Life Happens

Lots of unexpected things in my life lately, but not much sewing.

1.  I fell and broke my toe.  All healed now.

2.  I came down with shingles, but due to a vaccination several years ago it was mild.  The worst of it was the dragging lethargy and general malaise after the rash healed.  Too wussy to sew.

3.  My first great-grandchild was born four weeks early during the big Seattle snowstorm.  He was 6 lb 8 oz so all is good.  Can't wait to snuggle him.

His dad is responsible for the embedded caption!

4.  Though not unexpected, I went to CA for a week to shop with my daughter and grand-daughter for her (gr-dau's) wedding...and a little beach time.

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The above was scheduled to be automatically posted two weeks ago and never went out.  I probably forgot to click the "publish" button.  I am now home from California where I had a wonderful five days.  I got a beautiful dress, walked the beach, visited the venue where the wedding will take place, and had a great time with family.

5.  My computer went to the shop for more memory.  Withdrawal!  Wish my brain could get some more memory.

Having no computer to suck up my time I spent a lot of time sewing.  I made a stuffed dog for the baby (still have to purchase some stuffing).  I was also reminded of the reason that I usually don't make stuffed animals!  Some of the seams are incredibly challenging.

I made a block for my daughter's mother-in-law's birthday quilt.

I am also stitching a special pillow for granddaughter's wedding shower.  I know...same pattern.  I saw it on Pinterest with no attribution and created different sized versions.  It is a simple pattern, but the Flying Geese mean three points from each goose had to be watched to prevent them from being "chopped," so it required some careful planning.

TIP:  On the unpieced fabric that borders the geese I folded under a 1/4 inch seam allowance and starched it with a paint brush. Press.  This left a very sharp crease.  I put Elmer's Clear glue on the seam allowance of the Flying Geese and laid the folded edge of the unpieced fabric onto the seam allowance of the geese being careful to come to the exact point of each triangle.  Press.  Some of the glue catches the non-seam-allowance fabric of the unpieced fabric and you have to separate that so you can fold it back to see the crease line where you will stitch.

The second block is the pillow cover, which is much larger (18"x18") than the first block (fall motif), and I am quilting it.  The stitching really brings it alive.  The flowers puff and the birds look ready to fly.  The black background is completely flattened.  I haven't done the geese yet.

Of course my quilt is back in "hold" mode, folded up on the bed waiting for me to quilt the borders.  Sometimes life happens and takes control.  I hope 2019 will settle down now and let me drive for awhile.

Sew some happy seams this week.  I wish you only good things this week, unexpected or otherwise.