Christmas quilt

Note:  this was from October... It never published...So what have I been up too... Lots.. Well this week my dear friend Victoria (Victoria Findlay Wolfe quilts- sorry can't link from my phone) was supposedly working and ended up making a lovely Christmas quilt... As I saw her post... I just had to see it... Because I have one completed Christmas quilt that had remained on my bed year round... Lol and I have another that was started two years ago that I never completed.. Yes smh.  I know.. Finish what I start...

So I had an idea..

 

And because I needed a bit if push to actually do it.. I called her via our usual FaceTime - 

Lol... Yes and I was able to get my inspiration and I viewed her studio.  She also said I could buy new Christmas fabric... (Enabler.  Hehehe)

So in Friday I went to the City Quilter and picked up some fabric.

And then Saturday I got started... Drafting and such...

And then voila...

Still working 

Auditioning fabric I had in my stash.. Yes didn't use all that I purchased.. Lol

 And now here is the top finished

I love how it finished... Now I have to piece the back, baste and quilt... Whew...

Wrappers, flowers and more

Wow, where does the time go... For more updates be sure to check out my Instagram... It is hard to believe that we are on the fourth round of the original NYC Metro mod Guild Bee...

Hmmm I guess I should finish the last few quilts lol.

So November was Rossanna's month as Queen Bee.  She had asked us to save  candy wrappers and such for our blocks.

I am not a big candy eater so I was saving my dark chocolate peanut butter cup foil wrappers.  I also ended up using tea wrappers and some chick-o-stick candy wrappers...

So this is what I came up with.  First, I had to figure how to protect the foil and allow for manipulation without it tearing. So I glued and modge podged it to magazine paper.

And while that was drying... I began working on the tea wrapper flower I got the idea from a DIY I saw on scrap-a-little.com blog... (See link below)

And this is what it looks like.

 Then I went ahead with the other block.  And see the pics below... I hope she likes it... It was cool to figure out how to make flowers with the wrappers and attach them to the fabric and maintain the shape... Can't wait to see the final.

http://www.scrap-a-little.com/2009/07/dahlia-flower-tutorial.html?m=1.  

Oh boy ... In the blink of an eye...

Sooo hi blogosphere... I guess this is why I am fortunate to have Instagram.... There is sooo much that has been created and even more ideas that have been brewing...

How does one find the time to cover all things... Health, fitness, running, golf, work, and the most important exercise... Creativity.

Luckily I was away for a while last month and got some stitching time in... And then finally, today was able to get some ideas flowing...

I had my scratchartfabric queen bee block that I have been working on... My mod bee folks are working on them as well... I love doing these, ever since last year...

Here is one that I just finished...

I also finished this one... Finally...

 The above is entitled Exhale.. And I believe I posted this almost 5 years ago, when I finished the top.

And in August I worked on a number of things... However, this is what I can share...

Now I need to get working on my two bee blocks that I owe... Since I am back on my machine...

Tomorrow after early morning golf and brunch...

Till then...

Yikes it's JULY

Wow... Okay that was super fast.  Sorry for the absence... On to the yummy stuff.

For starters I am mobile and managed to run a 10k 3 weeks ago.  9 weeks after my broken ankle I had healed so much so that I was cleared to run the Queens 10k.  I'm still taking it slow and steady...

Will post a pic... But I want to get to my completions first....

 Drum roll...... "Scrappalicious" is done and in the mail to QBL... Kathy Dougherty's class at QBL last year was great... And here's how great it was...

And I realize how much I dislike binding....

6 plus hours to bind this beast...

And here was my broken ankle run... Not bad if I say so myself... Smiles

Ode 2 Foot

Okay... Moving swiftly to week number five... On the mend.

So, I broke my ankle and am finally getting back into my stitching groove. So I wanted to make something that would commemorate this time in my life.  So after hanging with my quilty gals a couple of weeks ago... I was inspired to make something that was a "color study" lol. 

See the previous post.

The top is completed.  See the pics below for the finished top and the various stages that it took over the past couple of weeks.  I am considering stitching my X-ray images in their somewhere...

Stay tuned for it's completion.

And my catch line is .. A broken ankle is only temporary, but diamonds are forever... Ode2Foot

Finished top

Making it bigger

Funny how things shrink once you start stitching them together.. Gotta go larger 

Cutting templates..

And no I was not climbing step stools with one leg... This is the new quilt tool... The plywood to help reach those places that are difficult with a broken ankle lol.

Of course had to bling the boot...

In the beginning, I didn't cover the entire wall.. But during this process I had to have someone come and cover the entire wall.

Yes now I have a full fledge design wall... Smiles

Everything happens for a reason...

Okay.. So I have been away from social media during the Lenten season... And so much has happened... 

First, I realized what a pleasure it was not to be attached to the various social tools.  I decided at the last minute to give it up for 40 days.  I usually don't participate in lent, but it was interesting to read how difficult it was for so many... So I deleted everything off my phone.  However, I still looked at Pinterst occasionally... Lol because I use it for quotes and such.

