Saturday 25 April 2015

returning to blogging update on my quilting projects

After 4 months absence from my blog I am determined to do a blog today.

First thank you so much to those of you who have been such a support whilst I have been going through such a bad time with both Catherine and Helen being so poorly,  your prayers and support have been a great help   thankyou all.

The girls are still both unwell but hope to see improvement soon.  Helen has an MRI scan next thursday and then the specialist will decide whether further surgery is needed,  Catherine is undergoing a lot of counselling but at the moment is still very depressed.  It is so tough as neither of my girls   well I call them girls but they are 42 and 38 years old have good prognosis,  Helen`s crohns is a lifelong illness unless a miracle cure is found and Catherine has had her mental helath issues since the age of 13.

My stitching has had a long break,  having not done any for about 10 weeks I am now back and doing quite a bit.  A cot quilt for a great nephew,  I got this done to flimsy stage this on 3 jan and it was the last bit of stitching and then managed to complete it on 21 march when I started stitching again



Here is Helen`s wallhanging, her choice of colours etc.  I did sign up to do the 2015 crazy quilt challenge but must own up to not having even started it yet and think I will pass on it this year!




The little bunny BOM quilt challenge I did last year is still in block form but I have added another 10 blocks to it so it is now 30 blocks,  I am taking it to the Yorkshire MQG next month and hopefully they will help me decide on putting the blocks in some sort of order,   feel quite pleased as I had to choose and work out how to make the 10 blocks myself   some achievement for me.  here are all 30 blocks they are 12" so it is going to be quite a large quilt.





I have also made a disappearing nine patch,   in flimsy stage. Having cut up the blocks I randomly picked them out of a basket to join them together,  it seemed to work quite well


This is a flimsy of the economy blocks made in 2013,  I made 100 blocks but made 5 into mug mats,
I recently found them having forgotten about them and now they are joined together together, Helen seems to think I should complete it for her so have made 140 more bocks but this time they are 6" blocks,  this one have 5" blocks so will come out bigger but that needs some thought before I put them together and at the moment I am too stiff to plan them out on the floor!  old age creeping up on me.




This is a little bag made through a create and craft show with Jennie Rayment, made up of 6  60 degree triangles I think it works rather well and was very quick to do,  I did cheat as the lining is not pieced like the outside, it is the first time I have used magnet closures and will certainly use them again




It is good to be back and later today I plan to look at the blogs I follow, I am sure you will understand if I do not go back to january as it would take for ever to catch up with everything

37 comments:

Boud said...

I had no idea what was up, and I'm so sorry for the worries you've been enduring. Welcome back and what a burst of work you've done!

Nana said...

How good to hear from you and I hope that your girls (I believe mothers call their kids always children or baby for as long as they live) well and getting better each day.

Lovely quilts and tops and block you show us.

Nana

Turid said...

So good to have you back again. You know I've missed you so much. Beautiful things you've been working on. Thank you for showing us. All the best wishes for you and your girls. Love from Turid in Norway.

Jillian said...

Lovely to have you back. I have really missed your posts. There are some beautiful things here, Margaret. I love Helen's hanging - and the bag is lovely.

Séverine said...

It is so good to see you again, I hope your daughters will go better and better. Your quilts and tops are beautiful.

Monica said...

Yes, I'm also glad you are back, Margaret. And how busy you've been! The crazy quilt turned out great. Even though they are not "your" colours, the pinks all worked very well. And I love Economy blocks -- yours are looking very promising.

Hopefully over the summer you will be able to find some balance between blogging and caring for your family. Best wishes to you all!

Anita said...

Welcome back Margaret ! Hope both Helen and Catherine get well soon..sending them lots of prayers and healing thoughts from here... Your quilts and flimsies are beautiful.Helen's crazy wall hanging has turned out so well !

deanna7trees said...

happy to see you back to blogging. you certainly have lots of things going on stitch wise and on a personal front. hope things get better real soon.

Createology said...

Margaret welcome back and thank you for sharing. Your stitching will be such a comfort to you in times of stress. I am fascinated with the triangle bag and it is lovely in Batik fabrics. Blessings dear...

Bev said...

Glad you're back! Did you end up moving closer to the girls? Love your blocks with the green background. So creative! Missed you! XO

Chyfey said...

So glad to have you back my love.
Sending love to you and all the girls.
Really love the last 2 quilt tops.Stay strong

Gaia said...

Hi Margaret,I was so glad to see your post..hope everything will get better soon..
You have many projects on the go...like them all.

Susan In Texas said...

Hi margie. It's good to hear from you again. I hope the girls continue to improve. Larry is my husband. He had started to contribute to my blog this year. He tats very well and restores old singer sewing machines. Now he is learning to crochet.

Welcome back and happy stitching!
Susan

Queeniepatch said...

It is SO nice to have you back again. I am sorry to hear about the hardship you and your daughters have gone through; let's hope you've reached a turning point and all will be getting better.
Your quilting has taken off! Working with fabric, needle and thread is good for healing. I especially like the Jennie Rayment bag.
All the best for the future.

Diana @ Red Delicious Life said...

