A brief visit

I'm writing this on a really rainy, cold day here in New Zealand - at least here in Auckland. I'm conscious that it's been around one month since I last wrote a post!! You all know the various reasons why so I won't repeat except to say cardiac investigations have been done and I should know something definite, or more definite next week.

So - my meagre efforts at quilting consist of using a few left over blocks found at the bottom of a box of 2 and1/2" strips, the blocks were left over from my first Maggie Pearl quilt

Take Two - Maggie Pearl

scrabbling around in the strips I found the zig-zag fabric and the outer border fabric is pieced in a couple of places to reach the required lengths. I'll pass this on to my great-granddaughter soon as it's quilted, she is loves colour! I really enjoyed making this, just a little time to sew the blocks together, borders on and done!

Here's a rough and ready of a corner of the top folded over my machine - threads still  attached

Finding it hard quite often to get myself motivated but coming across another container of 9" cut 2 and 1/2" wide strips was a bonus so I'm playing with these at the moment, trying different pieces of fabric to use as dividers between rows, a I like this one I have have top left

yes, it does look rather odd sitting here in the middle of the page right now, hopefully more lengths tomorrow.

Remember I have written here before that I really have to downsize my fabric collection, problem is as soon as I sort a small box to move on to a new home I spot another range of fabric just released - fatal, especially when it's from Anna Maria Parry - should I or shouldn't I - major dilemma! Decision tomorrow.

Dealing with multiple life changing health conditions can take up so much of the patients time, one condition would be enough but four or five - yes another one has been added to the list - is not a lot of fun, it's life changing. Decisions become based up on "what if" or ""should I do this" or "will I need more medications"or "how long will I have left" and the day suddenly has passed by and you find it's time for bed - but here you also find the problems and sleep does not always come as needed. Today I read a few words from a patient written many years ago on a Leukaemia web site in the UK who seems to have had a different blood cancer from  the CMML which I have, but they still had a huge impact on me,  I'm taking the chance to share them here I can't find any wording to tell me I can't reproduce them so fingers crossed.

"Use it as a wake-up call to do all the things you said you would do. Spring clean your life. Little things don't matter anymore. Concentrate on what you like and who you love. It's not the end. It's the beginning."

                                                Steve, living with CLL since 2011

On that note my evening meal is calling me but I have a little photo here of a few baby cabbage flowers from a bouquet given to me by John on our 58th wedding anniversary last month. The main flowers died after a week or so but these are still going strong! Perhaps there is a message here for me.

See you all again soon - 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

18 in 2018 and other matters

First up my finish for January as part of

which is Chinese Coins below - finished yesterday and

measuring 27" by 35"

another photo with my all time favourite

bowl, just the perfect shade of jade green.

Each elongated triangle was quilted individually which made for 

a lot of swishing the quilt around!

After finishing CC yesterday I moved on to a totally unrelated

project, hopefully as part of the next AHIQ invitational.

Some of you may remember this from quite some time back! 

Corner triangles were planned but

I wasn't happy enough with it to carry on, into the unfinished

drawer it went. 

Yesterday I fished it out and did a little unpicking

and I have an idea for using this central piece which I love.

Due to my mishap with the machine needle and other happenings

I've had a pretty slow two weeks and desperately need to get some

order into my quilting life - after all my word for the year is

BALANCE

so I should put it into action.

I've set a few days aside to do this and I am behind with 

writing down my thoughts on the Kaffe Fassett lecture,

that will be done for my next post - definitely!!

To end this post I must show you  photograph of a decayed stem

and flowers from my orchid, I love the beauty to still be found at

this stage

just look at those soft pastel colours!! A quiet quilt in the making perhaps.

Happy quilting and do visit

  What a Hoot Quilts for 18 in 2018

for lots of January finshes.

Maureen