The Dear Jane folks say 'finished is better than perfect' yet sometimes I want to do a better job, or at least a little faster. This was difficult to finish. I started it ions ago, then had heart trouble (A-Fib), cataracts fixed, a couple of problems with one eye, and all sorts of trouble with ambition last year. When my doctors decided a pacemaker would fix the irregular heart, that took the stuffing out of me for a few months. So has adjusting to what my pacemaker nurse calls the "new normal" and being sleepy all the time. (I'm likely going to have them turn it up a bit, pulse is set at 60 so when I wake up I don't feel like getting up - which will make it work harder.)
However, all whining aside, this one is done and ready for its new home -- which is going to be built by early fall... so I didn't need to rush after all. 😊 It was hard to see - small stitches for the applique, and putting a black facing on black backing with black thread. If you have never tried that, I don't recommend it! And I made three mistakes doing the label of all things, but it is finished. About 25" square and for my daughter. Shhh, don't tell her. She asked me to make it, but by now she may have forgotten! It will match the runner I made for her awhile ago.
Applique done on this one during hockey, curling, etc. on TV while it is too cold outside to do much else. Yes, if you look closely there is a pin in this. It marks a spot that needs a bit of TLC. Otherwise, I need to press it, quilt it, put on a backing and a label.
This one has 150 blocks that will be 6" finished. It will be about a twin and is for a lady who will be 90 years old next Tuesday. She is sharp, spry and classy. I keep telling her she needs to share where she gets her amazing wardrobe. Anyway, she doesn't know I'm making this but when she told me she wished she had a quilt for her bed, the Lord whispered "Do it" in my ear.
Whew, January flew by. I've started a king-size for our daughter. This time it is a simple design, not like our son's beach scene. She wanted subway tiles in graduated shades of taupe. She wasn't sure about the quilting so I made two cushion covers, one with plain lines and the other with the panto called Dazzle. I'll post photos next time. Right now, I'm cutting out bricks (430 or so) that are 9.5" x 3.5" and have already dulled one rotary cutter blade, never mind what this is doing to my muscles (or lack thereof)!
It isn't the most fascinating design, but she also asked for another Celtic applique to go with this one... A relaxing easy stitch.
I also started a twin-size for a friend. It will be like this only bigger and in peach, yellow, green instead of pink. The fabrics are similar but different colors. This pink one is a table runner that I whipped up for a charity auction. To my surprise, it was fought over.
The king-size beach scene is progressing, but no photo (it won't fit in my view finder -- heehee). I'm taking a break every few days to work on something else. Right now, it is a Celtic table topper for my daughter. She has a runner in black and white and asked if I could design one for her dining room. So here it is.
It is plopped on my couch where it gets stitched a bit while we watch hockey, curling, football, and golf. Actually, I'm not watching, but it gives me another excuse to sit down and relax.
I made the bias strips using a clover gadget, which takes time but is easy. If the strips are wrapped on a tube until they dry, they are easy to work with too. The design is marked on the black background with chalk using a light box (actually, a used x-ray viewer from the 'mameogram store'). Then I pin the bias strips centered on the chalk lines, with pins only where the strips are 'over' leaving where they go 'under' without a pin. This helps keep me from snagging my thread on pins with every stitch! This would be easier if I used those little embroidery pins. Have no excuse for that. It is actually quite enjoyable, except the threading of the needle because the eye is smaller than the thread even though I'm using fine thread. Old eyes!
My health is much better, but I'm sleeping/napping more. Need to keep away from salt and wish that the food industry would realize how important that is for some people. Those who love their salt can shake it on, but those who could die from an overdose cannot take it out of the food. Some restaurants are really good about preparing a sodium-reduced meal. Others don't seem to know what sodium is! My rant for the day.
