Help...I'm quilting and I can't stop...again!!!

UPDATE

ARG!!! They didn't have anymore of the fabric that I messed up cutting for the border. I got something else (don't know yet if I like it better) and it's 108" wide so I can use it without having to piece the border and also as backing without being pieced. That's a plus.

We'll see how it turns out.

I have the blue and pink top together. It sorta didn't end up looking how I thought it would. We'll see when I get the borders on how I finally feel about it.

This happens about every three quilts. For some reason they just don't develop the way you think they will. I guess this is true with any form of art. Do you think Van Gogh had these same issues?

(These are pattern pictures...not my quilt color choices)

Top almost put together.

Ready to be layered and quilted

Pieces freshly cut and ready to be assembled

Well... apparently having a broken finger has not slowed down the quilting process. I don't really know how I came to this point. I'm currently in different stages on three very different quilts. The first one pictured has been our Quilting Group project. We've been working on this one since the first Wed. in January. Yesterday, however, I made a huge mistake in measuring and today must return to Brentwood to, hopefully, get more material to finish the larger border. I orginally had enough material, but decided to make the border a little larger, quilt it and then proof it down to the correct size before cutting the scollops. WRONG... in reality I had purchased just enough to cut it as directed. We'll see how costly this mistake will be, both in time and money. OUCH!!! I told you I needed help.

The beehive quilt is another Wed. quilt group project. This one was abandoned by the other two ladies in our group. I loved it, so I perservered in making it. I did, however, cut down on some of the work. Mine does not have all the little teardrop shapes in all the corners. These are actually supposed to be bees. I thought it was too busy. I also used my own "bee" design for the ones placed in the border. My colors are a bit different also (mostly yellows and golds). This one I should be able to get done pretty soon. I will post a picture of my finished quilt as soon as it's done.

The third quilt pictured will not in any way be these colors. I'm in the process of setting up a "Quilt in a Night" for the ladies at church. I've always wanted to do a pink and blue quilt. So I'm making one to show as an example. I have stashes and stashes of fabric, so I just went to the closet and started rummaging and sorting. I cut it out last night and will start assembling the blocks after getting back from Brentwood. That's if I'm not crying and ripping off the current side borders and replacing them with a new color choice. Again, I will post a pictire of this one when I get it finished.

In the meantime...keep happy thoughts for me.

I need to put down the rotary cutter and step away from the cutting table.

I need to get my backside out of the chair and stay away from the sewing machine.

I need to stop staring at quilt pieces, thinking there must be a better placement option.

I need to come out from my quilt room and look for some sunlight and fresh air.

I need to stop dreaming up more quilt projects.

I need to say "no" when the next person suggests starting a new quilt.

I need to ignore that new quilt book I just bought.

I need to stay away from the magazine counter at Wal-Mart (they have quite a few quilt magazines).

I need to re-connect with my husband. I need to, basically, just give it a rest!

Alas...I just can't do this. So, here I remain unable to stop (at least for now). I know I'll see the great outdoors again soon. Until then...I'm quilting and I really can't stop!!!

Is this sweet...or what?

I have to say, my husband is the best. Just when I think he can't get any sweeter...he surprises me. I know Stan was not standing in the "romance line" when that gene was handed out and he wasn't trained by a father (or mother for that matter) to be romantic, but he really does know how to take a suggestion and run with it. After a not so romantic Valentine's Day, I suggested that he might want to try to up his game a bit. We had a nice chat about my expectations probably being a little high and his knowledge on the romance front being a little low. He obviously took my suggestions to heart.

This evening I had a choir practice from 4:30 to 6:00 PM. After I got talked into joining the choir again, I informed Stan that spaghetti was on our menu and that it was going to have to be his job to make dinner tonight. Well...I got home promptly at 6:05PM to find that this darling man had set up a candlelight dinner for two. The spaghetti, garlic bread and green beans were ready shortly after my arrival and we enjoyed a lovely (and well prepared) meal together.

So ladies of this family...take heart. There is always hope for our men.

Look at mine... ain't he sweet?

Doesn't he look right at home?

Yum, yum!!! And he did the dishes too!

I'm now a lefty...almost

It's just amazing what the body can do when it's pressed into it. On my journey to recovery I've discovered that it's true... when one thing is taken away, the body will make up for it. I'm pleasantly surprised at the number of things I can do left handed (technically I'm right handed). I thought it might be fun to post a list of those things I've discovered I can do left handed or those things I can do one handed. I've also included those things I just can't seem to master left handed. Here you go...

