2 finishes and a trip to Chicago

While I have not blogged in a while, I have been busy.  In fact I am not sure how the time has flown by so quickly.

First, my finishes:

This was my rainbow scrap challenge from 2017.  There are 99 blocks made, no 2 of them the same fabric.  Each month was a different color: and I made country shades rather than bright colors. Most, but not all the fabrics are Thimbleberries or similar.

Here are a couple that I made so you can have an idea what one 6 inch block is like: ( These are 4 put together.

Taking pictures has been a challenge due to the reoccurring rainstorms we get.

The top was put together in January, and the border in March. 

I finally sent it off to a quilter and got it back this month: a beautiful feathery all over pattern.

My back is a Kansas Trouble red as is the binding. 

TA DAA!!!!!

Second, I quilted and bound another tree skirt. 

It is almost identical to the one I made for the wedding in March.  

And I am so glad to get it off my plate, much overdue. 

It is mostly made of a batik jelly roll called Jingle. 

Drum roll:  Crash (can't you just hear the cymbals!)

Here is some of the back with it: 

A  gold polka dot on bright red background

And for my trip to Chicago. My daughter had a business trip and offered her room to share right downtown near Grant Park.

We walked lots, had fun seeing the sights and ate good food>

 This is a reflection at Millennium Park on the Bean of my spouse and I who just had our 39th wedding anniversary.

Here is the Apollo space craft that returned to earth following the moon landing. 

We toured the Adler Planetarium and saw lots of history and loads of information:

astrolabes, telescopes, pieces of the moon, and more.

 Perspectives by important astronomers and how they were proven. 

Additionally we toured the Art Institute of Chicago. Amazing pieces of work from paintings to sculpture, jewelry to swords, modern to ancient and all across the globe.

My favorite work though was found in the Chicago library: 

This is merely a portion: but is was a huge display hanging from the ceiling. 

Little did you realize until you got to the top floor that it is all recreated dog tags of soldiers who died in the Vietnam War: some 68,000 of them. 

Wool applique

 School is out for SUMMER!

Which means time to do lots of fun things like:

Go to the zoo with my grandsons: We had a fabulous day at the FREE  Henry Vilas Zoo and park with the boys. A picnic lunch, a beach, and playground were highlights as well. We treasure each day with them. Of course, they were out cold sleeping on the way home.

Sew, sew sew. Here is the last blocks of week 4 for Kim Diehl's QAL mystery.  These blocks are 4 inches. Now to put it together

Stitching galore:   But I thought I would share the wool applique I have been doing.  I joined a small subgroup of my guild devoted to wool. And I am enjoying it a great deal.  So here are 2 blocks from a Bunny Hill BOM way back to 2012. You can still buy the patterns called Henrietta Whiskers. It has some nice patchwork between the blocks.  I have 2 more of the 9 to prepare. And these couple to put the finishing touches to. 

 We are doing a sharing hexie project which passes to each member in the group:

This one is based off of a Sue Spargo pattern. I learned several stitches for this. My bullions need more practice. There are tiny beads around the edge where the blanket stitch is.

 Here is it added to the starters.

 And the month before, I had a grand time with beads I had.  Funny how most of us chose spring themes. We were just so frustrated with the long continuation of winter weather.

Kim Diehl QAL

I have not blogged in a while. And it isn't because I haven't been quilting.

So here is the  first installment of some of my progress.

There is a new quilt along going on.   I love all things Kim Diehl.

And she is having a quilt along; we are in the 3rd week. 

And in order to do the blocks you needed this book which is co-written with Jo Morton. 

You can read her details and posts on both Instagram and her blog.

 The basic instructions are on the Martingale site

In this book it shows 2 versions of very popular blocks each made by one of the two famous ladies.

None of the instructions have been difficult.  In fact the cutting direction have even made my blocks construct easily and precisely. ( I do also use Best Press to size my blocks before cutting.  And I like the ruler for precise 1/8 inches by Lisa Bongean.

This is week one.  The hardest part was selecting the fabrics.

The larger block is 6 inches finished.  The smaller ones 4 inches.

These are from week 2 and are both 5 inches finished.

I am using fabrics from Thimbleberries, Kansas Troubles, some of Jo Mortons and others I have around.

Here are week 3 blocks, each being 2 inches finished.

Can't wait to see what the small beauty will be!

Grandkids

I had one of the most special days at school on Friday.  We had a take your kid to work day, and my kids are just too big.  So I took my grandson, the older one Jude.

