This is another Celtic Table Runner that I just finished for my daughter. She saw the first one and asked for it in black and cream. I've never made the same thing twice, but for her... It is named, "Love Knots for Karen" and is about 16 x 40" with the bias strips sewn on by hand. I quilted beside them with invisible thread. Then I used twin needles and made a rectangle around the Celtic knots and finished it with a small meander on the outside edges. This gives those outside 'borders' a nice texture. Also, I put on a facing instead of a binding.
Health update: Heart clinic here says that my a-fib is caused by an enlarged atrium which was caused by a leaking mitral valve. No fix. Valve replacement is too risky. They put me on three medications, all of which have side-effects. I have not felt well and couldn't do much, but something amazing happened last Thursday. I was praying for strength for the day and suddenly all my symptoms and side-effects left. Don't know exactly why that happened, but I've never felt so good for a long time. It could be that my body adjusted to the meds and at the same time, they really kicked in. As Charles Spurgeon once said, "God never uses miracles when He can use ordinary things!" That is fine with me — and I am very thankful.
For health reasons, I'm not doing much quilting or much of anything. However, I'm feeling much better and hope to be back at it soon. In the past, one of my biggest procrastinations has been pinning a quilt to my HQ longarm. It takes forever, and I always poke myself with the pins. A few weeks ago, after a visit to Matt Sparrow's studio (aka The Man Quilter) and seeing a product called "Leader Grips" - I put them on my "must have" list. Hubby must have peeked at the list because a set of these was included in the gifts he gave me for my birthday. Check them out! If you have a longarm, you will want these! Sorry, I didn't take a photo but if you search using "images" you will find lots of them. I've set them up, but have not put a quilt on yet. Soon!
I know, it has been a while. We were on holidays the first part of January and planned to be away the whole month, but circumstances changed and we came home on the 16th. During this time, my a-fib started acting up. Instead of being predictable (caffeine/chocolate intake) it was hiccuping for no reason, and lasting for a day or two instead of a couple hours. I've been in the ER three times for cardioverting (not a lot of fun) and have an appointment with a cardiologist on the 8th. I'm on meds that slow the heart and regulate its rhythm, but make me "excessively drowsy" so moving at snail's pace. Otherwise, I feel okay and am not emotionally worked up about all this. That wouldn't help anyway!
All that said, sewing is relaxing. I've pinned the leaves in place on Mariner's Sunset and am happy with the look of it. I will quilt them down when my ambition catches up.
I've also finished the stitching of the bias strips on another Celtic Table Runner, so it is ready to sandwich and quilt. This one is at the request of my daughter. Picture later.
