Getting a bit of crafting done!

Well, I am moving a lot faster now and with a lot less pain, and the physio told me why my tendons have been damaged...I have hyper mobility in my joints...double jointed in my fingers hips and feet...all my life, and apparently the wear and tear in my feet (because apparently my right foot is heading the same direction as my left which had the surgery...) has worn the joints and stretched out the tendons... who knew! But hey, I am still moving and can now do some exercises to help strengthen the tendons and prevent or postpone the need for more surgery... Of course I haven't been listening to the physio and doing as much of my exercises as I should, and have been known to walk without my crutch which I shouldn't be doing quite yet...need to be better!

I have kept on doing my crafting, though I have now moved most of it back upstairs...I have starting making space for all my new paper crafting supplies I hope to get lol! I did get my goodie package from Jennifer McGuire, lots of yummy clear stamps!

Considering I have none, and these average about $12-15 a set, it was a generous package!! Now to get some ink huh? LOL!!

Our neighbors had a new baby boy a few weeks ago and so a card had to be made!

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I also loaned them the moses basket I made just before Aine was born...my girls and many friends and family have used it and I am very proud of it...I also made baby William a few baby vests/onesies... I found out my Silhouette is quite good a cutting out fabric with a bit of heat and bond ironed onto it...very nice for baby onesie shapes!!

Dave's musician brother has a birthday coming up...

Aisling also went to a party and I made a tshirt and card for the birthday girl, but forgot to take a photo, gasp!!

My birthday was last Friday and I got some lovely gifties...a lovely pitcher and a quilt block for our swap from great friend Kate...

My local friend Kathleen knit me this beautiful hat!

Today I have been holed up in my sewing room, re making blocks for the January Block Lotto...my 2 of my 3 envelopes never made it to their destination.... I have made new blocks for the two ladies who never got my first set of blocks...

I also made a bunch of baby vests for Kathleen's (see knitted hat above, lol) friend's new baby Sadie... I tried out my new flocked black heat transfer vinyl and used my Silhouette for some of them!

Yesterday, Saturday, our local quilting group did a charity sewing day for children with Cystic Fibrosis, we made 12 quilts! I did free motion quilting on 4 of them during the day and bound two of them...will show photos later, but here are two quilt tops, generously donated by Kate.

Last but not least, I sent a bunch of fabrics over to friend Helen who is starting to make a Dear Jane quilt like I did... I might have a bit of fabric to share, lolololol...was able to make her 40 fat eighth pieces with my bigger bits of fabric! She sent me back some interfacing to use for stitchery and this gorgeous kit to make!

No major updates on the quilting end, are you getting tired of cards?

I have nothing new to show for my quilts, but check out this new boot I am sporting... I started walking a bit too quickly on it and might have done some damage, so am back to a milder pace of walking, but can now put some weight on it and walk around with one crutch...

I have made some progress on the crazy Hwaet socks! Here is my start I have made...

I've started on yet some more legwarmers for a friend of the girls who also does ballet...

Here comes some more tshirts done for some birthday kids we know!!

I also have done a few more birthday cards, LOL!!

Paddy's Day card for mom!

Gina in WA, there was no way to reply to your comment (no email attached!) and you don't have a blog listed, but I have to agree with you, I am probably posting so much more this year because this cast and surgery are forcing me to sit still!!! With MS you get a bit more tired than you used to (though that could be age and activities too!) and last year I was busy all the time, but chose to ignore the blog more often and keep up with the girls and their activities....I did keep crafting, but not always things that were that interesting to photograph weekly! Once I can walk properly again I will probably not update as often, but hope to keep it too once a month at the very least!

I found out last week that I won a goodie package from a favorite new cardmaking/stamping blogger, Jennifer McGuire, I am so excited and dying to know just what is in this goodie package!! Will show you guys next week..  I am definitely getting into this whole cardmaking thing bigtime....I just keep adding cool blogs to read, anyone know of any cool paper crafting blogs?

A few more cards and a finished quilt!!

Here are a few more cards I've done in the last few weeks...

A card for my Yoga teacher friend...I used the negative of the die cuts to make this card, so have them to use again in another card! I put some patterned paper behind the cardstock...I am still learning my way!

Here are two birthday cards that I made using a font and typing in the number 8 twice and joining them together...I put the girls names into the patterned paper to personalize them....

Aine had her First Confession this week...I did a simple card for her and made the scallop pattern up myself in my die cut machine...learning how to weld shapes in the software!

I am waiting for some other supplies I ordered from the States soon so I can do some stamping, embossing and other fun cardmaking ideas I've been learning about... Can't wait!

Here are a few blocks that I've done for February and March for the Block Lotto:

String Hearts for February

Disappearing Four Patch for March...

