Hi everyone! I looked at my recent posts and see that the three most recent posts are all about cooking! Oh no, better show some quilty stuff for my quilt-inspired readers. Truth is, not all that much is happening in the little quilt room; it's in danger of being restored to a tiny guest room for my hopeful-someday fantasy grandchildren, lol. Between severe joint pain, eye problems, eye surgery, looong wait to see results [so far not thrilled]---sewing has been neglected, so sad.
"Candy Cane Lane" originally made for a little girl who didn't have Christmas due to Covid---but her parents handled the issue so beautifully, I feel there's no need to dwell and I will add it to my own collection. Inspired by designer Barb Vedder's Tiny Trees.
I have commissioned items I had to ask for more time on. Instead I have sporadically worked on my Humble Quilt Challenge Antique block.
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The Anvil block needed quite a bit of thought before before I jumped in sewing madly It was quite fragile and stretched out, all the points extended through the seam allowance, and so on.
I do not take antique blocks apart, wash, starch, recut, resew to 21st century perfection. Some people do that, but I prefer to respect and retain the original maker's work.
I patched a few edges, added very thin fusible stabilizer [for support and strength], squared it up and added matching cream ''muslin'' borders to save those POINTS as best I can.
I discarded the 1830s repro pastel color idea--may as well make something I can use. And went with my more usual brighter palette, using scraps from TQC and from friends. This is the first border, red mountains,
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...chosen from this very old and much used paper piecing manual.
I used this book a lot when I first began sewing again a bit, years ago, as you can see.
Next will be a solid border. Lori [Humble Quilts] also sent me this beautiful black ground pansy print. I thought it might be the border but no. I will save it. Clashes gruesomely with the reds.
Then, inspired by pics I have saved of Australian crib quilts, there will be a [wide?] border of Hourglass blocks or Broken Dishes. I taught myself to make the Hourglass block, for some reason I just drew a mental blank on how might it be cute and sewed. YouTube to the rescue.
I have two months left for this project---we had a whole year, but yeah, it has been a crappy year for me, doing my best here.
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I also have part one on Winter Marshes on my list for Feb. I have two more days to do the oh so simple task of appliquéing the three Moons.
And today a package arrived from TQC! My reward, self-promised, for getting through the surgery okay--aka my Christmas money from my brother.
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Winter Gardens - Week Four
TJ baby daffs, so pretty!
Amaryllis.
Replanted the remaining esix paperwhite bulbs, since only two grew and bloomed.
I am giving these guys a second chance, but they are not doing a thing. I think I saved the containers they came in; next time I go to the nursery over the bridges I may complain politely [I hope that doesn't make me a "karen''? Surely more than two of 8 bulbs, at almost $20.oo, should grow?]. They make a big deal about guaranteeing their plants will bloom or grow.
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A friend just brought me new Rx distance glasses. Not good but he says, as does the surgeon, that they hope my brain will learn to mesh images. I said I will try. I found out that my very rapid forming cataracts were caused by a medication!, and that even if/ when eye #2 is operated on, it will not fix the double vision; just using the glasses and retraining the brain will help, plus maybe more specialized lenses. Hmmmm. Also I started these CBD Gummy Bears, for pain and anxiety. I only have been using 2 per day, I think one can take 6?, but they do seem to ''take the edge off'' of pain and panicky feelings. I am pleased so far. Possibly something to consider if you have chronic pain so I'm passing the idea along. They do NOT have the hallucinogenic chemical of hemp or cannabis.
And last, the beef and bacon with root vegetables stew was excellent. Though my dumplings weren't so great, must search out my mom's recipe. Many Beef and Bacon stew recipes online, Here is One I love veggies so I added turnips, carrots, onions, scallions, garlic, parsnips, cubed sweet potatoes, and carrots. Cut your veg fairly large so they do not cook away to nothing during the oven time.
Enjoy your weekend!
love
lizzy
gone to the beach.....
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I was hoping that the surgery on your eye took care of most if not all of the problems you were having. I'm sorry that's not the case. Double vision is so difficult to live with. It gives me headaches when it happens. I hope things get better with your health, Lizzy. And it must be incredibly hard to sew!
ReplyDeleteI love what you're doing with your antique quilt block. I'm looking forward to seeing the next additions as you go along. I don't think I could unstitch an imperfect antique block, either. Love the authenticity of the originals. This "sew-along" has been on my mind lately. The only old (not antique) blocks I have are with hexagons or the Dresden quilt my mom made me when I was little. Not quite antique yet, though. I'll probably just imagine and not participate this year.
