable service, there isn't anything on TV worth watching.
I'm now working on an applique project.

Happy Stitching.
Linda

Three More Finishes

I managed to maneuver myself in the sewing room today to get these blocks pressed and snapped.

 As I stitched them on white linen I decided the sheep needed to be a little on the black side.

 I was amazed how long these blocks took to stitch up.

I'm working on another and hope to be caught up on them soon, so I can move onto something different.

Happy Stitching.

Linda

It Passed The Sleep Test

I had this quilt finished several weeks ago, minus the hand stitching of the binding.

For some reason the photo's have come out "fat".

I used up some of the left over pieces for the backing.

Throw it in the washer and dryer and it came out lovely and crinkly.

It got it's first use last night, lovely and soft.

Happy Stitching.

Linda

A Little Progress

Just back from my first post op check-up. Those ugly staples have been removed. Not the most pleasant experience of my life, but oh well. I have 5 weeks to get my knee to bend to at least 90 degrees otherwise it's back in and open it up again to manipulate the joint. I'll be working hard with my PT to achieve that goal. The thought of another surgery is enough to get me moving.
I've been stitching this past week and have three more embroidery blocks done, but am unable to get into the sewing room to get them pressed, so you'll have to bear with me a little longer, until I feel more stable on my feet.
I'm looking forward to the day when I can once again sleep in my bed, this sleeping in a recliner is wearing a little thin.
Hope you're all having a productive week.

Happy Stitching
Linda

Home

Two days after surgery and I'm home in the comfort of my own surroundings. They tell me the surgery went very well. Replaced the knee and turned the bone so it would be straight. I now have approx 20 metal staples running down the front of  my leg.
They had me up on Saturday walking and today before I came home they removed the bulky dressing and replaced it with gauze strips, and the wonderful fashion statement of white support hose.
Thank you for your kinds words of encouragement and prayers.
Now I have the long hard stretch ahead of me with physical therapy, but it won't be too long and the pain and hard work will just be a distant memory.

Happy Stitching
Linda

Ready

Thank you for the lovely comments on my previous post, my apologies for not replying. I've been busy getting things ready in preparation for my surgery.
Tayla celebrated her second birthday  two weeks ago. We had a great afternoon at the Oklahoma City Zoo.
I love this photo of her and her mummy.

I've managed to finish another block in the mystery quilt, and have made a start on the third.

The tree trunk took forever to get finished. The bird buttons will be stitched on once the quilting is done.

On the weekend I finished up a parcel for Jenna. 

A request for an apron was the beginning of it all.

So I decided to add a fun table runner and two place mats.

The apron was extremely quick and easy to get done.

Add a couple of pot mitts.

And a trivet.

And call it finished. Love the way the center star ended up.

So with all that done I can relax and work on my hand work that I have prepared in the upcoming weeks.

Surgery is scheduled for Friday and I'm hoping I'll be home by Sunday afternoon. I make a terrible patient. Please keep the day in your thoughts and prayers for a successful outcome, I have a few challenges with extreme allergic reactions to all the medications they plan on giving me.

Happy Stitching.

Linda

Weekend Sewing

When you can't be there in person, there's only one other choice. Send a gift that speaks from the heart. (Click on the photo's for an enlarged view)

 This was made with the intention of giving it to a friend in person.

But life steps in and changes your plans, so that's when the postal service is your second choice.

It's reached it's new home.

Today is apron making day and finishing the binding on these and getting them washed.

Finishes Prepping and Purchases

I finished this little fellow quite a while ago. I saw him on a T-Shirt and thought he'd look cute as a wall hanging in Tayla's room.

I've been stitching these little birds at work in between answering the phones.





I've got enough fabric from this quilt left over to frame the blocks for a quilt for Tayla at Grans house,

 I managed to get this one finished last weekend and have the binding on ready to sew down while I'm recovering from my knee surgery.

Jenna sent me a photo of an apron she wanted, so of course every good mum needs to shop for the right pattern.

And fabric. I hope to make a start on it next weekend.

I spent yesterday getting  all the little applique pieces ready for this little wall hanging. All bagged up and ready and waiting for that time sitting at home.

Mystery Quilt

I'm usually not one who joins in on mystery quilts, but when I saw many of the finished blocks to this mystery I knew I had to jump in. It's designed as an applique quilt but I immediately decided it would be great in embroidery. Here's my first finished block.

There's a link on my side bar that will take you to the blog that's hosting the mystery (french) where you can see many of the finished blocks, all beautifully done. There's also photo's of past quilts that this very talented lady has designed.
It will be a blog that I'll be watching in the future for more beautiful creations that she chooses to share with everyone.
If you decide to join in I'd love to hear from you and follow your progress.

Happy Stitching
Linda

Blessings

Long weekends are wonderful, that extra day seems to make such a difference to what can be achieved in the sewing room. I'm fortunate that I have a great work schedule, working four 10 hour days, which gives me a three day weekend, so this extra day is great. I'm also fortunate in that I have the opportunity to sit and stitch at my desk in between taking calls.

The embroidery on this quilt was stitched at my desk over the last few months. During the weeks before work I've been working on putting the blocks together, and yesterday I was able to finish it up and get it quilted and bound.

It's heading to a lovely lady that I've never met in person, but have had the opportunity to speak  to several times through my work. Her husband and I would have lengthy chats about anything and everything when the opportunity arose. She's going through some treatments and I thought it may make those treatments a little easier.

A little reminder of the things that we treasure in life.

And to remember to count our blessings.

Follow our hearts.

And treasure new friendships that come  our way.
The pattern was one that was shared last year through Australian Homespun on their website as a stitch along.

Our little Tayla Bug is not so little anymore, she'll be celebrating her 2nd birthday in three weeks time. She had some time with Gran and Pop yesterday afternoon, so I took the opportunity to snap a few photo's.

I love this first one, those beautiful blue eyes get me every time.

Always busy doing something.

You may remember I showed you these quite a long time ago.

It was time to get them finished.

The lighting is terrible but I'm sure you get the idea, a little name banner to hang over her bed at Gran's house.

And this afternoon I've started to cut into these pretties and make a start on a new quilt.

Tomorrow we plan on going to the lake for a picnic lunch, something we haven't done in a very long time.

I hope you've managed to spend time with your family on this long weekend, enjoy the extra day and remembered to count your blessing.

Happy Stitching.

Linda.