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Monday, May 26, 2014

41 Years and Green/Purple Part 4

Today is our 41st Anniversary.  We are going out to dinner tonight, but here we are at the reception at the church hall.  Funny how I still remember these people :).
It's always a little wierd when our anniversary falls on Memorial Day.  It's such a special holiday for us to remember.
Here is the latest (and last) step in this little quilt.  Picking a fabric for the outside border.  I added a small green flange.  It's getting close.
Happy Memorial Day to all,
Karen

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Green and Purple - Part 3

I've found time to work a little on this fun piece - it's been another crazy week.  After thinking that the 4 corners were too empty, I'm auditioning some applique for the center block.  I think I like it, still considering...
And I've added another 1/2" green border and a 2" purple border.  Decided to add the paper pieced blocks in the corner.  It's getting close.  Last night as I was "studying" the quilt on my portable design wall in the living my DH (who hardly says anything about my quilts) said he liked the colors.  :)  So do I, it's a happy quilt.
We are having a quiet Memorial Day weekend.  It's our anniversary weekend -  41 years ago I married my college sweetheart.  How do the years go so fast?
Happy stitching,
Karen

Friday, May 16, 2014

Green and Purple - Part 2

Still having fun playing.  I've added a 1 1/2" purple border with a 1/2" green sashing.  So cute!!

And then of course, my favorite - mixing pieced blocks with applique.  And so now I'm enjoying some slow sewing as I applique the vine and leaves.

So far it's looking really good :).
Happy stitching,
Karen

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Almost Back

I am happy to say that I am almost back to feeling like me!  I've worked this week and it's gone well.  And I've felt good enough to play in my studio - big yay!!  I'm working on a new project using my collection of green and purple. 
I've been wanting to do a green and purple quilt, I think this will be the first of several.  It's an original design and it's another medallion.  Who would have guessed that I would be so smitten with medallion quilts!  Guess I can blame all that on Phebe and Vintage Blooms!
Anyway, I'm having fun playing again.  Plus, I've felt good enough to finish working on a t-shirt quilt.  And I've almost finished the machine quilting!!  I'll share pics as soon as the binding is on.
Thanks for all the well wishes, it feels so good to feel good.  I'm still having tests run, so I don't know anything yet.
Happy stitching,
Karen

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Good News - Times Two

First off, let me say thank you for the kind thoughts about our medical troubles.  My DH is doing wonderful, and yesterday I stopped running fever and I'm slowly beginning to feel like "me".  As I was straightening things in the bedroom yesterday, I found something,  And I realized, that in the midst of all that's been going on, I had forgotten to share my wonderful news.  Organic Pink Pickles has been published!!!
I got a copy of the magazine last month.
This was what the article said about the quilt.  Quite a nice compliment from Victoria about my use of color.
I must say, that seeing my name on the same page as Victoria's was quite thrilling.
I love how the whole theme of the title page was grey, from the title to the chair to the background.
I'm not sure if I mentioned that I was asked if Organic Pink Pickles could go to Houston this fall and hang in the Interweave booth.  So my baby is going west!
This truly has been probably the most exciting thing to happen to me as a quilter, except for winning my first ribbon and the lifetime award from our guild for meticulous workmanship back in 2004.  Life as a quilter is such a great adventure.  Thanks for sharing in my joy.
Happy stitching,
Karen

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Two Weeks Lost

Things have been a little crazy around here lately.  I've been having some medical issues and my DH went in last Tues for his third surgery in 8 months on his left shoulder.  They did a reverse shoulder procedure and it was a total success.  He came home Friday and is doing well.  They did put another picc line in and so we're back on the IV antibiotics again.  But hopefully only for 10 days.  Then on Tues night we had an historic storm hit Pensacola and dump 26.81 inches of rain!  It was really unbelievable.  Many roads are washed out and hundreds of homes were flooded.  It's so sad.  Our house did fine, Praise God.  I don't think I could handle one more thing.  I've realized that I know I'm sick when I can't even find the strength to do hand work.  The doctor is running tests on me, so far all they've found was a serious UTI.  I'm on antibiotics for that, but she thinks something else may be going on.
So I'll end with pictures of my sweet grandies when they were here for Easter.
We had such a good time.
Hopefully all will be back to normal soon.  And maybe I'll even get to do some quilting!
Karen