He loved my big kids ( middle and high school)  and rolled the ball with the boys, wrote his numbers when they did math or even did some drawing when they worked on the homework. He lasted until after lunch. Then Grandpa picked him up. After a 2nd lunch, he fell asleep in the car on the way home.

I am thrilled beyond measure: this is a repeat of sorts.  I visited my grandmother's class when she taught first grade. I took my kids to my mom's class when they were young.  And now I got to have my grandson at my school. 

He will be 5 years old  in 2 weeks. And even some of the kids thought he was pretty smart.  But he is all boy and into so many things, coloring not a strength. I have been immensely pleased with his 4K class where he has learned all his letters and sounds and is starting to use them to read words in books. 

And I couldn't leave out my little guy Jensen.  Here is a photo from when we visited the library last week.

This guy loves, loves, loves to run. Corralling him into my arms is hard. But he will relent at times. 

And I am making slow progress on my Wild and Goosey:

I have several 4 patches.  And after many are accumulated (in the future), I am going to add a 3 strip sashing with a 9 patch in the corners.

I am trying to have no repeat blue fabrics in each 4 patch which is 28 different blues. There is a category for the state fair for a quilt with over 100 different fabrics.  I am almost there. 

Spring break

The week has flown and I would like to say I have accomplished much.

But it was not meant to be. I have worked on a few quilt projects, and a little bit of cleaning.

Did finish this project: it is 36 inches squared for a NICU donation. I made the design using all scraps from my stash back and batting included. It was a quilt along for Bea and Cecile from France.
DONE!

And a lot of heart to hearts:  I needed to touch base with God and let go.... I mean really let go... of my wanting to control over all the things that have piled up and pent up. Not that I ever had control.

There are so many things right now that are going on:  My hubby's prostate cancer, my mother's Alzheimer's and her difficulty transitioning to a nursing home, and the upcoming move by my son and his wife with my 2 adorable grandsons to Louisiana. None of which I have control over. I feel like a merry go round, one gets on and takes me for a spin and when I get used to it, the other turns it faster or harder and away I go. It is not a fun ride at the moment.

I think I have it in better perspective, at least for now.  Or until my humanness takes it back again.
I do feel calmer inside. And the formation of the words seems to make it more tangible and manageable.

from Instagram:

Cancer update

My spouse and I have gone to a couple appointments with first his urologist and then a care manager, followed by the radiation doctor, spread out over a month.  And  we read a lot: online and even a book. We even consulted all the family members ( in-laws) who have had it and learned of their treatments and reflections.

Our first appointment was an hour long where we were carefully explained his 12 biopsies and how they are categorized and what that means in terms of treatment.  We have digested terms such as Gleason score. Prostate Cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, and no, you don't die from it. It is slow growing and very common in men especially over the age of 65. Overwhelming!  But very well and patiently explained. And we get to decide.

His is low on a 3 scale system and because of his age (65) he is a good candidate for either the surgery or radiation.. Another whole discussion of side effects, and issues surrounding each treatment. We are very fortunate to have a doctor who has done a relatively new radiation treatment called cyberknife. A) It is only 5 treatments of an hour for each session in a  2 weeks versus 28 in 6 weeks. It is robotic.  B) There are no recovery issues or catheters as from the surgery. C) The doctor has done this for over 10 years, making him very experienced.

So going forward with Cyberknife. It will take another 2 weeks to a month to get that rolling.

Then the bombshell of our cost after Medicare.  OMGoodness!  Yes, there are payment plans.( Update, supposedly only a few thousand dollars. )

But he can still work, just not lift the little guys. And all the lovely side effects: ED and incontinence.

FORWARD!  ( Yes, also Wisconsin's motto.)  But we are lucky and positive.

Easter weekend.

Easter!  We took the boys to church.  The 4 year old asked so many questions about church and God and Jesus. So sincere!

 And of course, we have them hooked: there was an egg hunt afterwords in the social hall. 

 God, these are truly my best blessings: husband and 2 grandsons. Full of joy!

And then family for an outside adult and kid egg hunt, followed by Easter dinner.

Oh, and a glorious spring day: up to the 70s. Alleluia!

Spring break: time for sewing:

Here is the borders for my flower blocks.  Love how it is coming together.

Now to applique them on the machine and then quilt it. 

I have joined a wool group within my guild. We started a hexie round robin with wools. 

Here is the block I made for my go around. I love the addition of beads. All I had were size 8 seed beads, and I think a smaller scale would have been better.

