Sunday, December 31, 2017

Year End finishes New Year Plans.

Last two little finished for the year. Since surgery I have only been doing hand sewing.  And with all my wool projects, I have plenty of it.  Hubby wants to wait and see what the doctor has to say about me sewing and quilting on my machine.  I don't think it would be strenuous, but they said no pushing, pulling and lifting so I think he's really taking that to heart.  :)  I love that he loves me that much!   
In October - I got a book of embroidery patterns with snowmen.  Well I took a couple of the designs and made them into this wool candle mat for my Sister. 
Then  I worked on this wool wall hanging or table topper.  The pattern made it into an oval penny rug, but I liked it better this way.  
Aren't they Cute?  I think so!  
Hey it's the last day of 2017 Wow.   
So the planner in me is already thinking of the hundreds of items I would like to work on in the new year.  
*I really want to work on Christmas items through out the year.  I have so many  Christmas patterns and ufo's I want to get some them done. It seems like there is only a few months to work on Christmas items each year as you gear up for the big day and then poof it's over.  Then you're left with the items you didn't get done and ah hmm the few new items you acquired that were cuter than cute.  So this year I want to work on one Christmas item as a time through out the year in hopes of getting more of them done. Here are a few of them. Some are started and are UFO's and some are want to do's. 










And if that isn't enough, I want to make this pattern 
Using this fabric.
Oh and there is more. I have this fabric to make place mats and a topper just not sure if I'll do it this way or differently.
But one project at a time. 
*Then beyond my Christmas stuff.  I have one UFO that I started probably maybe 9 years ago.  It's called Wool Ark Crazy.  I'm sure I've listed it as one of my UFO's before - Well I sew each Friday at the Cottage.  So I am taking it every Friday that I go and only working on it until it is done.  
Here is the background -  I'll be doing the crazy stitches between each wool piece  first and then I'll be doing the animal applique.
*Keeping with the theme of getting things done and cleaned up - I want to use up some of my scraps.  I'm not really a scrappy quilt person but I've been looking at a few coordinated scrappy quilts and so I want to do a few of them to downsize my scrap drawers. This will help with Charity Quilts.
*Then for my other projects through  out the year - I want to make a few quilts for family.  
The Bear quilt is definitely a big one I will be working on. And some of the kids haven't gotten quilts from me, Bri, Filip, Jorden, Zach, Taya. And a couple got baby quilts but they need bed size ones now.  Carter will be 8 this March. Not sure how many of those I'll bust out but want to try.  
* If I have any time left - I have a few other patterns and kits I want to make.  Plus....there are still embroidery UFO's, there are quilts to be quilted ....
I'm sure I wont be lacking for things to do this upcoming year.  
As much as I love my sewing - and I'm incredibly blessed to have so many projects that I want to do - my biggest wish for all of my friends and family this next year - I want everyone to be healthy and happy and blessed.  Have a super fun safe New Year's Eve - God Bless you all!
Lynn 

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Post Surgery Update

I worked on an old UFO before I went in for my surgery. It is so old that I don't have all the fabric I would need to complete it the way it was intended with all the extra sashing and borders, But I believe I can sew it together add a border and make it a nice charity lap quilt. 
Hard to see in this picture but the colors are green, brown, tan and wine.
This is the last bit of sewing I've done for several days, and could be even a little longer.  I actually am reading a book, while I'm working on recovery. Usually I listen to my books so I can keep my eyes and hands free to sew.  :) 
Okay now on to the surgery update:
 Well if you were patient enough to read through my last post with my rants and struggles you'll know i was trying to get my surgery approved.  Well it got even worst - my primary doctor flat out refused to give me a referral to the heart doctor for surgery clearance.  NO I'm not kidding. They wanted to give me clearance... and the surgeon wanted didn't want the liability of a primary doctors approval. So unless I got the referral and clearance from the surgeons heart doctor my surgery would be cancelled.
We ended up paying for an office visit at the heart doctor out of our own pockets, just to get it done.  Other wise I would have had to start over with a new ENT doctor/surgeon, new testing and delayed surgery.  No couldn't do it.
So all got done the surgery wasn't cancelled thank God.  The surgeon said the surgery went very well, however there was a lot of infection by the time he got in there.  Whew, glad it's done, and I am now recovering.  
Here are a few pictures of how it's going so far. 
As  you can see - it was not a little tiny thing I was trying to get rid of. 
I had to keep the drain in for 7 hours then they took out and taped me up.  
It has derma bond over the incision and then the little hole at the bottom is where the drain was. So in some ways it looks worse than it is - however it is big. 


