A Week of Sewing

This blog post could more accurately be entitled, "A Week of No Sewing". I think that's the longest I've gone without sewing in five years, except when we're traveling, of course. Still, spending so much time at the hospital has given me plenty of time for embroidery. I finished up the latest of the Quilting Snow Ladies:

And because I'm very impatient, I peeked at what the next block for this quilt will be. It seems especially appropriate now that we are "officially" into the "holiday season". Some of these have a LOT of stitching, and so this next one seems downright easy. After stitching all the blocks on the quilt in the one above, this little quilt below has me saying, "Oh, that little thing?" 

Fortunately, I already had my next block for the Vintage Tin quilt made up, and so now I'm well on the way with that one too. This is the map showing Route 66.

I'm still liking the Sticky Fabri-Solvy method of doing embroidery transfers. It does have a couple of drawbacks, however. For one thing, it takes quite a bit of rinsing to wash it off of your completed stitchery. A few folks have suggested warm water, and that does help. Still, I'm realizing that it takes several rinsings to get it all out. 

The other disadvantage is directed at those messy embroidery people among us, of which I proudly claim membership. As a messy embroiderer, I need to put muslin on the back of my pieces. Of course, even neat embroiderers may do that too, if for no other reason than to keep your floss from showing through to the front. This problem is worse for us messy embroiderers because we tend to travel out across those wide open spaces a lot. With this piece and its light fabric and black floss, undoubtedly my traveling would show through to the other side. 

So I'm going on about all of this because with three layers to stitch through, I'm finding it to be a pokey business (and I don't mean slow). I have actually stabbed myself several times with the wrong end of my needle...the dull end...and if you don't think that hurts, then just give it a try. Go ahead, I'll just wait here. Yeah, it hurts, right? 

Since I find it difficult to use a metal thimble for embroidery (although I do use one when I sew on a binding), I went in search of stick-on thimbles. Many folks swear by them. There are several different kinds. For my needs, I decided to try these leather "ThimblePads", and I am really liking them. 

Mike has been on "infectious bug" precautions all week, which has meant I've been washing my hands every time I enter and leave the room. These, being made of leather, can tolerate hand-washing without the need to remove them. 

Also, they can be used again and again. I've stuck, removed, and re-stuck mine several times, and it is still going strong. And, bonus, they are hefty enough to keep my needle from poking me. 

And with all of that stitching news, I'm going to link up to Slow Sunday Stitching.

The only other thing I've done this week is to choose the fabrics to catch up on the last three months of my Rainbow Scrap little lady blocks. Here are my fabrics all ironed and laid out. Hopefully, I'll actually get to make them once Mike gets sprung from the hospital.

But apparently someone has been in the sewing room...someone with muddy paws. Now who could that be?

Fortunately, he didn't do too much damage, but I was none too happy to find this on my white background fabric this morning. That will teach me to leave things out.

And what do you suppose Mr. Smitty has been sewing while he's in the sewing room. I figure he must be making pillows or a feather bed or something, given the amount of feathers I've vacuumed up this week. And I haven't even been feeding the birds. All I can say is that he is a conscientious hunter, using every bit of the animal...except for some of the feathers, I guess. On the other hand, maybe I'll find a lovely finch-down pillow or comforter under the tree this year. What are the chances?

That's it from me. Off to see my lover at the hospital.