Stay at home means more sewing

 Yes our stay at home/lockdown order got extended again. So what does that mean to me...not much has changed. I am at home and getting some projects checked off my to-do list.  Not all things are sewing related though. Yesterday I spent the day outside working in the yard and some painting on the rims of my winter tires. Some of these jobs were things my hubby did but they have become my tasks to complete now. I do know my limits and when I reach them...I head for the sewing room to relax.

2 done 8 to go

This week I started a project that I received in late January. My uncle passed away and his family asked if I would make memory pillows for them with his shirts. Now because of covid, I was not able to be at the funeral and so this is a fitting way for me to honour him and his memory for his family. I had started with a tester one(there were extra  shirts) then found a video on how to make the pillows with the collar still on. I think they look pretty cool.  I will be adding an embroidered patch to the front as well, just not sure what it will say as yet. As I was cutting apart the shirts, I realized that a man's large shirt contains at least 3 fat quarters and possibly a 4th if you added all the little pieces and sleeves together. So I am sure I will have leftovers that I will put to a good use. This has been the perfect project to get me sewing and helping me to decide what I will work on next.

Of course every quilter has UFO and I am no stranger to that. But which one should I work on. Most of my UFO are finished tops so that means they need basting and machine or hand quilting. These days I like to do a little of both on a quilt. The machine quilting acts as basting for the hand quilting and the quilt gets finished a bit quicker than if I hand quilted the whole thing.

When it is break/tea time...I will be seeing what Kathy is up to this week. She is in the same lockdown as I am and I know the time is getting long.  It is always interesting to see what everyone is working on and to see how there seems to be a resurgence in cross stitch over the last year or so. Maybe I will have to get out my cross stitch project that isn't finished, from 12 years ago! yikes

I have to share what I received this week. The members of the band that my hubby was part of , gifted this chair to me in his memory. Seeing the chair was one thing but reading the plaque brought instant tears. I hope he has found a comfy bench to sit on to wait, because I am hoping he will be waiting for a long while.

Going forth into May

 Three months have passed since the day that changed my world. How can that be? We ended April with a day full of a freak snowstorm, family and lots of tears as we said our final good bye to a husband, father, brother and uncle. We of course blamed my hubby for the bad weather...he knew I loved the snow in all forms!

So now  May has arrived with its promise of new life with all the growing plants.. Yesterday was an unusually nice day and I spent it outside doing yard work. The gardens are ready to be planted and the greenhouse is also ready. I could put plants in there now but the gardens will have to wait a bit till it warms up more.

On the sewing/quilting front, it has been a slow process for me. I finally started working on a project and have got the top done. In the photo the set in triangles look brown but are more green with orange and purple dots. I had to take the photo in the driveway for a big enough spot to spread it out. But now what, it is too large for me to machine quilt. 

This is one that I would love to have a quilting bee and invite my friends over to help. We could social distance around a frame...right. But we have the nasty "stay at home order" in effect still. Oh well that top can rest a bit till I decide what to do with it! 

I have been knitting on my sweater and had it almost done, then I tried it on and oops!! It wasn't long enough and the arm holes were too small. So I ripped part of it out and am trying to get it finished. I have another new project to work on...a friend's mom knitted lots and I mean lots of dishcloths. She was wondering if there was something else they could be used for. I suggested an afghan. So I am making them into baby blankets and a couple larger afghans. That should keep me busy for a bit. But I want to finish my sweater first or I may never get back to it!!

Today I would like to wish all the mothers a  Happy Mother's Day. We deserve more than just one day although my hubby use to say that mother's day was every day! I will be checking in with Kathy and looking to see what everyone is up to on this slow stitching Sunday. I haven't linked up in a few weeks so I have some catching up to do! 

Enjoy your day!

A day late and a dollar short

Who am I kidding, I am a quilter and I am more than a dollar short!! Sunday got away on me and so I am posting today. This week has been an emotional roller coaster. Good days, getting things done days and that day that I knew was coming. Now that Spring is here we have to make arrangements for my husband's burial. Just when I thought I was okay, the flood gates open again. This seems way harder than all we have already gone through but with my daughter by my side and many friends and family, we will manage.

not ironed baby quilt backing

There hasn't been much sewing in the studio but I did roll the frame and more hand quilting is getting done. One or two more rolls and I should be able to see the finish line. I sewed up a backing for the baby quilt that you can read about here. I am using what I have in my stash so sometimes you have to get creative. I also cut the set in triangles for a scrappy quilt I am doing. I just have to layout the blocks and start sewing them together.

quilting is coming along

Although I didn't have time to post yesterday I did read all the links to Kathy's slow stitching Sunday. Keep up all the good work ladies, keeps me wanting to sew and do more. I have my next project from a magazine, sitting and taunting me to get going!!

Learning my way.

