As the World Goes Around

March is nearly over and so is winter. The snow and cold weather lasted longer this year, so we are just seeing signs of spring. I am not looking forward to summer with all the heat and humidity. Bill and I noticed how much colder it felt here then it did in WI when we arrived home earlier this month. The dampness made the same temperature feel colder even with no snow on the ground.



I have been working on a couple of quilts. One is ready to be sandwiched and quilted for Quilting Treasures. The other is made up of many....many triangles. I make headway on it daily, but it seems to be taking a long time to make. I only need to get the top done and I am to the point of sewing the block units together. It will be done before long. I guess most of the quilts I have made lately have had picture panels that don't require lots of piecing, plus most have been smaller.

Well I wrote much more on this post, but lost it. I will just make a note that Mom, Dad and Bill have had a twenty four hour bug that started at the nursing home, but all are better now.

I will write more when I have time.

On My Design Wall

My actual time for creating has gone down over the past few years due to care of my parents. At any one time in the past I may have been working on any number of quilts. Now it seems I only work on quilts when I am making one I can't show you because it is for a fabric company. So today I am going to show you what I am working on. It is not a quilt, but I am using up some of my stash.

I am working with a new product distributed by Superior Threads called Texture Magic. I actually am a Rep in Western KY and Western TN plus a bit of IN for the company. I had to put some of my rep work on hold for a while until Bill and I can work out a schedule. When he gets home from Wisonsin we will decide who will take my Dad to the nursing home to see my Mom. In the mean time I will be working on samples when I am not in town with Dad.

The way Texture Magic works is that it is sewn to the back of a piece of fabric that you want to add a texture to the surface. You can sew in grids, feathers, random methods, stipple and actually us this as a time to practice machine quilting or try out a new design. These can be close together or far apart.

I sometimes just follow the pattern on the fabric.

Then the fabric is steamed (if using an iron to steam be careful to not touch the Texture Magic with the hot iron). The Texture Magic fabric will shrink up to 30% leaving the Texture Magic side flat and the fabric side puffed. At that point the fabric can be cut for quilts, clothing, purses, pillows etc. After it is steamed the Texture Magic is soft and silky and washable.

The places where the stitching is close the fabric creates a fine texture. The areas stitched far apart will shink the most, but the fabric will lay in folds. The folds may change with use. Soon I will cut this piece and add other fabrics to make a purse and/or a pillow. I think the scraps can be used in applique as trees.

Jan. 3 stash report

As I am sitting here in front of my computer making my first stash report of the year I really don't want to complain, but I am freezing. Yes, the furnance is running, so is the humidifier, but I hate electric heat. I have on an undershirt, 2 T-shirts and my longer winter jacket on top. Bottom underpants and flannel long pants, socks, fuzzy high top slippers,and a fleece blanket wrapped around. Actually right now it is only my nose, feet and hands that are cold. So I am going to use that as my excuse for not sewing, well it works for me! My report is Nothing Gained and Nothing Lost! Actually I am going to try harder this year and stop looking for excuses. I just need to get some work done. If I use up fabric wonderful. If I don't I will enjoy what everyone else is doing.

Happy New Year,
Peggy

As the year ends.....

The year 2009 has been a year of much contrast. The year started out with much hope and enthusiasm, but as it progressed we could see the writing on the wall that old age or illness brings to those we love. This year several people I loved passed on to a better place. Others have had to move to places that can give them better care then their loved ones could give them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.

My Mother had been going down mentally for many years, but this year she changed by leaps and bounds at times. We had visits with several close relatives and I am sure she some of them she had no idea who they were and why we were having dinner with them.

Bill and I made a trip to WI before the weather turned bad back in mid November. When we left Mom was having some physical problems with her walking, but she could walk and take care of her personal self. When we returned from our trip we noticed a difference in her, but didn't realize until a few days later how much she had changed in just a little over a week. Right before Thanksgiving she could no longer walk. Bill and I transported her where ever she needed to go in the house. Finally, when we were spending more time taking care of her then sleeping during the night and Bill, Dad and I were exhausted, we didn't ask her, we told her that she was going into the hospital the day after Thanksgiving. We knew she was ill, but did not realize that if we had waited many more days I would be telling you now that we lost my Mom, but instead I am going to tell you that she is now in a Care Center. After 5 days in the hospital, many doses of anti-biotic and diuretics she is better.

Unfortunately, she still can not walk on her own. Physically she can walk, I have seen her do it, but mentally she has trouble getting her brain to tell her legs to move. I guess there is hope that she will walk again, but not much when you know that within two hours of eating a meal she does not remember eating. Doesn't she look good in the piture above with my Dad taken a couple of weeks ago.

