Update on Chrissy, quilt blocks, shopping, new grandbaby 2 B

Thought since you all are praying for my Chrissy that you might like to know that she is home from her surgery - 55% of her liver and 2 lymph nodes removed - and resting (hopefully).  She made it through with flying colors!!!! She is recovering nicely - relapsed one day in the hospital because of all the visitors and phone calls... so they moved her to a new room. She has to walk with a walker right now, and can't climb the stairs.... but she is home.  Her dog ran around in circles when she got home, and then approached Chris very carefully... dogs just know.
Please don't stop praying though. There is chemo coming up in 3 weeks or so, and she will need all the help she can get... again.
Thank you so much for all your help...

I have been sewing on 2 quilts. (Sort of maniacally, I'm afraid.)  The blocks are pretty much completed, well here's the pics...

The red and pink blocks are 5" finished and they are going in a quilt for Project Linus for the Open House in May. We were to make a quilt using only our favorite color and it's shades and tints. You know I loooooove RED. (Notice that my phone is located on, right on, my sewing machine cabinet...just in case my Chrissy should call.)

You've seen these paper pieced blocks, 7" finished, the centers are all yellow, or all pink, or all lavender with the same multicolored batik print around.  It's for the H2H (Hands to Help) Charity Quilt Challenge. Use the link; go there and check it out. There is still time to join in the fun. There will be tutorials, visiting celebrities and prizes. There are two different charities... well, lots of fun besides being a worthy cause.
Yesterday the Hubs went to the chiropractor, and I got to spend the same time at Hobby Lobby. It's new in our area...  I don't go often, cause it is 20 miles away, and I find way too many "wonderful" things there. Yesterday, I found a plaque for my Chrissy, a mold for bangle bracelets to use with resin, and, of course, fabric. I think the man would faint if I came out of that store without fabric. I got a few more pinks. For some reason I don't have alot of that color... must have used more of that than all the rest....Here's a look-see

all washed and ironed, and used in new blocks.

And now (dat da da dah!) the next Brandgaby  Grandbaby to be - Mason Scott Johnson to arrive Aug. 21, 2012 or there abouts.(Our #8 - that's a lucky number, you know.)  Our 44th anniversary will be on the 10th, my Dad's birthday on the 1st, Hubby's Dad's birthday on the 24th, the Mommy's birthday on the 13th, and now another birthday... we'll have a busy August. Just the way I like it.

Sew to summarize:  Please keep praying for my Chrissy!  Sewing like a whirling dervish. New Grandbaby this summer. That is all... for now!
Thank you for visiting.... Hugs to you all!
Terri

Traveling (Fabric and books) Box Winner!!!

First a Chrissy update... My daughter is doing soooo much better. She is up, out of bed, and even played games with 3 of her kids that came to visit last night. (Her hubby napped - he is "tuckered" because he is trying to do her job!  He is cheating though... he sent out the laundry, and with four kids - 3 of them are teenage girls - that's alot of laundry (13 loads she said).  I get a real chuckle out of that. I think it's good for a man to take over the household chores once in a while, I just wish in this case that she was on a trip.)

Now to pick a winner for the Traveling Box.... Drum roll, please...

Hubby hands are doing the honors...

I don't have many hats - my witch hat is my fav....

Names in the hat...

Just pick one!

The lucky winner is Cheryl of  Cheryl's Teapots 2 Quilting!!!!! Cheryl please let me know your snail mail address, and we'll ship this off ASAP.

Thank you all for your prayers for my Chrissy, and keep up the good work.

Hugs,

Terri

The rest of the story... and some flowers.

Thank you for all your prayers for my Chrissy. She is in her own room now, and I talked with her last night, and she is very quiet, subdued by the pain meds, but doing really well - considering what they extracted.  Her spirits are high, and she is very thankful for all the prayers she has been getting. Now she rests in the hospital for at least a week. The first week is critical for the liver to rebuild. Her goal, she said, was to be able to walk to the bathroom herself, today. A lofty goal, I'd say. But I know she will get there.  Please keep her in your prayers, at least for a few more days....

Now my afore mentioned tutorial to put paper pieced blocks together. The first two blocks for my H2H quilt.

I left the backing papers on so I could

face them together - pretty side to pretty side, and pin through...

sorry about the fuzziness... pin through...straight through both ends, and the center... then with different pins - pin next to the through pins. Be careful not to distort the straightness of the straight through pins. Remove the straight through pins.

Now sew along the seam line to join the two blocks.

 Rip off the paper on the seam allowance only... you need the paper for the next block additions. Folding the paper at the stitches makes it easier to rip.

I use the seam ripper to help loosen the stubborn little pieces... careful not to rip out the stitches.

And Voila! Two as one. A successful marriage. (What is it when you add the next block? Hee Hee) This method assures that you will have the right amount of seam allowance, points are easy to match, etc. (Notice the ends of the seams do not... I never cut the 1/4 inch. I have a shaky hand, and sometimes ruin the 1/4.... now you know the secret!)

