Celtic Table topper

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.

A new model...

Several weeks ago a friend asked if I could make a replacement for her table runner. It was worn out, faded, and yet loved. She worried that I would not be able to find similar plaid fabrics.

When I brought it home and pulled out my small stack of plaids, I was amazed to find matches. They are not exactly the same designs, but the scale works. They are also brighter, which is what she hoped for. Even though 'faded' can be charming, she was wanting a fresh look.

This photo has the older runner on the bottom, and the parts and pieces of the new one on top. I worked on this most of yesterday afternoon, cutting all the strips and moving them around until I liked the result. In the photo, they are rather loosely arranged. I used a paper foundation and finished the block on the left. It is fairly easy. The outer border is not cut yet because I've two plaids that will work, and haven't decided yet which one to use. I hope my friend likes it!

There is a reason

Sometimes my excuse is too busy, or too many projects on the go, or nothing to report, but this time, I've not posted for several weeks because:

• A-fib heart issue acting up slightly
• Christmas
• Trip to CA for my cousin's 100th birthday party (a blast) 
• but too much salt and air travel...
• Heart problems increasing
• A-fib fixed with cardio-version on Jan. 5
• Jan. 7 blood oxygen dropped drastically
• Hubby called ambulance and I wound up in hospital for a few days
• Recovery = slow
• Today, feel almost normal (even though normal is only a setting on the dryer!)

In the past couple of days, finished the basting on Scott's king-size and it is now ready for sewing all the pieces in place using free-motion. It looks good on the bed, and I'm looking forward to the next steps. No recent photo, but soon. 

This is an older photo, shows only the left side and middle. 
A big thanks to those who knew what was going on and prayed for me.

Thinking abouut creativity

This time of year is busy for many people, and it can become stressful. I'm thinking that if I look at all that needs to be done, including those extra projects that might be 'nice' to do, and consider them as part of my God-given creativity, they drop off that 'chore' list and go on the 'fun' list. 

Since our kids left home, particularly the youngest one who loved decorating the tree, I've not had much enthusiasm for it. However, a couple years ago someone invited me to the local Festival of Trees and I was impressed by the creativity. I came home and tried some new ideas. This year was the same, and the most amazing thing happened: the tree was up in about 1/3 the time it usually takes. I felt like I just baked and iced a spectacular cake... or stitched and quilted a clever wall hanging. Here is my 30-minute tree. It could use a bit of tweaking, but no one will notice but picky picky me.

Now, back to that king-size. I have one more palm leaf to make and attach! Then a lot of stitching to do.

One palm tree now has leaves...

These photos show Scott's king-size pinned up, with about two feet of it on the floor -- hence it is fore-shortened. The left side of this monster is now closer to the goal. I've finished the palm with leaves, but it is just pinned (I keep tweaking the placement). Also, it is brighter in 'life' with more contrast in all those greens.

As soon as this part is done, I will baste the pieces in place and do something similar on the right.

I've put in a few critters and flora too, but they are not immediately visible, just like critters and flora usually are. Now for a short break to do something less challenging.

Progress Report on king-size landscape

Plugging away on this monster quilt — good thing my son is not a monster or he would not be getting this much 'love' and hard work! Here are some detail shots showing basting, pins, and one with the pattern pieces stuck on.  The quilting will make them.

 This part is about 8" wide from leaf tip to leaf tip.

 The palm leaves are freezer paper patterns,18-20" long to give an idea of scale. 

Each will be two shades/fabrics in various greens. 

I wasn't going to do coconuts but they nicely cover the ends of the leaves!

This is part of the 'jungle' at the bottom. 

The upper right leave is about12" long.

 

Houston Show Favorite

Whew, it has been busy around here! My hubby, who is the most supportive person in my life, organized a trip for us to the Houston Quilt Festival -- and I am still almost speechless at what we saw! 

Most of the the winners are available online if you look for them. I want to show you my favorite. The quilt is called "At the Waterhole" and here is the photo that I took. You can see a better one at the artist's website. Her name is Sheila Finzer and she lives in Oregon.

I loved this one so much that when I noticed it was for sale, I just had to go find out the price. I told the lady in the "quilts for sale" booth that it was likely the price of a small car. She looked it up and told me, "More like a mid-size!"  Needless to say, I came home without it. My hubby teased me, "Where would you put it?" but I would have found a place. It is six feet high and over eight feet wide, but would go nicely with the painting I have of zebras. Sigh!

By the way, many of the quilts allowed photos, but they are not to be on blogs, etc. without properly identifying them. The photos are not to be used or sold to be used on t-shirts, coffee mugs, etc. either since this violates copyright laws. I've seen a few on Pinterest that have ignored this stipulation. I took about 150 photos (there were more than 1600 quilts) and will be careful to follow those rules. If you have never been to Houston for this event, PUT IT ON YOUR BUCKET LIST! And allow at least 4-5 days to see it all. Biggest cost is airfare and hotel (and whatever tempts you in the vendor booths)!

Scott's king-size is coming along. I've almost got burn-out on it and need to stop and make place-mats or doll quilts or something really easy every now and then.  The big one is pinned to the top of my design wall with the rest of it draped over my craft table so I can easily baste leaves in place. I'm also printing bird, flowers, and butterflies to hide here and there among the leaves, as well as a piece of driftwood etc. to go on the beach.