Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Happy Birthday Grandmother!




Today is my grandmother's birthday.  Some years it's hard to go through this day, since she and I were very close.  She passed away over 10 years ago, but the wound is still fresh some years.  She is the one that taught me to quilt, to crochet, to embroider, to cook, to bake, and for the love of a simple but frugal life. And her love of butterflies.  I miss her every day and I still find myself picking up the phone and calling her number, only to realize what I am doing.

For this I want to tell her thank you for all the wonderful things she taught me, but the greatest thing that she gave me was unconditional love.  For that I am truly thankful!


Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Design Wall Monday on Tuesday

I have been working on a group of Ohio Stars from my scraps, nice easy project to use 5 inch scraps.  I now have all of them made, I just need to decide on a setting.



Monday, April 13, 2015

Another Finish

I can tell that I don't like binding, here is a twin size nine patch quilt that I just bound.  It too is all hand quilted. I used a wool batting and it worked great!



Sunday, April 12, 2015

Star Quilt

This quilt was finished a while ago, but I just got around to binding it.  I really do like it, and its a true scrap quilt.  It is all hand pieced, but machine quilted in a stipple.  It's a great quilt to use to cuddle up with on the couch.



Since I Went Away

It has been a long time since I have posted anything.  I had been sick again, but so far, I am feeling better.  Quilting really helps me to keep myself sane when every thing is going down. 

I made this nine patch quilt out of vintage fabric from the 1960's and 1970's.  Its nice and bright and cheerful and really made me happy.  It has been quilted for a while, by hand, but I just finished the binding on it.  I really like it because it makes me happy.



Tuesday, November 19, 2013

I am feeling much better, been busy with lots of canning with my friend Maureen.  Quilting and knitting will be back at it soon.

Monday, August 12, 2013

What I am piecing...


Working on making these stars out of scraps.  Kind of fun, easy sewing.  We will see how far I get.  This one was a test block.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Changed my mind

on what quilt to hand quilt next.  I didn't have a piece of backing that would accommodate the Glorified Nine Patch from the last post, so I am working on quilting my Postage Stamp quilt that I was working on before I go sick.

I really was feeling much better until I was told in July that I have Lymphoma in the neck.  So I have been quilting when I feel like, sleeping when I feel like it and taking Chemotherapy and Radiation twice a week.  Such is life. 

Friday, July 26, 2013

Just a Quick Post

Hi all, just thought I would post a picture of the next quilting project.  Keeps me inspired to finish the quilt. 

Thursday, April 4, 2013

I'm Back...

My goodness it has been an awful long time since I have posted anything new on my blog.  Its not that I have been ignoring it, its that I have been busy with life.  Shall I start at the beginning?

Last summer was pretty busy with work and other things, then around August, I started having a slight cough.  I never thought anything about it.  From then on things started to get progressively worse.  The cough turned into not being able to swallow very well.  I was going to the doctors and they were telling me the cough was because I had quit smoking and my body was cleansing itself.  What do I know, I am not a doctor, so I bought this story.  Then in September, I was really coughing badly, and went back to the doctor and was told nothing was wrong.  Since I suffer from allergies, they told that could be the case.  October and November I was really starting to feel lousy.  I would have night sweats, and I couldn't do anything without coughing.  I went back to the doctor and they said things looked normal.

The beginning of November was awful. I was tired, constantly coughing everytime I moved and I got where I could no longer function at work.  I was at home, confined to bed because I just never had the energy to move or to do much of anything.  It got worse.  I went to a doctor out of town and started treatment.  That treatment was for a tumor that was in my throat.  From then on, things really got bad.  I was admitted to ICU in the early part of December with renal faliure and what they thought might be TB.  However, upon on further evaluation from a specialist, I was told I had Pneumocystis Pneumonia.  And because of that pneumonia, it let a virus grow in the bottom of my lungs; I had to have my lungs scraped, which in and of itself is very scary.  Lots of medicines.  I was in the hospital for quite a while, and because of being so weak and bed ridden such a long period of time, I developed neuropathy in both my legs from the knee's down.  While I was released from the hospital after two weeks, I returned home walking with a cane because of balance issues, which I have no idea where those came from, as well as oxygen 24/7.  It was something that I was not used to doing.  Especially depending on others to help my in my situation, from cooking and cleaning, to even helping me walk.

Since January of this years things have gotten much better.  Slowly I have been regaining use of my feet and legs without having to need to use the assistance of a cane.  I also am no longer having to use oxygen to compensate for what my lungs where not producing.  Basically, I am almost back to normal, however, I still tire very easily. I returned to work towards the middle of February after not being at work since November.  It feels good to finally get back into the swing of life and carry one where I left off at.

In the past month, I have finally felt like quilting and knitting.  And reading.  Many of you may remember that I was a reader and whilst ill, I did none of those things.  To be quiet honest, I really don't remember much that did happen.  I just know that I am happy now that things have returned slightly back to normal, well at least as normally as they can be now.  I want many of you to know, especially people that I have meet through my blog and in person, that I did allow my mind to wonder to you all.  No I was not ignoring you or upset with you in anyway.  I was just out of it and had many other things to worry about, like getting well. 

Here is to a better spring, summer and fall than last year! And hopefully more quilt related stuff!

Jay