Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from September, 2016 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:20 am on September 6, 2016 Permalink  

  Time for a Visit 

  Having taken some time off from the sewing studio to pull together some things for a family gathering this weekend, it was time to visit the threads and fuzz.  It was pretty much the way I had left the threads and fuzz.  Bindings for some of my projects needed to be cut, sewn and ironed.

  

  Bindings are complete with all aspects of the family gathering awaiting in the background.

  I do have a quandary.  I have a king size, a queen size and a full size done in the pieced tops.  The backing is matched to each size.  I spent no funds during the sewing of these projects.  I had been fortunate enough to have the gift of a huge stash of fabrics given to me.  From that it was as if I had my own fabric store to shop in.  I do know that for less than a $100 each The Old Alley Quilt Shop can quilt the sandwiches of backing, batting and pieced tops with a meandered pattern.  I would have them returned to me for the bindings to be sewn on and then have the hemming remain.

  With less than good mobility within my arms, I can tell you that putting the huge pieced tops together under the sewing machine needle can be challenging.  Having the yardage of the backing, plus the batting and then the pieced top under my domestic sewing machine almost causes a panic attack to think on.  When I do machine quilting, I am moving the fabrics under the needle.  When Old Alley puts the project on their commercial machine, they move the needle harness over the fabric.  Given the fact that when I would receive the quilted project back from Old Alley I still need to hustle the quilt under the needle to apply the binding and have remaining the hemming of the binding to the quilt.

  So, how does that go?  Something about being penny wise, but pound foolish.  I need to remember I have more to take care of within my life than herding a quilt under a sewing machine needle.  Sitting down here in my studio and typing a blog post does give one food for thought.  Visiting is a good thing.

   
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  Noreen 1:27 am on August 29, 2016 Permalink  

  That’s All Folks 

  

  The cover on the Cricut is closed and “That’s All Folks.” With Dennis’ help we gave the Cricut a good workout this weekend. I will admit, it was measure once, measure twice and then I still double checked myself. There are a few special people that can see in a moments notice if something is off as much as a hair on a frog. The sewing studio lights are off and the rest of the day will be slow and steady as I know tomorrow the weekly mowing of the acre will take place. I must say the grass looks beautiful for this time of the year.

   
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  Noreen 4:04 am on August 28, 2016 Permalink  

  Almost There 

  

  Dennis has one last tile that he found in the garage cupboards. He has said his drill bit will get that one done, but then it is done. Most of this vinyl came from a sign shop in New Ulm. I had gone in and asked if I could pick up some scrap items from them. “No problem.” The floor tile on the top end were $.99 each. I have cork on the backs of them so there won’t be any scratching of surfaces. On the large tiles, I will use a good gauge of wire that we have on hand.  I am not sure what the last tile will be. I have had my Cricut for over nine years. I don’t use it everyday, but it’s there when the fancy strikes. Besides, it’s a good thing to keep my mind busy with creative things. Would I ever have a craft sale? “No.” Now, that would be too much work.

   
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  Noreen 4:26 am on August 19, 2016 Permalink  

  A day of feeling very fortunate to have missed rain and thunderstorms. There seems to be an abundant of bad weather and fires throughout the United States. Yup, we think God is very upset with us. Too much of the “Old Adam” has run its course. On a lighter note, I corralled all the wisps of threads that were running rampant off of their spools. I cannot believe I did not know the trick that was built into each spool.

   
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  Noreen 5:50 am on August 18, 2016 Permalink  

  Road Trip Lessons 

  

  The only fault I had with my embroidery materials, was that the thread was very hard to control as it is slippery,

  

  Ask and learn. Today at the Bernina shop I mentioned the mess of my threads. Hmm. The inside of the bottom of the spool needs to be pushed up and it telescopes allowing the thread to be guided into a trough. Push the telescope in and it clicks with the thread very well tended. I will have a bit of time in my sewing studio over the next days as I tidy up my threads. That alone was worth the road trip.  Oh, this Grammie has a lot to learn.  Just to be clear . . . there was no hint of this little tip on the spool.

   
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  Noreen 4:38 am on August 15, 2016 Permalink  

  This was a day to “try this” or “how about that?” working towards using odds and ends in my sewing studio. It has been oh so long since I have worked with a piece of fabric that is larger than a six nine patch or a three inch strip. If I were not such a frugal person, the dumpster would have been visited. I just don’t have it in me. No, I do not squeak when I walk.

   
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  Noreen 3:48 am on August 10, 2016 Permalink  

  Charlie Brown is Quoted 

  

  To quote Charlie Brown, “I cannot believe it!” January of 2016, I tried all manor of my new Bernina Sewing Machine. I had all the materials for this queen sized quilt top in my stashes. Today, I was going to finish up the preparations to take this project to the Old Alley Quilt Shop in Sherburn for machine quilting and I would then have the binding set to go after Sharon has it quilted. I had set aside the remainder of the last boarder for the binding. “I cannot believe it!” I am ten inches short of fabric for what is needed to do the perimeter of this quilt’s binding. “Good grief!”  You can bet your sweet biffie, I will be down in the sewing studio until I find a resolution. That is so “me.” Reminiscence of measure twice, cut once and it’s still too short.

