Thank you to everyone who left a comment on my last post. I was feeling the blogger love and maybe a little overwhelmed. Below are a few pics of my Churn Dash SAL blocks so far.

This one was taken standing on my head, not really but I did have to stand on a stool and lean precariously over my sewing machine to get the best light from the window.

This is looking towards the window, light not as good but gives a better idea of what I have. They're stacked by color to help me not repeat a fabric. I'm aiming for a queen size quilt, so I need 72 blocks, eeek. I'm just under half of what I need.

Here's a finish!!!! Yippee. The applique blocks are from a book called "Grandma's Last Quilt" by the editors of Traditional Quiltworks Magazine. The copyright is 2000 by Chitra Publications who went out of business many years ago. There are 25 patterns in the book, I made four and ran out of steam. I got the main body of the quilt put together and then it languished for many years waiting for a border fabric to come along. I finally settled for the striped fabric, I guess it works. Then it sat pin basted for two years until I decided to have someone else do the quilting. 

And just like that, I had a finish. Things do get done eventually.

 These are the backing fabrics. I had thought the yellow toile might work as the border but the women in my quilt group thumbs downed it, so it ended up on the back.

Here's a quilt I made many years ago, sometime around the turn of the century, (I love using this phrase as it pertains to myself ) 😁. It looks like a strippy but instead I made alternating HST's with the two beiges and then pieced the rows on the diagonal, thus avoiding the lumps at the intersections that would have resulted from making vertical rows. 

Here's a close up of an intersection, You can see how nice and flat and unlumpy it is. Also much easier to quilt through.

If you're still here, thanks for hanging in. I hope all of you are well and happy and finding time to sew.

Joan

I'm starting this blog so I can participate in Chookyblue's Churn Dash Sew-a-long. I love reading Quitter's blogs and now I'm part of the community!

 Before we get to a few pics of quilts, I would like to share a few things I've learned since the stem cell transplant:

Use your new fabric. Use it while you still love it. I used to buy fabric and then save it for that great project that never happened. New fabrics now go into current projects and I love using them. I loved them enough to buy them and it makes me happy to see them being used.

Life is too short for dull rotary cutter blades. Ten packs of blades are relatively inexpensive on Amazon, far cheaper than buying them individually at your LQS.

Ok, so here a few quilts that happen to be on my phone, the rest I don't have pictures of at the moment but I will. I promise to share. For future reference, I will put picture descriptions under the pic.

This was made just because. I saw it online somewhere and loved it. I cut the strips wider (2 1/2") and made more blocks for a bigger quilt than the one I saw. Made with fabric from stash and some new fabrics purchased just for this project😀. Probably started in the dead of winter when I wanted to make something with my brightest and most cheerful fabrics. Cotton batting. Finished in 2021.

This 36 patch was made as a graduation present for my cousin. Made with mostly stash fabric and a few new purchases just for this. The 36 patch block is relatively simple and quick to make. For those of you who like technical details, the blocks were made with 2 1/2" strips which made a 12" finished block. Cotton batting, machine quilted on my longarm.

Both of these quilts were made with fabrics fron my "other stash", my main stash is mostly so called "Civil War" fabrics, 19th century reproductions and shirtings, I call them creamies.

I guess this is it for my first blog post ever! I hope you enjoyed it. I expect I'll get better at writing as I go along.

Short and sweet

Today's post, as the title suggests, is short and sweet. Just to let all my friends know that I have recommenced with my applique!!!  Yaaaay!!!  I've been a little queasy today, but nothing I can't live with.  I'll just applique on.  Good bye.

Joan

Joan can have visitors and would enjoy seeing you! Please call first and read the following list of things you need to know about Stem Cell patient visiting.

1. Only one visitor at a time

2. If you have been sick recently, feel like you are coming down with something or have family at home that are sick, please don’t come and visit for a couple weeks.

