Quilting Friends

 Updating - hibiscus slightly rain damaged but one I am especially fond of, a good way to begin my day.

I have been neglecting blog reading and also writing blogs myself, most of you know my history very well by now!! I seem to be always having something go wrong in addition to my constant medical problems.

Paragraph below bypass by all means, I just had to get this off my chest and although we are mostly scattered throughout the world I feel I know a lot of you as friends and have been following your blogs for many, many years with great pleasure.

Recalling the fall I had at the end of October last year - torn tendons left shoulder this time, right was three years ago. Not too bad but gradually over the months became worse, my patchwork fell away mostly as did responding to your blog posts. Two months ago I had a corstisone shot into what is called the subacromial bursa to try and stop the pain and inflammation. Hasn't worked and I'm now in a lot of pain with very limited use of shoulder. Ultrasound scan yesterday - the stenographer was horrified at the how the damage had progressed. Protective tissues - bursae - which protect the tendons muscles and bones etc from rubbing together are doubled in size, inflamed  and shoulder full of fluid going down into the biceps and even affecting my arm and hand, in fact the result of this is incredibly painful. Today another ultrasound guided shot directly into the bursa to try and reduce the size and the fluid currently within my shoulder,  if it does not the only remedy will probably be surgery.

I won't be in my little sewing haven for quite some time I suspect, I will be reading blogs but probably will have difficulty typing - as I am today but figured I may as well do this if possible even though it's taken me a heck of a long time!

Maggie Pearl I have been able to m make  another four blocks since my last post so here are the oranges beginning to merge into the yellows to come

excuse the rough placement of the blocks.

Well, best make a move now so husband can drive me to have this procedure - please keep fingers crossed for me that this will work magic and I will be able to power through my quilting and fondling fabrics as I used to do.

Wishing you all well and hoping that you have not suffered damage with the storms and tornadoes we have seen on our TV screens. Stay safe and happy quilting.

Maureen

Maggie Pearl colours - see my feathered visitor!

Last post I had three blocks for Maggie Pearl all sewn up, I've since cut another 15 sets, only two more to cut tomorrow.

Having always been impressed by the great organisational skills of quiltdivajulie I decided to follow her example!! Saves time  by clipping the block pieces together and avoids the odd strip or two disappearing onto the floor - thank you Julie.

I mentioned a feathered visitor in my post title - we have these gorgeous birds below visiting our trees outside the lounge and my bedroom windows to open the long seed pods of the China Doll trees, it's a delight to both see and hear the parrots twittering away together in small groups.

You know that I enjoy taking photos of the flowers in my garden, two nights ago I decided to try taking a couple at night - I was pleasantly surprised at the result.

Day Lily

Zinnia

A very brief post I know, my shoulder is still a problem but I'm booked for an ultrasound guided cortisone shot in a few days time, the first one wasn't carried out using ultrasound and may not have quite hit the spot, better luck this time hopefully.

Until next time - take care and enjoy playing with fabrics!

Oranges and Lemons

My last post showed a little progress With Sailing the Seven Seas and I also showed photos of strips, some cut full length, others only 9" long. I decided to deal with the full length strips first, the brightly coloured ones already cut ages ago into 2 and 1/2" width. 

I pondered for some time on which way to go, decision made to make another Maggie Pearl quilt. Only a little cutting was needed which was a bonus as my arm isn't playing ball at the moment when having to exert any pressure on a ruler.

Here's the first Maggie Pearl made 2 years ago (still just a top)

and here are the first three blocks of Oranges and Lemons (Maggie Pearl 2).

I need twenty blocks in total. Here are the three above shown together below

of course until I have the twenty complete I won't be doing any arranging but I needed to see if these three colours played well together.

Lots to keep me happily 'slow' stitching at the machine for some time, but then I spotted two quilt patterns on Free Spirit site using the new release of KFCollective fabrics - which I had previously discounted in a earlier post as being too large - mmm, yummy looking in strips and large lozenge shapes. One word here - SUCCUMBED!

Here are the two patterns, I'm in love with the colouration and design although these shots below are not showing quite true, the fabrics are brighter than they seem here.

My Accuquilt cutter will be in play certainly for the first one with the 2 and 1/2" strips and the squares. The last one calls for 6" by 10" rectangles, the ruler will be needed here. Haven't a clue as to when I'll be making a start with these two.

Signing off now, early evening meal tonight so back in a few days with more progress - I hope!

Happy Stitching

Maureen

Back at the machine at last!!

 Yes, a number of the medium size Flying Geese blocks sewn up and on the wall, left hand side.

