Well, we are still living the good life, ‘alive and well’, re-organized daily schedule, and used to the ‘new and different life’! BUT one month down and about 2 or 3 more months to go when Clay will be ‘almost’ back to being a 2 handed person! YEA. He is ready to get rid of the cast for good. We are not sure as to what comes after the surgery – will find out on the 7th when we go to Pre-Op appointment.
Reconstruction surgery is scheduled on the 13th of February. His birthday is the 6th of February and we will be celebrating with Jan and Mike at Sea Island Restaurant! Our Valentine gift this year, for both of us, is to have a successful surgery that will get him back on the road to final recovery! Our 2020 will start around 1 May!
Between the changes in daily routines and doctor appointments I have been limited on my quilting. It seems by 7pm in the evening I am what you call “DONE”. This has caused me to be late in my work on Mary Brown, BUT I am almost finished with my Sunflower block for the month. I should have used a lighter color leaf fabric for the middle leaf, but too bad – no changes or redo’s this month! LOL Maybe during the Super Bowl tonight I will have it completed! Just the middle and the bottom 2 flowers!
Here is Jan’s block for January. Jan and I definitely did not get off to the great start for 2020 as we have planned, but we will recoup and catch up soon – right Jan? Jan was not feeling well and we all know what was going on in the Cook household!
Now for an update on OMIGOSH project. Gretchen asked me if I would like to make this quilt with her this year and I jumped at the chance to have a quilting buddy while making this quilt. She posted her progress yesterday on her blog, click on her name to view her colors and blocks.
I wanted to make this quilt with Reproduction fabrics, but my idea for that one did not work out. I made 5 of the double nine patch blocks (each block is 5″ unfinished – 4 1/2″ finished) and 4 of the ShooFly blocks. Here is a picture of the one square in a square I made before realizing my error by using a larger print for the HSTs! Keep in mind that these are 2″ HSTs and the SnS is 2″ and the 4 patch in the center block is 1/2″!
It did not take long to realize that my fabric selection would not work, so here is what I did with the blocks I made! Great Computer Laptop Cover (when quilted of course). There is a problem with the lower right corner, but it will remain as it is! I tried to use a larger print for the ShoFly block and it definitely did not work, although I like the outcome of this little mini-quilt!
At first I decided that I would just give up on OMG – but it is really a lot of fun making those 2″ 9 patches and then there is the lovely 2″ Square in a Square block. They are all made from 1″ strips – so much fun, and really something that is not really challenging (other than the size) for me to work on during this time of healing. One thing I do not like to do is to give up on a project because of a pattern problem, wrong fabric selection, or just do not like the way things are going. I take it as a challenge.
With that being said, Here is another group of fabrics that I have selected. They are Jenny Beyer fabrics that I was going to use for Hexagons for a Lucy Boston quilt but that will never happen! I am testing them today to see if they will work out better, if not then I will probably go for a 2 color purple and lavender quilt!
Have a great week, enjoy the Super Bowl if you like football, and keep on stitching!
Nanette Hope to see more progress the next 2 weeks!
Linking to the following groups!
Mary Brown Group – In September 2019 Karen and Cathy selected Celebrating Mary Brown as their next project and invited anyone to join in the fun! The following quilters are participating. We will be showing completed blocks on the 30th of each month! Take the time to visit them to see their completed monthly blocks! If interested let Karen know you are interested in joining the group.
HQAL Group – This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another. If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.
Kathy, Margaret, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Susan, Nanette, Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Connie, Bella, Gretchen, Daisey , Kathie.
Linking To: My Quilt Infatuation; Confessions of a Fabric Addict; Finished or Not Friday ; Em’s Scrap Bag; BOM’s Away; Sew Fresh Quilts; Crazy Mom Quilts; Oh Scrap; Scrap Happy Saturday; Slow Sunday Stitching Quilt Fabrication Mid Week Makers; Peacock Party; Design Wall Monday
Chopin - A Passionate Quilter From Texas 
I am not sure I understand what was wrong with the fabric for OMIGOSH project but I sure like what you did with it. I love the color and think it would be a stunning quilt/pattern awesome! Love the Sunflower – gorgeous and Jan’s block is gorgeous too. PS – I hopped over to Gretchin’s page again to take a peek 🙂 Have a great week
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Well, My idea was to make blocks with the Reproductions in reds, blues, and just happened to grab the green – it is a dull green. The Shofly block looked more like a snow ball block by using the print I used. I really did not want to use a light background color. Going to play with the new fabrics. May have to change again, or just put it aside for now. My goal was to not have it so busy with different fabrics that one cannot see the blocks! Hugs
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Love your mini! Your appliqué block is looking great especially with all those sunflower points.
