Ta Da......it's finished!

 

My Cathedral Friendship Quilt is finished and on my bed. I am so pleased with how it looks. Thank you to the friends who joined in to send fabric to be included. (Names listed on the right sidebar). Fabric arrived from England, Germany, France, Surrey Canada and New Brunswick Canada, Pennsylvania Alabama, Wisconsin, Connecticut and Rhode Island as well as Arizona. Names are written on the reverse side of windows,,,, I will be adding a label soon. I began this project in April of this year...but really it did begin in 1991 in my mind. It took 5 months and completely stitched by hand.

The binding did not take long at all to attach. I took pleasure and pride  in each stitch. It is a very heavy quilt! These past few days I have been planning the next one....Hexagons. They will measure a 5 inch finish. It will be all floral centers...large print, small print and different colors. Time to look through the fabric bins for square that are 6 inches before cutting. The back squares will again be of muslin. It will be a little smaller than my bed quilt as it is for the living room. Once in awhile even in Arizona you need/want a blanket to cover up with. 

I join many in thinking of the Queen's passing. I send thoughts to all my friends in England and Canada who also mourn their leaders loss. Now to remember to say King Charles III. The royals all move up one to new roles.

Hello...still here....

 Goodness, I think I disappeared. But here I am. Truth be told.... my busy doctor and test schedule has put some stress on me. This year has been...well you know if you visit me. Today I finally have a discharge from the Orthopedic. He is very pleased with how my fractured shoulder has been healing. I have fairly good range of motion (doing my own daily PT) and feels I can continue without formal PT.  Monday was another spinal MRI....1 hour lying very still in the machine!!! I was thinking...plenty of time... "how do older people tolerate this".... then I realized I am that older person and stopped myself from laughing. The Epidural injection only lasted 2 days. So, next will be to see what these tests show...just falling apart.

Anyway, 

The baby quilt for McKayla is finished. The roses are the front and green on the back. I made a Shabby Roses for both sides. The rose fabric is called Hugs, Kisses --I sewed the tag to the back side.Need to gift wrap then send off.

 

Still working on my Cathedral, Friendship Quilt...loving every minute of hand stitching. I almost have the length where I like it then just the drop to do. It is so heavy that I now work on it while on the sewing table. Besides, it is too hot to keep on my lap while sewing. We had a real Monsoon storm ...started at 2:30am with lots of lightening then thunder and by 3am pouring rain and strong winds. Lasted for a few hours. Murphy and I went out to lay down tone of the umbrellas (the other one fell) and the sky lit up with lightening and we both got right back inside. All quiet now and sun in and out. 

Murphy still scoots under the sofa.... most of the time we need to lift it so he can get out.

He does a pivoting thing to turn around and as you can see, he is waiting for help! He just turned 3 years old yesterday. At the moment he is napping under the bed. Poor baby was awake early because of the storm! 

Happy Birthday Murphy

Just love this boy.💖I should join him...no, not under the bed. Just a nap atop the bed...lol

Sorry for being absent so long. sorry I worried a few ....thank you for your good wishes. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

Catching up

 Last evening we had a lightening show with thunder but sparse rain in my area...some Arizona spots has real rain. The wind was whisking around lots of dried stuff...Alan now cleaning it up so Murphy does not take any of it inside. He collects debris.

This is the width of the friendship quilt ....now I will add to the sides until it fits how I would like it. I love the look. It is just a coverlet....not a bedspread size for my daybed. I smile when I look at it! some of the windows are favorite project memories, and then there are those that some of you have sent. My goodness it is getting quite heavy. I now have it on the sewing table to work on as my shoulder is still not completely healed. Dianna was here this past week. Her wall hanging Cathedral quilt is just about finished. She is deciding on what next. We enjoy our weekly sew and lunch. Dianna found us a couple of Plumeria plants. There is no indication of which color but we do not mind. My plant is currently hiding in the lanai because of the storm and winds. I also read that they can be indoors with some care. For now it will be moved out for sun and back for shade. This afternoon Arizona heat is murder.

Murder did I say.... while getting fabric for a baby quilt...the pink roses and green fabric....

I spotted the crow print. It is fantastic! Had to get a yard for I do not know what...but I love crows and with chandeliers! Also spotted the needles. They are just what I have been looking for. Always fun to come home with goodies. The baby quilt ...as you may have guessed...is for a little girl. Her dad works for Alan. The pregnancy has been labelled high risk with a few scares along the way. Please keep this family in your thoughts for a healthy birth.

Healthy? when it refers to me...well I am healthy just recently having this and that. Tomorrow I will be having an injection with sedation...fun times. The pain in my back is caused from a disc that is pinching a nerve. Not sure how my rest of the day will go, so keep me in the easy time thoughts. Glad to catch up with you. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

Meet Alfie

 No wonder I get got confused. I have several things going on right ow and a doctor for each issue! Monday I went  to the doctor thinking it was for my fractured shoulder....no...it was for the Achilles surgery! While that doctor is pleased with my healing, he suggested a compression anklet and a sleep boot. Alan ordered. Returning will be my decision or if something happens...not that we are going to let something happen. The doctor mentioned that I need to be in a bubble. He was not very pleased at all with my sandals. No..not support and told Alan I needed a good pair of sneakers. so off we went to get a pair of cross training New Balance. Tomorrow is the doctor for the shoulder....and not too soon. 

This is Alfie Ambrosino... Bobby's kitty. The quilt is the one Dianna is working on. Alfie, like Murphy cannot resist claiming these quilts as soon as they are put down! Haven't seen Dianna this week, looking forward to seeing how much more is done. Did I mention we are already planning our next one?

