New Project Underway

After some false turns and blind alleys, I have started my newest project. I have many very old quilting books, patterns, even old fabric. While thinking about a more modern project I thought about making a Christmas quilt--not one that screams Christmas but one that will be more subtle. So I switched gears entirely and  I am making a traditional four-block feathered star quilt with an applique border (that seems to be my niche) based on a Christmas card I saw in the Art Institute of Chicago catalog. The artist is Brendan Murphy and the card is called "Snow Dove."  Each star block is 27" square and they will be set point to point so the center section will be 54" square. I haven't drawn out the border yet but somewhere between 8" and 12" for a finished quilt of 70" to 78" square. Some of the fabrics in the star are about twenty years old and two of them are from just last year so it will be a real mix.

The colors aren't quite true here since the inner dark is pine green not dark teal but you get the idea. The background is a batik in a color called "pineapple" so that makes it much brighter as well. This pattern I am using is so old it pre-dates rotary cutting and quick piecing techniques but obviously I am not in a hurry if I am starting on a Christmas quilt in March/April.

Indiana Bullseye Quilt All Done, Daunting Challenge (With Pictures)

The Indiana Bullseye Quilt is complete. All of the bias edges that go in to making this pattern make it especially difficult and even laying out the pieces becomes a challenge as the quilt grows. It isn't like a block quilt where there are straight and predictable rows. Picking or drawing a quilting design is complicated by the circular nature since most quilting designs are for straight edges--squares and rectangles. Anyway, enough whining. It is done and I am glad. I have a lovely spring quilt for what looks like an early spring.

The modern versions I have seen are in more subdued colors but every single antique version I know of is in  brights like these. All the new dyes available at the end of the 19th century probably made a big difference.

Although I believe that the Indiana in the name of the quilt is the city and county in Pennsylvania not the state, I nevertheless put in peonies and cardinals, the state flower and state bird of the state of Indiana largely because two of my husband's college roommates were from that state.

1000 Yards of Thread

I just completed the quilting on the top--1000 yards of thread. No photos yet since it really isn't done--needs all the trimming, binding, soaking, etc. I probably won't get it done tomorrow even though my husband is going rock climbing. That's right--ten days after the ablation he is going rock climbing. Good thing the doctor said no restrictions on his physical activity. Last time he went climbing, in the very same place, he started having AF halfway up the climb. Monday seems like a reasonable finish date for the quilt.

Now I have to get serious about planning the next project. I have three ideas swirling in my head and I haven't zeroed in yet. My husband just sprang on me that he might be going to do some work in Paris for a while. He wanted to know if I wanted to join him at the end of his sojourn. Better find out what our sons are doing since we depend on them for pet care.

Back Home Again

Husband made it home all right. Even though it was only 13 months ago some of the treatment protocol has changed, for the better we think. They pull the Foley's catheter much sooner now which is understandably a great relief, they take off the sterile cover patches (taking some skin with them in one place) that previously you just let wear off (the jury is still out on that one since the big risk is infection), discharge is way faster, and they even let you walk out the door instead of insisting on a wheel chair. He stayed in rhythm this time so he didn't need a cardioversion and he is on different medicine too. He never smoked, never drank, played tennis and biked and ran, all in all in pretty good shape but his nerve ends are misfiring. His heart is pretty healthy with no arterial blocks or anything but the AF will kill him just as fast as arteriosclerosis if he is unlucky. I hope we don't have to do this again in a year but all things considered this is a pretty easy heart treatment. Fingers crossed that normal sinus rhythm is maintained.

I still love that man so much after all these years. We were just kids but we must have been smart--and lucky.

So Far, So Good

The ablation went well although the overall news wasn't heartening. The same four spots that were identified last year had reconnected and were misfiring, and there were also three new spots. We aren't spring chickens but we aren't looking for managed care yet either so thinking of finality doesn't come easy to either of us. Don't want to borrow trouble though.

I took the Bulls Eye down to work on while I waited. It was an enormous hit and I got a great deal of quilting done. There is only one corner and about two feet on one adjacent side of the border left to quilt and then the binding so there will be new photos to post in about ten days to two weeks. Someone asked me once how I finished a quilt and jokingly I told her that I always played Beethoven's 9th Symphony. She meant how did I finish the edges, but I do listen to the whole symphony every time and I almost stand up and cheer when the Ode to Joy is playing.

AAArgh!

I outlined my problems with my BMW a few entries back and I have decided that I really should buy a new, different, car. I would really like to test drive a Tesla--they have an all-wheel drive model that should be good for our snowy hills. I mean I can't depend on no snow every year as it was this year. But this state has a law on the books that there needs to be a "dealer" for there to be new car sales, you can't buy from the manufacturer. They claim that this protects the consumer although I sure don't see how--dealerships have been lying to people for years so they are hardly models of good citizenship and financial probity. Anyway, a local legislator drew up an emergency change to allow Tesla to operate here--they already have remodeled a building fairly close to where I live and spent a bunch of money doing that. But yesterday the legislature voted down the bill. So it looks like they will be all dressed up, with cars in the showroom and everything, and no place to go. In theory I could go to Las Vegas or LA to buy the car but I would still need a dealer to provide service under warranty, etc. What a mess.

Must Be Ground Hog Day

Last year on Valentine's Day my husband had a cardiac ablation. He was doing well, off meds, feeling very good, and then in November he began the cycle again. He started with just a few atrial fibrillation episodes a week and then more, and then more. Two weeks ago, he consulted with his cardiologist and scheduled another ablation for this Thursday since he was not only having multiple episodes a day but they were becoming longer and longer. While this was not unexpected, it was nevertheless a blow. The surgeon is very experienced, same fellow as last year, but there are always worries--right?

March Madness

No, this isn't about basketball although the University of Utah might do well in the tournament. This is about what is happening outside my window. Up until March 1, Salt Lake City had only gotten 6 inches of snowfall the entire winter. I think we may have gotten 6 inches today and just since 8:30 am. Of course that is peanuts compared to the east coast. I hope this helps our water situation later when it warms up.