Mom wants to come home, but our house isn't set up to handle a person in a wheel chair. She doesn't get upset when we leave her, but she worries about my Dad. I too worry about my Dad. He is so sad to have to leave Mom when we visit her every day. The two of them have been together for nearly 64 years. The only time they were apart was when my brother and I were born, an operation or two plus a few hunting and fishing trips my Dad took when we lived near his family. They were also apart when the weather man predicted partly cloudy weather and we ended up with 27" of wet snow. My Dad was not far away, but he could not come home from work for nearly a week.

So far we have made sure Dad visits with Mom at least once a day, but with the winter weather just starting it is a day to day option.

Bill is in Wisconsin right now. His son had an operation to fuse some vertebrae in his neck. That happened Dec. 29th and all reports are he is doing well, but Bill had to leave Christmas morning and I miss him dearly. On Dec. 24th we received a phone call from Bill's sister early in the morning. Bill's younger brother had a heart attack and died at the young age of 51. Tim, Bill's brother, left this world without seeing the joys of any of his three children getting married or having children.

Several friends and relatives have died this year, several others have found out they have cancer or other diseases. It is interesting to see how each has made the best of the time they have. For instance,one person started a butterfly garden and cared for it at a local school while she was fighting and lost the battle to cancer. Another is legally blind, but every week she and a friend take either dogs or cats to the local assisted living or nursing homes for those living there to see and pet the animals.

Several people we know that have passed this year,made trips to the local restaurants for a meal and never let the rest of us know how sick they really were,until we heard they had died. They would share with us who were willing to listen, a love of life that included stories. These stories have taught me much history, made me laugh and made me cry.

I count my blessings every day to have been touched by so many good people in this world. I also hope that I continue to see others live life to the fullest.

We now must look to the new year that is approaching quickly, not with sadness, but with hope and courage. Let's not sit and feel sorry for ourselves, but let's try to make life better for others which in turn will make life better for everyone.

Happy 2010 to everyone reading my blog and I do promise to write more and show you some exciting pictures and tell a story or two.

Peggy

Missing in Action

It has been so long since I have posted here I forgot how to post. Well not really, but I hit the wrong key and my process of changing the title became a post. I hope I recovered it without confusing someone who happens on the title while I am working.

Where have I been for almost 3 months. Would you believe here at home, just not inspired to post. Well finally I feel like I have something to share. I have discovered a new product. It is called Texture Magic by Superior Thread. It is easy to use by sewing it to the back of your fabric with an overall grid or free form pattern. Then with the Texture Magic fabric facing upward it is steamed. While holding the iron or streamer above the Texture Magic it begins to shrink. It shrinks 30% in all directions giving your main fabric texture.

The great thing about it is it makes my poor free form stitching look great. I will post a picture later today of what I am doing. In the mean time look here and here.

Week 26 Stash Report

Judy indicated this week is the half way point. My use of fabric is behind my goal of 100 yards, but at least I am not adding much fabric to my stash. This week has been hot, hot, hot! Storms have also taken out the electric several time in the past few weeks. One time from about 1 am to nearly 1pm.

I did some sewing this past week, but it was for others and some not much fun. I hemmed two pairs of jogging type pants and am now working on a simple curtain. I could not find the thread color I needed a couple of nights ago or the curtain would be done and out of the house. Now my goal is to get it done by Thursday when they come home for a while.

This week may be busy with all the Freedom Fest activities, but who knows what we will actually watch. We have tickets for the concert and fireworks on the 4th, but weather will be a factor I'm sure. I am not going to sit outside if it is really hot and humid.

Here is this weeks report.

Fabric used this week: 0 yards

Fabric bought this week: 0 yards

Fabric used this YTD 23 5/8yards

Fabric bought YTD 1 3/4yard

Stash busted YTD 21 7/8 yards

Week 24 Stash Report

I have not made a report for several weeks due to the fact that everything stayed the same. While we were on our trip I asked to stop at a Bernina Dealership that was located near the Eastside Mall in Madison, WI. We went to where we remembered it being located and different stores we in the building. I wanted to purchase a couple of pigma pens and a Clover White Marking pen. I thought I was going to be good by not going to a place that sells fabric.

Well as you can see below I went to a quilt shop and purchased 3 fat quarters. I went to Mill House Quilts in Waunakee, WI. Check their web site here and then you can congratulate me on only making the purchases in the picture.
Fabric used this week: 0 yards

Fabric bought this week: 3/4 yard

Fabric used this YTD 23 5/8yards

Fabric bought YTD 1 3/4yard

Stash busted YTD 21 7/8 yards

I was very, very good, because I still had some of my birthday money!
Peggy