Just Have Patience

The update on my knee? It's only been two weeks since the surgery and I already sick and tired of having to "baby" it. I'm ready for things to be back to normal and I guess I'm doing too much. For example, I went to the grocery store and about half way through shopping, I couldn't push the cart anymore - too much knee pain. Thankfully, I had my sons with me and they were able to continue pushing the cart for me and walked along with my crutches. I need to have some patience and let my knee heal and eventually all will be right again. Whaa, whaa, whaa!! Okay, I'll stop my whining!!

When I am sitting with my leg up with ice (like I'm suppose to), I have been able to do some more reading, the Elm Creek Quilt books, of course. I have finished book #5, The Quilter's Legacy. Since my family was unable to go away on a family vacation because of my knee, I decided to take a few days and visit my sister. She lives in north central Indiana and it is about a five hour drive from my house (Mommy, are we there yet?). To help pass the time for me, I listened to the audio version of the next book, The Master Quilter. So currently, I'm on book #7 but I had to jump ahead to The Lost Quilter, #13. It continues with the story which was told in The Runaway Quilt, about how quilts were used in the Underground Railroad. I had find it very fascinating and I couldn't help myself.

And I've been able to work on my Drunkard's path quilt.

I've been able to cut out the block pieces. I've already run out to the red fabric and will have to get some soon.

I've assembled more of the four-patch blocks...

and already have the quilting pattern drawn out.

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Once the blocks are pieced, I'll start constructing the rows to get a real visualization of the quilt. I still got a long way to go!

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Jane

Surprise! Someone Saw My Quilt!

No photos yet, they'll be coming soon.

But I wanted to brag that I found a little bit of a surprise today. I have found a great blog monomaniacalquilter.blogspot.com and Sue had posted tons of great photos from the Shipshewana Quilt Show. And one of those quilts was mine!!

As I had mentioned before, I was unable to attend the quilt show and see my quilt. It sure was nice to see my quilt as it was displayed at the show. And that Sue had liked it enough to take a photo of it and post it on her blog.

So, please visit her blog and take a look at her beautiful photos of the quilt show. And Sue, thank you, you put a smile on my face and made my day a little bit brighter!

Jane

I'm Alive and Well

It's three days since surgery. My knees are feeling a lot better. The arthritic pain is gone but it still sore due to the surgery. The doctor had injected the other with cortisone so it is now pain free. I've been walking around with crutches and they seem to get in the way of everything. I'm trying to keep up with the exercises to keep the knee from stiffening up.

I've been off of my feet, per doctor's instructions, so I've been doing a lot of reading. And it will be a little difficult to get into my sewing area with the darn crutches, but I'm hoping to get a little more quilting done soon.

Jane

Dreading Tomorrow

I'm not looking forward to the morning. We have to get up super early (not easy with two young boys) and get the hospital for my knee surgery. I know that's it's just arthroscopic surgery but I'm still nervous about it. I had my other knee done about five years ago and I should feel at ease since I know what to expect. But no. Not looking forward to the pain, not being able to do what I want (at least for a while)...I just wish I would recuperate a lot faster, to be back to normal again. Oh, whoa-is-me! : (

I did get my quilt and vest back from the county fair today. I'm planning to enter this same quilt into another county fair (later in the month) and curious of what the outcome will be there.

I'd better wrap things up. I've got to be hitting the hay early tonight.

Wish me luck!

Jane

Encouraging More Creativity

I've listening to the latest book through my ipod (I've physically read a third of it on my own) so I've been able to get a little quilting done. But looking at the projects I still need to finish, I still couldn't get motivated. So, I started a little bit of a Drunkard's Path quilt to get my juices flowing.

I just need to make 7 more of these to have enough to make a whole quilt!

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I'm feeling a bit better now so we will have to see how much more I can get finished on those others. I'm going to try to lay off some on the next book "The Quilter's Legacy" to make time for some work.

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Jane

Meet Hester

I'd like to introduce you to Hester, my singer 15-91 sewing machine. Isn't she so pretty! She joins my other machines, Beulah (my Kenmore) and Roberta (my Bernina).

I had gotten her for the purpose of machine-quilting, but I had no place for her.

My BFF from high school was wanting to get rid of her treadle sewing machine and table and she had asked me if I wanted it. Of course, I said YES! So, it just sat in my sewing area. I love looking at it, but I got the idea of replacing the old nonfunctional treadle machine with my electric version.

After some time, she now has a new residence and I have a location to do my machine-quilting. And a perfect hiding place once I'm done, just close it up! I just need to figure out what to place between the table and the window to support the quilt coming off the machine.

With this out of the way, I've been able to do some more piecing on a quilt. I'll have to update later on that.

Jane

Onward to the Book #4

I really don't know why I'm so proud of myself, but I have just finished reading "Cross-Country Quilters" and have started the next, "The Runaway Quilt."

This time, I am going to use the audio-book route, as well. I've found myself, late at night when the kiddos are asleep, I'm reading when usually I'd be working on a quilt. So, I'm hoping, I can listen through my ipod and still be able to do some sewing.

When I attempted to start reading the first book "The Quilter's Apprentice" a couple of years ago, I had purchaced the book "Elm Creek Quilts" to help me visualize the quilt the main characters were producing. It's a book with quilt patterns that were used in the first few books.

A quilt used in the "The Runaway Quilt"

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It's fun to see how close the visualization that I had in my head and the one the author/companion quilters had come up with.

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If my plans go well, I'll still be able to follow along with the story and get some quilt work done!!

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Jane

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P.S. the upcoming arthroscopic knee surgery is planned for July 14. Yucky! I may not be able to get up and down from the sewing machine like I use to but I'm wanting to get some applique done. I hope, I hope!