Still needing to stitch them into a row when I've sewn the remainder on Monday. I'm enjoying making this quilt but have to admit I'm dreading the smaller size Geese. 

I had a very successful sale at the Guild meeting Saturday last, I was surprised to see that the large baskets of Tilda and Tula Pink were totally emptied (still have my reduced stash, certainly not intended clearing all these fabrics), whilst the KF Collective fabrics I had culled were barely touched. Remarks were made by the quilters that the patterns had become too large, especially the new range coming out around now. I have to admit that I am in agreement, I haven't ordered any.

Sorting through fabrics stacked in boxes on a high shelf whilst tidying the mess of my sewing room I found  the strips below

which I bought some time ago, I loved the bright zingy colour mix. Also came across

this mix of orange strips, could /should I look at making these two finds into a simple strippy something!

On the other hand I found I had two boxes of 9 and 1/2" strips, 2 and 1/2" wide

one box has lots of different pinks, the other mixed colours.

Two patterns in Sunday Morning Quilts by Amanda Jean Nyberg and Cheryl Arkinson have always appealed to me, the first quilt is Candy Coated but needs strips between 11" and 8" long, the second one is Sunday Morning which again requires a few strips to be 11" but I think I can just play around with the sizing. I haven't noted their blog titles as they are listed as Not Secure but you could do easily find them.

Another book by Jane Brocket - The Gentle Art of Quiltmaking - has two quilts, different colourways of her Beach Hut design, made using four strips sewn unto a square block and placed horizontally, the next one vertically, I think a mix of the strips in the two containers above would work well with this design. Jane doesn't seem to have a blog currently.

I could go really simple and  just sew the strips together in long panels with a long fabric strip separating the rows, that 's if Julie at https://quiltdivajulie.blogspot.com) doesn't mind as she is currently making a beautiful quilt - Shirts and Such -using strips. I'll ask her.

All from me for now, leaving you with possibly the last photo of a bloom from one of my hibiscus

Happy Quilting

Maureen

Flying Geese, Fabric and Flowers

Good afternoon -  at last I have the makings of a small post, thank goodness!! Photo heavy I'm afraid.

In my last post I was missing six Flying Geese blocks to complete that particular strip of Sailing the
Seven Seas, hooray  - now have that strip completed. Seems a long time to make up just six small blocks but you know the situation I find myself in so I'm thankful for whatever I can accomplish.

Blocks still need to be sewn into a long strip, that's planned for Wednesday, taking a little at one time.

My regular companion when I venture into my sewing room is Leila, here positioned perfectly for the camera!

So how have I been spending my time?? Buying a new book ready for when my arm is more manageable.

I LOVE the fabrics designed by Anna Maria Parry and this book is so well written, her new fabrics set for the coming year are colourful in the extreme. There are at least two designs I could work with in the pages of Blueprint without stressing my shoulder too much, at least in a few weeks hopefully.

Of course you know how I love KF Collective fabrics but had decided to not buy any of his new ranges coming out early this year. AMP ones will be winning out for me, however, the nearest stockist of all things quilting and more notified me that the new KF/Morris range was in, food for thought here. Kind husband felt I needed a pick me up so drove me over.  Beautiful colours, beautiful patterns but huge in size. I bit the bullet and bought a few pieces

The first fabric in the photo above is Wandle, stunning scarlets and green but huge just see the photos below, first just one flower

here it is with my hand on top of the actual flower, giving you a better idea of the size

I just know I wouldn't be making any quilt to show of this flower in its entirety however when the fabric is cut into a 2 and 1/2" strip - perfect! I love strip quilts.

A few more designs

After showing all my new purchases I have to tell you I'm having a huge, huge sale at Guild early March, I reason that given my health, prognosis and age I know I have way, way too much fabric which I will never use. Bit the bullet and all my KF stripes are going, all my old Hoffmans and I have too many solids, in  some cases too many of one colour in the KF ranges and lots of other fabrics including Tilda and Tula.I have a major three weeks or so ahead. Books also have been severely culled, I have 60 books presently in the sales basket. Spending two half days each week should have me ready for March 1st. as long as I keep up the pain meds!

I'll sign off with a grouping of some of my Zinnias under the orange tree

 and here is one of my favourites

you can see how very dry the soil is presently even though watering is carried out diligently every morning, by late afternoon this is what you see above!

Back soon, spending the rest of the afternoon catching up on all your blog posts, at least the latest two from everyone I follow, any more and it would take me days leaving me be back to no useful left arm/hand to try and work with.

Happy quilting

Maureen