Then we went to the motel, I ate a little and crashed. 
We came home on Saturday afternoon, I've been good about sitting and relaxing - hubby has actually cooked for us (never cooked anything in his life) and I am recovering nicely. 
I don't have any high hopes of finishing anything else for the rest of the year.  Rest, relax and recoup
However, I am already thinking of what I'd like to focus on this next year and I'm sure I already have too many plans and Ideas. Family quilts, holiday quilts, UFO quilts, and quilting the quilts.  Oh well, it fills my days with joy. 
Until next time - Blessings to all, 
Lynn 

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Hello December

Hello everyone - Wow another year almost over.  I always get amazed at this time of year how quickly time goes by.  
So starting off the month some of my sewing friends and my Sister and I were getting together for lunch because our/my friend Gloria has a birthday on 12/3. Now I have made some gifts for my friends for Christmas but the night before the lunch I get this text telling me that they all want to cancel gift giving on Birthdays and Christmas we'll do lunches.  That way there is no pressure for gift giving.  It's a good thing.... But... So we all agree that we can give gifts off an on as we come across things we see or have that we know the other would like.  And in honor of the fact that my Sister and I give each other "Pillow Gifts" we now call these sporadic gifts - "Pillow Presents" - we're funny aren't we? 
I originally made this for Vickie.  She was President and I was Vice  President for the last 2 years at the SNR guild. This was a combo thank you for help with our 2 year run, and a Christmas present for her. 

It's wool  on wooly flannel.  
Next is the squirrel bag I made for Cheryl.  
Then for the Birthday girl Gloria - She loves 30's fabric.  I'm not really that big on it.  Well years ago I bought this pattern and started collecting material to make this little quilt because I liked the pattern - But I've never made it because I don't really like the fabric.    SO....  I gave it to the Birthday girl - with the offer to help since she doesn't know how to do fusible applique.  

There was a couple 1/2 yds, 3 - 1/4 yrds, and at least 1/8 yrd cuts  so with that and her stash of 30's it should come out cute. 
They all seemed to like their "Pillow Presents"
So what's up for December? 
That is a good question. 
My Goals - work on some guild projects and since my Sister is in town  work on her bear quilt.   For now that is it.  

 My goals lately have been a little vague and will probably continue to be so for a while. 
Below is a rant and an update why I've been a little out of the loop.  It is a long rant - feel free to skip to the bottom. 
** I've been dealing with some health issues and as much as I don't want it to - it becomes a big focus in my life.  I have what is called a 2nd Branchial Cleft Cyst.  Which means I have a lump on the side of my neck, that is pressing on things in my throat and resting against my jugular.  It is over 5x4x3 cm which is a little over 2"x2"x1". What it also means is that I am going to have surgery on the 15th.  What has also been going on is that I have had a horrible time dealing with my primary Dr. office staff forwarding paperwork to get my referrals in. So to back up a little: I originally noticed this sometime between April - June and thought it was a swollen gland since I was dealing with allergies. I brought it to the Dr. attention the middle of August when I had my physical.  At the end of August I had an ultra sound in the doctors office and got results first week of Sept. It took them until 10/17 to get me in for the CT Scan that the Dr. directed them to set me up with. On 10/24 I went in for the results and she said I needed to see the ENT specialist. She put in the reports that I was to be referred STAT.  - and I waited 5 weeks for them to get it done - even to the point that I had to go pick up the paperwork the night before my appointment with the specialist (that had already been canceled once due to lack of referral)  to take with me to the appointment.  
Next up my surgery is pending on them faxing the referral to the cardiologist so I can get cleared for surgery on the 15th.  
I found out on the the ENT couldn't refer me to the Cardio Dr. - I had to have my PCP do it.  And they couldn't just take that at face value I had to go in for another visit (I'm sure so they can collect another 100 bucks for an office visit) 
We went in on Thursday the 30th and talked to the primary Dr.  She wanted to do the clearance for the surgery, but said to call the ENT and ask if that was okay.  She said if it wasn't to call back the next morning and she would have them put the referral in right away.  
So I called the ENT and they explained why I needed to go to their cardio Dr.  So I then called the primary Dr.  They wouldn't let me talk to the referral personnel.  They said they'd have them call me.  Then when they didn't call me I called back. The receptionist wanted to know what it was concerning I reminded her I was there the night before and what it was about and said she'd give them the message.  
In the mean time - I pray they get the paperwork in so the surgery can go as scheduled.  
So .. as much I don't like to be obsessed with my health, it is a little overwhelming and consuming.  Because not only am I dealing with all of the paperwork stuff - I am also dealing with how it feels. Not only does it look bad - I do have a lot of pain associated with it.  
** Thanks for listening to my rant - Blessings to you all.  Lynn 

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Wrapping up the gifts

Wrapping as in finishing and wrapping as in the presents are wrapped and boxed and ready to ship.  
I'm a little ahead of myself this year and it feels so good.  Usually we just do gift cards for the kids and grand kids but this year I made them the little gifts to go with their gift cards.  And not wanting to wait until the last minute - I am done.  
Here are a couple more little gifts I made to put with their stockings, and pillow cases.  Since I made a wallet for my daughter and a pillow for her daughter 
I wanted to include something for my grand son.  He LOVES cars so I made this notebook cover. 