Not to change the subject or anything, but my tiny orchid blossomed!!!!! It has the most wonderful scent. Most orchids do not have a scent. I'm sorry that I can't tell you what kind it is.

 Earlier this week I drafted a paper piecing pattern for my friend, Sheila from Sew, Cook and Travel. I hope she shares her blocks today, so I can see what she did. You've gotta see her quilts! So colorful and cheery.

Here's what I did with the pattern. The whole quilt will be red, my "favorite color and it's tints and shades" for the Project Linus Open House at our leaders home in May. She usually sets us to some challenge for a quilt to show at the Open House. (This time there shouldn't be so many brown quilts... please!)

And finally, for you spring challenged, the snowdrops blooming in my front/side yard... under the birch trees. (I think the birch were planted to represent each of the family previous to us. One, sadly, has died now. There are still 6.)

So that concludes our visit, and the tutorial.  Hope all is well with you and yours. Which reminds me to beg you to continue to pray for my Chrissy. There are still miracles needed!

Hugs,

Terri

Feeling better, but still no word.

Thank you all who are praying for my Chrissy. There is still no news from our SIL. So please continue to pray for her. 




While reading blogs this morning I came across some questions to answer...from the Empress of the Universe... seemed like a fun way to post today. Do any of you remember "slam books"? (For you youngens it was a notebook that had a question on each page, that you were supposed to answer. (Prohibited at my school, but we found a way...)

1. How long have you been quilting?
I made an ugly baby quilt for my Chrissy out of scraps from sewing clothes... May 1973. I tied it, so it really wasn't a quilt, but I didn't know that then. I used blanket binding (that satin stuff you buy in the notions dept.) and she would rub it as she fell asleep, and while sleeping.

2. What quilting/sewing tool to you find most useful?

The combo of rotary cutter, cutting mat and ruler... what a time saver!

3. Do you belong to a quilt guild?

I'm kind of an antisocial - you all are my besties. I would love to be in the Folsom Quilt Guild, but they are full and have a waiting list...

4. Do you have a local quilt shop?
Besides 3 JoAnn's and a Hobby Lobby within 25 miles, there are 5 independent quilt stores that are within that same 25. (There are 4 (that I know of) that have gone out of business recently... always a sad event.)

5. Do you quilt your own quilts or quilt "by check"?
I haven't the check - so it's sew it yourself! (All and any money above household requirements are turned into fabric stash...)

6. How many finished quilts to you have in your home?
I give all away that I have made. I do have 4 that were made by my Grandma. One day I'll show and tell those here on the blog. (I'm very proud of them - her color sense is amazing!)

7. How many UFOs/WIPs do you have right now?
LOL!!!!!!!!!!! Have you been peeking? I have 2 (overlapping each other) on the design wall right now. Another I am sewing for the Hands 2 Help Challenge. Another started for the Open House (in May) for Project Linus. Then there are at least 6 in boxes on top the shelf, and 2 that are waiting on the couch for me to hide the strings and bind them....There are lots of blocks sewn for various wannabe quilts, too.  OMG. I just get ahead of myself. So I guess the answer is 12. If I waited to finish the first UFO, I would never have made a second. I've made lots of different quilts since starting that red and off white that I call the "cherry pie" (about 15 years ago).  Since then I've made and given away at least 13 to family members, and 7 to Project Linus... and parts to Sarah's group that they made into 2 quilts.  So I don't feel guilty at all. (You shouldn't either.)

8. What's the farthest you've been from home?

England - we went to visit our son and his family when they were stationed there in the Air Force in 1998. We also visited with hubby's brother - a dual citizen - and his significant other. They took us around to places like a play (Miss Saigon) in London and Kew Gardens. The kids took us to Warwick Castle (being featured on Busy Busy BJ's blog today) and Stonehenge!!!!

9. I'm going to take you out to dinner and I'm paying... where are we going and what will we have?
You can get a "meal" off the dollar menu, a senior drink and a free frosty at Wendy's for under $3. I wouldn't want you to spend too much on me. Now if you were taking me to a quilt or fabric store...

10. When was the last time you bought fabric?

I haven't in a long while, economics... but a girl can only hold out so long! Gotta confess, I bought 4 FQs at JoAnn's yesterday.

11. Thread... more than 100 spools or less?

I've used up most of my stash. Some is so old that it's still on the wooden spools that were given to me by my grandma. (It might still be good, but I really don't want to use it. It's now more than antique.) Maybe 2 dozen spools are in the sewing box. Some of that is unsuitable for quilting.


Well, that was fun.  Gotta take a break and edit later... Hubby needs to eat.


Tut tomorrow.

A binding tut at a different location

Hello Friends,
I'm late, I know. I promised to share a secret - and got side tracked.  Actually there was alot of worrying going on here yesterday, so I didn't feel like putting on the happy face.
Our daughter is in the ICU still, and will be for a couple of more days. (As you know, she had surgery yesterday.) The surgeon took 40% of her liver on one side, and made some holes on the other side as well... She's only got 50% left. Surgery went well - said her hubby when he called afterwards... I never felt so sorry for my SIL as yesterday.  I've never heard him so close to crying. Please keep up the prayers. She still isn't out of the woods.

