Recovery Sewing Strategy

It is important to stay busy.  A few weeks ago I was told I needed surgery to replace the seven year old hip replacement that had failed.  So, that's what I was doing last week!  I'm told the procedure went well and in a few months I should be better than ever.  I'm very excited about the prospect of no more limping, no leg lock ups when walking and the elimination of leg pain!

Due to the nature of the procedure, I have to stay off the leg for 3 months forcing me to adapt to alternative modes of getting around.  With a little help I was still able to get some fresh air this week on a spectacular day.

I had a little notice that this adventure was coming so I was able to think about some hand sewing projects to keep me entertained.

One of the most recent Splendid Sampler blocks has already been embroidered this week.

I've been carrying this cross stitch project around for quite some time.  It's colorful and easy (not too many 1/2 stitches) pattern that I am stitching on a larger thread count aida to minimize the stress.

One of my scrap management strategies is to cut scraps down to useful sizes.  I have a nice little package of 2.5 inch squares and I've started to hand piece them together.  This is really slow work but hand piecing is a technique I would like to develop some proficiency with and this project should help.

Then I have some crafty books that I have set aside for bed time reading.

You can imagine my excitement when the physical therapist said I could be machine sewing (for short periods of time) soon!  The day we returned from the hospital my son had already extracted my sewing machine from the sewing suite downstairs and set it up on the dining room table.  My kids know me well!  I hadn't planned on being able to use the sewing machine, so I don't have any projects ready to go but that just gives me something to ponder in these first few days.

My family and friends have been wonderfully supportive through this and I'm even getting some napping time with the Grand-dog!

I'm also looking at this as an opportunity to catch up on my blog reading (sorry!) and maybe even do a little long overdue maintenance to this blog!  Thank you all for continuing to generate so many beautiful things for me to look at!

Whether hand sewing or machine sewing, it looks like I will have lots to fill my time as I work at healing over the next three months!

Have a great day!

Kathy

Splendid Sampler Update - #60 - 74

The scrappiness continues!  Here's the latest batch of Splendid blocks!  I love projects where I am stretched a little and learning new things.  This project certainly qualifies!

#60 - Hearts and Flowers.  This project has rejuvenated my love of embroidery.

 #61 - Traveler

#62 - Hen and Chicks

#63 - The Icing on the Cake.  More hand work, this time needle turn appliqué.

#64 - Rising Star

#65 - Stripes and Flowers.  Yikes.  This was a surprisingly tricky block for me but I am pleased with the outcome!

#66 - Happy Thoughts.  This block reminds me that I need to focus on color value and saturation more.

#67 - Bobbin Chase

#68 - Wild Roses

#69 - Full Circle.  From this block I learned that I need to practice curved piecing!

#70 - Bows.  Now, I am a big fan of paper piecing but this little block was really a challenge.  My lesson on this one is to really, really lower your stitch (2.0 was not small enough) to ensure the stitches stay intact when removing the paper.  Oops.  Lots of repair work needed!

#71 - First Stitch

#72 - Full Circle Star

#73 - +Love

#74 - Button Basket

And this is what these 74 Splendid blocks look like together:

Have a great day everyone!  And to my American friends, if you haven't already, please do vote next week!  It is important that whatever the result is, that it reflects the voice of the people.

Kathy

Tula Pink City Sampler Quilt Top Complete!

The top is assembled!  With all the beautiful Tula City Sampler blocks appearing on Instagram daily, I decided it was time to woman-up and assemble MY beautiful blocks into a quilt top.  In case you want to see each one, here are the previous blog posts starting in February 2014 (!!):

The first post

The second post

#26 - 35

#36 - 43

#44 - 60

#61 - 70

#71 - 81

#82 - 100

Yes, it really was time to move this project forward!  I fell in love with Tula's fabric making these blocks.  Selecting the right setting was critical and I decided to go with one right from the book.  It was very slow going with lots of pieces and pinning but I couldn't be happier.

It was a lovely autumn day for quilt photographs.

I played with the block placement for a very long time!  The blocks lived on my design wall for months.  As noted in the blog posts, I built the blocks without a specific color plan in mind.  Each block was lovingly constructed as I allowed her artwork to inspire the fabric choices.  This meant a layout with a defined color scheme was not going to happen.

Next I have to baste this very large quilt! Then onto quilting! Just think how many pictures will be in the post when I finish this quilt! Apologies in advance!

Kathy

Finished - My New Hampshire Visit Quilts

These two little quilts are off to two sweet kids who visited us at the lake this summer.  Fabric markers, scrap muslim and a quick trip to Joann Fabric for fabric and voila!

 I've started to assemble my 100 Tula City Sampler Blocks using one of the suggested quilt designs from the book. Each row takes a lot of time to assemble so please be patient!

Meanwhile, I am trying to keep up with the Splendid Sampler blocks.

But it is very hard to stay focused on sewing!  We are dog-sitting my brother's dog Millie for a few weeks while he and his wife go on a trip of a lifetime.  She is so much fun!

Happy Friday!  Linking up with Amanda Jean's finish it up Friday party!

Splendid Sample Update - #49 - 59

Hello friends! In terms of sewing accomplishments this summer, I've not much to brag about except that I have kept up with The Splendid Sampler quilt along.

#49 - Summer's Gift.  I practiced hand blanket stitching on this one.

 #50 - Flights of Fancy

#51 - Bee Happy.  I am indeed happy to have this challenging block completed.  I need to spend some time figuring out why I keep flipping the patterns (the bee should be facing to the left).

#52 - Coneflower.  Although I replaced the top of the flower once already, I don't like that you can see the tops of the petals underneath the center.  I will likely re-do this one.

#53 - Whirling in Circles

#54 - Shell

#55 - Dedication Rose

#56 - At Home Anywhere

#57 - Starting Point

#58 - Homeward Bound

#59 - Circle of Friendship.  One of my favorite blocks.
The wall is filling up!

Linking up with Amanda Jean's finish it up Friday party!

Where Did The Summer Go?

I can't believe it is August 31.  The nights are more consistently cooler, kids are going back to school and the leaves are beginning to show signs of the next season (assisted by the current draught situation).  It's been a lovely summer full of visitors, activities and time on the water.

The Splendid Sampler quilt along has been the most consistent sewing project of the summer.  I am just a little behind and feeling better how this is coming along.

Have you seen the #100days100blocks City Sampler QAL in Instagram?  Every day I see beautiful blocks from Tula Pink's City Sampler book.  This has encouraged me to finish the quilt top with the 100 beautiful blocks I made last year!  Deciding on a setting from the book, I have framed each block.  This is what my 100 blocks looks like today:

One of the highlights of the summer was a week long visit by my brother, his wife, daughter, her boyfriend and my brother's grandchildren.  It was so much fun having the two little kids to hang out with!  Amongst other "firsts" of this visit, the kids tried fishing for the first time. 
We also had a little craft time and, no surprise, I suggested drawing blocks to remember their New Hampshire vacation that I would make into a quilt.
Any suggestions or advice for incorporating these blocks made with fabric markers into a quilt?

As much as I will miss summer, September promises to be a little quieter month with more time for sewing!  Yay!

Linking up with Lorna's Let's Bee Social!