The Three S’s

Spring, sewing and S-H-O-P-P-I-N-G. 

Can it get any better than that?

We’ve been having such glorious weather this Spring and the 4-5” of snow that took us all by surprise last Thursday disappeared the very next day.  This made the robins very happy as they were able to continue with their smorgasbord in our backyard with just a minor interruption.

This morning it was a balmy 50 degrees at 8am when Mac and I went for a little stroll in the ‘back forty’.  I had forgotten all about the naturalized bluebells out there because they weren’t there for very long last Spring before the deer gobbled them up.

You have to look closely because they haven’t fully opened but you can see little bits of bluish-purple scattered here and there throughout the grass.  Click on the picture to enlarge it and perhaps you’ll be able to see them more clearly.

They are also appearing in my rose garden, along with some johnny-jump-ups.  Mr. Painted Quilt dug this bed for me last Spring so where they came from is anybody’s guess.  But they’re here to stay!

I know that early Spring gardens are not that exciting to look at but I love to watch the new growth as it appears. 

Even the strawberry rhubarb has started to break ground.  I can taste the pies and preserves now.

The lilac buds are just waiting for a few consecutive days of warm weather before the leaves start to unfurl.

I don’t know how I ever passed math because my ‘ciphering’ skills leave a lot to be desired.  I thought that I had cut out enough 2 1/2” squares to make 20 granny square blocks for my newest quilt project but I wasn’t even close! 

So after Frankie and I finished piecing 5 blocks last evening, it was back to the drawing cutting board.  Sheesh!

Not only are these blocks fun to piece, they are easy-peasy to make as well!  If you’d like to make one of these quilts, just click HERE for the tutorial.

So five blocks down and fifteen more to go.

But the remaining granny squares will have to wait until the end of next week because bright and early on Wednesday morning, we are heading to the New England states for a mini vacation and to do some serious

S-H-O-P-P-I-N-G!

Start the car!

Three down…

And ZERO to go!  Woo hoo!

As of this morning, my third and last WIP is now quilted and bound. 

This was a fun sampler to make.  It was offered by The Temecula Quilt Company over the 12 days of Christmas and is aptly referred to by the same name.

Here’s the reverse side.

This little quilt was so much fun to make and I’ll be anxiously waiting to see what they have in store for us this Christmas!

Two weeks ago today was my final radiation treatment and I am happy to say that my strength and stamina are getting stronger with each passing day.  Today is the first day where I can say that the wounds and burns have just about healed and if I could do a back handspring to celebrate, I would!

But rather than break my neck, this morning I decided to bake a carrot cake to celebrate instead.

Mr. Painted Quilt and I each had a piece with lunch but I think that our resident life-sized, two-legged mouse helped himself to seconds while my back was turned.   *wink*

Know how I can tell? 

See that crooked cut on the right side?  I would never do that!  I’d just have to cut myself another piece…just to even it off!   *wink*

SO now that my three WIP’s are finished, I can now start on a new project without feeling guilty. 

I didn’t want to copy a picture without asking for permission first so if you’d like to see what my next project is going to be…complete with tutorial…just go HERE.

Don’t you just ♥ it?

After hemming and hawing over which fabrics to use…Civil War or 1930’s reproduction…

Frankie and I decided to go with the 1930’s fabrics.

Don’t they just bring a smile to your face?  I had forgotten how much I really L-O-V-E them!

I’ll probably start to iron the fabrics after my power nap this afternoon and begin the cutting tonight.

Three finishes in two weeks!  There’s no stopping me now!

Pink Lemonade Anyone?

Would you care to join me in some freshly made pink lemonade?

No, not that kind…the quilted kind!

I finished piecing my version of Lori’s Pink Lemonade, a quilt-along that she hosted back in January.  I thought that I would be able to finish hand quilting it during the six weeks that I was away for my radiation and chemo treatments but such was not the case.  During that time, I had absolutely NO interest in anything quilting related…except for perhaps looking at pictures in magazines…and wondered if the spark would ever be rekindled.

