Better to Give?

Remember when I said (back here) that I felt
it was better to receive than to give?
I think a few of you may have totally
believed that I meant that.
Well, and why not?
I kinda do feel that way.
BUT, hey.

Once in a while I do give something to someone.


And, now that she has finally arrived home and found her package,
I will share with you what I sent Joanne.


Joanne is a wonderfully kind and thoughtful person.
I've known her for several years, mostly through rug hooking groups.
We've been swap partners a few times...
and she sends stuff to me for Tag.
She loves the brown dog (well, who doesn't?).


Our first swap was in 2006...
here is the hooked rug she made for me.
(see, even way back then,
we were all enamored by the brown dog living here {grin})

And, here's what I hooked for her.

Apparently, she collects moose stuff.

And, back then, in my rug hooking business,

I was all about flying critters.

In 2007, she was my secret Santa.
Boy, what fun box of stuff she sent!
Even toys for the dogs.
By the way, Tag still drags around the
(now) headless moose ball with legs.

She has sent a few other small gifts through the years,
but her most recent one was the fabric
and tennis balls she sent to Tag E. Butt.
Tag now has this awesome quiltie
I made with the fabric...

Anyway.
I felt the need to send something her way.
I showed this before, here.
Joanne loves red,
so I thought this might be perfect for her.

She is, apparently, very happy with her surprise.
That makes me happy.


The moral of this story?
Sometimes, it IS better to give than to receive.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Whirlygig Quilt Done!

Finally done!

I started this Charmed Whirlygig quilt almost 7 months ago. It's been done for a long while, but has been sitting here waiting for me to get around to quilting/finishing it. Got motivated & quilted it Tuesday, finished hand sewing the binding on last night. Got it washed, dried...all crinkly and soft. Made with the 'blossom' fabric collection by Urban Chiks for Moda and Kona cotton solid in 'snow'. Measures 55 x 62.

A few close-ups...this is my first binding cut on the bias...LOVE it!

I really wanted to show off this fabric. I had to put two pieces together to get the width I needed, but you can't even tell where the seam is. (yay for me!) The big flowers (not counting the leaves) measure 7 inches.

I am very happy that today is Friday.

Not sure what I'll be doing this weekend.

What do you have planned?

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

'Nuff Said...

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Someone Is Knocking At My Door...

And it's no one good!
But, I'm keeping the faith.


Work went fine.
Tired, though.
Found out there was to be a house-showing...
yeah, I've been off 2 weeks,
but that doesn't mean the house is clean!
Ya know?
Was going to be a rush job getting home
and straightening/vacuuming.


Then...on the way home...

thwump, thwump, thwump...
hmmmm, what's that noise!?!


huh.


Flat tire.


My new tire.


Flat as a pancake.


But, I have roadside assistance now.
woohoo!


Got home 20 minutes before scheduled showing.
Vacuumed.
And, that's all.
ohwell.

Now it's all done...
time to relax in my easy chair.


Tag is ecstatic that I am home again.


