Monday, September 30, 2019

12 Things: September Update

This month, my main “12 Things” goal was to make a new Christmas stocking for my oldest.  Roughly two years ago, I assigned a color for each of my kids for dishes, towels, sunglasses, and other “everyone has one” type of items.  My oldest is dark purple.

Separately, even more years ago, I started making cowboy boot stockings for our family with no particular color in mind as I made them.  These are fabulous patterns by Prairie Moon Quilts.  Well, now that we have colors, I’d like to work towards making the stockings match.  That way, the littles can remember which stocking is theirs without any trouble.

My only challenge was accidentally self-imposed.  The dark purple fabric I chose was too dark to mark for the embroidery, so I had to freehand, and my drawings are not nearly so lovely as Shelly’s.  I still love it!

The secondary goal was to make progress on my Irish Chain quilt, which was incomplete from August.  Since it’s two seams and a little pressing away from being a finished flimsy, I’ll take it!  I should be picking a new project for October, but I think I’m going to stick with the Irish Chain.  I don’t like having too many unfinished projects hanging over me, especially with the health-imposed restrictions I currently have.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Stash Report Week # Something or Other

I think I goofed up on my week counting somewhere in the year, so we’ll try again next week.

There are no changes.  I am contemplating how to finish a few things this month, but it may be November before anything happens!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Purple Preposterousness

I feel like every blog post starts with drama in my life.  Instead, today, I’ll tell you first about my sewing and, if you want to keep reading about my health excitement, you can, or you can skip it!

This week, I made one Tiny Tuesday Block.  Shockingly, I have almost no hand dyes in light purple, so this one mostly repeats the fabrics from previous blocks.  I this it’s quite charming.

I made 68 Garden Mosaic blocks.  Here are the light ones.  I have one set of dark ones to press and the other still needs sewing.  I think by the end of the month I’ll have them finished up.  I do so like to wrap up each month tidily.

I spent a fair share of my fabric time pinning.  My Irish Chain quilt is now in three large strips.  Here is the middle strip, nicely pressed.  I have pinned up the other three, but it’s dark downstairs in the evening as I write this, so content yourself with one strip.  I’m very excited to work on this.  I have myself mostly convinced that this needs to be hand quilted on my frame, but I’m not sure I can trust Miss G not to destroy it.  This is a shade set from Vicki Welsh.  I was a little worried as I pieced that the variations wouldn’t show in the blocks and I would be disappointed in my choices, but I love it.  Ah.
Feel free to move on if you don’t want to read about my health drama.  Remember that last week I had a headache all week?  It continued through the weekend, so Monday I called for an appointment with my doctor.  We discussed the possibility of postpartum preeclampsia (which was ruled out with a urine sample).  I was/am suffering from a combination headache of at least migraine and tension, with weather, allergies, hormones, and lack of sleep weighing in as well.  So he prescribed a breastfeeding-safe migraine medicine combined with naproxen.  Ooh, that was funny feeling.  I didn’t take a second dose, as it seemed to help, but four hours in, I started experiencing a violent throbbing pain in the base of my skull.  I worried that might be a sign of my blood pressure being high, so I didn’t take a second dose.  The pain went on all night.

To summarize, a nurse in the practice, next day, ordered me to take the second dose.  My blood pressure went up to 177/102!  In another phone call, the doctor told me to take no more and prescribed a blood pressure medicine, which the pharmacy told my husband they couldn’t fill for 24 hours until I called and told them it was an emergency, in which case they magically filled it in 13 minutes.  Why would he show up for it if it wasn’t important?  So now I’m on BP medicine and a new combo of pain medicines.  They have worked for almost 36 hours, so I think I’m going to survive and be able to stay out of bed, with lights on.  In the midst, I had a CT scan to rule our other problems, and waiting for the results overnight was nerve wracking to say the least.  No, I’m not dying, at least not anymore than the ordinary human being.

After several days of no sewing, I had high hopes for a splendid day of sewing.  All those things I didn’t finish up above?  I was going to finish them.

However, the drama didn’t end there.  Oh, no.  Friday morning, as I left to pick up Miss G from preK, our dog refused to get up when I was backing out and I didn’t see her in my backup camera.  Her whine was a terrible sound after I rolled over her paw/foreleg.  And of course, due to postpartum complications, no way could I lift our 90 pound dog into our van.  Friends and a neighbor came to my rescue to coordinate Miss G’s safety and Hope (our dog)’s delivery to the vet. Thanks be to God, she has no broken bones or internal injuries.  I had quite the fight with the headache, forcing myself to breath and relax.  We have pain medicine for her, and she’s old so resting will do her good.  Shockingly, my blood pressure wasn’t through the roof.

So now, all I want is some quiet time to sew and be drama free!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

P.S.  Be sure to check out the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this weekend!

