Prepping hand work

My life is a tad topsy turvy right now.  After my aunt passed away last month, my elderly cousin needs assistance and a week ago, he ended up in hospital.  It is so hard when we are a five hour drive away from him.

So, whenever he is able to leave the hospital, I will be heading back either to look after him for a few weeks or help pack up his apartment in the event that he is to be moved into a nursing home instead.  Uncertain times ahead for all of us.

Whatever happens, I need to be prepared to spend time away from home.  That means .... hand work!

This is on my design wall right now.  See those apple cores on the right?  That is my hand work project.

These apple cores were gifted to me and I need to make a few more to fill in the empty spaces.  There are enough pieces to make a nice wall hanging to go along with my other two apple core quilts.

On the left side of my design wall is a new project to use up large pieces of scrap fabrics.  The pattern is called "Winding Ways" and I will have to look for the pattern to get the designer.  More about this later.

I did finish this last section of my hexagon project.  The centre applique sections can be designed now and prepped for another hand work project to take with me later.

Regardless, there is one hand work project to take with me to last a week or two.  I'm prepared.

Cherish your day!

First ufo of the year done!

Well .... I did it.  It only took 15 years to bring this ufo to a flimsy stage!  Exciting, isn't it!  LOL

But .... I did have an issue.  Like the section on the left.  All those pieces were neatly sewn together.  Except, it was one row too short at the bottom!  Lordy, how did that happen?  Back into my 2-1/2" square bin to find four more pieces.

Outer borders were getting added.  Hmmm .... what about doing some patches in the four cornerstones?

Yes, I do like that a lot.  Finally ... done!  Fifteen years later and done within a number of weeks.   I'm not sure I really like this top, but done is a good thing.   This top finishes at 60" x 80-1/2".   There are still a lot of those bigger HST's.  Something will be done with them.  Maybe show up in a border?  Who knows.

So, cross off one ufo off that list!  Many, many more to go.

What will be worked on next?  This project.

This is the last section to go.  All the remaining rows are in zip lock bags ready to take with me or work on in the evenings.  Once this section is done, then I can start playing with the applique in the cross center sections. 

Cherish your day!

Getting closer

Well, I got myself back into the sewing mood and before I knew it, the side pieces were all sewn together on this ufo.  How happy I was to get them done.

Since the going was good ..... might as well prep for the last star block.  A few hst's needed to be made first and I got going on making those.

Before I knew it, the last star block was done and then .... Lordy ..... the last crazy block got done too!

I so feel like this ufo is kicking and screaming not to get done.  It is dragging it's feet!

Borders have now been cut out and they will get done tomorrow.  Fifteen minutes of sewing here and there during the day sure does make a difference.

I'm so determined to finally cross this ufo off my list!

Cherish your day!

New month

January went by in a blur.  Heck, November, December and January did too.  Travelling back and forth to visit with my sick aunt occupied most of my time.

Sadly, my aunt passed away a week ago.  She got her wish to be moved to a hospice and that is where she ended her life.  She was the last member on my Mom's side and a generation has now ended.  Rest in peace, Aunt Bette, rest in peace.

Due to my staying on for a few extra days to sort and pack up her belongings, I did bring some handwork with me to work on.

A new project got started ...... this one I couldn't resist.  Cassandra's Circle from Civil War Quilts.  It is a free BOM project.  Some of the leaves for the borders were cut out and prepped for sewing.  Many more are needed, but this is a good start.

Then, some more work got done on my EPP project.  A lot of basting on these tiny diamonds took up most of my time and a few diamonds got sewn onto a section of my project.

  

I was so glad  to have this work with me.  The only thing is my stuff smells of cigarette smoke.  My cousin is a smoker and although he smoked by the stove with the exhaust fan working, the smoke smell still got into my bags and my fabric.  My projects are now being aired to rid them of the smell. 

Oh well .....

Once I got home, this project on my design wall kept calling to me.  The right side border is now sewn together.  The left side border is slowing being worked on.  I will plug away on this project until it is done. 

Cherish your day!

Good progress!

Isn't it amazing what can get done when you stick to working on just one project!  A few days later after my last post and this is where my project is at.  Amazing!  One more crazy block was made and the rest of the 2-1/2 squares were cut out and laid onto the design wall.

Then, the sewing of the 2-1/2" squares started and I thought a good job was getting done.  Then, once I stood back and looked at what was just done ...... darn, drats ..... too dark on the bottom right hand side.  See the circle?  Way too dark.  

A lot of unsewing took place and then all was ok with the world again.  So much better now!  What is left to do?  One more crazy block and a star block and borders.

This is where this project will languish for a few weeks.  I'm off to visit/help out with my aunt who is getting moved from the hospital to a hospice.  Only days now before she goes onto her next journey.  Sad, sad times!

Cherish your day!

BTW .... if any of my readers/followers get an email from me asking to buy Google Gift Cards for a sick friend .... ignore it .... it is a scam.

Making progress

Progress has been made on this project.  So glad to see this coming along.  Originally, the pattern was to use all those star blocks.  They finish at 16".  I got bored after making just two blocks and that is why it got shelved .... oh, so many years ago.  Then along came the idea of making some more crazy blocks and using them as alternative blocks.  To make the top longer, some 2-1/2" blocks are being cut out and used for each side of the top.  An outer border will be added to make this top the perfect size.

I'm loving this layout and my stash and scraps are getting a good workout.  My bags and bins of scraps are getting sorted through and are being cut down to usable squares and strips.  Progress there too!  Happy times!

Cherish your day!

Another section ready

Over the past few days, I've been busy prepping my hexagons and basting them.  The result is another section is ready for sewing together.  All those rows will be bagged and they will come along with me on my next trip to visit my sick aunt and frail cousin.  I need something to get me through some very sad times and this project will fit the bill perfectly.

While the above project sits in a bag, this old UFO got my attention once again.   Time to work on those blocks and how nice it will be to see this finally become a top!

One block is ready for sewing together and another is waiting in the wings.

Scrap sorting is taking place.  A lot of 2-1/2" squares are going to be needed for this project plus a few other scrap quilts that will happen.  There are bins and bins and bags and bags of scraps to be sorted through.  I wonder how many quilts can be made out of those scraps?  It will be interesting to keep count!

Again, the desire to reduce my stash is gnawing at me.  Seeing my aunt and cousin and the situation they are in, keeps bringing this subject up front and centre.  Got to reduce, reduce, reduce!

This is the time also to get some finished tops out and get backings made and send them off to my favourite LAer.

Cherish your day!