Me, too.
~~~~~~~~
And, just cuz it's weird to post with no photos...
for those of you who don't already know...
here's what I sew with.

I love her.

Her name is Naomi.

Naomi Janome.

{ja-NO-me}

Rhymes.

I thought of it all on my own.

I know.

I'm weird.

But, happy.

Back to Work...

Good Monday morning! (really??)

I am cleared to go back to work. Not looking forward to it, as I know I will tire easily. ohwell. Will just take it easy.

Thank you so much to all of you for your well wishes and prayers.

Here are two projects I worked on this weekend.

Paris Park for Kaylynn. 60x60.

                         

It'll get quilted one of these days. Sooner rather than later, I hope. I have several quilts waiting to be quilted...must get on that!

Here's the second carrycot ensemble...same fabric as the first, but with a sheet instead of a little quiltie. I now have 6 items in my etsy shop. Go here if you'd like to check them out.

Have a great week!

Fresh Scrappy Doll Quilt...fnsi

Here's what I did with my Friday Night Sew-in...
I put together this little doll quilt.
It's made with scraps of the Fresh fabric line
(still more scraps left from this quilt)
by Deb Strain for Moda and with
Kona solid cotton in white.

Just cut & sewed strips
and joined them together.
Easy peasy.
I love the crisp look of it.
So, I haven't washed it, yet.

I quilted in random lines with

a green variegated thread...

barely shows on the back,

but I like the look on the front.

This will go in my etsy shop later today.

Gifts...

I love gifts.

I seriously do.

It doesn't matter what for...

birthday, get well, anytime, anyplace.

I'm kinda greedy that way.  

Kinda deserving, is my thought. 

Better to receive than to give much of the time.

With me.

You think I'm kidding, don't you.

Okay, but really? 

I kinda am. 

Kidding.

But, not totally.

I like to think I reciprocate

(but I know I don't),

but I do what I can.

All that just to tell you that my birthday gift from 

Brenis arrived in the mail this week.

My birthday is in February.

5 months ago.

Better late than never!

As good an excuse as any, I suppose.

One year, me Mum told her 4 daughters 

- who all live out of town or state from her - 

that if we couldn't get her birthday gifts

into the mail on time to arrive by her birthday,

to just skip it.

So, I did.

That'll learn her.

Okay.

Mostly tongue-in-cheek.

But, not all!

Anyway.  Look what Brenis made for me!

This is so totally awesome, I cannot believe it!

24 x 24 inches.

See the hand-quilting?

This woman rocks.

Seriously.

More things in the box.  

She's my stash-builder...always sends me fabric.

That's some Joel Dewberry there, ya know.

Gotta love a friend like that!

And, I do.

And, see the iron?

I've been complaining for a year that

my $7.00 iron was a piece of junk (imagine that).

So, she bought me a new iron.

YAY!

Gotta love a friend like that, too...

one who pays attention.

 

What else was in the box...

quilt magazines, a jelly roll pattern, 

a whatchamacallit to hang around your neck

and attach scissors or measuring tape...

whatever you wish.

I think that's all.

Good grief!

It was a box filled with wonderful gifts.

Thank you, Brenis!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Okay, must go now.

Gotta feed Tag & myself and

get busy with the Friday Night Sew-in.

Friday Night Sew-in...

Already?

Yup, tonight's the night!

I am set and ready to go!

What will you be doing tonight?

Why not join us?

Go here for information & to sign up!

A New Adventure.

Remember when Cathy

from Quilting on Turtle Hill

sent Aubrey to me?

That most precious of dolls?

Well, a few weeks ago,

Cathy asked if I'd be interested in making

carrycots and doll quilts.

She doesn't have time,

but her customers are asking.

She would send them to my etsy shop.

Who could say no to that?

So.

Here's my first completed set.

A carrycot measuring 10 x 16 and with 5" sides...

quilted, with handles for carrying.

A mattress measuring 12 x 17.

A pillow and pillowcase measuring 5 x 8.

A little quiltie measuring 12.75 x 12.75.

I'll be listing it in my etsy shop tomorrow.

I hope to make these, as well as separate doll quilts...

and keep up with my own stuff.

I am very excited to see where this takes me!
It's a new adventure!

Color Me...what???

I will be the first to tell you...I have difficulty with color. When I was hooking rugs, I always second-guessed myself. Many times I simply did not trust my judgment, so I asked for help. From those I considered more knowledgeable. Which, by the way, most of the people I know fit that category where color is concerned. In my humble opinion.

So. When I first started quilting and needed to choose fabrics, I would ask for help from the lqs ladies. Now, they just laugh at me. Not that I have learned everything there is to know about color, but because I definitely know what I do NOT like. Which, to them, means that I know what I'm doing. NOT. Nowhere even close.