I am having fun doing some different blocks each month, and I will have a chance to win some blocks each month...no luck my first two months, but will keep my fingers crossed for March, I like the simple but interesting blocks!

My friend's chemo quilt is done!! Need to get some nice Irish Barry's Tea and some crunchie bars to put in the box and then it will be ready to send.

Hope it makes it there safe, some of my January blocks from the block lotto haven't made it to their destinations yet and I'm not too happy about that!

I've started on some crazy complex socks for a friend of mine... They are called Hwaet socks...they have the middle English words for Beowulf on them!! Here is a photo of the socks the designer has done...will show mine after I've made a little more progress, just finished the first line of words! If you are interested the link to the pattern is here.

Doing much better this year at keeping this blog updated, I hope I can keep on doing it! I should be able to start putting some weight on my leg again next week, my six weeks of hopping are nearly done, woo hoo!! More soon...

New Obsession!

I got my Silhouette Die Cutting Machine a few weeks ago and really went to town testing it out the first week…Check out some of the things I made!

First Project: A simply made but complicated cut birthday card for a friend!

A design for my netbook in vinyl…not quite ready for wall art yet, the original reason I wanted this machine! I had seen many people creating cool word art for their walls in vinyl using this machine, and really wanted one!! I bought some regular vinyl, some frosted vinyl and some white heat transfer vinyl…check out these amazing tshirts that I have been able to make for the girls :) I see many birthday presents for parties in the future!!

And here are some cool frosted labels for some glass jars…

I’ve also realized that this machine is great for cutting shapes from cardstock, and hence my newest obsession has started: cardmaking!! When I saw how easily I could make really cute die cut shapes on the machine I have been reading tons of cardmaking blogs to get inspiration…so far I have been watching tons of you tube videos these two ladies have made about card making and scrapbooking…
Remember, I look like this at the moment…

…so I have a lot more time on my hands and I am afraid I have lots of time to go shopping online too! I have ordered lots of card blanks, stamps and other goodies to add to my current small sampling of paper and supplies I already had…You will probably see finished cards being added to my finished projects on the blog!
Here are two more cards and a gift tag I have made so far…
 
I have managed to finish some other projects though too!! Here are Aisling’s legwarmers finished…

And wonder of wonders, I have actually finished this hand pieced and hand quilted drunkards path quilt I started ages ago! This will hang in the guest bedroom at some point…

I have also finished the quilt top for my friend going through chemo…working on the freemotion meandering now…ugh…hate wrestling the quilt through my little sewing machine!!

So, as you can see despite the hopping along, I am still managing to get a little bit done, as well as the bit of housework I can manage: dishwashing, cooking and laundry… I am having fun being served my breakfast and SUPERVISING all the sweeping, mopping, and bathroom cleaning. I do admit to helping reorganize the playroom while scooting around on hands and knees, I couldn’t take the clutter…Dave and the girls were cleaning the room by stacking things in the corners and in cubby holes…ugh! Only a few more weeks of staying off that leg (move to a cast with a boot for walking next) so guess I should live it up while I can! Friends are picking me up a few times a week for trips to a local cafe and for patchwork group, so am getting out a bit!
Guess I better go, we have friends visiting today and want to get some stuff done before they arrive! Hope to hear from you!

Just limping along at the moment…

Here is my current position at home after a surgery last week to help lessen the pain of a damaged tendon in my left ankle… Six weeks off this foot and a lot of hopping then I hope to do physio and strengthen this foot so I can do a little more walking for exercise again! Before I used to walk the girls to school, but never did any more than that as it was quite painful to walk on! Here’s hoping the hopping does some good! I want to be able to enjoy walking for as long as my MS lets me (and lets hope that is many many years to come!).

Since I can’t do a whole heck of a lot of physical stuff (I do dishes, washing and directing of kids and husbands!) I have managed to be productive on the knitting end…and finished a quilting project…

Some ballerina legwarmers have been knit…

A hat has been knit for a friend who is going through chemo treatments in the States…

 

 

 

 

 

And some baby onesies have been made for my dear friend Barbara’s new little girl Molly!

I hope to start posting lots more cards and creative projects in the future because I have purchased this lovely thing, which can cut out vinyl for wall lettering and tshirt transfer projects, paper, and even fabric now… I have seen many peoples creative projects with it all over Blogland and was totally inspired. It is coming over from the States and I can’t wait to start creating with it…maybe some vinyl wall quotes to put up first, or some cute tshirts for kids birthday presents…or some birthday cards…

My main priority for February is to make a quilt for that friend who is going through chemo…a blue and green quilt… I have gotten squares from many friends here and from Kate in England, so between my own and my generous friends I hope to get a good start on this quilt this week! I wish there was more I could do, but I feel like this is something I can physically do to help comfort such a faraway friend!

