Stay Home Round Robin 7

Despite being a bit quiet over the last week I have been managing to work on a couple of projects.  One I cannot show you as it is for Kate North's 'Another Little Quilt Swap' which you can link to from the button in my side bar.  The other piece I have been working on today is also fro Kate and is for her Stay Home Round Robin.

I have added the bottom strip of 3 rectangles, one measuring 6"x5" and two measuring 5"x5" (excuse the slightly wonky photograph).  This strip now completes the basic quilt top but Kate has 5 more stages for us to go through before the quilt is complete.  When I started this piece I didn't have any plan at all, I just followed Kate's instructions for the block sizes but slowly the colours and patterns evolved.  I have so enjoyed this project thus far and I can't wait for the chance to add stitching and embellishments to the surface.  I will, of course, have to wait for Kate to tell us where and when to embellish and stitch.  Can't wait!  Watch this space!

Very many thanks to everyone who has sent me good wishes for my Mum's returning health after her stroke.  She has made some good progress in some areas, her right arm is stronger than it was but she still has little sensation in it and this is causing some problems.  We've managed to get rid of the walking frame and come down to a stick and occasionally Mum forgets the stick indoors and manages without so that is progress.  She is still sleeping a lot but not as much as immediately after the stroke but her short term memory does seem to have been affected and is causing her some confusion.  The next step is to try and get her back to her own home with the support of social workers so I will be going with her for a hopefully short while until  a care package is set up.  I am already exhausted with caring for Mum so far (as I have my own health problems unfortunately) so, as much as I want to carry on looking after Mum, I know I have to hand her over to others to decide on the range of support she needs.  I have the feeling that while she stays with us Mum will feel like a guest and not make the effort she needs to make to take over more of her own care.  Fingers crossed she will get her wish to stay in her own home and we can support with more frequent visits.   

While we're on the subject of poorly people (sorry for the 'p' word Laura!) our dear friend Grace is still having a bumpy ride and has spent time at home and time in care.  Hard to believe she is now in the 100th anniversary year of her birth!  Life is not really being kind to her as she has had one problem after another to cope with, none of them serious in themselves but all combining to weaken her.  She can still crack a smile though.

At the risk of becoming tedious, here's another pic of our gorgeous great-nephew enjoying his Christmas dinner,

If all goes well I may be getting a cuddle at the weekend (as long as social services don't need us in Essex before then!).

Ooh yes, I nearly forgot, my Sketchbook Project has left for America!  Can't wait for the first email that tells me someone has borrowed it.  I left some half completed pages so I would love it if someone couldn't resist adding their own marks here and there.

Stay Home Round Robin 5

Not a lot happening in the Mixed Media household this week while my foot is still bruised but I have managed a little gentle sewing today courtesy of my left foot.  Kate's instruction for November for the Stay Home Round Robin was to attach 2 blocks of differing lengths to the top edge.  

These are the two blocks I made.  The lower block includes a snowball block, the first time I have made one of these.  I have a feeling the triangles shouldn't be quite so big but I'm happy with it.  The topmost block is made with free cut curved piecing again and I have tried to echo other colours and shapes in the rest of the piece.

This is how it looks now with the two blocks added.  I am so enjoying this monthly project! :)

I am probably teaching my grandmothers to suck eggs but I learned something at Sheena Norquay's workshop that may save my thread box from descending into a tangled mess.

We are all familiar with this type of cotton reel (above), but did you know they did this?

No, neither did I!  The end pops back in to hold the thread secure until you need to use it again.  Who'd a thunk?!

Stay Home Round Robin and Journal Quilt

I've just realised I didn't show you the next stage of my piece for Kate North's Stay Home Round Robin which I completed last week.

The instruction for this month was to add a strip 9" x 3".  I have continued with the theme of the red/orange batik but couldn't find anymore of the dark blue fabric.  Luckily I found the blue chrysanthemum fabric and decided that would work.  Some of the girls have been including circles in their pieces but I didn't feel brave enough to give them a go yet so I decided to balance the curved lines of the right hand side with very slightly curved horizontal lines in this strip which I added on the left.  I am really enjoying following this Round Robin and it feels less scary than working on somebody else's piece, although that would be a fun challenge sometime.

Yesterday I decided it was high time I got on with my Contemporary Quilt Group Journal Quilt for September.  Just running a little behind!

This is called "Scrap Happy" and it is what its title suggests.  I raided my scrap bags and only used fabric I found in them.  I used the 'mile a minute' technique (mostly) and was surprised to find enough matching pieces to do the repeats.  The backing, which you can't see, came from an offcut from an old embroidered tablecloth.  I now have three more to do, hopefully before the end of November so that they don't get lost in the lead up to Christmas. (Oops! Sorry, I mentioned the 'C' word again!)

Now for some really good news!  My friend Grace is home at last!  Her leg is healing well and she is getting about on two sticks.  She has carers going in but she is able to potter about fairly happily.  I would like to thank everyone for their messages of support and good wishes. :o)