1/21/13

Happy Feet and Clean Choppers

There wasn't much time to sew either yesterday or today.  Yesterday I awakened with an inner ear problem I've had most of my life.  The first time I remember it happening was in the 8th grade.  Basically, if I change the position of my head...going from lying to sitting, sitting to standing, look up, look down, lean over, tilt my head to the side, whatever...the room starts spinning as if I've been on a drinking binge.  Not that I would know what that feels like, you understand, but from what I've been told, of course.  It lasts about a week, and then it goes away for months, or even years.  It hasn't happened in years at least, but it's back again in all of its annoyance.  Needless to say, I wasn't feeling very well yesterday and spent most of the day lying down.

This morning I had my six-month check-up with the dentist (Look Ma, No Cavities!), and then I went and took advantage of a $15-off coupon from the local New Balance store.  In addition to being dizzy, I have problems with my feet, and New Balance shoes are about the only thing I can wear in my old age.  So, whine, whine, whine.  While I was trying on my shoes, a young man was helping me, and each time I stood up, I had to grab the arms of the chair to keep from falling down.  I'm sure I must have seemed ancient to him.  At least he didn't talk baby talk to me.  The first person who does that is going to get smacked up side the head.  

So I'm feeling better today...less dizzy, and therefore, less queasy...but it isn't over yet.  There's really nothing I can do except to wait it out.  It won't kill me, but it is disconcerting.  Still, I took a nap when I got home and then I had about an hour to sew before I needed to start dinner.  

Despite not feeling well, I had all the flying geese sewn together for the Hello Sun blocks on Sunday.


That left me with all of these cut-off triangles.  There are eight in each of the six colors and 96 of the white ones.


Apparently, I did a good job of cutting them because they are remarkably uniform in size.  I'm thinking I will sew them into hourglass blocks and then use them in a doll quilt, or maybe sew them randomly into the back of the quilt.  


In a moment of insanity, I considered using them as cornerstones in the quilt top and perhaps adding a white sashing.  Or maybe a yellow one to match the suns.  Remembering the layout, what do you think of that idea?

So today, I managed to sew the flying geese units to each side of the blocks.


Now, I just need to sew the remaining white squares to each side of the remaining flying geese units.


I managed to get one side finished, but then I needed to stop and make dinner.


Tomorrow I should be able to finish up the other side, and then sew them to the tops and bottoms of the blocks.  Then I think I'll put this project aside for a while and stew about what to do next.  I'm curious what you think I should do with the hourglass units.

Also on the agenda for tomorrow I'll be working out at Curves for the first time.  Hopefully, being dizzy won't cause me any grief.  As long as I can keep my head relatively level, I should be okay.  And hopefully, I'll feel even better tomorrow.

28 comments:

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

Your Hello Sun is really coming along.

Feel better soon. My cousin has something like that with her ears....yuck!

quiltzyx said...

When making any block that can be made by sewing diagonally across a square to make a triangle unit, I often sew 2 seams & then cut between them. Instant half-square triangle leftovers!
I would use the ones you made into a doll quilt or a pillow cover. I was thinking (ouch!) that if you put sashing between your star blocks, you'll lose the square-in-a-square secondary pattern. If I was wanting to make it larger, I would probably just add more borders.

But that's just me.

Hope your inner ear woes disappear sooner than later!

Cassandra said...

So sorry you're not feeling well! I hope it clears up soon.

Your blocks are adorable! What fabric line is that?

Angel, Kirby and Max said...

I have experienced the dizzy thing, too. So has my Daughter in law, but she went to a Dr and he told her that she had a loos ear rock. After I picked myself up off the floor and apologized for laughing, I looked it up! I have not tried the remedy, yet. I can never remember it when a spell hits!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103463398

I like the idea of using the hourglass blocks, maybe as a border?

Lynne said...

The quilt is coming along nicely.

Good news from the dentist, nice new shoes and your first trip to Curves tomorrow -- little blessings but important!

I hope you're feeling a whole lot better real soon!

Lyndsey said...

I love those sun blocks. I think I would piece the hourglass blocks into the back. I love the pattern that the sun blocks make on the quilt top without the sashing. I also know that whatever you decide to do Barbara will look great.

Good news from the dentist, my check up is next week. I also have an eye check next week and I know I need a new prescription as my eyes go blurry after a short time of embroidery. I don't mind getting older but I object if it's going to interfere with my hobbies. I hope your dizziness goes soon. Look after yourself

Jeanie said...

Hope you are feeling even better this morning. I deal with vertigo too and cannot do any of the things that you have managed to do while being dizzy. You are not a whiner..... you are a trooper!

