Update 54/40

I have not been able to do a lot of quilting. My Uncle passed away on the 12th after a two week illness, and things have been hectic. Doug was diabetic and on dialysis for several years, he and Vickie (my Aunt) made the decision to stop all treatments. It was a very hard decision, but one I agree with and support. His death has also dredged up memories of my mom's passing (a few months ago), leaving me sad, blue, and in no mood to quilt or do much of anything. I also worry about a friend who is also diabetic and is not even willing to talk about dialysis. His doctor has said that without dialysis he has at most 3 months. Stan is worn out and tired all the time, and has been having bouts of confusion, I doubt that he will last the 3 months, more like 3 weeks.



54/40 Update - Well what started out crib size, made up from a few orphan blocks, has morphed into a King size top, yes that's right, I had to make more blocks. Tarranda asked me to make it big enough for a bedspread, so its now 96x108. Still on the design wall - at least half of it is - won't all fit so I'm having to sew it in sections. I have all the row components finished and just need to assemble the last few rows (6 rows left), then sew them together. The borders and binding are ready to go, and the longarm quilter is expecting the top the first of next month. With luck I can get it finished up tomorrow, I am eager to get started on a different quilt - am getting tired of this one.



Have done some sewing on the Jan 24th "Mystery Quilt - Scrappy Stars". I like how the sample blocks look, might have to make it my "Leaders and Enders" project. My next quilt has to be the "Hearts", I need to get it made and quilted before the first week of April. I hate deadlines, but it is an anniversary gift for Arlene and Stan. And if the worst happens, and Stan passes away, it will become a "Quilt of Comfort" for Arlene.



Here is hoping that the next few weeks will be easier.

Another Year Started

Another year is upon us. My wish for the New Year - "May this year be better than the last. Not just for me, but for the entire country and even the world."

I have followed the family tradition of eating: black eyed-peas, cabbage, and pork for my first meal today. I cooked a small ham, fried the cabbage with garlic and onions, and just opened a can for the black eyed-peas. The peas are said to avert the evil-eye and bring luck, the cabbage brings good health, and the pork is for prosperity. I had a double serving of everything. . .LOL. . .need all the help I can get.

Tradition says that what ever you are doing when the new year arrives, is what you will be doing all year. I was in bed - maybe I get to be lazy this year. Hope that this is one "rule" that proves false. My best friend, Arlene, was admitted to the hospital yesterday. She is a great lady and does not need this, her husband is diabetic and his kidneys have stopped working, the doctors don't foresee a good outlook for him. She is in my prayers.

Hope to get some sewing done today. Yesterday I made a start on a kids quilt, got one block made, that should count for something. Fussy cut the center motif, put black HST's in each corner and framed with black. Then added HST in blue/black print and framed again in the same print. Thinking about adding a red/black print as the final border on each block, and then setting together with a yellow print. The colors are all found in the focus fussy cuts. Might never get any further on this, another orphan in the making.

I have also been playing around with "square in a square" blocks. I took a pair of 4 1/2 inch blocks and cut on the diagonal, then sewed to a 4 1/2 inch block. Might make several and use up some of my scrap squares, possible future quilt. I also have lots of 5 inch squares in batik, would look good with black, something to think about. Made no progress on my UFO's, can't seem to get motivated, not in the mood to work on the old, want to work on the new. That's one reason why I have so many unfinished quilts.

Even though I have lots of fabric and even scraps, I fell off the no-buy wagon, and bought scraps from a quilt store. Received them yesterday, and I'm having a blast sorting and planning what to do with them. I was getting real tired of the scraps that I had to work with. That's me, never happy with what I have. . . LOL . . There was two pieces of blue that will work great with a set of orphan blocks I have. Going to make flying geese and put on each side of the blocks, making them into stars. Only have 10 blocks, they are square in a square with animals in the center, and have a blue batik for the outside 4 corners. Adding the flying geese will set these blocks off, or at least I hope so. Since I only have 10 blocks I will need to combine them with others. Another project, will I never learn.

Happy New Year to you and yours!