Waiting In The Wings

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Yay - back at the machine

Yes, what a pleasure to be back with colour and fabric again. I've followed orders and  worked for no more than one hour at the computer or sewing machine before taking a good break., no heavy lifting allowed either. Cortisone shot helped but I do have what is known as a 'frozen shoulder' so range of movement is a problem, they tell me this can last up to three years after going through various stages - can't wait!!

Still, here are the remaining 15 blocks for Maggie Pearl, I showed a range of light and dark orange last post.

So Yellow first 


Now Green


Last up is Red 


I'm thrilled I was able to finish them all up, next will be the time consuming task of reaching a pleasing arrangement, that will probably be during the next week.

Another longed for task was on the menu over the past couple of weeks, one of the bookcases in my bedroom was years old and actually made of MDF (don't ask me what this means). There was shop in the city - Furniture for Flats - many, many years ago and they produced affordable  - read cheap - basic items of furniture, I bought two of the book cases.

The colours have changed over the years, the latest was a very soft, soft green but I was longing for  brighter colour around the house. Husband likes subdued, I love bright and bold so I bought a rich green paint, help from husband to take books of shelves and I found using my right hand only worked well with the paintbrush one shelf at a time and then the sides so it wasn't a quick fix, two weeks wasn't bad to complete this.


Not the best photo but you can see the bright green, I love it!! There's going to be more colour popping up, I can't deal with painting walls so help will be needed with this part of the revamp. Hanging on the side of the shelves is a seahorse decoration found in a hardware store, fell for it because I love seahorses


the wooden dowel pieces and shells reach way up to the top.

I think my time is up now but here's a bright red Hibiscus which is a good match for the red blocks.



Fingers crossed I continue to make progress, another hour later tonight to read blog posts.

See you soon

Maureen


13 comments:

loulee said...

Your bookcase looks great. MDF = Medium Density Fiberboard. Read, they scoop up the sawdust and glue it back together. LOL It serves a purpose though and in the right hands can be made to look great.

Marly said...

It's good to see you back. Don't be overdoing it though; you've done more this month than I have! I haven't got a frozen shoulder at the moment, although I know what it's like. Mine didn't last three years, but I had to immobilise my wrists with splints at night. That seems funny now - shoulder pain being treated by supporting wrists - but the rheumatologist thought it would help, and she's the expert!
Your blocks look good and I hope the next colours go well too.

Marly said...

Who'd have known! I've wondered about MDF for years; thank for telling!

Quiltdivajulie said...

Frozen shoulder - I can relate. I'm still doing PT for mine (since late December). I'm glad that you have made progress and can again do a few things that bring you joy. Following "the rules" is hard but if it lets you feel better, then stick to the plan.

Julierose said...

So happy that you are making good progress, Maureen. Frozen shoulder is not an easy thing to go through at all!!
I love your bookcase's new coat of green paint--great look!!
Your Maggie Pearl blocks are really mounting up --great color matches on these...hang in there--hugs, Julierose;)))

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

I'm glad to hear you are making progress with your shoulder. Love the newly painted bookcase. Your Maggie Pearl blocks are all looking good. Now comes the hard part, deciding how they all go together. Such a pretty Hibiscus bloom, a nice deep red.

Quilting Babcia said...

So good to see all the progress you've made! My book
case is made of that same material and the shelves tend to sag under the weight of too many quilting books. Haven't tried painting it but yours looks fabulous and trying something like that would certainly brighten up the space. Have fun finishing up your quilt top!

Leeanne said...

Nice to hear you are back into it Maureen. Lovely colourful book shelf. Those blocks you are constructing make me think of sprinkles.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Yes, glad your are able to do some sewing & things are improving with your shoulder. Loving the bright 'maggie pearl' blocks.

MissPat said...

So good to hear that you are able to do a few of your favorite things, at least for short periods of time. Sitting around doing nothing is infinitely boring. Updating the book shelf color and making more Maggie Pearl blocks are welcoming signs of progress. Spring is trying to get here which means more outdoor chores for me, but the weather has been so topsy-tervy that it's hard to keep up the momentum.
Pat

Ann said...

I’m delighted you are able to sew again. Your bright green bookcase is lovely. Freddy Moran ‘s house was painted in many bright, clear colors. It’s shown in her book, Freddy’s House, and looked like that all her life. As cheery as her quilts. I always wonder what the new owners did.

Raewyn said...

Yaay for being able to move again - so good you can get back to your sewing machine - even if it's for an hour here and there. The bookcase looks great in the green - something I would never have thought of doing!

Janie said...

Glad to hear you're feeling better. A friend of mine went through 'frozen shoulder' and went through PT, now she's feeling like new, it took a while.
Your Hibiscus is absolutely stunning! As is your Maggie Pearl progress.