Adieu

When I started my blog back in 2009, never in my wildest dreams did I ever think it would evolve as it did.

I have made so many friends and acquaintances across continents, oceans, seas and many in my own backyard who I probably would have never otherwise met. You have  all touched me very deeply and have gotten me through some very dark and scary times during the years.  To each and every one of you, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

After much deliberation, I've come to the decision that it is now time to put my blog to rest.  I will not take it down so that you can still access my many "First Friday Freebies" and BOM's.  Continue to enjoy them.  

I've enjoyed writing every post and more importantly, have read each and every comment that hundreds of you have left throughout the years.  

So from all of us here at The Painted Quilt, Ollie, Frankie, Mr. Painted Quilt and myself, we bid you 'adieu' and as always,

Happy stitching!

An Awesome Gift!

Look what arrived in the mail yesterday from my friend Mary from Quilt Hollow.

It looks huge in the photo above but in actual fact, it measures only 6"x 10".

Mary knows me so well and our tastes are almost identical when it comes to fabrics and themes.  Not too many people know that I collect pineapples, the Colonial symbol of hospitality.  I have several throughout our house, including dried ones.

Mary's longarm quilting is perfection and even the binding is hand-stitched with teeny-tiny stitches.  I wouldn't have expected any less from Mary.

As soon as I'm able, I will be taking this in to be framed.  It's waaaay too precious not to be showcased in this way.

Thank you sooooooooo much, my friend.

Have a wonderful stitching kinda day!

Changes

A recent visit with my neurologist and today with my family doctor confirmed the worst.  I've been advised to not sew for any prolonged lengths of time for fear that further damage could be done to the discs in my lower spine and the nerves within.  Just the mere words sent a chill down my spine because I could not live with that kind of pain again.

As a result, this certainly puts a halt to my hopes of making the Broken Dishes quilt with you all, in addition to any other(s) quilts in the immediate future that require machine work.  Handwork however, is not an issue, something that I'm so thankful for because you all know my passion for handwork.

As a result, we'll be making some major changes to my sewing room.  The down sizing has already begun...again.  I've sold my Bernina 750QE which has gone to a good and 'local' home.  I've also started purging my fabric stash and have either sold and/or given away a major portion.  I've also found a buyer for all my books and patterns.

As you can see, my sewing, quilting and designing career is certainly taking on a new direction.  This by no means that I will give it all up.  Heck, no.  It's only another blip on the proverbial radar.

Hopefully I'll have the desire to pick up my Brinton Hall quilt in the next little while, after the reality of my situation really has had a chance to sink in.

If you've read this far, thank you.  I have no intention to give up and you'll still see me here on a very regular basis sharing both the good and the not so good.

You are all very special me...and those words come from the bottom of my heart.

As always,

Happy stitching!

I'm making myself crazy!

It's a good thing that I've been procrastinating about starting to cut my Cheddar Broken Dishes quilt because it's driving me crazy.

Have a look at these photos that Margie, one of my readers and friends sent me.

  
To heck with the sashing, I say...and maybe even the cheddar will have to be put on hold for another project!

  

I just love this quilt!!!

Happy stitching!

A Little Change

You all know that I L-O-V-E the Cheddar Broken Dishes quilt but as much as I've tried, I find that I'm just not 'loving' the white sashing.  In my mind's eye, the two just contradict one another.

So what I've decided to do is make my sashing out of a medium-to-dark blue Civil War or reproduction print.  I know I'll be more happy with it that way.

Happy stitching!