Hi everyone! It's a glorious Fall week here, sooo unexpected. But my mind is oddly blank: I cope so poorly with the little potholes of life now, I find. My phone broke, my lab app was offline [must get labs before IV tomorrow], the shower broke; my injured hand suddenly is very painful, like a sprained wrist, though the deep skin tears are healed. I hurt my ankle right by where the spider bite was. I put away some of my shorts, so sad. I had to take down, put away, some of my October/ Halloween quilts and vignette bits. It was busy and overwhelming, another thing making me sad. Another factor, the intense sun of October damages the quilts, I can't leave them out too long....
The skeptical words of a friend who asked, Why do you make quilts, why bother? That hurt.
And Mo's vet report was, um, tepid. His ears are better but incurable. End stage vestibular disease [chronic inner ear infection]. "We'll make him as comfortable as possible"--sounds very hospice, doesn't it.
I floundered around with projects: Made the Gingham Maple Leaf block, found among the Red Baskets a few months ago, into a tiny solo quilt.
Used a fun brown Harvest backing and did a swirly-twirly, falling leafy, freestyle machine quilting. And a pillowcase edge.
I think it makes a cute candle mat or bowl tuck and at least is somewhat saved from oblivion. I'd like to make a Maple Leaf quilt someday.
I'm almost done with TQC October mini. Just a bit of binding. It was also machine quilted, freestyle, by me. May add a picture later. It's cute.
Having fun with the Googly-eyed Cheri Payne Jackolanterns.
I had planned for the pupils, the smallest eye circle, to be just fused on [cheddar or black]. But when I washed WhatNots a small circle I overlooked in stitching fell right off. Good to know this fusible does wash away. But still. I decided, tentatively, that tiny black [and colored?] buttons would do instead.
I had a fun hour the other day sorting through my button jars for candidates. Found a good selection. White pearl tinies for teeth too.
I also found such an odd assortment of older coins. Why were they there, are they from my beachcombing pocket? Were they in the jar, unsorted, that my mom found at the local thrift shop? I have no memory.
Susan B Anthony silver dollar 1979. Size of a quarter. Is it still worth a dollar? And a wheat sheaf penny, 1951 or 7 .
A 70s dime, a modern penny; two Canadian pennies. Treasure! I was quite thrilled.
When I first moved here, an elderly neighbor taught me a lot about local beachcombing. She was so lucky, always finding gold rings or cash or bottles with messages. She saved the coins she found in Mason jars that she'd fill and bestow upon local children on their birthdays. I never had such luck, having only one half filled coin jar after so many many years. But the hunt is everything, still.
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Another day I sadly cut back my ruined garden. It was scraggly, ugly, and attracting the always scary October yellowjacket wasps.
I made a final bouquet.
My friend did the same before last week's nor'easter. Her dahlias are so beautiful.
Headed out now with Mo. Each day is a gift.
love
lizzy
gone to the beach..........................
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Love your little pumpkin faces in progress;))))--I have taken out buttons for some eyes too...
ReplyDeleteSorry about Mo's results...so sad really...;((((
Just being able to keep him happy and comfortable though is a good plan....everything changes, doesn't it?
Loving that Maple leaf piece...I do love Autumn, but it is a sad time also, so bittersweet....Hugs to you both Julierose
The last bouquets of summer, so fleeting and so precious, a reminder that summer will come again. I hated to finally toss the last sunflowers in their vase on the back porch.We had a lovely mid-October week and now rainy and windy for the next week. That will pretty much end the fall colors. Your little maple leaf quilt is adorable! I've been wanting to make a maple leaf quilt for years too, maybe one day we'll challenge each other, at least a small one! It's really sad that some folks can't figure out why we do the things that please us so deeply, that the very doing touches our soul. That's a problem I'll leave to them to figure out and keep on doing what brings a measure of sanity and peace. As always, love and prayers for you and Mo.
ReplyDeleteQuilt making brings you joy (along with pursed lips and mutterings at times I'm sure!) and that isn't much of a friend who can't understand what makes you tick! She clearly DOESN'T sew!
ReplyDeleteI hope all your hurty bits are better soon, and so sorry about Mo's ear problems. I read that they are prone to them.
I've never done any Halloween sewings. Heavens, the junior school my kids went to actually BANNED the use of the word Halloween for a disco - must have called it Autumn Disco or something instead. That sounds Very Chapel . . .
Halloween has become such a big holiday here, sadly overwhelms Thanksgiving and even Christmas somewhat.
DeleteThanks for kind words about quilt making. I just love having a project and working with fabrics and color. But I took her words to heart enough that prob I won't make as many now, and only small. Perhaps donate for charity auctions what I have?
Keep on quilting. Like the above person said she doesn’t sew. We quilters need to stick together.
ReplyDeleteSorry about Mo’s ears. My Rocky (bulldog) had the same problem. It’s a constant worry. Your presence and care brings him comfort and hoping you feel better, too. My prayers are with you and Mo.
Hi! Thanks for commenting. I did take the critic's words to heart, not sure what the future holds. [maybe my quilts aren't pretty?]... Sad that your Rocky suffered with ears too. We do love or pets and try so hard to make them well and happy.
Deletelizzy
How hurtful „well-meant“ comments can be! I also have a „friend“ who is always asking me if I don’t have enough quilts yet. Some people just don’t understand the joy of the creative process…
DeleteExactly! So true.
DeleteI'm sorry you had to put some of your Halloween decor away. You have lovely things and I can't stop thinking about your turkey quilt with the lovely oranges and blues. Jan Patek sure had a way with nostalgia for the simple life. I'm so sorry to hear about poor Mo. So sad... Cute little maple leaf finish. I must go find my little leaf table topper and put it under my lamp. I had forgotten about it. I hope you start feeling better.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I can't think of a better way to spend a sunny October afternoon than to have needle and thread in my hand and quilting plans in my head. It calms me, it centers me. "There is plenty of time for the hard things - let there be time for the soft things too."
DeleteI don’t understand people who don’t have creative diversions. I also don’t know why people have to share negativity opinions. Sorry to hear about Mo. the two do you have had a rough go. Take solace in your beautiful quilts and fabric and buttons.
ReplyDeleteHave followed your lovely blog for a few years and love admiring your interesting creative quilts…and your stories about your life. It brings you joy and to us that follow you. Love your blog and I live in Canada and in my eighties, so much stash, not much time🤣
ReplyDeleteHi Peggy! Thanks for visiting and commenting. I m so happy you enjoy your visits, thanks.
DeleteAs sure as nuts (my father used to say), everything happens at once!! Blooming nuisance.
ReplyDeleteLove the very "Gone to the Beach' colours of your bright little posy. You're so good at putting them together.
It's fascinating to see your odd coins, as I have random collection, accumulated over the years. one wonders at the different time periods they all come from and how they've ended up together.