Yesterday was the 5th anniversary of my Dennis' passing. Amazing how the time rolls on by. I look back and my heart is filled of memories we collected with 48 years of marriage. I just thought we would be together forever.... we are in my heart but I do miss my hand in his, missing his smile and laugh, just everything about him. 

Very nice to visit with you today....thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

My helper...not

 Oh we are having a heat wave....an Arizona heat wave...(to the tune of Having a Tropical Heat Wave). Temps are high already and Monsoon is starting. When I woke at 5am it was 93...going to 112. Now 101 at 10am! Murphy only is going out to do his thing and right back in. Me? I am going to the sewing table. Yesterday Dianna came for quilting and lunch. Always enjoyable time and good conversation. 

Dianna's quilt will be a wall hanging. She is making it all in floral print so the fabric she brought me are flowers and I shared some floral print with her, I forgot to take a picture...next visit.

Prime delivery  late yesterday was this...what is it you ask?

A wool zippered tote that contains 

A wool pressing mat and silicone piece to put under the mat while using. A new cutting mat. My mat is about 30 years old.  I have been told how great the pressing is with these mats. Also in the tote was

A  pouch containing pins, tape measure and scissors. Don't you love getting new stuff for sewing.....  

Murphy, the helper...not... immediately took care of the box it arrived in. He loves tearing it all up! He also thinks the quilt is for him...

and yes, I did give him belly rubs! We are...I mean Alan and Lisa are still on vacation arriving back on Tuesday. Across the courtyard friends Robyn and Dave have been checking on me.... nice to have good neighbors friends. As for an update.... depending on when you ask, I am doing really well. Then there is the moment when I unintentionally move my shoulder...yes still wearing the  stupid sling... and then there is pain. Pacing myself and paying attention to what I am doing helps. Of course my heel is still healing..... I am a walking injury!  This has slowed me down...Alan is always telling me to slow down.  

Okay friends, time to sew and stay on iced liquids. Right now it is iced coffee and then it will be water for the day. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement, and thank you for your friendship.

There was a lady named Beatrice.....

 Hello my friends. Still slowly sewing on my quilt. I sew a little then I rest my hand and shoulder adding windows  I go along. I was told to wear this sling 27/7 and I am, but counting the days that I may take it off. I am trying to be a good patient.I am learning to slow down.

Next is to attach another strip then windows. I work going around and when I reach the width that I want I will then only add blocks to the top and bottom to make the length. Yesterday I added another Dianna and a piece of fabric from long ago...the 80s. Stop snickering, we all have pieces of fabric that we just save.

There was a lady friend who taught me to quilt. Her name was Beatrice Angell and we met in the early 80s. The piece added in her name is the blue arrow one which is also in the pillow. It is a pattern from the book, Scrap Quilts and called  Star of the Orient. This pillow is sewn by hand and both sides are the Star in different colors. Bea was a beautiful quilter. She also made quilted vests. She encouraged me at all times to try.  Every hand stitch reminds me of Beatrice.

I ordered a 10 yard bolt of muslin from Jo Ann's and it arrived yesterday. I still have yardage from the start, but wanted to be sure to have it on hand to be able to keep going. If you look to the sidebar on the right of my blog page, you will see the names of those who sent pieces of fabric for the quilt. So far one window from each of them is in the quilt. I will continue to add them here and there and write their names on the back. 

Now who do you think sent pink scrapes and a pink poodle????

I am so grateful and happy to include these pieces of fabric from everyone and have their name on the reverse side behind the fabric window they sent. Such a variety to choose from. I still continue not to select a print. I just pick out of the bin and sew it on.
 

I finally found a home for my "older" Singer...the one that served me well for years. It will be given to a sewing student at a small quilt shop that does not have a machine of her own. Happy to help someone out. Erica, the shop owner said she always has someone who can't afford a machine. Lisa and I will take it to the shop later today. Our weather has really heated up...in the high 90s to 100+. I think it is time to make a container of iced coffee. 

There are chores to do but I would rather sew! Glad to show you the quilt and tell you about Beatrice. I wonder what happened to her..... thank you for your kind words and thank you for your friendship.

Making progress

 What a lovely day....until later when the afternoon winds arrive. But really, no complaints. On Monday I saw th surgeon. He is very pleased with my progress and I can start to wear shoes. Of course they must be open back/slip on type but basically that is what I own anyway. The aches are getting better as is the pressure in my heel. It will still take months more to feel really good. I am exercising and doing my own PT with the approval of the doctor. 

What have I been doing? I have started my Friendship Cathedral Quilt squares. Windows will be later.I have 12 that are ready for assembly, working on the next 12 today, sewing them into shape. This hand sewing that I have been doing is good therapy for my hand (since surgery).  When I asked for fabric pieces for my windows, I did not say...any color or print in cotton. At least 2 1/2 inch or 5 inch square. Once they are sewn into the blocks I will put the name of the friend who sent it on the backside.  Anyway, thank you for those who will be sending.

Last week was fix it or replace it week. The Garden umbrella  (2 yrs old) broke.... the garbage disposal (21 yrs 0ld) broke and of course my new phone which I somehow locked and could not open. Alan and Lisa got 2 new umbrellas, Alan replaced the disposal and the Verizon guys fixed my phone. Never a dull moment around here. Once again, I am very lucky to have Alan and Lisa here to look after things.

Always a pleasure to have you stop by. Thank you for your kind words and for the encouragement. Thank you for your friendship.