3. School age kids shouldn’t visit.

4. Pets can’t visit.

5. When you get here take off your shoes and leave them on the porch. Bring some slippers or socks for inside.

6. Do your hands, fingers and wrists with hand sanitizer, we have lots.

7. No plants or flowers, fresh fruit or vegetables.

8. If you want to bring food, call first to see what is allowed.

8. No touching, you can pass things back and forth, just keep using the hand sanitizer.

 There you have it!!  Doc's new orders. I can have company so if you find yourself with a free hour (or so) bring some handwork and come for a visit. My brain has been feeling focused enough to knit since return from DHMC. I occasionally need to lay my head back and rest my eyes, but I don't feel the need to sleep during the day.

      I thank everyone for the many cards, the emails and blog responses I have received.  They go such a long way toward helping me feel connected to my friends during my confinement.  There were a few days of feeling really lonely and isolated. I'm not really one to wallow in self pity for very long and now that I'm knitting again can applique be far behind?  Occupation is so important and when I didn't have the focus for the handwork I love, I felt like I had nothing.  But today, I have my first lace scarf nearly done and later, I'm going to start organizing my sewing room so that I can sit and sew when the spirit moves me.

        This morning I woke up with no nausea and an appetite (a first since pre transplant) and actually had something like a "real" breakfast. I had a cup of coffee and  a little piece of a bagel with cream cheese and raspberry jam.

          Time to get on with the day.  I'll start with a nice hot shower, using my niece's homemade soap; four ingredients: lye, coconut oil, water and oil of Bergamot. Does it get any simpler than that? And take the rest of the day from there.

Love to you all, Joan

October 23,2016

Greetings and Salutations,
        Feeling much better today. Not ready for applique, but I did work on the Free Press crossword for an hour and still have energy left for a post. Had a nice hour's nap this morning and still feeling refreshed from it. Charlie has decided not to ask me if I want something to eat, he's just preparing food and putting it in front of me.  This seems to be working as I don't have to think about what I want to eat, which would be nothing if I have to think about it. Jello with fruit is a favorite and counts as a liquid.
         Hope you're all enjoying this beautiful blustery Sunday. Perfect sewing room weather and I'm with you in spirit.

Love to all, Joan

October 22, 2016

Hi Everyone,
    It's been a few days since I posted, at least I can do it myself, no dictation.
On Thursday last, we drove home from DHMC, setting off around 11:00 a.m. Kudos to the Dr's and staff for ensuring the early start.  Much appreciated. The only hiccup happened at the Kennebunk rest area. After going in to pee, I had just gotten settled into the car when I messed my pants, Grrrrrrrrr! So in I went again to clean up.  No other mishaps, but Charlie was a nervous wreck driving 395 through  Portland. I felt for him but there was nothing I could do except stay awake and keep an eye on traffic and offer words of encouragement. We arrived home about 5:15 p.m. Friend Deb arrived about 5:45 with chicken soup for our supper.
    Nice to sleep in our own bed again but I'm waking up at the times when the night nurses would come in for vitals and the phlebotomist would come in to draw blood (3:30 a.m.).  And then I'm napping during the day at the same times I did in the hospital. On the whole, sleep is elusive.  So is appetite.  I eat a little something when I feel hungry, mostly Deb's soup.  Baked goods are impossible to swallow, my mouth is so dry.  I have no saliva to help wash things down.
       Yesterday I saw Dr. Connelly at WCGH and received two bags of hydration while there. I go back on Monday for more hydration and blood work. On Wednesday we go back to DHMC for a follow up visit.  We will stay overnight and come back on Thursday.
      My energy level is extremely low and I have no interest in knitting or applique at all (yikes) and I'm running out of steam for this post so I think this is it.

Love to all, Joan

Last full day of Hospital Stay

Exciting news, I go home tomorrow (Thursday) Yes this is earlier than the expected three weeks, but they tell everyone three weeks, but the actual elapsed time is closer to 15-16 days if all goes well. I walked OUTSIDE today , eating solid food today and able to take all my pills. Not much else to report, lots of preparation going on to get ready.  Signing off for now.