End of the Month Already

I finished this last year, including the embroidery.  I simply do not have the manual dexterity to form French or Colonial knots so I used small seed beads to take their place.  All the stitching is back stitch.

I machine pieced and machine quilted it myself and hand sewed the binding to the back.  Not too shabby if I do say so myself!  Made for a one-year old for milk and cookies and that letter to Santa.  There is a pocket under the lined, embroidered pocket.

Still listening to audiobooks from the library.  And I can check them out and return them from home.

Will keep this short for tonight.  Thanks to all who responded last year.  Not much changes from day to day here.  Stay warm and safe!

Distantly blissful hugs,

Sharon (yes, that's me behind the mask)

Happy New Year!

 Hard to believe it's been over 4 years since the stroke.  Seeing sporadic, minimal improvement.  Walking without any aids even if I do look strange.  At least I am not in a wheelchair anymore.  I still remember coming home in one.

Still quilting.  Have done about 70 of the Tula Pink City blocks, a quilt using all of my mask fabrics, 600 masks.  I swear the mask fabrics keep regenerating--I've done the masks, cut at least five queen size quilts, my twin, cut the scraps down into 4 shapes and sizes, leaving whatever pieces were still large enough for new masks (God forbid) and I STILL have the LL Bean Boat and Tote (largest) overflowing! And I did the year-long sew along with Temecula Quilt Company that just ended (lasted a year).  Used the first Charleston collection by Judi Rothermel.  Yardage has been properly aging since before the ark!  

Counted cross stitch has helped with the frustration of limited hand sewing.  I can rotary cut with my right hand only but as accurately as before.  I miss being able to cut with either hand equally but at least I can do it with one.  Still fussy cutting and am better at using both hands while pressing.  Slow but steady for sure.

Pic above is from my trip to the St. Lawrence in September 2017; one of the last teaching trips I made.  Life certainly has been an adventure!

Hope everyone has a happy and healthy new year.  Be safe and stay safe.  Back soon.

Blissful hugs from a distance,

Sharon

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Another year has flown by in a blur.  Still not fully recovered.  But if I don't move I look normal (whatever that is!)  

Hope everyone is well and surviving.  Still quilting and have returned to counted cross stitch after a 25 or so year hiatus.  Kind of satisfies my need for handwork.

Miss you all.  Don't know if anyone is still there.  Not much to say when you stay home.  But I will try to be here more often in 2022.

Stay safe and healthy.

Blissful, if distant, hugs,

Sharon

P.S.  Still typing with one finger; these missives will be shorter.  The chicken in the thong pictures are from one of my travel adventures prior to the stroke; they make me laugh and I hope you get a chuckle too 😉

Greetings, Quilt Fans

I partially figured out my problem, so let's see if I can add some pics today.

First, some hand piecing.  From the back...

From the front.

My first applique label.  I only had a bit of selvage left so I machine stitched that onto the label first, inked the rest of the label and then appliqued it.  You can biggie size any of the pictures by tapping with your mouse.  A doll quilt for a little girl named Arabella from the Arabella fabric line a bit ago.  She got it yesterday and she was very happy even though she did not understand about the incredible story of having a fabric line named for her. 

Will quit here for today.  Hope you are well.  Oh, by the way, There is a glitch somewhere for Hummingbird Highway, so please click on Hummingbird Highway on my blog list, then find Winging It blog on her site to get the new postings.  I updated all the info, but it does not link to the new site.  Sorry!  Also I added Susan Branch--love her stuff--very down to earth, cool stuff.  Check her out! 

See you again soon!💖

Blissful, if distant. hugs,

Sharon

Happy New Year!

Although long silent, I am glad to report that I am still here.  While still some lasting (so far) impairment, I have made progress! For the moment I cannot figure out how to add photos, so I will describe what skills I am glad to see a glimpse of.

First, I've been able to hand APPLIQUE my sleeves and complete labels to my quilts and to hand finish binding.  It takes a bit longer than before...but it's better than nothing and looks like my old stitching.

Second, I hand pieced a full hexagon block with pass-throughs, circled eight seams to finish another block. Again, very slow going but the points and stitches are the same as before the stroke.

I am able to pin better, which has increased my accuracy.

I can rotary cut better, still only right handed, but it's easier to leap frog my left hand on the ruler and hold it; I rarely use the flat iron to hold the end of the ruler, and that is only on my 24". 

Counted cross stitch is keeping me entertained. Getting more control and a better looking back.

Still knitting but better.  Shawl started again and looks much better.

Have made close to 400 masks.  I remember joking about Halloween fabrics when we started making them in March!  Who knew we would need Christmas, too.

Had a bit of mask fabric in my bag and have started a mask quilt using 3.5" squares of all the mask fabrics alternating with a light blue speckle.  60 x 72 inches and about half done.  No borders, just blocks to the edge.  

As soon as I can figure out the pictures I will show you all this stuff and more.  Also updating Hummingbird Highway's info on blog.  She has moved her blog and you can read all the posts we have been missing.  I'll try to be more frequently here this year. 