Here's a really good tut on the "right" way to end your binding in a smooth way... I found it today on one of the WIP Wednesday sites:

http://dragonflyquiltworks.com/2012/03/21/wip-wednesday-binding/

Let me know if you want that Traveling Box.... Check back a few blogs to see how. Some of you seem to be confused as to how to apply for it. Only one person has done the right thing to get it.  Drawing on Saturday.

Sorry, but that's all for today.. Just don't feel like uploading the pics, or any of that linking stuff
Hugs,
Terri

Win the traveling box... what I'm working on... and a paper piecing toot!

Hello Friends,
Here's block one done! I'm making this quilt - easy paper piecing - for the Hands 2 Help Quilt Challenge .  There is still time to sign up... Please use the link above to check it out, especially if you would like to win the traveling box that is ready now to send off. (You will need to leave an encouraging comment for Sarah, (you might even like to sign up for the challenge but that won't give you any extra points). Then come back here to let me know you've left a message for her. I'll put your name in a hat, and hubby will pick a winner, say on Saturday the 24th. (You may want to know that the box costs $15.45 to ship in the U.S., and you will be responsible to ship it on to the next recipient.) Sorry, but because of the exorbitant shipping price to foreign lands - only U.S. persons can play. Make sure I can get your e-mail address, so I can let you know you've won, and get your snail mail address. (Boy there are a lot of technicalities.)
This contest is now closed, as of March 24, 2012.

Paper Piecing Tutorial
Okay, back to the  quilt I'm making.  This is an easy paper piecing block I found in one of the magazines in the traveling box. It's 3 pieces that make a square that is on point within a square. 7 pieces in each block.

This is the pattern. (It's a 7", so bigger than I usually work on.) If you already know how to paper piece you might like to quit now.  You probably do it better than I do - I'm not real picky about the size of the seam allowances, which makes my way a lot easier.

First make a few patterns (keeping one as a master). Next cut a piece of fabric that you want to have in the #1 position... The fabric piece must be bigger than the #1 pattern piece by at least 1/4 inch all the way around. Put the fabric piece on the plain side of the pattern with the "pretty" side away from the paper and plenty of seam allowance on all sides of the #1 pattern piece. (Check it by looking through the paper to the fabric... hold it up against the light of window or lamp.) Pin it in place. (Check it again so it didn't move during pinning.) Here is the first piece in position and pinned.

Below it's pinned on the numbered side (where you are going to sew after you add the second piece.)

Add the second piece of fabric, "pretty" side  to pretty side on the plain side of the pattern.

Check to make sure that it goes over the line between #1 and #2 and is enough seam allowance. Holding both ends, turn to the numbered side and place under the needle. (Make sure you have the stitch length on about 15 stitches to the inch. Later you will need to have a secure stitch to allow removal of the paper.)  Back up stitch a couple of stitches, then stitch on the line between 1 and 2, back stitch a couple of stitches at the end of the line, too.

Here is a good time to turn on your machine!

Trim your threads.

Trim the seam allowances so there is enough. This is more important on smaller pieces, and when the newest piece is white. If you don't want shadows showing through white, trim the darker fabric to a smaller seam allowance than the white. - No kidding you will thank yourself for taking this one  more step.

Next - press the seam open.

Next add the 3rd piece.

Check to see that there is enough seam allowance, then sew as before. Trim your threads.

You don't want to cut the paper pattern, so sometimes it is easier to fold back the paper to trim the seam allowances. (See above and below.)

(Above the center 3 pieces are sewn on. Next the triangles.)

Line up the pieces so there is enough seam allowance, and the fabric is pretty to pretty. Sew on the lined side. Trim threads and seam allowances and press.

I use a strip of fabric, so I need to trim off the excess in order to sew the next triangle. See below.

Cut the fabric (above) so it leaves at lease a 1/4 inch seam allowance all around. I just eyeball it. You can trim to 1/4 inch later, but I don't sew paper pieces that way... I'll show that secret tomorrow.

Add the next numbered piece. (Should be #5.) Make sure there is enough seam allowance. Sew, trim, press. Add the next piece.

Below I have sewn the last pieces on and pressed.  Another block done.

The pic below was supposed to show the pattern side after the fabric (above) is all sewn on, but you can't see anything different than the original pattern. Trust me all the central lines have stitches.

Sew - now you start another block. I'll blog some hints and the secret I use to attach one block to another without relying on the old 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Now I know you are probably tired of hearing about this, Heaven knows we are all tired of cancer. My Chrissy (daughter) is undergoing major surgery on her liver tomorrow... (breast cancer metastasized to her liver) Tuesday early morning PST.  I sure would appreciate any prayers or good thoughts you could send her way. 

Ask for a Miracle!

Hugs,

Terri