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Stash Report Week #36

Woohoo!  It’s a small change, but I finished a few projects this week.  First, the Assistant’s stocking is all done.  Next, I made a few rice bags to help battle the endless migraine I’ve been having.

IN this week: 0 yards
OUT this week: 1/2 yard

IN YTD: 76 yards
OUT YTD: 84 3/4 yards
YTD Total: 9 1/4 yards OUT

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Summer Slowdown

Ah, clouds and rain and cooler temperatures have arrived.  It looks like, for the foreseeable future, we will stay out of the 90s, and tomorrow we have excellent rain chances.  While I’m hoping for no dumpers, we’ve had enough hot, dry weather that some rain will do us good.

My latest and greatest (or worst) postpartum woes are unrelenting headaches.  Who knew that the good things I’ve been doing (breastfeeding and losing weight) can cause hormone fluctuations and violent migraines?  Not me!  Friday evening I finally wriggled out from a week-long battle.  I hope I can have a few days respite.  In the meantime, I’ve done more pinning and embroidering than piecing as getting downstairs didn’t happen as often as I would like.

Still, during the decent hours I managed a fair bit.  I will confess to sewing more and cleaning less!

My Tiny Tuesday Block was a work of only minutes.  I think it looks lovely with the other purples.

The second Lepidoptera block, while significantly larger than the first, only had one minor mishap that was easily remedied with the stitch ripper.  There are only four left!

In typical leader and ender fashion, I pieced all of the triangles for my Garden Mosaic blocks this week.  A few still need pressing, but it should be a breeze to finish them next week.

Finally, in other purple-but-not-scrappy sewing news, I completed the embroidery on the boot stocking I’m making for the Assistant!  This was easier to manage than hauling BJ downstairs as often, so I made my chair time count for something.  I love it!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

P.S. I’m linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this weekend.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Stash Report #35

Alas, no changes.  I am making good progress on my boot stocking, so maybe, if I make good progress, I’ll finish this week!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Solferino and Magenta

Friday evening, I spent some time googling shades of purple.  This time, the shade “solferino” caught my attention, and I found myself curious as to what color this was.  In my research, I learned it was named after the Battle of Solferino, which occurred in Italy, similar to the color magenta, also named after an Italian battle.  How interesting!

This week, there was not much solferino in my stitching, as I prefer blueish purple to reddish purple.

Happily, I finished and framed my Tiny Tuesday Block.  I love the patterns that use 1”.  They’re so beautiful!

My first Lepidoptera block for the month was a breeze to sew, but there was a hiccup in the cutting.  I accidentally cut the dark where the light should be, and vice verse.  Fortunately, this butterfly looks lovely just the way she is.  (Does anyone else think of butterflies as female?). I am happy to report that when cutting the second block on Friday afternoon, I cut everything correctly.

Finally, last in my report but first in my sewing this week, I wrapped up the five Great Granny Squared blocks.  I am looking forward to finishing these block, as they are not my favorite to assemble.  They are beautiful, and I’m glad I tackled them this year.

I also had a minor panic at realizing I “need” three quilts for teachers at Christmas, and I won’t have three ready. I may make two quilts from the granny blocks, but that’s it.  Then, I took a deep breath and shrugged.  Giving quilts to teachers is a self-imposed obligation, and I have given them in May instead of at Christmas before.  Plus, this may be a good excuse to start another, different quilt... something easy,

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

Friday, September 13, 2019

“12 Things” Progress

My not-scrappy goal for this month is a replacement stocking for my eldest.  After making most of the stockings, I assigned each of my children a color of the rainbow.  We use this for dishes, bath towels, and sunglasses in the car, among other things, and I realized it would help our littles to remember whose is whose at Advent and Christmas if they were made in the “correct” colors.

It may be obvious from this photo, but the Assistant’s color is purple, specifically, dark purple.  Spunky has shifted from orange to light purple since BJ’s birth.  We need one repeat color, and it made DH happier to give his baby boy orange rather than purple.  Spunky was happy to change, and she already has a light purple stocking, so no remakes there!

I am not skilled at embroidery, but I am attempting one new stitch (maybe more, if I get brave) on this quilt: satin stitch, and I’ve been reviving my French knot skills.  I love how this boot looks so far.

If you are in search of own collection of boot stockings, the patterns are made by Prairie Moon Quilts.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Stash Report Week #34

Ah, another week without changes.  I’m enjoying all my sewing, however, so, who cares?

IN this week: 0 yards
OUT this week: 0 yards

IN YTD: 76 yards
OUT YTD: 84 1/2 yards
YTD Total: 8 1/2 yards OUT

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Distractions

I had such good intentions of sewing my normal “first week of the month” sewing, but I had a few distractions.