Glad to see you back on the blog Margie. So sorry, I had no idea what was going on, just thought you'd taken some time off from blogging (which everyone needs every so often). Looks like you have some great projects to work on.

shirley said...

It is so good to see you back Margaret, everyone has missed you and your lovely works. The quilt tops are just amazing, and I love Helens crazy wall hanging it is beautiful.
I do hope that things will begin to ease for you, and your stitching times help to keep you from worrying. My love to all of you. xo

Jane said...

Sounds like you've had a stressful few months. Good to see your progress, and always a good sign when the creativity is back

crazyquilter said...

So pleased to see you picking up the pieces and blogging again.
I have not been blogging but cannot confess to having any real good reason not to.
So sorry to hear of your daughters health and mental issues.
Being able to be creative during such times must feel good for you - keep up the good work.

Benta AtSLIKstitches said...

Lovely to see you blogging again, and lots of inspirational lovelies! Still praying for you, the girls and granddaughter xxxx

Celtic Thistle said...

Sorry to read about your daughters health problems, hope that things improve for them both soon.
Have missed reading your posts too, so delighted to see that you have lots of projects still on the go. Look forward to following their progress.

SewLittleToSay said...

I'm so pleased to see you back blogging and sewing again. I do hope things have turned a corner for you.

Unknown said...

Hi Margaret , I love your quilts in special the pink one and the bag is beautiful . I am sorry to hear you have such hard time with your girls and no matter the age they still your babies .
Wish you lots of straight and power to be able to get over all .

motidana said...

Loved the quilts and that pretty bag . Was getting a bit worried and was wondering if everything was okay . It`s really good to see you back ! My prayers for both Catherine and Helen, and hope things will soon be better for all of you.

WandarArt.Stitch said...

Dear Margaret, so much so I'm glad that you are already back, much worry about you, I wish you a lot of strength and think positive, everything will be fine, I cordially greet, heat, I look to you!

Suztats said...

Hi there Margaret. I was wondering why I hadn't seen your posts lately-- i guess you must have stopped blogging while I was out of commission with my knee surgery. I'm glad you're back! Helen''s CQ hanging is so eye-catching!
I'm so sorry that you've had the worry of dealing with your girl's (it doesn't matter how old they get, they're still our girls (or boys), aren't they?) health. Do take care of yourself.

Mosaic Magpie said...

I think you can tell from all the comments YOU WERE MISSED! Glad to see you back and all the lovely things you are working on. Your girls, will always be your girls no matter what their age.
xo,
Deb

Val's Quilting Studio said...

Glad you are finding solice in sewing and blogging again...sometimes they are what keep me sane. You are your girls continue to be in my prayers. V:)

JennyPennyPoppy said...

Welcome back Margaret! You were sorely missed. Sorry to hear about all the health issues that you and your loved ones are dealing with. Your quilts are beautiful. Thanks for your post and take good care.

Pippas quilts said...

Hi Margaret good to see your sewing I saw the create and craft bag it was great fun love and prayers to you all.

Vintage Sheet Addict said...

I'm so glad you're back, and I'm so glad you've had this online community for support. I do hope your girls have some improvement with their health, I know they are both very tricky illnesses to manage. Your quilts are looking wonderful xxx

The Inside Stori said...

I'm so happy to see you back online........terribly sorry the girls continue to struggle with health problems, but how wonderful that you are nearby to support them.

Also, the projects you shared are all so inspirational.....fun seeing each and every one.

Susan In Texas said...

Hi Margie,

Siggy blocks are signature blocks. People create their own signature blocks and trade them with other people. Stylistically they are the Dear Jane D-13 block; a simple square with four corner "ears". I got started trading during an organized siggy swap a number of years ago. For the last few years I have only traded when someone else initiated a trade. My siggy uses cowboy fabric around the (required) white or off-white center. I stamp a horse and the word "Texas" on my blocks, then sign them with my location and the year. Annelies vanden Bergh used to be the siggy "Mom" keeping the trading lists up to date, etc., but in the last year someone else has taken over for her. I think this is the siggy link now: http://marpiessewingprojects.blogspot.nl/search/label/Siggy I believe instructions for how to create siggies are on the Dear Jane website. Let me know if you have any questions. It is a fun hobby and someday I will make mine into one or more interesting quilts.

Take care,
Susan in Texas

Anonymous said...

I am so glad that you are back with us, I have missed your blogs. I hope that things continue to improve with both of your daughters. You have made some beautiful quilts, it will do you good to keep your mind bussy!

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

There you are....so glad you are back Margaret. This must be the year of daughter illnesses. After 3 months, my baby girl 41 (grin) is just recovering from something they couldn't diagnosis. Continued prayers for yours.

Annet said...

I'm so sorry to hear you had such a bad time. But it's good to see you're creative again. Love the bag you made. Take care!

Julimond said...

Dear Margaret
You were so busy and i think, you are quilting all the time, so many Tops. Wonderful.
I am learning Machinequilting and i also have to quilt 5 Quilts. So many work.
I hope, you and your daughters feel better.
Hugs
Iris

Jocelyn said...

Glad you are back! Life sure can shoot us some challenges. Take care. And thanks for always stopping by my blog.