I got a lot done, too. I finally dyed a batch of greens I like so can carry on with a project for myself, a color wheel wall hanging. I got the pieces cut out and organized. I started the borders on another quilt, and gathered supplies in my travel bag for a class Monday night on hand quilting. I am a dyed-in-the-wool machine person but always keep my mind open to other ways. A friend will go with me for an evening class at my LQS. I also started packaging up gifts for my secret Santa exchanges. Holidays are in the wings.

I went shopping on Saturday with 2 friends and bought 4 Moda turnovers. I also bought a panel that has 8 blocks, each 10 inches. Today I designed a quilt on EQ6 to use one of the turnovers with the panel. Then I sewed the turnover into squares.
Linda OH

I finished my birthday blocks for 2009.They will be mailed tomorrow!! Robin

I made my January 2010 birthday blocks and made extras for myself. I want to try and do this with all my blocks this year.
Got out my scrap bag and sewed a bunch of HST and squared up maybe 100 total. Made some pinwheel blocks and flying geese. I find I will make use of them if I have them ready.
I am still working on the rearrangement of my sewing room since the big house cleaning LOL! I will post pics when I get it looking a bit better.
Jeane

I spent some time experimenting with Heat n Bond Light and freezer paper.....first time using them. I liked the look of the appliques but there was some stiffness to them ( offhand, I'm not sure if it was the FP or the HnB or both). There was also some peeling along the edges. I think they would be nice for wall-hangings. Anyone have suggestions for using these products. I would like to do a teapot/teacup wall-hanging as a gift....probably a bird one too for myself.

{{!gwi}}

These are cute and I think I'd do better with practice.
The button on the teapot is suppose to be at the top of the lid.

~Geraldine

I spent some time looking for some buttons that I thought I had. I'm making birthday cards for my birthday exchange and *thought* I had some decorative buttons remaining, but couldn't find them.

Also went to the new Hobby Lobby and got some fabric for a little girls' apron that a customer wants. They had some nice fabrics in there, sewing thread and notions. Thank heavens for it as we've had nothing since Wal-mart got rid of their fabric and crafts department.

My DH had unexpected heart surgery last week - mid 50's, slim, non smoker, swimmer 50+ laps 3 times a week - learn & pay attention to the signs of heart desease. My mind has been mush! I said I was going to spend 15 mins a day sewing.
Didn't happen thru-out the week, but over the weekend, I forced myself to sit down at the machine and work on the very tedious parts of sewing the bias triangles of varying angles together for a stack-n-whack "fun quilt" I am making.It required serious concentration & paying attention to the directions, as well as precise pining & sewing for perfect points as I was using contrasting fabric. My headache eased, and I was able to focus and get into the zone. I got all 4 of the 5 rows sewn together, all of the triangles and background sewn- a zillion little bunny ears clipped, most of which are all over the floor- all pressed and ready for the last two rows. I did all this "In between" all the other normal wkend chores, plus raking and bagging over 20 bags of leaves by myself. I can barely move this morning. I felt very productive in my sewing room - which is also my office. Today - I have to work, but I can already hear the machine calling me - sewing has always been so good for my soul. It's like the tension in my body just relaxes with each stitch....unless the sewing machine has a bad day....well we all know that adds to the anxiety!!:) Â

I only worked on the applecore this weekend. Now, a couple of weekends ago, I washed all my thirty something fabric, traced my templates onto plastic, cut many pieces, and did a practice block. I've put it all back in the drawer for now until I get this one done and on the quilting frame.

rivergirl, my DH could be a clone of yours--other than he's a runner, not a swimmer--and he's been dealing with heart issues for a couple years now. Not nearly as serious as your DH, but still hard to understand how it can happen when you don't meet any of the known risk factors. Hope your DH is well on the mend by now and continues to do well. Take care of yourself too, and continue fabric therapy as needed!

I made up some Christmas fabric trimmed dishtowels for the holidays and finished assembly on a counted x-stich stocking for my future son-in-law. I've now made every member of my family a stocking--except me! Mine's going to be a qulted one...maybe by next year.

Linda

I got 1/2 of the I-Spy quilt clipped. I took it with me to the over night aid station Saturday night and worked on it between activities. About 2 in the morning it got too cold to snip and I had to put it away.

I didn't get in the sewing room until Sunday - too much to do on Saturday after a week of business travel. But I made up for lost time by playing with fabric almost all day long on Sunday.

The first thing I did Sunday morning was sew the hanging rod on my Christmas wallhanging. Then realized I sewed it on the bottom edge instead of the top!!!!! Arrrrrgggghhhhh! So the second thing I did was rip it off and the third thing was to re-sew it on the top edge.