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

I get the dizziness too, sort of like stepping on the ground after being on a boat for a long time. My coordination gets off and all I want to do is sleep. You can get (over the counter) meclizine. It is usually in the travel sickness shelf and is 100% meclizine, just like the Dr prescribed. Sometimes it's under Bonine, sometimes generic. You take a pill and it gets much better. Most people take it without getting sleepy but I'm very sensitive to medication so I start with 1/2. Sometimes it's an inner ear problem, sometimes sinus but mine is kicked off both visually or by moving/spinning around too fast. You might want to try the meclizine.

Dana Gaffney said...

You, dizzy?! I'm not touching it, but I do hope you feel better soon, it has to be awful.
I'm a HST lover so that's what I would do with the scraps, I can never cut them so they are consistent like that.

Debbie said...

Oh man, that vertigo bit is awful....and when it hits everything goes hay wire. Hope it passes soon, and you are running around as usual. I like the hourglass idea for the cut offs....or I would do pinwheels.

Kate said...

Hope you are feeling better. I get something similar but mine usually only lasts for a few hours, then I am fine.

I would use the hour glass blocks in a border. I would use them in oppoosing corners to form a partial frame, then finish out the border with either white or yellow for the space you can not cover with the hour glass blocks. Love the star frames. It is going to be such a fun quilt no matter what you do with the borders.

Quilting Babcia said...

Sure hope you're feeling better this morning. I've had that too,fortunately not as severe as what you're going through, but very distressing. Take care my friend.
I think hourglass or pinwheel blocks in the corners would be perfect for this fun quilt.

Diane Wild said...

Not sure how you can sew when you're staggering around. Hope you're feeling better by now. I have the same dilemma with those cut-off pieces. I end up saving them then do nothing with them. A shame to toss but that's what I end up doing down the road. Sorry, no suggestions.

Donana said...

I know what you're talking about, meniere's disease. I had a bad spell about 5 years ago and it disappeared. I feel for you it's not fun. I hope you feel better soon.
I love those colors for your quilt. So colorful and fun. I can't wait to see it completed.

Donna

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I don't think I would sash them - they look like they are 10" blocks? Depends on if you want it a wall hanging or a lap quilt - borders to make it larger. I would save those triangles for pinwheels for a doll quilt or table runner.

Mommarock said...

Vertigo.. my husband had it a couple summers ago, and it was horrible. He walked like a drunk and of course in this instance he had not been drinking. He just couldn't lift his head off the pillow without feeling sick it was so bad the first night. It slowly got better. I'm sorry this is happening to you too. Feel better soon!!

Lynette said...

Bummer about the ear stuff flaring. Hope it goes away quickly for you! Your Sun blocks are so darned cute and it's going to be a very fun rainbow quilt when you're finished with the assembly. I'm thinking of running through this one starting in a couple of months to practice that kind of applique sewing before I start in on outlining my McKenna Ryan quilt tops. It's a good excuse anyway, right? ;D

Rachel said...

Hello Sun is looking great! Hour glass. I honestly don't know. Being a fly by the seat of my pants kinda girl, I would probably wait till the rest was together and audition them...LOL...Yes, I DO drive people crazy! Hope you are feeling better and that the curves class went well!

Meg said...

Love the quilt you are working on. Amazing you can do it while you don't feel well. Hopefully it won't hang on too long. It must be awful.

Saw a clip on tv in the middle of the night (couldn't sleep) about six months ago about New Balance shoes. I didn't realize that that are one of the shoes that are actually made in the US which I think is great!!!

Meg

Stella Nemeth said...

I hope that when you read this you will be feeling better. You got a lot done considering how you feel.

And I'm with you on the baby talk. If they start talking to me that way I will also slap someone on the side of the head.

Needled Mom said...

That has to be a dreadful feeling. Hope you are better soon.

Great progress on the quilt. It will look awesome. I love using those wee bits in different projects.

Kathy H said...

I hope you feel better soon. I enjoyed seeing your sun blocks. they are so cute. i want to make them one day also and yours are a nice inspiration to me. thanks for sharing them with us.

WoolenSails said...

That is a fun and happy quilt.
I hope you feel better, I have been getting dizzy spells again since I had the flu, so hoping it is temporary.

Debbie

Teresa in Music City said...

I love the way your little Suns are coming together! I would definitely do the cornerstones/white sashing. I would keep from having to match up those star points, and it would add a nice place for the eye to rest as well. Can't wait to see what you do with it :*) I still have all the patterns and put it on my monthly to do list this year.

Sewgreen said...

those would be lovely cornerstones! I can't wait to see this quilt all finished!

Junebug613 said...

Sorry to hear you are under the weather. The quilt looks great. I think either idea for the leftovers is good. I'm sure you'll do something fantastic with them. :)

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

My mother and I both have problems with our equilibrium at times. I had problems with mine for over a month back in Sept/Oct. Not fun. Sorry. Hope your get back to normal quickly.

Junebug613 said...

Found this and thought to add it to your list of possibilities for the extra pieces.
http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/other/circle-of-geese-paper-pieced-quilt-block/37735