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Thank you Deb! I am going to put more time on applique and put the piecing on hold until Clay is better.
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I like your little mini a lot. The floral hst ties into the 9-patches next to it and create a block of their own. The colors are really nice. Best wishes with the upcoming surgery.
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Thank you Robin! It was fun making the small blocks, but with Clay’s situation, I am going to switch to just catching up on my hand work and getting more proficient on my new iMAC! Hugs and happy stitching!
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The sunflowers are so cheery. A new computer cover works. Happy stitching!
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Thank you Gretchen. I changed the Sunflowers just a smidgen. Hugs
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The mini quilt looks pretty darn good as a computer cover! Glad Clay is soon going to be out of this cast. Will you take some hand work with you when he has his surgery? DH is enjoying the game, I found an on line service that allows us to watch the local channel. 🙂
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It was a wonderful game! I am so happy that Andy Reid won and that young 24 year old man – Patrick Mahomes! His parents should be so loud. Clay will get this cast off when they do the reconstructive surgery on the 13th. BUT do not know what is next. Glad you were able to see the game! Hugs
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Love the sunflower block. I always wanted to have some sunflowers growing in my yard but that never happened.
Jan did especialy well selecting fabrics for her Mary Brown block. Please let her know how much I like it. Does she live close to you?
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I will tell her and she reads the post. She gets a lot of great comments on her work. 3 time Best of Show in this area! She lives about 50 miles one way from us. She is the sweetest person – so giving and fun to be with!
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I purchased the Omigosh pattern and still have it on my bucket list. I think your new selection of fabrics will be great.
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I have put it away for awhile. Going to work on all backlogged hand work! Hugs
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I think it’s so clever turning that piece into a laptop cover! It’s perfect! The sunflower is so pretty and happy looking!
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Thank you Connie – I have a lot of these little quilts just for that purpose, or even covering my sewing machines! Fun to make and gives a feeling of producing something! LOL
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I will keep you and Clay in my thoughts and prayers. I love your sunflowers. Hugs
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Thank you Cathy! Going full time on hand work for a couple of months until he is back to normal! We are praying about the hand.
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Your applique flowers are so beautiful!! You do lovely, lovely work. Were you able to finish it, or did the game keep you hopping?! 🙂
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Thank you so much! Well, I finished the block yesterday! LOL. Could not take my eyes off the game and we love the Chief’s Chant!! Clay is Choctaw! So happy to have a team we love to win!
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Hi Nanette! I’m so glad to see an update from you. It sounds like you two are settling into your new normal. Those fabrics you’ve shared are gorgeous! I liked the previous choices but I can see what you mean about the print being too large. I know you’ll have fun quilting along with Gretchen. ~smile~ Roseanne
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Well, for now I am going to try to catch started on working on all of my backlogged hand work! I prefer to my previous life, but this is just a BIG hiccup and it will be over with soon! Hugs!
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Like your computer cover, great idea and use of blocks. I should get back to hand applique. I like the looks of it better than the machine, but not sure if my right hand is up to it any more. May give it a try on something simple and see how it goes. I guess it’s a toss up either that or binding by hand ad I still prefer that as well!!!
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Hand work is so relaxing! I am enjoying making Mary Brown. I have Stonefields and Dresden Heaven to work on along with embroidery. Maybe I will catch up on all! Thx for commenting.
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Hi Nanette,
I’m not sure if you’ve heard or not but Uncle Bubba passed away yesterday. His viewing will be held Friday and the funeral will be Saturday in Bandera at the Catholic Church. I am not sure of the times yet.
Carol Koenen
Kayco Spray Booths, Inc.
(830) 779-2051
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Hi Carol, yes I did. It was a bombshell as I did not know he was so sick.
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Fingers crossed that the surgery goes really well and recovery isn’t too bad. My Guy has finally been released from all his surgeries last year. So we almost back to normal. I like your computer cover mini, very pretty. Have fun with your in progress projects.
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Thank you Kate! Only 4 more days and we feel that we will be half way through this mess! Glad you life is back to normal! Slowing getting back to just relaxing and doing whatever!
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