But, some things are fairly apparent.

Take this as an example. I thought that the white inner border line would be the right choice...lots of white in the central square, and all those white dots. Thought it might make things pop.

WRONG. Looks blah...

So, I took that white inner border out and replaced it with this blue...

and am now much happier with it.


Another example. I am working on part 2 of my DQS9 swap quilt. Here's what I showed on the flickr group...

I was planning to put a black border around it and then bind it in black polka-dot fabric. Many suggested, however, that I border/bind it with a bright color. Let's see how that works.

Okay, I like this...very dramatic, wouldn't you say? If that's what I'm going for.

Ready to see what it looks like with a bold color? Something, perhaps, that you would not expect.

Like this.
I LOVE it!

And, that's all I have to say!

Heaven...absolute Heaven!

Been saving pennies for a long time...and it's now mine!

Kashmir III fat quarter bundle.

I love this fabric collection!


Be sure to click on this photo to get a
good look at all 29 of the fabrics.
They are so yummy!

DQS9...Another Little Quiltie!

The middle section was done almost a month ago...just haven't gotten back to it. Until yesterday. I've taken little bits of time these two days to get the little bit of it - that there was left to do - done. Measures about 15" square.

Having a lazy Sunday. Usually, my Sundays are spent trying to get everything done that I didn't get done Friday night or all day Saturday. Knowing that I don't work tomorrow sure has a way of changing my outlook, ya know?

Or, maybe it's cuz I don't feel good.

More Pneumonia Talk...and some sewing.

I'm home. I feel better. Perhaps not physically, but no more worries about hospitalization. Saw my own beloved Dr. Deaton today. Talk, talk, talk. Here are the results.

*Added a corticosteroid inhaler (Flovent).

*Added an antibiotic (Avelox).

*Continue with the Prednisone and the Albuterol inhaler.

*Have a CT scan of chest. Didn't have a base radiograph, so wants to take a real good look.

*Recheck appointment for Monday, though if I am feeling the same or better, I don't need to keep it (doc said).

*I am to be off work all next week. We'll see how I'm doing at the end of the week to determine whether or not I need more time off.

*Take it easy, stay in a cool environment (out of the humidity), drink plenty of fluids and don't overdo. I think I can do that.

So. That's that. I was feeling pretty crappy, so Claire (neighbor, landlady, vet, friend) offered to drive me. Thank you, Claire!

I'm hoping that these new drugs really kick this thing so that I can get back on track. But, I won't push it. Not going to relapse.

Thank you for all of your prayers, well-wishes, cares, and concerns. I appreciate you all far more than I can say.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As for 'some sewing'. I worked in very small increments of time. Seriously small. 20-30 minutes. No more than that. Usually less. Was really starting to need to do something. Ya know? Here's what I accomplished...

From this...

To this...

To this!

Now to just piece it all together.

Have a great Friday night and a wonderful weekend!

Pneumonia...update.

So. Pneumonia. I thought I felt better on Monday. From the super-duper antibiotics I was given. On Tuesday, I wasn't so sure. No stamina at all. I mean, for pete's sake...couldn't even walk from one end of the house to the other without gasping for breath. How fun is that??? So, I called and made an appointment to see the doctor today.

It is so hot and humid that by the time I got to the office, I couldn't breathe very well...wheezing and coughing and gasping. Well, maybe not gasping, but certainly not breathing like a normal person. The doc and I talked about the meds I was on. She mentioned steroids...and had another doctor come and listen to me. Had me use a nebulizer (we used to use the same ones on dogs in ccu) then sent me for a chest x-ray. Both doctors came back to talk with me. Seriously considered sending me to the hospital.

BUT. Let's try this, first.

Finish out the antibiotics (tomorrow is the last one), start prednisone tomorrow, use inhaler as needed (instead of as prescribed at every 4 hours). Call if I have ANY problems.

So. I'm off work the rest of the week...and go for a recheck on Friday. We shall see from there. If the prednisone doesn't work, I will more than likely go to the hospital.

It's been tough to be off work and not get any sewing and/or quilty things done. Not that I had any energy to do anything, but still. I did sew some rectangles together to make side borders for a quilt I started last year, but that's all I've done.

Tag, however, has been ecstatic. We have spent a lot of time together in the big easy chair...sleeping, eating, reading, sleeping, napping...you get the idea, hey?

