Category: dedication

Scrap Happy for February 15th 2024

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Late, but not so late as last time…  😉

When doing laundry *two years previous, I suddenly noticed that the bed pillow covers were disintegrated!  Completely.  I have patched small holes in linens in the past, but this was truly beyond patching.

*And yes, I am truly shocked to realize how behind I’ve been in blogging, much less posting for scrap happy.  Sigh.  Yet here I am trying my best to get in the groove again.

Taking the usable 18 inch zippers out of the old pillowcase covers saved me quite a bit.  And going to the quilt closet I found percale sheeting that I had *purchased in quantity over ten years previous.  It came in a queen sized width, and the bundle I chose was about seven yards total.  I have used this cotton percale for many projects over the years.

*This and many of my quilt fabrics came from Sir’s in Tennessee, which sadly burned down about six years ago. The sewing, quilting, and upholstering aficionados, here in Alabama and Tennessee, have felt the loss deeply as he did not rebuild.

As you can see, this came together quite easily.  Seam down the side, one to close the bottom and the insertion of the old zipper.  “Better than store bought.” I say.  Cost to make would have to be estimated, but maybe 1 or 2 dollars?  And, pillow covers are really inexpensive to buy, about $4.00?  But, the satisfaction in making them myself was of immeasurably more value than the money saved.

Regarding the work journal:  the booklet is called a bullet journal and allows me to mark off the lines and columns easily where I see need.  I am purposely working on items that need to be completed from a long time ago… you know, the UFOs that seem to get squirreled away.  Right?

The system has what you are working on listed on the left and then columns from left to right for each step.

  • pattern
  • fabric
  • cut
  • pieced
  • backing
  • basted
  • quilted
  • bound
  • completed
  • SOLD!

From the photo above: Garden Snail needs me to decide on placement/layout and get it sewn.  Then its off to the quilters.  Pineapple Triangles is one I got and had the fabric for, but wouldn’t let myself start until I finished these UFOs… because…  I need to be disciplined! “Black Stallion” was not in the photo above but was recently bound and it needs a binding to be complete. Binding, like framing a photo or painting, makes the whole thing come alive!  (Binding is cut and the reveal will come soon!)

Thanks to Kate and Gun for getting us together and working!

ScrapHappy happens each month on the 15th.  The many participants are listed below, and although they don’t participate every time, it’s always fun to see what they have created from their scraps!

Kate, Gun, Eva, Sue,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy,  Tracy, 
Jan, Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera, 
 Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti,
Nóilin, Viv, Karrin, Amo, Alissa,
Lynn, Tierney and Hannah

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—> An announcement or warning for all

I will be discussing my health in a day or two. AND right up front, I am not dying, OK!  😀  But for those who really don’t want to know I will let you know in the title that I am talking about health issues so you may skip it if you desire.  The things I am facing are medical issues that I know millions of others are dealing with, and so I feel the need to share my experience.  If you are clearly not interested as a whole group, then I will start a new blog channel and post my experience and information there.  I refuse to post any of this to Youtube, Instagram, X, or the like, as I find them all tedious and, with the exception of X, quite likely to block or fact check anything they don’t like.  You have been warned. 😉

 

 

ICING: on healing

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NOTE:  When I mentioned my new posting schedule I said Wed and Fri,  and that anything other than those days would be icing.  Today’s post is icing.  😉

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I have been working out on my Pilates reformer to try to gain strength and mobility.  It is working!

stottpilatesspx-2T

I have been riding my bicycle several times a week and this morning managed 4.5 miles using the full range of gearing!  Only 8 speeds, but I felt like a champ when I got home.  (Tom, this will certainly be a baby step to you!)  😉

dewdeluxe

(Mine is Blue with several city commuter mods)

Then I got off and tried to walk on our little street to cool off.  I made it to the neighbors mailbox (150 ft + or – ) and had to turn back.

I am finding it strange to be able to perform Pilates, with a reformer assist, and to be able to ride with no noticeable pain during the ride, and yet I am still unable to walk or stand for too long.   Or at least, in the case of standing, for as long as I would like.   And although sitting is much improved…  is that really a plus?

Frustration.

Then I think:  Several weeks ago I was in the lightest gear and only able to make my legs move up and down with the pedals for a simple circuit of my street, and any walking was with a cane.  Today I was able to use all 8 speeds and no longer require a cane.

I went inside, showered, iced down my knee and now feel fine.

I persevere.

 

 

Found along the trail

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This weekend we worked on our trail through the woods by clearing it of debris from recent storms.  Over the next few winters some carefully planned thinning of our little woods will be a productive endeavor!  Trees growing too closely together get thin and spindly, and they simply cannot hold themselves up in a wind.

More information on the above flora and fauna may be found by clicking on the links below:

False Coral Fungus ~ Tremellodendron pallidum

Spiny Orb Weaver ~ Gasteracantha cancriformis

Resurrection Fern ~ Polypodium polypodioides