Spring quilt along

 Teaching this old dog new tricks is not easy but mostly it's exhausting. Friday was the first time I have sewn in almost 2 months. The project has been sitting on my cutting table just waiting for the day that my heart was ready to get back sewing. Sewing and music go hand in hand for me...but having music on was just too sad. So yesterday some friends and I zoomed(yet another new thing to learn). We met in the morning to see what everyone was doing and introduce ourselves. We visited again at lunchtime and then at suppertime. It was nice to talk to like minded people who are finding Covid as challenging and frustrating as I do!!

blocks ready for more sewing

   So I have worked on Quilting by the River's Spring quilt along. Then in the afternoon, I took out a scrap project that I had been working on in December. One set of blocks was done(on left) and I had the units ready for sewing for the alternate block(on the right). Those got sewn up and now I have to press them before carrying on. There is one more step to be done to these blocks before they can be sewn together into a top. Hopefully that will happen this week!

I thank everyone for their kind thoughts and comments. Life does go on and I know hubby would want me to be sewing and doing what I love. It isn't always easy and there will be good days and not so good ones, but I will keep trying and moving along.

With that in mind, I am checking in with my buddy Kathy and seeing what everyone is slow stitching on today. I will be doing some hand quilting later after all my pressing is finished. I love that there are quilters out there sharing their lives and hobbies, so I have something to keep me going. I also love watching and listening to videos and you tube of quilting things, they inspire me and help me to sew!

Come and visit again and see what other things I get moving on!

Springtime....new beginnings

creek is open and roaring

As the rain continues to fall and the snow is disappearing, you start to see the start of new life. Seems almost poetic that this is happening now in my life too. A new way of life, learning I can do more than I thought and relying on others when I do need help. Things are coming to life under what's left of the winter. I have daffodils poking up in the flowerbed and seedlings are growing under lamps in the house. This week I saw my first robin, that's a sure sign that Spring is here.

Even in our little town, there has been three buildings demolished. Sounds opposite to what I have been saying but this is cleaning and beautifying our town. They were old buildings way past usefulness and needed to be cleaned up. Paving the way for new opportunities and new buildings to be built.

My friend Bernadette came for an afternoon visit yesterday. We mostly talked but did get a little stitching done...well she did. I was trying to cut out pieces for a quilt and realized I had cut wrong. Now I just hope I have enough fabric to finish the quilt. It is the first day that I have managed to sew on the machine. My mind and heart haven't been there but I have to start somewhere. I will try again today and will work on the blocks for the quilt along with Carla. I am way behind but I am making my quilt smaller so I might be able to catch up quickly.

pieces cut and ready to sew

Although sewing isn't high on my to-do list, I still keep up with blogs and facebook quilt groups. I am hoping that they inspire me to get going. I especially love reading what my friend Kathy is up to. We have missed getting together for our Piranha weekend. I am so hoping we will be able to do it this summer.

Kathy has slow stitching Sunday going on and encouraging everyone to settle in with needle and thread and stitch the day away. She has quite the following and I love reading what everyone is up to.

I would like to thank everyone for their kind words of comfort and encouragement. It means a lot to know others are thinking of me and it helps me to keep going.

Breathe.....Slow and Steady

 That has been what has been keeping me going. Today marks one month since I lost the love of my life, my best friend. But life goes on and I have put on my big girl panties and am working through all that needs to be done. I have sat back and reflected on those first days and have let go of all those initial expectations. Now I look at each day and take what is given to me. You can't plan for a situation like this and now I can just do what I can do. One day at a time, one hour at a time, knowing he is by my side in all I do.

a few of the tapped trees

I have been knitting and a little hand quilting but honestly I have been so busy with tapping trees for maple syrup, walking the dog and keeping her busy and planting seedlings for the garden that the time seems to have flown by.

my spring colours for Carla's quilt-along

                       Yesterday was International Quilting day, but I spent the day out in the sunshine, just soaking up the rays. I have not gotten back into my studio to sew but with time....that too will come. I have many projects I want to get to. I have fabric all set out for a quilt along with Carla at Quilting by the river but haven't cut it yet. I have printed the instructions and it will be my first project to tackle when my heart and mind are ready. For now I have started a sweater from Sweet Yarns knitting store in Sudbury
and will work on that...should be ready for next Fall!

our creek opening up

        Although I haven't been sewing, I am still checking in with my friend Kathy and all the slow stitchers to keep me interested and see what you are all doing. It warms my heart to read all the comments you left me on my last post. Quilters really are amazing people. Friends, strangers and quilters from all over the world sent love and comfort which lifted my spirit. For that I am glad I am part of such a great group of people.

This is my journey and I hope you don't mind being along for the ride with me.

My world is shattered

 Maybe not the right place to do this but my blog is about me. All facets of my life and in the past two weeks my life has been shattered and changed forever. On February 21, the love of my life and best friend, my husband died of a sudden heart attack. It has taken my world and turned it upside down. My daughter has been with me since that day.

I know it will take time and the days ahead will be long. I have many family and friends that are there with a hug, food or whatever we may need. I am not sure what the future holds  but I am hoping that with faith, hope and love we will make it.

I also know that keeping busy is best. I have not been able to attempt anything sewing or quilting wise. I have put  labels on two quilts for two special people who helped us with the funeral preparations.  My hubby understood my love of fabric and thread and even encouraged my passion. So with that in mind, I know he would want me to carry on....so many projects to finish. I know the day will come when my heart doesn't hurt so much, that bright fabrics and fun looking quilts will be my medicine. But also joining in with my friend Kathy for slow stitching Sunday and reading all your blog posts will help me to not feel alone and encourage me to get busy quilting!