Stay safe, wear your mask in public (correctly), socially distance and stay home when you can.  Let's get rid of Covid 19 in both iterations early this year.  All the best for 2021 to you and your family.

As Arnold Schwarzenegger says:  "I'll be back."  Threat or promise to be determined!

Distant, blissful hugs,

Sharon

Quiltalong!

We should have lots of fabric--so join Bonnie Hunter and Gudrun Erla for a Quarantine Quiltalong on Sunday.  Stuff will be available on Facebook Live or on YouTube with a delay.  The pattern has four sizes and is free!  They are planning lots of fun stuff, giveaways and a chance to sew together distantly.

You can find more information here:
https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2020/03/its-global-quarantine-quilt-along.html.

Watch the video to see how fun this will be!  I am planning to sew but am not affiliated in any way.  Just thought I would spread the fun!  Hope to "see" you Sunday!

Blissful hugs at a distance,
Sharon

P.S.  Saw my first bluebird yesterday, and I have snowdrops!

Happy Holidays!!!!

Just a quick note to wish everyone a joyous Christmas or Hanukkah!  The weather held off here, so travel was easy once you got off the icy driveway.  Actually did some rearranging and put out my Sara: 
Plain and Tall houses.  Have had them since the 80's or 90's-- still stored all these years in the original boxes. Even washed, ironed and re-hung my kitchen curtains! The whole room looks brighter!  Finished binding a hand-pieced apple core last night.  Took me awhile to find the extra fabrics.  Planning to rearrange my stash so the colors I use most often are not on shelves too high to easily reach.  That's my next priority. What have you got planned for this last week of 2019 and beyond?

Are you remembering how special you each are?

Blissful hugs,
Sharon

Dodging A Bullet

After the stoke in November, a suspicious spot was accidentally found on a CAT scan.  At the time nothing could be done.  After waiting four months, yesterday was my appointment with a team of oncologists.  I was prepared for them to want a biopsy, and it was right behind the breastbone (not an easy place to get at). Imagine my surprise when the team suggested I leave it alone!  With no other symptoms, it may have been there since my birth, and it's a cyst not a tumor! I guess I was more worried than I thought about it and with four more months of hoping it wasn't growing, what a relief!  A little more on left hand every day, but no strength yet.  Little steps....no handwork yet. I'm hopeful every day.

HOME

At long last, I am home to stay.  Over the past four months I've only been home on short visits, with the proviso that I had to return to rehab ( I can't understand why they emphasized that to me).  Dickens has come out of hiding and is keeping me company. Have not tried quilting yet--probably tomorrow, but I have been thinking of how I can modify what I want to do.  One needs two good hands for many things. I will continue to make quilts--just a bit differently.

Hello to everyone.  I was able to help someone who had a stroke near my timeline, helped several elderly folks, and can serve as a shining example of faith (or stupidity) in action.  Be grateful for every day you are healthy and whole; it can be gone in less than a blink.

Blissfully counting down to spring,
Sharon

Home Soon

After what seems like forever, I'll be home early next week. It will seem heavenly. And quiet. Just me and the cat.  No upstairs yet and Ieft hand a bit better.

A long journey

I must admit that I thought I would be better long ago. But it is almost 100 days since coming to rehab. Mentally, I've been ready; physically not so much. I lost all use of my left side. My hand is slowly coming back and I can walk with a wheeled walker. Since it can take over a year for it all to come back, it's a waiting game. I am reading all the cards and comments, so keep them coming. I'll answer as soon as I get home.

Love and big hugs, and thanks,

Sharon

Optical Illusion

Doesn't this look like smoke coming out of these trees?  Lucky for us, it is just a cloud formation.

It Pays to Look Down

And to pay attention!  Look what we found in my brother's driveway!

Pretty good job of blending in.

Look at those claws!

What a cute face--and check out that "turtleneck"!  

Happy start to the new week.  The end of October and the beginning of November, capped off with the end of Daylight Savings Time.  A trifecta of change!

The Unspoken Word...

never does harm.

Lajos Kossuth

Oh No...

I think they're gaining on me!!!!

Yep, here come those turkeys now!!!!

HeHe!  I just couldn't resist.  Hopefully that will start off your day with a smile.

It's all in the details

Coming Soon to a Tree Near You

Who Knew!

Truthfully, I didn't!  Slugs (who don't have shells) eat most of my iris blossoms and leaves, and do quite a bit of damage here.  But a bit ago, I found this snail ascending my door frame (outside!).  Photo op!

Check out the cool patterning on the pale parts and on the shell.

This is the best pic of all!  

September already.  Labor Day Weekend.  Yes, I'm still quilting.  Yes, I am still horsing around.  Lots of news to share over the coming days.  But I thought this would really get your attention ;-)

Blissfully,
Sharon

What kind?

of winter will it be? This is the first (and only) wooly-bear I've seen. Typically the amount and placement of black markings indicates when the worst storms will be.  Did you notice--NO black! Here's hoping! (No I don't do winter sports....)

Might As Well Laugh