I can type using all fingers on my left hand (as they should be used) and only my index finger on the right hand.
I can comb my hair, but cannot use the hairbrush.
I cannot master the curling iron with my left hand. Guess it has something to do with looking at it in the mirror... confusing to say the least!
I can eat left handed pretty darn good. I cannot, however, cut up something like steak.
I cannot use a knife to slice things. Drat...that would have been nice to do.
I cannot make the stupid (sorry Heidi) scissors work left handed.
I can drive with only my left hand. You probably don't want to ride along, however, until I get back the other hand.
I can use the computer mouse left handed with a great deal of dexterity.
I can open bottles, cans, packages, only exception is the cereal bags. That requires two hands or a good pair of scissors.
I can cook left handed (involves mixing, stirring, folding, whipping, etc).
I can quilt left handed. This only means I can use the sewing machine to sew. But, surprisingly, I can pin pieces together using only my left hand.
I can write left handed. It's still a little shaky, but pretty readable. My printing , on the other hand, is not as good.
I can iron left handed.
I can (and this one is important) work the TV remote with my left hand.
I can sweep and vacuum with my left hand.
I can wash the dishes (most of them) with only my left hand.
I can load the washer and the dryer with only one hand includes adding the soap and bleach.
I can fold and put away all the clothes with only my left hand.
I cannot tie my shoes with only my left hand. But with the aid of only two fingers on my right hand the shoes get tied.
I can brush my teeth left handed if I use the electric toothbrush. Is that cheating?
I can put on all my makeup (including eyeliner and mascara) left handed.
I can wash my hair, shave my legs, and wash the bod with only my left hand.

Well, I think that's quite enough... you get the picture. You might ask why I'm only using my left hand to do many of these tasks. The reason is that all the tendons in the hand work in a sort of interconnected way. When I tax my right thumb, index finger and middle finger it tugs on the tendon of my ring finger. And that simply HURTS.

So until that day that I have full use of all the tendons and bones in my right hand, I will continue on this (not of my choosing) journey to becoming ambidextrous.

I'M FREE... kinda

Just an update:
Tuesday I went to the ortho dr. and they removed the half cast/splint. What a gruesome sight! I won't go into details, but can say that I'm very close to being bionic. Just hook my wires up to an antenna and I'd probably receive radio signals. Gladly (and a little painfully) the stitches were removed. For those of you who play "chicken foot" dominoes, you might be interested to know that my scar will look a little like a chicken foot tattoo. Could be worse...I guess! I was given an appointment on March 2nd to have all the hardware removed. Now you might think I would be excited to really be "free", but frankly after knowing of Adam's experiences, I'm scared spit less. You know how time drags when you're looking forward to something? Well, I know the next 16 days are going to fly by at warp speed. Fortunately there are a few fun things to do in this next couple of weeks that will distract me, but I still know the fateful day is coming when "pullout" (as they call it in ortho) will happen. I think I could handle the pin OR the wire, but the prospect of both is daunting. I don't consider myself to be a ninny, but this is by far the creepiest thing I've had to face.
So...with all that said, I have some advise for everyone... BE CAREFUL!!! Life can be such a fragile thing. You need to protect those parts of you that can be broken. This means you need to eat right, exercise and take that calcium. It's so important to the strength of your bones. Don't end up like me with three broken bones in your lifetime. It's just such an unnecessary and cruddy thing to have happen.
For those of you who have small children...make sure that they get what they need when they're little. It will serve them well in their latter life.
OK...I'll get off my soap box now. I just wanted to let you all know that I love you and don't want any of you to go through what has happened to me.
Who would have thought that a little finger bone could be such a big pain!!!

Just a little giggle!

Stan actually gave me this cartoon this morning. You've got to love a husband that can poke fun at himself. Now, I have to tell it straight. Since my surgery last Thursday, Stan has been doing everything he can to make my recovery go smoothly and make my life easier. If I don't ask him to do something every few minutes or so, he's asking me if there's anything I need. This man is multi-talented. Here is a list of the talents that have been displayed in recent weeks:

1. cook

2. beautician (this includes washing and styling)

3. laundry washer and folder

4. dishwasher

5. stove deep cleaner

6. fetch and carry

7. bathroom cleaner

8. bed maker

9. typist

10. master of the vacuum

11. chauffeur

12. secretary

13. general doctoring

14. vitamin police

15. pharmacist

16. psychologist

Well, I think you get the general idea. You know... a girl could get used to this!

Actually, I really don't like being so helpless and needy. I was so excited this morning when Stan asked me to help him get the items together for a first-aid kit he needs for one of his Scout classes. Yipee...I'M HELPING!!!

I promise my dear husband that someday his active and responsible wife will return. Until then... thank goodness he loves me so much!

OUCH...in living color

After seeing Carol's sad little face on her blog post, I decided to just put my "OUCH" out there in "living color".

Just a warning: the following pictures may be disturbing.

CLOSE


CLOSER

CLOSEST

It's really not as bad as it looks. Yes, it does still hurt a bit, but at least I know that this way I am healing properly.

I'm learning that there are all kinds of things I can do left handed. The "one handed" part, however, is much harder! I'd sure like to be able to use the curling iron myself. This is just not possible though. So, Stan is getting some "beauty" training that I'm sure he never expected to get during our marriage. As Rob would say, "That's not listed as a duty on the back of the wedding certificate." Funny how we can get pressed into doing or learning something as part of marriage that we never thought we would. So, I would just say to Stan, "remember how I helped to put a transmission in Nic's car?"

I guess marriage really is a two-way street. And I thank God for that!!!

Thank you for all your well wishes. I'm getting better and looking forward to being whole again in a few weeks.