Starting Afresh in 2011

I did manage to get a few project done for Christmas presents since I last updated...A few potholders...

And gave away some homemade marshmallows and cookies to a few friends...

But now it is the new year and I want to start afresh on a few things!

Weight Loss and Food! I have been so bad this autumn with my eating, I have gained back nearly all I lost last year! I have started the year by adding more fruit and veg, adding more water and trying to eat as little processed food as I can... I am starting slow but doing well so far... I'd love to cut right back on gluten and dairy, but will have to see how to do this in small steps, lol!!

Sewing! I haven't been using my sewing machine that often lately and I miss it! I have done some hand piecing and quilting but I want to do more machine sewing and finally start really quilting that ocean waves quilt I did ages ago, it has been on my quilting frame for more than a year with hardly any quilting done...

Knitting. I want to make several pairs of socks from the yarn I have stashed...I do not need anymore sock yarn...though I give myself permission to buy for other projects, like the legwarmers I hope to start for the girls...

I will be having that operation (postponed from last year!) to fix a damaged tendon in a few weeks and that has spurred me on to some productivity in the sewing room. I'll be on crutches for a few months and will need to live in our downstairs guest room. Dave will move down with me to keep me company, lol! I'll still be able to sew as my "pedal foot" will be fine, but I want to get a few of these things sent in the post before the cast keeps me from driving!

Sunday I sewed 9 blocks for my first entry into the Block Lotto. Katy has told me about it for years, and finally decided to do it...these Stacked Coins blocks would make a cute baby quilt...might have to make more of these again! If I luck out and win this months draw I can see some baby quilt tops being made and put aside to give to friends or donate!

Monday I sewed the pieces for a stuffed panda for a little boy I know... Here it is finished!

...and made two ballet bags with fabric I bought more than a year ago...the girls and their ballet buddies loved them, success! They are just simple drawstring bags using a Japanese linen ballerina print and linen ribbon also with the ballerinas...

I also managed to finish a little unicorn I started on A YEAR AGO for Aisling...finally got it out again while working on the panda and got it done. The lace mane and tail are lace from my Grandma Jones' sewing box, so it was nice to use them... I have one happy customer here who has recently lost both her front teeth!!

Today I sewed two Lady of the Lake blocks for my swap with Katy. I also will start working on a simple squares quilt made from my favorite fabric line: Rouenneries by French General... That one I can continue to work on downstairs when I am on crutches...I imagine there will be hundreds of squares needed to complete the top, since I want it to fit my queen size bed.

Hope to have more to show you next week!

I Brought Another Friend to the "Dark Side"

Well actually there is nothing dark about quilting, except maybe the excessive fondling of fabric and desire to buy enough to run your own shop! This is my friend Kathy. She raided my stash earlier this year and started cutting out squares for her autumnal quilt she is making for her daughter...We took a break for the entire summer but we have gotten to the binding stage now and she has even done free motion meandering on the border...she is a natural...just look at the lovely quilt she has made! That makes two of my "normal" momma friends brought into the fold, lol!

I've also gotten back into a craft I was doing before the girls were born: basket making! Our local art gallery runs classes and had a daylong workshop last Saturday. Here are some photos from our class and my finished basket. My biggest project was the girls moses basket they slept in, I am so proud of that one, but was a bit rusty with the new basket...I hope to keep doing some more if they hold the classes locally again.

Last week we were invited last minute to the party of one of Aisling's friends brother...his first birthday! I whipped up this bib for him as a little present from what I had on hand!

Aine needed a costume for the Nativity play they are doing this year, something that looked like it would be appropriate in ancient Bethlehem...I used some nice woven fabric I bought in Sweden and made up this basic costume...she seems happy enough, and I didn't have to shop for anything new!

I need to get a move on for a few presents for this year: a hat for my mother in law, some ornaments, something hand made for the girls...hopefully I'll be showing those in the next few weeks here! I am still working slowly away on quilting my drunkard's path wallhanging, nothing much new to show on that front.

A package arrived recently from a new crafty friend, Tracy, who I met through her Google search for Nicholas Mosse pottery and somehow found my website. She found some of the gorgeous and expensive Irish pottery at a yard sale for a few quarters...lucky woman! She so generously filled a box with this treasure trove: quilting fabric and magazines, some lovely antiques, stuffed owl teddies for the girls...so many nice things! Thank you so much. Crafty folks are the best!

Unfortunately my weight loss hasn't started, I just keep caving in and eating poorly out of pure laziness...it is a real struggle at the moment! I hope I can get some progress made despite the Christmas season...before I have to buy bigger size clothes again, I refuse to do that!