  

   
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  Noreen 2:43 am on August 9, 2016 Permalink  

  The Honeymoon is Over 

  This was, and I repeat, was, the fourth day with zero air conditioning being on in our home.  This late afternoon, I surfaced from the sewing studio, and as my arm touched the concrete blocks on the basement stairwell . . . I knew the honeymoon was over.  It sure was nice while it lasted.  We did spend most of the morning outside enjoying whatever came down the pike.  The breeze let up and the nasty black flies began feasting.  Yuk!  Wouldn’t you know it . . . we are in between hatches of mosquitoes and the flies take over.  Just can’t cut a break.  That is when I headed down into the sewing studio and Dennis checked his eyelids for cracks in his recliner.  It’s a good thing I was searching for my favorite fabric cutter, Dennis, or the house would have really heated up in the afternoon noon and rising humidity.

  I do have problems cutting lengths of fabric successfully with the rotary cutter.  I don’t have the endurance to push down hard enough with a long enough swipe for that sharp clean line.  Once you hesitate, the plastic ruler on the cutting mat has a tendency to move ever so sightly for an “Oh, No!”  I thought I had put an order in with Dennis for the ten cuts I needed, but I forgot to pencil in the diagonal piecing to get the correct length on all four sides.

  I am known for making lists for myself, be it grocery lists, to-do lists, or lists of things that need to be taken care of in the near future.  I am looking down on my computer desk and I have several going.  It can be rather embarrassing when something falls into the cracks that I should have had right at the tip of my fingers.  Well, my fingers are a bit more bent than they used to be and don’t hold as much, thus a clutter of lists.  It is a very good thing to have things and people that rely upon you.  It keeps the brain sharp.  I so want to stay sharp for a long, long, long time.  As my mom, Lena, would often say, “I don’t want to miss out on anything.”

  Now . . . where did that fabric cutter get to?

   
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  Noreen 3:10 am on August 3, 2016 Permalink  

  Never Would Have Thought 

  At the age of 72, I would have never thought that family would be far and few in between.  After visiting with my sister, Elvera who is 78, yesterday she expressed much the same sentiment.  I was relieved to hear that.  She and I remembered when there were family that lived just across the township section that could be popped in on at three in the afternoon for a cup of coffee and cookies.  We both came to the conclusion that it was a Godsend that each of us individually could keep ourselves busy, entertained and productive.  I always have had a love of fabric, but prominently sewing garments.  In today’s world, it is far too expensive to go the pattern route with yard goods; thus, I love my sewing studio where all manner of creativity takes place without worrying about a bust dart or a proper sleeve fitting.

  At the age of 72, I would never have thought that my hands would wear out.  Those joints and tendons and muscles were suppose to be able to grasp the smallest pin or pill on the first try.  It is a challenge to see how far the pill rolled as it hit the floor.

  At the age of 72, I would never have thought that I would care about a stray cat that came to our patio this winter with barely any life or will left in her.  I don’t think she ever thought she would not have to plow through deep snow to find a bit of food and water.  I don’t think she ever thought that being in out of the weather would be in her ancient life.

  At the age of 72, I would never have thought that I would back away from a sewing project to enjoy a cup of coffee while whipping through and enjoying a few chapters of a library book to give my back a break.

  At the age of 72, I would never have thought that I would have a kind loving helper that has discovered the joy of being creative in the kitchen.  Bless his heart.  Just give that man his own space and leave him to it!

  At the age of 72, I would never have thought that my world would be so full of the love of children that are making homes and families on their own . . . with maybe a bit of what their ole mom taught them.

  Priceless!

   
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  Noreen 3:23 am on July 30, 2016 Permalink  

  What Is It . . . 

  What is it about me that my days are filled with various projects in various places?  The truth of the matter is that arthritis prevents me from staying at one task for too long.  The “too long” could be several hours or 15 minutes.  I know my body and I sure do know the telltale signs when it is time for me to change my posture.  At earlier times, I could sit and read for hours, sit at the sewing machine all day, or be bent over the quilt frame for hours on end.  No more.  Ya, just got to keep moving so the joints within your body are in fairly constant motion . . . within reason.

  At some point in time with physical work, my joints had been irritated and the bone had been worn away.  The irritation continued and the situation ended as being chronic, meaning it is here to stay.  The cartilage protecting some of my joints had been worn away.  Though I now have new shoulders and new knees, arthritis loves it when one body position is maintained for an extended period of time and all the nerves, tendons and muscles just settle in for a snuggle and allow for atrophied muscles that can gradually make you a prisoner in your own body.  That is not going to happen anytime soon.

  

  In between time, and in the meantime, I have this nine patch that I put into a block that is 6″ x 6″ for the next greatest scrappy quilt. It may be some time before it is completed, but hey, it’s on my schedule. Those darn scraps just keep coming.

  So . . . the answer for me is to have a book to read in the living room, crafting going on in the south half of my sewing studio, the sewing machine is in the north portion and in the middle is the cutting table.  Having a computer in my sewing room as well as one in our living room allows me to roam at will.  The porch with great rocking chairs is a good place to read until I find my head nodding. The water fountain in the Koi pond can put you to sleep. Our acre of mowing and gardens to tend allow for me to have choices within my day.  With me moving to multiple corners of my world, multiple tasks are completed, but just not done to completion in one session.

  I am not complaining nor bragging.  I know that sitting and vegetating could be a prescription for a very small world. The arthritis has made me somewhat being viewed as having attention deficit disorder.  The diagnosis could be a whole lot worse.  I know I can’t stay in one place for very long so the tendency to be on the lookout for other areas in our home that may need some attention is likely.  I can take the “eye rolling” when I see it in friends and family.  Being on the move for me is how and why I feel really physically good.  I see no reason to single handedly support either the chiropractor of the physical therapist . . . but it is reassuring to know they are there if I have been naughty.