I currently have 3 quilts in progress.
Not So Sombre Stars
The fabric is all cut for this and safely tucked into a clear plastic box waiting its turn to make it to the top of the working pile. I love using the plastic storage boxes for my WIPs. I haven't done it before this last month so its a new thing for me but I just love it. I can see easily where the projects are and if I need to add something to the project that is easily found and done. eg I bought some buttons on the weekend at the Craft Show I went to that were for my Tea Shop quilt that I am going to make one day (found some lovely buttons featuring little cakes. Perfect!) I was able to find the box that I have that project in and add the buttons.
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| My Project boxes. Top Tea Shop Quilt. 2nd box Sombrero Stars, 3rd Not So Sombre Stars and bottom Christmas Stockings. (I have to make my son's partner Earthy Yu) |
Sombrero Stars
Not only is the fabric all cut but all the flying geese for it made (120 of them) AND I have put together the first block. I knew I wouldn't have time to sew this week so snuck in the time to make one last Friday before I flew to Brisbane. I left myself very little time to have my shower and finish getting ready to leave for the airport but we made it. AND I have a finished block as well!! The goodies for this quilt are all in their own little box as well
Disappearing into the Blue
As usual I worked on this at our Patchwork Group meeting today. I didn't spend as long up there as usual because of my busy week here at home (more about that later) but I was able to get the sashing for the blocks cut and the blocks sewn into rows. It was great to lay the quilt out and try to arrange the blocks in a pleasing way. It is hard to choose how to lay the blocks out. There are 30 of them - all different shades of blue (only one repeat) Trying to get a spread of the really dark blocks and the really light blocks plus some blocks are heavily patterned and there are few unusual blues. I am sure you quilters all face this dilemma too each time you have to lay out a scrappy quilt. I must admit I tend to give up and just go with whatever in the end. As soon as I move two dark ones away from each other I find that I have moved a heavily patterned one in next to another heavily patterned one etc etc. Then after spending ages agonising over the arrangement when I pick them up to sew the strips together I seem to get them mixed up and end up with two similar ones next to each other anyway!!
I nearly didn't stay at patchwork. I found that I had left my sewing box at home. I had my project in its box and my machine stays in the car all the time. The sewing box has my pins, thread, scissors, seam ripper, rotary cutter etc in it. I thought I might just cut the sashing fabric and then come home but decided to duck home (only 5 minutes away from our sewing room) and grab what I needed. I took time to put the washing into the dryer whilst I was there, check on the dog and grab my sewing box.
Why I am busy
On Saturday I am hosting an "English Afternoon Tea" here in my garden (or on my patio if the current rain we are experiencing keeps up) Not sure how many people are going to turn up. I've got about 15 definites and maybe another 15! Hopefully numbers will be clearer tomorrow when acceptances close (and even clearer as people respond late on Friday and Saturday morning) Its a fundraiser for School Chaplaincy which our church helps support. 2 of my friends are school chaplains here in our town so its a cause dear to my heart.
Fangirl and I have been cooking up a storm all week and I am supposed to be cleaning up the house and the garden... yeah... supposed to be.
And what else?
My dog Annie is very unwell. She's a 9 year old Australian Terrier cross who belongs officially to my youngest son. Whilst I was in Brisbane on the weekend Fixit Guy found that her belly was very swollen so took her to the vet who admitted her and ran some tests. Whilst x-raying her to check what was going on with the swelling in her belly they found that there is a large mass of some description in one lung. She has been very breathless for a few months. We had mentioned this to the vet at her check up but they couldn't find anything at the time (no x-ray then as we didn't push it ) and we all put it down to increased age, the heat etc. Anyway they aren't sure what is going on with the lung. It is is full of fluid which could be pus, but not likely since no other indications of infection. It could be blood but blood tests have indicated that unless it is a very slow leak into the lung that isn't it. The most likely thing is that it is a tumour and the fluid is associated with that. The vet is getting a second opinion on that. He could extract fluid with a syringe but didn't want to go ahead without advice. The x-rays showed that she is extremely constipated. He gave her a laxative but it had minimal affect. The next thing to try is an enema but that apparently would also require sedation and at the moment with her lungs so compromised he doesn't want to do that. The swelling did come down somewhat. I bought her home on Tuesday (yesterday) and spent a good bit of the day sitting with her and cuddling her. She was bright enough when I picked her up but then refused to eat (hadn't eaten at the vets much either) brought up what she did eat, and laid around the yard doing nothing all day.
She was brighter last night and was interested in food and trotted about a bit. This morning she even wanted to come on a walk with our other dog but the vet said not to exert her at all. She ate a bit from me when offered (had to get her tablets into her... antibiotics and diuretic) However has been very quiet and laying about the yard again not doing anything. Her belly is very swollen again this afternoon. Not sure when the vet is going to get back to us re the specialist. I will ring later this afternoon and check. She doesn't seem very distressed or in pain. We will play it by ear. I won't let her suffer but whilst she has some quality of life we will enjoy her company and say good bye when the time comes.
Linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced
Oh my goodness you are so busy and organised. Did you know you are also a no-reply blogger, so I couldn't reply directly to you from your comment on my blog. This tutorial shows you how to change that:
ReplyDeletehttp://thewindyside.blogspot.co.nz/2013/06/how-to-stop-being-no-reply-blogger.html
I only learned to put zips in last year - taught my self from this tutorial:
http://www.noodle-head.com/2012/06/open-wide-zippered-pouch-diy-tutorial.html
I haven't looked back. Good luck with your dog too.
I hope your English Afternoon Tea goes well, all for a very good cause too. I like seeing sewing projects neatly organised as you have so you know where you're up to and everything is kept together.
ReplyDeletePoor puppy. Our previous Basset Ben had pneumonia from inhaling something into his lungs and we were months in and out of the vets trying to get a diagnosis. In the end they used a scope to see into his lungs and did a culture to see what antibiotic would work. Terrible seeing them sick and not their usual happy selves. Hope she feels a bit better and the weather holds up for your Afternoon Tea!
ReplyDeleteI love the photo of your little dog. Hope she recovers soon. It looks like she would be a good quilting companion!
ReplyDeleteYou certainly do look organized - makes me have something to aim towards as my works in progress seem to end up being laid out on the floor. All the best for your lovely dog too.
ReplyDeleteYou have a very busy week and the tea sounds wonderful. I like your organizing system too. Very sorry about Annie. She has a sweet face. Keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your dog. Hope you get an answer soon.
ReplyDeleteOooh, just love my puppy, so I feel for you! I really hope something simple and easy can be done for her! Gotta love the bins! Make sure you post pics of your tea party! It just sounds so lovely!
ReplyDeleteI love the clear project boxes! I may need to get some of those for my ongoing projects.
ReplyDeleteI do love a plastyic storage box
ReplyDeleteOh my aren't our furry family members a real worry, my cat Tigger who is diabetic had a hypoglycemic attack and was very unwell for a couple of days, but fingers crossed is now on the mend. I hope your little pup is going to be ok and that you will also be ok.
I hope your English tea party went well.