27 April, 2020

This and That


I'm keeping busy, there's always too much to do and not enough time to get it all accomplished. I don't know how I ever got anything done at all when I was allowed to leave the house! As fast as I finish one project I find three others to work on! I began setting these stitcheries together with low volume 25-patches.
These squares measure 5" finished; with the one inch framing border all around this becomes a 12 inch block. Right now I have a few ideas in my head as far as where these will go eventually, but I will set them aside for now and let the ideas simmer.
I found this new (to me) product that's too good not to share my rave review: if you've ever been confronted with an errant thread that gets caught between your quilt layers and shadows through the top, here's the solution! No matter how well you trim before loading and layering your quilt, threads happen. This is a super-fine tool with a micro hook on the end that slips easily through the weave of cotton fabric, grabs that thread and retrieves it without leaving a trace! Once again, Clover notions to the rescue, they make the best products! I'm really excited about this one. 
We got the sweetest homemade card in the mail from our oldest two grandchildren in the Capital City, they each wrote personal notes inside. They're (along with all the schoolchildren in our state) about to experience the longest summer vacation ever as the governor announced on Friday that schools won't open again this academic year. I feel so sorry for all the children, I can't even imagine. 
Life goes on: Mama Carolina Wren coaxed the babies out of their deep, secluded nest-- they're on their own. She's been so busy flitting in and out with bugs and other treats to feed them, we'll miss watching the activity through the window at our breakfast table. But, now, the brick column can be removed; Mr. G. had that on his "to do" list but was detoured, temporarily, by the babies. 

Adapting during our stay-at-home in an upside down🙃 world: Quiltkeemosabe gave me this wonderful panel; I'm going to load it up and quilt it, as is, to use as a table runner. Isn't it wonderful? It measures 43" X 19". Since it's where we are, and there's no place like it, it's the perfect time. I have found another mask pattern to try out. I have always been a huge Ami Simms fan; so, when this one hit the Internet, naturally I downloaded the pattern and am giving this style a try. This will be the third style that I've stitched up. I lost track a long time ago how many I've made, it's ongoing.
😷
Speaking of Quiltkeemosabe- her husband is coming home from his five week hospital/rehab stay (non-COVID!) tomorrow, at long last. Thanks one and all who continued to hold him in prayer for health and healing. Please continue to pray for him and his family as he acclimates to being back home again and gains his strength back. 
😷
Please indulge me in a soapbox moment: I am deeply saddened and highly aggravated to witness the public shaming, name-calling and finger-pointing that I see on social media aimed at those who may not be complying with the current "rules" for virus prevention or spread as the accuser deems appropriate. Let's all keep in mind here that everyone is doing the very best that they can based on the information that they have. If you see someone without a mask, and you're uncomfortable, avoid them. If you see someone who's not observing social distancing, then be careful to keep your own distance. If a business opens back up and you don't feel safe entering, then, by all means, don't. Wash your hands, keep yourself and your loved ones as safe as you can; but, please, please, be kind. We can't possibly know everyone's story or current circumstance. We're all tired of being isolated, worn out from concern and eager to put this behind us-- but, we're all in this together and a little kindness goes a long, long way.

"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." - Romans 5:3-5

Life is Good!

8 comments:

cityquilter grace said...

beautiful stitcheries! i actually saw a man who had his own drone and sent it around central park in nyc and telling people they were too close together...really, not even law enforcement just an ordinary entitled individual...sheesh...another week but "and it came to pass"....

jude's page said...

Great post once again, and appropriate verse to end. I also love my Clover thread pic, and have used one for many years to get out those errant threads that get caught in between the layers. I call them varicose veins! Thinking of your all in your country as we deal with this virus. Thankfully Australia's situation is not bad at this stage, although can't go anywhere.

Deborah said...

I haven't seen a thread pic before. Your stitcheries are so pretty. And I always appreciate the verses you include at the end. Kindness is so important during these strange times.

Janet O. said...

Those blocks are adorable. I love the low volume in between. It gives them a little color without totally overpowering their sweet messages.
I have long had a thread pic, but never thought to use it for quilting. I have always used mine to pull sweater snags, and snags in poly blend fabrics to the inside of clothing, so they don't show and don't get further snagged on things.
I have tried 4 mask patterns, and had setled on the one I like best for fit. But recently I downloaded one that a local health agency is recommending for homemade masks to be donated to them. Maybe I'll give it a try, but I would really like to get something sewn besides masks one of these days.
This pandemic may have united us in some ways, but it is definitely dividing us in others.

straythreads said...

Beautiful! Love what you are doing to the stitchers blocks.
It’s that way here too those who follow the instructions to stay safe and those who don’t this is going to take a looong time to get past this . Fortunately we have our stashes of fabric

Ramona said...

Thank you for the link to the thread picker! I had not seen one of those before now. Your stitched blocks are beautiful and really stand out with the low volume 16 patches as alternate blocks. Are the stitchery patterns from long ago?

Susan said...

Such an appropriate verse for these times. Thank you.

Tanya said...

So glad to hear that Quilt Keemosabe's husband will be coming home. What a long time for him to have been away and for your friend to battle out sheltering down alone.

I will look for the thread picker! I spend a lot of time trying to coax threads to the top of a quilt with a needle...