( backs of hexie will is a product called SF 101 which only comes in black and white.)

 And here it is with the center one made by a talented friend.

And I finally got around to photoing the fabrics from South Carolina. 

March and now April

Gosh, it has been a month.   A busy one at that.

Fortunately in March, we had a beautiful family wedding to enjoy in Charleston.  Having a trip to escape winter was wonderful and a mighty respite for the snow and cold of Wisconsin. We loved the seafood: shrimp and grits, triggerfish, crabcakes and more.  Oh, just delicious.





We walked and walked through the downtown to see fabulous historical buildings and even took a carriage ride. We found a beach to walk our piggies through. I just love the sound of the waves and the horizon.  And we also toured a plantation: so beautiful and full of people recreating old "crafts". I, of course, loved the dying, spinning and weaving area.
        

                         


And I found a quilt store and purchased some fun spring colors for my upcoming hexie project.

Lastly, we toured the air craft carrier,  the Yorktown.  I read about it every year with my history students and it was a must see for my amateur historian spouse. But it was amazing to walk through it and go on deck. Inside were displayed several air planes and even a spacecraft from the 70's of the Apollo missions.  It is amazing to have the names of the crew and pilots on their air craft.

Other news that has been setting my back:  My mom who has Alzheimer's has been placed in a nursing home. Such hard news to take for someone so special. Oh, if only she weren't 700 miles away.

Secondly, I found out my son and his family are moving to Louisiana to be near to my daughter in law's family this summer. I am truly heartbroken. I have such a wonderful relationship with my grandsons and love them to the moon and back. I  am struggling with having them leave their home, school, and babysitter. Both parents have jobs here, but money is an issue. I will survive, but in the meantime, I cry.

I have several spits and starts on quilting and crafting over the last month.  ( I finished my long term embroidery and am trying to get something else going.)

 I tried cross stitch on linen.

I started cross stitch on punch paper.

And I can't seem to finish my projects hanging mid stride.

So I started piecing Wild and Goosey in blues. ( which is our theme for next year's quilt show.)

the big C

How do I say this.... Prostate Cancer. 

Yup!  My hubby has been diagnosed with it.

On one hand, it is very treatable and prognosis is excellent for 5, 10 and 15 years.

On the other hand, it is the big C.  a little scary. And it truly makes you aware of your humanness and limited time here on earth.

I am o.k.  Really.   Surprisingly.   It just puts things in perspective.

More to come. Treatment options discussed  on the 18th: surgery or radiation.

Flimsy and a concert!

Finally!!! 

I got my pinwheel party from RSC 2017 together. I have been working on the borders the past week or so. It looks great here...and took hours pressing .  Some intersections not as perfect as I had hoped.  A lot of time has gone into this. But I am happy with the product. Now to be quilted!

Great, fun concert with my daughter and her beau.  The tickets were a Christmas present for a group called We Banjo 3, an Irish group with great talented instrumentalists and voices.  Not your average concert at the  Pabst in Milwaukee, but a fun night. As the singer said, "Not a sitty downy concert,  a standy uppy kind."

Snow, RENT, and new fabric

Well, more snow.  More fluffy, white stuff:

Here is what my husband said this morning,"When you have to start shoveling off the tops of your snow piles to blow snow from the snowblower, then it is a lot." 

(Did I ever tell you what a wonderful guy he is!  He does all the snow blowing and lawn mowing. )

Here is how my grandchildren like it:




It has been a long and busy weekend. : We saw the school play of RENT.  I love the music and thought the kids did a really nice job.  It is a very mature subject with so many of the performers had solo features.


My spouse and I took a field trip today to the north of Milwaukee and  did some lunch and shopping.
Here was a cool tree that was under the eaves and had the icicles from the roof's dripping. Very unusual.



Several nights and in the car I have been knitting. I think I have done about 45 rows since the last post.



And I visited a quilt shop that has more brights colors.  I just had to have some spring prints to inspire me.


And then I bought the precut wool for the pattern of Wendy Williams that I already possess from a magazine. I didn't buy the pearl cotton,; it was another 60 dollars.


So I now have another project. And it should be fun!

Snow day # 5

In all my many years of teaching I have never had a winter like this.  5...count them ...5 days ...of no school. The kids are getting lazy and think they don't have to do work.  We get them back on track and ...another day off.


It is just beautiful.




So continuing on my bear paw quilt, some knitting, and of course, Valentine cookies.