Quilting again

It has been three weeks since I worked on my quilting at home. I did attend my neighborhood group on the 3rd Wednesday of October, but otherwise I have not picked up a needle or run the sewing machine. Last night I did some pressing of blocks that I am working on and tonight when I visit DH I will be working on my Apple Core wall hanging. The rows are all finished and now I have to sew them together. I think this is going to work out nicely. I need a piece of fabric for the background. I will be appliqueing the 5 by 5 cores to another piece of fabric. I would love to find something with apples on it, but that may not be possible.

If DH gets out of the hospital in time we are going to Gatlinburg for a week in mid November. I am already planning 3 projects to take with me. I will have to limit my quilting gear as we are taking the dogs with us. Have I introduced you to Max and Roxie? Max is a 95 pound black Labrador mix and Roxie is a 93 pound AKC registered Rottweiler. They do take up the entire back seat of the car so the trunk will be packed from top to bottom and side to side.

The timeshare we are visiting has an inside water park so swim suits/trunks will be in order. Both of us will be taking advantage of this I am sure. We have to get in shape for Orlando in April. Again that will be a trip with minimum quilt gear because the dogs will travel with us then too.

So many plans and such a positive attitude. I have my DH back (we almost lost him totally) and I am in such a happy place!

Have a great day.

I did some quilting

Thursday I went to my guild sponsored neighborhood group and worked on my Apple Core wall hanging. It was so nice to see everyone. It had been a long time.

Several of us are dealing with husband's with health issues. More people to place on my prayer list. One member is dealing with cancer and she is a fighter. I know she will win this battle and the war!

I don't know how much if any quilting I will get done this weekend. DH is being transferred from the hospital to a skilled nursing facility (rehab) and it is further away from our home than the hospital. I am also back on call for our daily reporting cycle at work.

Even though I am trying to take care of myself, it seems that I am fatigued all the time. I need some quality time to rest and gather some strength.

Have a great day.

Najavo Tears

Thursday evening I completed the first 14 blocks of this quilt. I haven't been able to do any quilting or piecing since then. My DH has been in the hospital with pneumonia, kidney failure and massive sepsis. He is recovering after being on a ventilator since Friday morning. All I have been able to do is to comfort him and read while he was heavily sedated. This morning the discontinued the ventilator and he is breathing on his own. We almost lost him.

I will post when I am able to get back to my quilting.

Have a great day.

More progress

I completed three more blocks last night. Then I realized that I had put the two side HST pieces on the wrong side and upside down. What a bummer!

Tonight I will be un-sewing the block and putting it back together in the correct order. This quilt is my top priority right now. I don't know how much longer DH will be able to live in our house. His health has taken a dramatic turn for the worse and I think he will be in a wheel chair shortly. I may have to take up the carpeting to make this happen.

Sorry to put such depressing news in my quilt blog.

I need to find a strong man to help me carry in two book cases and a student desk for my quilt studio. They have been riding around in my truck for weeks. Maybe I can use the wheel chair. LOL

Have a great and blessed day.

Progress

I have completed three more Najavo blocks for a total of seven completed. This is about 1/4 of the blocks I will need for the quilt top. I am planning on setting the blocks on point with earth tone fabrics between. The blocks take less time than creating the HST needed to put the blocks together. I still have 240 HST to make before I am finished. wow.

For the time being I am sewing in the living room to keep an eye on DH. He is struggling. I am taking one day at a time or even one minute at a time. There is no rush in this disease so I learn as I go.

Today I go on call for my employer. We have a daily cycle that will be my responsibility. For the next 7 days I will be responsible for any problems that crop up here at work dealing with our area within I/T. This will be the last time this year until year end closeout.

Be happy and enjoy life.

Charity Quilts Donated

At Guild last night I turned in the two finished quilts and the two finished tops for the Alaska Maternity clinic. I returned all the fabric that I had intended to use for additional quilts for the Alaska Maternity clinic as well. I am sorry that I will not longer be able to make quilts for this worthwhile charity. I love making the small quilts and thinking about the newborn babies that will have a blankie to love.

My membership in Guild has been renewed. I was not able to stay for the entire meeting, but my main goals were to turn in the charity quilts and pick up the Sew to Win block for the November meeting. The winner of the October Sew to Win was so excited when her name was called. I was very happy for her. Even if I didn't win, I know how to make the blocks and can make one for my self. That is the advantage of being involved in the Sew to Win process. The November block is a pine tree with HST along the edges. Thangles were included in the package.

This will be another learning experience for me. I use the method of adding 7/8" to the finished HST and making a grid of 3 by 4 square the enhanced size. Then I sew along diagonal lines between the squares and created 24 HST without having to sew on a small piece of fabric along the bias. The HST do need to be trued up to the correct size and there is some waste, but the finished project makes the loss of fabric easier to accept.

This last weekend I made 240 HST triangles for "Navajo Tears" along with socializing at the retreat in 1 1/2 days and started putting the blocks together. My next learning experience will be making QST (quarter square triangles). My heart almost quakes.

I have the NICU quilt top layered and basted. It is ready for quilting and binding. My deadline for this quilt is Sunday, October 19. We will be making another pattern for the NICU. Wonder what pattern they will choose to teach us.

After guild I continued to unpack from the retreat. I have almost everything stored or in place to continue to work on my projects. I have so many projects that are scheduled for Christmas gifts that I will be busy all the time.

Have a nice and blessed day.

October Retreat

I did make it to the retreat. I made some progress on my new quilt "Navajo Tears". I have 50% of the HST squared. I started putting together the individual blocks and putting the HST in a random order around the center square. I will continue to work on this after DH falls asleep each evening. This will be his Christmas present.

DH requested that I make a quilt for his mother. It is designed with a cross in the center and several blocks that will complement the cross. I picked up the fabric Friday afternoon after lunch at the retreat. Tonight I plan on printing out the instructions for the various blocks. I will work on this when DH is awake.

I have completed the 2nd Baby quilt for Alaska in the Trip Around the World pattern. I will be turning in all the quilts and tops for Alaska tonight at the guild meeting. I will be renewing my membership for the guild this evening as well. I don't know if I can be absent from home for the hours of the meetings, but want to continue my membership regardless. Of all the neighborhood groups that I have been involved in, I hope to continue to attend one of them. The others will have to wait until I am no longer a care-giver on a daily basis. I will no longer be able to leave DH alone in the evening.

My neighbor across the street is keeping and eye on DH while I am at work. I believe that adult day care will be necessary in the near future. DH is getting less and less able to be left alone for long periods of time.

Have a blessed and peaceful day.

Back again with a fire in my belly ("Working Girl")

The 2nd Alaska Baby Quilt "Trip Around the World" is in the process of having the binding stitched on by hand. I hope to have this finished prior to the end of the day on Thursday. The Alaska baby quilts will be handed over to Jerry at our Guild meeting.

From here on my baby quilts and other donation quilts that I purchase the fabric for or from fabric that has been given to me will be donated to the Linus Project here in Cincinnati. I have several ideas for quilts for the Linus Project and cannot wait to get started.

Packing is progressing for my quilt retreat this weekend. Since DH has pulled out of his deep depression and I have made arrangements for individuals to check on him while I am away and the retreat is only 20 minutes away from the house I feel confident that all will go well while I am getting some respite. For those of you who are not care-givers respite is a chance for the care-giver to replenish soul, mind and body while knowing that the person they are responsible for is being taken care of by responsible other people. My daughter is coming over to the house Friday evening. I still have to set up the visiting nurse to visit on Saturday and I am good to go.

Have a great day, Karen