Two Great Things

It's pretty late but I wanted to post two great things.

Firstly, the top is done!

The backing is pieced, the batting is airing.

Time for quilting.

 I think it's safe to start relaxing a little!

(Side note:  I'm doing a round of steroids to calm down

that major inflammation going on in my back/neck for now;

full check-up to come later.)

Second, and even greater,

I get to post this pic of my youngest son,

a junior, as he received his medal for first place

in pole vault at the KS State Track meet

(the biggest meet in the country)

with a vault of 15'1"--his personal best.

Hopefully I can get the video up tomorrow.

(I've never done that before but I thought I'd give it a try!)

My other son throws shot put tomorrow afternoon with a good

chance at placing so we're excited and will be there to cheer him on

for his last school sports competition...ever.  <sniff>

I'll be happy with just getting my quilt loaded before we head

out to the meet but I think I'll be able to get a couple hours of fun,

easy-paced quilting (what it's supposed to be, right?) in too.

My trust in things working out, though difficult,

does not seem to have been misplaced;

it's even looking like Memorial Day might be

a day of fun and relaxing with family by the pool,

maybe a little reading even?

And then I'll go deliver that quilt!

Trusting

For someone who classifies herself as "anti-social"

I sure host a lot of parties, meals and other get-togethers.

As if our previous months haven't been full enough,

last weekend we had friend over for a farewell meal and

this past weekend we hosted a huge graduation party.

I've been happy to do all of this but burn-out is starting to hit.

Lately it seems I'm having to rush through everything so much that

it has become a struggle to find the joy in tasks that I normally

see as downright soul-feeding fun.

I am still working to slow down but sometimes

God just has other things in mind--and I guess that is fine.

Slower days will come but, knowing me and my way-too-many interests,

that pace may not be all that welcome so when feeling

less-than-joyful in my work and even play,

nurturing a grateful attitude is the key.

I now look back with relief and pride that I made it through

and everything went very well.  But, looking ahead,

the quilts that I'm supposed to be making for grad gifts are

coming up from the back burner with so much work remaining
that I can't help but feel a little panic.

The day after the party I woke up in tears with immense pain and

barely able to move.  Wherefor art thou attitude of gratitude?

Well, thank goodness it at least waited till after the party!

To me, there is nothing worse than giving a promise of a gift

because the real one isn't done so I just don't find it an option.

This quilt must get done by Memorial Day!

So between trips to the chiropractor,

(those who know me know this is a huge sign of my desperation!)

rest, ice, heat and repeat,

I've been trying, trying, trying to get this done.

Yesterday I was lucky to get in 2 minutes at a time sitting

at my sewing machine.  Today I was able to do a couple hours.

And here's the part I shouldn't have done but with the time crunch

and my curiosity, I set about working on the lay-out.  When this

one didn't really do much for me, I tried another.

Gosh, I wish this picture did it justice.

There is more color and more "pop" going on in my living room.

I hope that when I go to take pics of the final, it will show.

Either way, this second setting looks like what I think will be a

perfect fit for this guy!  My neck and back also say this is the one

so therefore, it is!

Today's goal is to get this completely pieced together...

while I also make 10 loaves of French bread for a 

track dinner because, as my mom used to say,

there is no rest for the weary!

I smile as I type that and trust in God that,

like everything else, this too will all work out just fine!

Starting On Grad Quilts

A combination of rough weather on the way

and feeling rough myself after yesterday's yard work

is going to keep me inside today...I hope.

Once I'm outside it's hard to stop.

With 3 acres there's always something that needs attention

and, in nice weather, I love it--no matter how hard the work.

Must be some farm girl still in me.

So last week, after my fun trip up to Missouri Star,

 I made a trial run on the block for the quilt.  

Having fully understood the assembly, the author's idea of a 1/4"

seam allowance and then achieving the correct finished block size, I....

You thought I was going to say "made a bunch of blocks" right?

Nope.

My days lately have been a combo of:

(after my morning coffee routine)

work outside, force myself in to the sewing room for a little rest

and then head back out in the late afternoon till dinner.

It's weird for me to break the days up like this but it has

become a necessity.  I prefer to work on something till it's done but

I guess I'll get used to it eventually.  

All part of my "slow down" New Year's resolution.

A little rambling today.

Back to fabric, quilts, sewing and such.

This grad is headed to K-State but I'm not sure I've ever seen

him wear purple--and I've known him most of his life.

I don't want the quilt to scream "I'm a freshman!" by putting

actual K-State fabric in it nor did I want it to have so much

purple that he wouldn't be able to use it years later.

So here's my chosen "palette".

(The gray plaid is the backing.)

This guy is rather close to our hearts--he's been a good friend of my son's

since kindergarten and his parents have been close friends of ours

for almost as long.  He likes the outdoors and is an Eagle Scout.

So.....mountains maybe?

Bonnie Hunter's Delectable Mountains Instructions

I think--I hope!--the delectable mountain pattern is something he

will like.  I've chosen to go with the above instructions though I'll

be altering it to fit a dorm twin XL bed.  I have no idea if he'll

use it in his dorm room but it will be an option at least.

I did get some HST's and just a handful of blocks made
over the next few days.  Not a full on "jump in"
but a "dip the toes in the water" kind of start.
The HST's are big--trimmed to 8" squares.
Each block in this case is a "half" of a mountain and measures 6.5" x 8".

The construction is easy--half square triangles cut into strips

and re-arranged.  Just what the doctor ordered.
Maybe today  I'll "jump in the pool".

And speaking of, maybe we'll open our pool up this weekend!