I'll post photos of new fabrics some other time. I am behind on my new projects, too. Well, it'll be worth the wait.

But, just so you don't feel too bad...lookie here! I took this out my son's front car window as we were driving 80 mph toward Eau Claire. Not bad, hey?

Have a good rest of the week!

Pneumonia.

Never had it before.  Started with a scratchy throat and deep dry cough on Thursday night.  Went out of town as planned...ask me how much fun I had visiting while this pneumonia developed?!  I did make it to The Calico Shoppe and bought some fabric.  Good thing my BFF Janer was with me...I pretty much knew what I wanted and she got it all for me.  Thanks, Janer!

Went to Urgent Care this a.m....Plenty of fluids.  Antibiotics.  Inhaler.  Cough Medicine.  Blah!!  Off to bed for more rest.

Photos and more info later in the week.  Promise.

I WON!!!

Yep, I did! I won a giveaway! I haven't won anything for a long time, so was extra excited to win this one! Natalie, over at Beyond the Reef, was giving away one yard of Paris Park fabric. And, I won! How exciting is that!!! Here's the photo I snagged from her blog...
Thank you so much, Natalie!

I am going to make a quilt for Kaylynn. (you're surprised, right?) She has the flannel one I made, but not a quilt like I made the other grandkids. I think this would be so fun with dots and stripes and dots and well, who knows what I will find to go with it! Time will tell!

Tag is going in to work with me tomorrow and will have a physical exam and vaccinations while I am slaving away working. He's good about injections (he gets monthly allergy shots), so it'll be no biggie. He is all set to go. I washed/dried his warthog. As Tag's 'security blanket', the warthog needs to go along...and needs to be clean. I gave Tag a bath last week, and today I cleaned his ears, brushed his teeth, combed him, and clipped his nails. He is one handsome brown boy! {grin} The girls will be swoonin' for sure!

Not much else going on. BUT, I will have some fun things to show & tell very soon!

Stay cool!

DQS9 & a Parting Gift...

Here is what I've done so far with my doll quilt swap quilt.  I'm thinking it looks okay.  Except for the mistake I made.  I am going to leave it, though...don't think it takes anything away from it.  Plus, I'm being lazy.

 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dr. Sophie Petersen, the neurologist who treated Allegra last fall, is leaving the VMTH.  I am very sad.  Not that I know her well, but because now I won't get the chance to know her.  She is moving closer to her family...cannot fault that reasoning.

For those of you who don't know anything about Allegra, she was my little collie girl...diagnosed with a lower brainstem lesion last fall.  She was euthanized on Halloween.  I was so impressed with how Dr. Petersen was with her...so very kind, soft-spoken and gentle.  She took her time examining Allegra every single time I showed up at work with her.  She was always willing to answer my questions and was generous with her time & explanations.  

If you're interested in reading more of what went on with Allegra, just enter her name in the search bar...or go to 'what I write about' in the sidebar and click on her name.

Dr. Petersen's last day is this Friday and I wanted to give her something to show my deep appreciation.  So, I made a table runner for her.  I had always intended to make her something...but you know how that goes. 

This table runner measures 15 3/4 x 32 1/2 inches.  I quilted with straight lines, one on each side of each seam.  Most of the fabrics are from the Iced Mocha line...one of my absolute faves...

Back to work tomorrow, but only for 3 days. 

Pinwheel Table Topper

I got a few things done...this being one of them. 

Holy Schmoly!   That red is red!

I was a bit worried about it bleeding

onto the light backing, so

I used a color catcher sheet...

and no bleeding!

If you're not familiar with these life-savers,

click here to read all about them.

I have another table runner all put together...

need to handsew the binding on.

Hope you had a great day!

More Iced Mocha?

I have a plan.

Finally.

Been pondering this for 2 days.

I'll be cutting into this fabric in a bit.

A very special project for a very special person.

She is leaving the vet school.

I have 5 days to get this done.  

And, of course, more iced mocha scraps can only mean one thing!  
(psssst Sharon...are you paying attention?)

4th of July weekend...

I don't have anything exciting going on...

but I do have 3 days off!

woohoo!!!

I might go over to Claire's for a cookout.

And, of course, I have lots of sewing projects to work on.  

I hope to have some fun & exciting news

to share with you all next week! 

Kaylynn has graduated from preschool...

off to kindergarten this fall!

Difficult to believe she's that old already.

Have a great weekend!