Beautiful fabrics from TQC.
I hope you can get the moons stitched for Winter Marshes. If you don't, I hope you won't be too hard on yourself. There are times in life when we want to do something but circumstances/situations intervene and prevent it.
It's sad only 2 of the bulbs grew. I think you should take them back.
Hugs to you and Mo.
I love the antique quilt block, and was interested by the way you stabilised it. LOVE your new treat of fabrics - wonderful selection.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear your eye problem hasn't been totally resolved.
I have grown paperwhites before, but always in soil, not just sat in the container. I've only seen Hyacinths grown without soil, and then in a special glass jar which they sit in the top part and grow their roots into the water below.
The antique blocks is a fun challenge. I am loving the new fabrics, very cheering.
DeleteThe paperwhites were specifically intended to be grown in water. I have set them into gravel, seaglass, marbles etc over the years. This year and past three or so years I am using a bulb ''frog'', like a clear plastics dish with prongs to hold the bulbs in the water. I have to remember to buy hyacinths in the fall, I guess they're very expensive. I saw a blog where the woman did baby iris and snowdrops too , in low wide dishes, really lovely. She was in Scotland tho, using an unheated greenhouse; bulbs need to winter over but here they may freeze and rot.
Happy to see you post! The quilt block looks difficult to me, lol, but I think all the applique in the new quilt would do my wrists in! I'm sure it will be gorgeous when you get it done though! Your blooming flowers are beautiful and I, too, think you should maybe take the non-growing bulbs back, or at least take your pictures (by phone?) and show the nursery that they didn't do ANYTHING. Maybe they'll offer you credit or a gift card for next year or season? In my experience, if you quietly explain the problem and ask what can be done, most places are more willing to try to make a customer happy. It's worth a shot.
ReplyDeleteDon't be in too big a rush to re-do your sewing room! Your eyes will keep healing for several months. And did anyone explain the double vision? Are your eyes focusing on different levels? I had to have a 'prism' in my glasses for years because one eye focused several inches below the other one, so I saw double. Since I got my cataracts removed I don't need it anymore so apparently mine was caused by the cataracts. Hopefully you will have a chance to ask a doctor? How did you get Rx glasses, did you have your eyes checked at your 2-week appointment after surgery? LOL, sorry, I have lots of questions!
I'm doing pretty good. I still have a cough, not sure if it's lingering from covid (it WAS gone for a while!) or if maybe I have a sinus infection or something now. If I do it's not bad. I guess maybe I'll have go to get checked. Annoying!
Take care and stay well! Enjoy seeing what you're up to!
I really like the addition you made to that antique quilt block--you have really done a super job rescuing it.
ReplyDeleteNot much sewing will be going on here as I need to back off and rest. I hate stopping mid stream--somehow it's never the same when you return!!
I am sorry to hear that you are having these problems; it is definitely not fun for you!! I hope the coming Spring will see you through this bad time.
I can't wait to see your Moons project...it is
hard to have to wait when you have all these plans. [I totally get that]
Take care and stay well...hugs for you and Mo Julierose
You are working a miracle with your antique block. I looked at the mess mine is and decided my time for quilting these days is to precious to attempt to work on anything that would never be anything but ugly. I'm so sorry that the first eye surgery did not have the best outcome that you've hoped for. I've "adapted" to my double vision by just closing my bad eye whenever I need to see anything in detail. That eye is pretty much useless now, but at least there is still one good eye. Keep looking forward my friend!
ReplyDeleteCandy Cane Lane! How sweet!
ReplyDeleteToo bad about the bulbs. I would totally bring it to their attention. If you're polite, you are NOT a 'Karen' :)
Beautiful sunset pics! Hug Mo for me!
Ughh, sorry about your double vision issues. Hopefully caught the cataract problem before it got too bad! Enjoying watching your work with your antique quilt block. Lots of good ideas.:)
ReplyDeleteOnly you could pull together such diverse, but perfect fabrics with your antique block. So looking forward to the final outcome.
ReplyDeleteYou new fabrics are delicious. Really life-enhancing. I'd sit there playing and handling them for ages.
For quite a while, I've used hemp cream very successfully on small sunspots which virtually disappear.
Thinking of you and your vision issues. Xxx