Many of my friends had to call or text me to know how I was.. What a concept lol.

I was also training for the More fitness women's half marathon in Central Park... I realized that it was a time consuming task.  I was pulled away from my quilting during these past months because as you progress in mileage, it takes more time.  More importantly, you have to take more time in overall fitness and ensure you are stretching and working all the appropriate muscles to avoid injury..

Anyway.. Sunday April 14, 2014 I completed my first half marathon, hills and all. I finished in 2hrs 47 min and felt wonderful..

And yes I am buying this photo... Lol

So I was elated, moved, thrilled that I was able to do all the things I said i couldn't do... I can't run more than 15 min straight, I can't run the loop in Central Park, there is no way I can run 2 or 3 hours... And now the loop is my mid week run, and I have run over 10'miles , 5 times so far including the 13.1, and a 12.5 and 10.5's.

So... Next up is the Brooklyn half marathon in May... 

However, everything happens for a reason... After my run this past Saturday I stopped in a restaurant to grab a bite to eat since I had a golf tee time that afternoon. As I walked in, it was darker than outside and colder, and after a few minutes I got dizzy. (It was around the time of month that my blood sugar and hormones go out of wack). So I placed my order and noticed that I was even more dizzy.  So, my last recollection was thinking I should sit on the stool at the counter, and the next thing i knew I was being helped upright and asked if I was okay.

I also had a sharp pain in the area of my ankle and looked down and saw that it had begun to swell up...  After about 20

Minutes I got up to leave and was in a lot of pain... So I went outside and boy was it bright and I felt weird and was able to get a cab. 

Long story short... I made it home and the swelling went down, I hobbled to dinner later... Drove to play simulation golf the next day, went to brunch... And had no pain... Later that afternoon my ankle swole up much larger than before.  So I drove myself to urgent care... Lol

While there, I had X-rays and was told I fractured my fibula and was not going to be allowed to drive home.  I managed to get someone to drive me and the car home, made it to my orthopedist the next day... And now am booted and crutched up..

I have a golf trip to Puerto Rico planned for this weekend that I can't cancel... So I shall be laying in the sun at the resort working on some hand projects lol...

Went out to the NYFA gala on Tuesday with Victoria and Michael, I was not missing this event... Smiles

And will make use of wheel chair service at the airport.. Woo hoo...

Until then, I'm taking it easy...

Eating extra healthy, taking some "knit bone" and found my way to the sewing machine this evening... So I am finally back to some stitching...maybe I will get some projects done.

Everything happens for a reason....good grief lol

What a time of it all...

So I have been so remiss and have not been posting... Alas life happens and it takes all that is in you to enjoy it... So since the year began I have finished a quilt top... Back at the DWR door, my dear friend Lisa (the red leaded mermaid) posted some Kaffe shot cottons that were cut and ready to be made into a DWR.. And I thought oooo I have already done a few but won't it be cool I do a full sizes one of my very own...

So here it goes..

It is a bit bigger than presented here.. But  it is all done.. Smiles

I have managed to sign up for two half marathons for this spring... April and May.. So training is a priority as well.

I have also managed to get away from the snow and cold temps ... Made it to Palm Springs for a lovely golf weekend...

I have also dabbled in some embroidery... My first ever...

Alas the past couple if months...

Smiles

As time goes by...

It's been a second... Since I posted.. Always something going on... Also training for a Half marathon... But I have been stitching away...

I have creative ADD... I see others projects and decide to make them as well... Like the redheaded mermaids DWR... And I did this... Lol

And if course still plowing away on my EPP

And I finished my mod swap ... Love... My interpretation is called "Filled with Love"

All the things I love...

See ya again soon.. Smile

Working through the Block

Okay so since the year began, I have not been inspired to do much of anything quilty.  I was stitching some postage stamps occasionally telling myself that I had to do something.  But still nothing moved me.  I had three blocks that had to be done.  Two bee blocks and one create a block.

So I went back and forth, procrastinating, and still nothing.  So I said well one is due next week... So start working on the block.  I had already created the dimensions etc., I just had to make it up.. So here it is, easy peasy was required. 

It has to be appliqués the rest if the way done... And I have not decided the orientation as yet.  Lol

Then I did Chrissie's Bee block because it was a no brainer.. She is great with providing instructions etc.

And then there was Rossanna's block.  She provided each of is a different word. Of course mine was long... Lol and it was Adventure... So I felt compelled to make a really cool block because she does such great work for Everyone else.  Smiles.  So I had to think, what do I see as adventure that would look good on a block with other words etc.

So I thought of a mountain/rock climber.  Especially since I was trekking in the Pre-Andes mountains in Argentina last October and repelled down the face of a cliff... That was awesome... So here is what I did.

I hope she likes it...

Finally the juices are flowing again.  I was getting a bit worried. Lol