Still Stitching

Did some more stitching last night. I spent most of the day at my Mother's doing odds and ends. 

Last night decided to stitch some more of the small pieces and get them set into place. There are 73 pieces in each of these stars. It takes for ever to get one done. They are fun and addicting.

Today will be quiet. We are going to spend a little time with my Mother this morning and then we will try and get some things finalized here we have started. Have a Good One. Chris

Focusing

I need to stay focused right now. Get the things done that have to be and let the rest go. The cleaning and the sorting will happen later on when the stress has gone away.

Besides my Mother's illness we are facing a wedding and many more changes in my Grandkids lives. Life takes many twists and turns.

On to my sewing focus. Well what little I can get done a little at a time will have to focus on the two little girls for the wedding. Both need dresses made and they will be easy, but need them to measure them. I do need to buy some lining fabric for each dress and a couple zippers.

My brother is suppose to be coming this next weekend. So we need to spend some time with him. We don't see him very often. He lives in Arizona.

Today dishes and cooking and going to my Mom's is the order of business. Hope you can focus and get your days all in a row for you. Chris

The tears come easy now

No nothing has happened I just know they will. It is a hard reality to face hard changes in your life.

The crazy emotions I face are crying at the sight of the flag, the sound and sights of a marching band, and a soldier coming home from War. I am a sucker for sentiment.

My step Father passed on the 3rd of July so more emotions were present yesterday. We have so much to be thankful for and to cherish. Freedom and Unity as a Country need to be addressed everyday to make us safe.

So if I have tear stains on my cheeks is because I am thankful for Family and Country. Chris

Hexie Star

Well here it the 4th of July already. Where has the first half of the year gone? 

Last night I was on edge so I picked up this hexie star and started to work on it. It helped me relax somewhat so I could get to bed eventually. I am back to getting up real early and not sleeping well at night. To much stress. 

This is colorful star. They are basted papers and are 1/2 inch on each side. I cut 1.5 inch strips for a lot of the scrap sewing I do so I use them to make my hexies with. I can carry a strip easily in my to-go bag and cut squares off of the strips for the number of segments I need in each color.

Then I have something with me to stitch on when I find the time. I baste with leftover sewing thread that is laying around for a couple decades and use the cotton thread for stitching them together. I figure the basting part doesn't matter because it is on the back and won't serve any purpose when the quilt is hand quilted. I paid for the thread might as well use it up.

So many different quilters who do machine quilting use all kinds of threads. Some of the biggest named quilters use polyester and rayon threads. So I figure use it up. Less in the landfill later one. I know some of you will be horrified, but the economics of it make sense also.

Today is the 4th of July 2015 and in the USA we celebrate. Independence Day is a milestone of the Summer. Kids are getting closer to going back to school and normally we have hot and humid weather. Today the high temp. will be about normal, but it is 58 degrees outside right now at 6:40 am.  The weatherman last night said we will have the most perfect weather in the whole country today. That never happens. So hopefully you will enjoy your 4th. Chris ps. Be safe.

Next....

Yes this is next. Remember I told you I needed 500 4-patch blocks. Well I have almost 400 done. This is the quilt I am going to use them in, but I am making two of these quilts. Why two well I thought it would make a nice gift for an anniversary gift for next year. Yes I am planning that far ahead. 

As you can see lots of piecing and applique and it is 100 1/2 X  104 1/2 inches. Designed by Terri Westberg in the August 2015 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting magazine. 

This is a small pile of the 4-patches. I have more to be pressed and made sure they are square.  It will use up a lot of scraps for sure.

This picture is some of the detail in the applique. I need to prep this stuff for my to go bag. If I have things ready I can take it with me and get a lot of the stitching done.

My Mother is not doing well and I need to spend more time at her house. I have a lot of the cleaning and furniture moved. We took an adjustable bed into her house yesterday and get that set up for her. It will make getting in and out of bed easier for her. Her right side is weak and sitting up is difficult. Now she can raise the head of the bed and sit up so she doesn't have to struggle and slip off the bed like she did the other day.

We have some other health issues to overcome also. She is being brave, but scared to death over this bought with cancer. Not a whole lot we can do at this point, but make her comfortable. Which is my goal.

Yesterday my son and his kids came and got the bed moved and set up and no grumbling at all. As we told her she was worth is.

I think we will have a quiet 4th and simple food. Doing laundry and trying to recover my house after the move. Have a good one. Chris

July plans

Well I read a blog this morning an the blogger had made goals for herself and she was really challenging herself to get a long list done. I wish I could make a list, but I know under the circumstances it wouldn't get done.

This picture was taken last fall when I made these blocks for this quilt. Here they weren't sewn together. It is sewn together and it is sandwiched and pinned. No bobbins wound, but I do have enough thread so far. When will it get stitched? Heaven only knows.

We have beds to move around today. It will be a busy day to get everything done. Have to get this project done to be able to move on with the last stages of my Mother's life. Goals at this time is make her comfortable.

We have a wedding that needs finalizing. Like food and dresses and also plans for kids and all the things they need before school. Time is slipping away and we need some organization, but plans always change too.

Do you have goals and can you keep up with them? I sure hope so this flying by the seat of your pants each day are not my cup of tea. Hope you have a Good 4th of July. Chris

Day didn't start out good.

I had just finished eating my breakfast and the dispatcher at the hospital called me and said my Mother had fallen and they needed to pick her up. I told them to kick the garage utility door in to get into the house. I got there and the policeman was apologizing.

I told him Mom had told them to do it. She refused transport she just couldn't get up. So it started a day of phone calls and doing things different.

A keyless entry pad for the garage door was installed and a Life Alert pendant was ordered and a different bed was agreed upon. We got things rolling and we still are in limbo over the bed because we have it and we need a truck. Working on the logistics over that.

My sister and niece are having health issues so they won't be down to help. so it is up to me. After we got Mom straightened up and meds and eating she felt better. She found out a way to get out of bed so she wasn't falling for now. She called me after a nap and she made it fine.

Don't let your parents or loved ones talk you out of doing something to make them safer. My Mother learned that today. Chris