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Well, I’m happy to say that it has…and with a vengeance!

On Sunday I finished the hand quilting and just this morning, sewed the last stitch on the binding.  Then I washed it and tossed it in the dryer to give it that aged, vintage and crinkled look.

Here’s the back…complete with my new label.   

♥ those labels!

I promised myself that I would finish up any projects that I had lying around before starting into something new and that’s what I’m doing.  Two down and one to go.

Next on the list?

The 12 Days of Christmas sampler by the Temecula Quilt Company.

I  can’t tell you how good it feels to be back in my studio again!!!

Feeling groovy…

Because I’m slowly getting back into the sewing groove!

Remember my postage stamp flimsy that I finished waaaaay back in November?

I picked it up about four weeks ago while I was home for the weekend from my treatments from the gal who quilted it for me but at the time, the last thing I felt like doing was preparing and sewing on the binding.

After dusting and tidying up my studio yesterday, I decided that enough was enough.  I went through my stash, picked out a suitable fabric then cut out and pieced the binding.  

But I didn’t stop there!

Before I knew it, Fanny Featherweight and I had the binding sewn on, ready for me to complete with hand stitching.

This was the first time that I had sewn anything in almost two months and I was over the moon with joy at the sense of accomplishment.  But by that time I was tired and rather than push myself, I decided to call it a day.

Bright and early this morning, you know what I was doing…right? 

I don’t know about you all but I love stitching the binding.  It’s the very last step before putting the project to bed and although I’m sure it can be somewhat anticlimactic and boring for some, for me, it’s a sense of fulfillment and that’s exactly how I’m feeling right now!

Now the BIG decision is whether to put it in Emily’s room…

or hang it from the quilt rack in the upstairs hallway?

Which do you prefer?

If you’d like to help my friend Lesley name her second Schnibble quilt, then head on over to her blog, The Cuddle Quilter.  She’s having a giveaway and if you like pincushions…because you know you can never have too many pincushions…then be sure to pay her a visit.

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Can you see me happy dancing?  I’m feeling groovy!

It’s over…

Almost. 

I have to return to Halifax tomorrow for one last radiation treatment because the machine that I was assigned to was down for one day and as a result, they tacked the missing treatment onto the end.  I really don’t want to go but I promised myself and Mr. Painted Quilt that I would give it my best shot and if driving the 250 miles round trip is what it takes, then so be it.

The radiation and chemo treatments have not been easy.   I have extensive burns, blisters and open wounds from the radiation and supposedly during the next week to ten days these will only get worse as a result of the cumulative and lingering effects of the 30 treatments.

On a positive note, however, this has been the first weekend where I have not experienced nausea and have been able to eat something other than toast and a piece of fruit. 

So guess what is simmering on the stove?

A huge pot of spaghetti sauce! 

I’m hoping that I’ll be able to enjoy a little of it for dinner.  I know Mr. PQ will because after the second week of treatments, I did not have either the stamina or fortitude to able to cook anything but thanks to our friends and neighbors, they kept him well fed and occupied.

All I’m hoping for now is for my mojo to return soon.  I’ve had neither the will nor desire to do anything quilting or stitching related and even my appetite for reading has disappeared.  After the second week of treatments, all I did was sleep and and could only manage to look at pictures in magazines. 

My poor house has been very neglected as well which is so un-me.  But the dust bunnies have promised to hang around until I’m strong enough to tackle them, hopefully some time later this week.   *wink*

So while dinner is simmering on the stove, this is what I’ll be doing this afternoon…

Opening all the wonderful cards, letters and prezzies that arrived during this past week!   You guys are the greatest!

I can’t tell you often enough how grateful I am to you all for being there and for holding my hand while I walked down this scary and unknown path.  I doubt that I could have done it without your support and encouragement.

Until next time,