Last weekend was BJ’s baptism, which meant a house full of much-beloved visitors.  Then, my mom left town, so I was totally on my own all day for multiple days in a row for the first time since BJ was born.  This might sound silly to some of you, but it gives you an idea of just how challenging this recovery has been.

I did manage to cut all the pieces for my Garden Mosaic blocks.  I did have to divide them into light and dark stacks, as the difference was so dramatic I didn’t want them mixed up.


Having a cutting project was good, as the big “distraction” for the week was quilting a king-sized T-shirt quilt.  I lost a day to everyone home for Labor Day, but it took me three days of off-and-on quilting (baby and things, you know!) to finish.  It’s trimmed, and I’ll bind it next week.  Distraction done!

I previously cut all my purple Great Granny Squared blocks, so I intended to sew them all up.  Alas, only two are done.  I’ll get the others next week.  Today is another busy day!  It will be fall soon, so we have farm things to do.  (Ah, distractions.)
Pinned on the left, sewn on the right
My other ambitious goal was to finish my Irish chain blocks.  Little did I know that my Friday sewing would be hijacked by a small but rather time-consuming Tiny Tuesday Block.  Let’s just say I’m still quite a novice at paper piecing.  I am still horrible at estimating the size of piece needed, particularly on triangles, so my Storm at Sea Block is a little rough and ready.  Ah, well.

Today, once I get the bigs started outside (as I still can’t lift things, but I’m perfect at giving directions!), I hope to make good progress on finishing my Irish chain blocks.  We shall see!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.


Wednesday, September 4, 2019

September Goals

In August I wanted to...
1.  For my “12 Things” project, the goal would be to finish the quilt.  However, there’s no way.  I’d like to get as many of the 72 blocks made of strip sets made as possible.  Nope, nope, nope-ity nope.  I have all the blocks with six strips sets sewn together, but I still have a ways to go for 72 blocks.

2.  For my light blue scraps, I’m going to trim up the scrap bucket, make Great Granny Squared blocks, garden Mosaic blocks, aim for 2 Lepidoptera blocks, 5 Tiny
 Tuesday blocks, and make some more 16 patches as leaders and enders.  I think I’ll let the Lepidoptera blocks slip first, as I don’t have any more blue fabric and they are more time consuming than other blocks.  Trimming, Garden Mosaic, Great Granny Squared, and Tiny Tuesday blocks were finished, but I didn’t do anything on Lepidoptera blocks or 16 patches.

3.  I forgot to add to my list making a mini for the Teal Mini Swap, which raises money for ovarian cancer research.  I made a Great Granny Squared Block, but in teal rather than blue, and hand quilted it.  I’m very happy with the outcome.

In September, as I still recover slowly from a hard pregnancy and postpartum period, I hope to...
1.  Make a purple stocking for my “12 Things” project.

2.  Finish piecing my Irish Chain quilt, my as yet incomplete “12 Things” project from August.  I might even try to baste it, but that depends on whether or not I’m hand quilting it.  That decision is still ahead of me.  I’m leaning towards a hand finish, as I could pull out my quilting frame, which has long stood empty.  Will my little people, particularly Miss G, damage the quilt if I have it in the frame?  That is the great question.

3.  Scraps: This month is purple, so I need to trim the scrap bucket and make lots of blocks for Garden Mosaic, Great Granny Squared, Lepidoptera, Tiny Tuesday, and 16 patches.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

September UFO List

August 1: 10 projects
Started: 1
Finished: 1
August 31: 10 projects

1. Pillow
2. Scrappy DWR
3. ABC appliqué
4. King sized 16 patch
5. Hand pieced hexagons
6. Great Granny Squared
7. Garden Mosaic
8. Lepidoptera
9. Tiny Tuesday
10. Irish Chain

Does this list look familiar?  It’s the same as August!  I started and finished one project, a mini quilt for the Teal Mini Swap, which raises money for ovarian cancer research, so the list remains the same.  I don’t see any of the above projects seeing the finish line before November and December, so the UFO list may be a bit dull for the next two months.  That’s how sewing big quilts is sometimes, isn’t it?

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

Monday, September 2, 2019

August Block Count

It’s a good thing I’m making a plethora of tiny blocks this month for a quilt called “Garden Mosaic,” or my block count would look rather anemic.

This month, I finished...
6 Great Granny Squared blocks,
102 Garden Mosaic blocks,
5 Tiny Tuesday sample blocks,
and 1 Teal Great Granny Squared Block to make a mini quilt
... for a total of 114 new blocks for August.
This brings my total to 1310 for the year.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

Sunday, September 1, 2019

Stash Report Week #33

There are no changes this week.  I haven’t finished any projects and have no plans of finishing anything soon, so I’m back to boring reports for a while!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,
katie z.

Stash Report Week #16 and 15 Minutes

 The stash report remains unchanged.  I am adding borders and basting a small quilt this week, so I will have a shift in numbers soon. I fin...