And then I didn't want to wrap the quilt for Adrianna my new Great Granddaughter so I made a pillow case that matched it and did a fancy stitch to hold down the flange. 


One last thing - I added some words to this little quilt I made a few months ago.  It was designed from a picture that our grand daughter sent of our great grandson getting into the cookie jar when he wasn't supposed to. Mother May I was the title of the quilt I just hadn't put it on the quilt. 
Well now it's there.
That finishes up my November. 
Blessings,  Lynn 

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving 2017

Happy Thanksgiving 2017

May you all have a very blessed time with friends and family.
Lynn 

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Welcome and Rodeo

Welcome to my Sis and Bro in law they are back in town as snowbirds for the next 3 month.  They got in on Wednesday night. Now for Friday night we are going to the rodeo.  I wasn't able to get real good pictures but here's what I did get.  We had a fun night of watching and eating caramel corn. It started off with some fireworks and introductions.










We had tickets to go the next day just hubby and I so we went to Sis's place for dinner since it was my BIL Birthday and then headed over for the next rodeo.  Well OOPS!  The rodeo was at 2pm not 7pm like the night before.  Well we got there and the parking lot was empty.  Shoot.  
Anyway we had a lovely dinner and so all was not lost.
Blessings-
Lynn 

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Bag it

The timing on this couldn't have been better.  I made a bag for a friend that loves little bags. 
I made this the other day but the squirrel idea started a while back when she wanted a squirrel for a wall hanging she was doing.  I kept offering her patterns, but she would joke and say she wanted me to make it.  So for the last few months we joke back and forth, and I would say someday I would make her a squirrel.
Here's the inside lining. 
And since Elm Streets Quilts is having a "Bag it" link up.  It worked out really nice.  It was pretty easy to put together.  I did the applique first, then used fusible batting and quilted the outside front and back.  Then I layered with the lining and attached to the zipper and sewed around all pieces leaving a little opening in the lining.  I pulled it right sides out and hand sewed up the little opening in the lining and voila... A Squirrel Bag.  
Thanks for the link up and have a blessed day!
Lynn 

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

More little gifts

More little gifts for the kids and Grand kids.  These will be part of their Christmas Gifts.  
I made them each a little Christmas stocking and I will put their cards and gift card inside along with a candy cane.  A little more exciting than just a card.  I know once they get a little older - money and or gift cards are what they want - but I think they still like unwrapping something too. 
Here are the front and backs of the ones I made for our 3 kids and spouces plus one for our adult grandson who is 19. 

Here is the front and back of the set I made for our youngest daughters two.  Jorden and Zach. They are the ones that came to visit.  

And here is for our other grandson Caleb, one of his favorite colors is Blue - so made the cuff blue. 

The next ones are for our great grandson Ben  and his Mom and Dad. They live in Texas.    
Here is the one for our other great grandson Carter. 

Carter and Caleb are both 7.  Young enough to have cute but not too cute.  :)   
Along with the Christmas Stockings the younger Grands and Great Grands are getting a pillow case. This one is for Zach. He played football this year.  
 This is for his Sister Jorden - 
Along with a pillow case I am making her a new pillow. I made her one with "The Grinch who Stole Christmas" before we moved here. Hence the other pillow case, but when they were here for a visit she let me know she also liked "Nightmare Before Christmas"  - So here is Jack and Sally.  
And here's what's on the back. 
Next is the pillowcase for Caleb, he's our Son's and Daughter in law's son.  He played football this year also and his other favorite color is orange so here it is. 
These two are for Carter and Ben our two great grandsons.  They both love dogs and soccer - but I thought the dogs were cute. 
Well that's about it for now.  Of course I always want to do more - but this will probably be it for this years Christmas.  I need to get the gift cards then get it all wrapped and ready to mail.  
Blessings to all - 
Lynn 

August 2023 Taya, Jorden and Zach

 Hi Kids.. One grandson leaves then the next batch of kids come.  Summer is so fun for our family to come visit.  Taya our daughter and our ...