Finding My Mojo

Breaking rhythm has always been a problem for me.  Certainly that was true of the school year and summer vacation and then trying to get back into the swing of things in September.  And this has carried over into my quilting life.  On a week- long cruise of the Columbia River in Oregon, I did absolutely no handwork or plotting or planning.  The most quilty thing I saw was at the Maritime Museum in Astoria, Oregon.  These silk pieces, about 20” x 20”, were carried by Japanese soldiers and pilots during World War II and were made by their family members.  Some of these flags/pennants were returned to families, and some are on display here in this museum.  I think these are lovely pieces.

In approaching the studio once we returned home, I’ve been overwhelmed with how poorly I am using my fabulousstudio space and how much stuff I am holding onto that I just don’t use.  So I started to purge.  I came across a Noodlehead Trail Tote kit, complete with Carolyn Friedlander fabrics.  Of course I had to stop and make it.  The piping joining the purse front and back is a great design feature.  

Quilty buddy Lauren gave me a packet of Cherrywood Far quarters last October.  I love these gentle colors and have been pondering what to do with them.  Each colored rectangle is 7” x 9” and will get a bit bigger with the shadowing and neutral sashing.  I love having a project like this going because once the math and cutting is done, the sewing is kind of automatic.  On those days when I am not sure what I want to work on, I know this project is all ready to go.  A full size quilt is my goal.  

One project that has been on my radar for quite a while is the Park Sling backpack, shown below.  Sara Lawson’s projects are always fun to do, and my great niece in Ann Arbor is at a perfect age for this.  Below the pattern picture is a range of fabrics that I’ll be using   To be determined…! 

 

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Upstairs, Downstairs

I have everything I  want upstairs in my studio -  machines, fabrics, cutting tables, supplies, bathroom, lighting, Bose radio, computer, quilting library.  Monday was a long sew day, and guilt buddy JLo and I made Trail Totes, the nifty pattern by Noodlehead.  This link leads to the free pattern download.  My Trail Tote has a bright pink outer zippered pocket and a wonderful turquoise lining.  The inner pocket is the same fabric as the outer fabric.  My phone is on the picture just for scale.  I am waiting for rivets to come and want to use them for the purse strap.  Thank you, guildster Dani M, for this inspiration!  But my studio is missing two key elements:  my husband and the television. 

I love having a hand project going.  The summer my Chicago Modern Quilt Guild hosted a Glam Clam workshop, and I didn't attend.  But since then I have decided this project would be perfect for the downstairs.  So evenings I am handpiecing these 12" clams and will Sashiko-quilt it once the top is complete.  Projected size will be 65"ish by 80"ish.  We'll see.  It's going to be a nice cozy project for fall and winter.

High Expectations. But...

This is what I have to show for my weekend of sewing. I had such high expectations since I spent much of last week doing the prep work for 12 purse kits. These are my only finishes - one teal Trail Tote, one Sew Powerful purse, and three key wristlets. However, I did do bits and parts of the other kits. So perhaps this week I might be productive. I'm also eager to restore some kind of order to the studio and work on my medallion quilt, too. Busy hands are happy hands!

Grandma Roberta's Final Grandchild Quilt

Guess what her youngest grandchild's name is.

Another Blip in the Ryhthm of the Studio

All I have wanted to do is finish this purse - the Noodlehead Trail Tote in Carolyn Friedlander's Doe fabrics.  You can see that I changed the light piping and strap to black.  It is finally finished, and I am test driving it to the Goodman Theatre today.

But I have been in the hospital again.  Last month is was to go on blood thinners.  This month it was to stop the subdural hematomas and go off the blood thinners.  I have a huge list of specialists to see, and my brother-in-law the ENT surgeon gave me this wisdom:  See the specialists in the order of what you think is gonna kill you first.   So, neurosurgeon, hematologist, gastroenterologist, pulmonologist, and finally the interventional radiologists who put a little umbrella in my vena dava designed to catch any DVT's.   If necessary, I urge you to use this same advice

I feel great. I am under orders to walk but not lift weights.   And get this:  I can sew all I want to!  This second stay at LaGrange Hospital was another most positive experience.  I am feeling very lucky for the care I received from the medical community, my family, and my friends!

interior pockets

I don't know if this is fortunate or not.  The drug I'm taking to stop the brain bleeds is a steroid.  And I think I'm wired.  Tomorrow's post may be one of those listings of all the projects I have rolling around in my brain.  However, the steroids end Tuesday morning.  We'll see...

Good to be alive and walking and looking for daily joy!