Then I was getting ready to work on the final part of Odessa's RR border, when I got a call from DH Jim who is visiting his father in N'Dakota. Turns out Dad will likely be in a nursing home, recovering from back sugery, for at least another month. Then he may have to spend some time in Assisted Living to finish up his recovery. Jim asked me to make his Dad a twin bed size quilt because everything else he has is queen size. Well, that's an awesome project and one I am proud and eager to do! So the fourth thing I did on Sunday was to pull out all my brown and beige fabrics and put together a topper of the right size. It's simple blocks and went together quickly. I had it finished by 11pm. Tonight I'll stop on the way home and pick up a thin batting and get started on the quilting. I should have it all finished and ready to overnight to him by Thursday if I'm diligent.

So I had a busy Sunday and loved every minute of it!

Kate

First off, wishes for a speedy recovery for Magothyrivergirl's husband. That had to be surreal to wrap your mind around. Yes, sewing is excellent mental therapy. I did a lot of it when keeping my elderly mother company toward the end. I sat on the floor at her feet and quilted. She was enthralled at it and didn't know it was to go on her bed. I'm so glad I did that.

This last weekend? The only time I spent in my sewing room was to sweep out all the little fabric tidbits off the floor, and cut and fashion the binding for the baby quilt on which I am working. I brought it downstairs and have been hemming the binding in the last two day. I figure another hour (I'm taking a break now) and it'll be finished and ready to sponge out and wrap.

rivergirl-- Our posts must have crossed-- I have to chime in again for best wishes for your husbands recovery. It's sooooo stressful, be sure to rest and take care of yourself a bit, too!

Thanks for the good wishes-we are getting back to normal this week - or I should say the new normal. The fear is starting to hit me - I'm a great in an emergency gal, then feel bad when everyone else feels better ~lol~.
I think I will take a break from work, since I am unproductive anyway, and sew for a few minutes, maybe that will make me focus. I appreciate your kind thoughts.

Geraldine - there is a new stabilizer for machine applique that my LQS described as super new fusible & soft. I think the owner found it at the Houston show, I have not seen it yet, don't know the name, but I am anxious to try it, as I don't like the stiffness of the Heat and Bond. I also thought the button was the knob on your teapot lid before you told us! Cute idea.

I sewed up the blocks for my grandson's KU(Kansas University..poor guys lost ] I went to town this morning and got some yellow fabric which I will make a 2 inch border all around. The Jayhawk has a yellow beak and I thought some yellow would bring out the other colors.
rivergirl,
I hope all is better with your hubby and take a little time for yourself,it won't help him if you get down

I'm making market bags using the chickens from the applique lotto. I've got 4 done and 2 more started. Everyone is getting a bag for Christmas. I picked out some fabric from my stash to make small bags to attach to recliner for a remote or other things. (I have several relatives in nursing homes and they always lose the remote.)Also made a bag for the new camcorder.
rivergirl - sewing is a great stress relief. Hope things are going better.

Magthyrivergirl, Hugs to you and your husband!

I was in your position about 15 years ago when my DH was 55. Again, a lean, muscular, athletic man, and the heart disease was totally unexpected. He's still here!

My very best to you and your husband during this transitional time. I do understand, and yep, sewing does help! Breathe deeply at least a couple of times a day, and take care of yourself.

Magothyrivergirl - sending wishes for a speedy recovery for your DH!
I pulled a UFO quilt bag out of the closet & tore apart one of the blocks that was HORRIBLE! will start to remake & try to do the setting blocks. Needed to go to fabric store for odds & ends to finish stuff on my goals list and that didn't happen. (was busy painting!)
The other stuff was all non-sewing related since my sewing room is also my office!
Sue

Rivergirl, wishes for your DH's speedy recovery. It has to be very stressful for both of you. Take care of yourself too.

~Geraldine

It is encouraging to hear your positive comments about your heart healthy husbands :). I didn't mean to inject my personal issues here, but I really do appreciate your encouragement. I'm allowing myself until the end of Thursday to get over the shock, then onward. He does look healthier - now I look & sound like something the cat dragged in~LOL. He is back to work & left this morning for work travel (always stressful - yikes). Good for both of us, to be away from me......type "A" personality - he is so laid back-part of why we didn't realize he was so sick. I get the remote all to myself - yippee!!

mary c- yep - you nailed it - "transitional time" - its that uncertainty we have to learn to live with.

I got more sewing done last night on the same project - I was going to give this quilt away - but now I will keep it - I put in a new prewound bobbin during the day Sunday sometime and I sewed until it ran out last night. All thread used on the piecing - so for me that's alot of piecing in such a short time. I'm going to jink myself by saying this - but I didn't have to pick up my seam ripper once! Lots & lots of bias edges, points, triangles - I do use pins at the points, but pinning is also relaxing to me - from clothing & tailoring construction, perfect pinning is essential & part of the process.