Lots of Stitching

You might think I did a lot of stitching yesterday, and I did. But I have my own set of stitches right now...about half a dozen on my nose. Yes, I've cheated death once again. I look like hell, but I'm feeling pretty good. Thank you to all who wrote to wish me well on this latest bit of nosiness. Thankfully, it took just two swipes to remove the little basal cell from my nose. To see my swollen schnozz and my blackened left eye, you might think it was more. I'm just glad I don't have to go out anywhere...until tomorrow, when we'll have to break down and do some grocery shopping. Thank goodness for masks. Possibly, I'll don a ski mask for my next outing since my usual face mask won't hide the damage.

The time since I last blogged has been put to good use. I mentioned I wanted to start embroidering the words for my challenge quilt while I was at the doctor's office, and I did. Surprisingly, my hands trembled just enough to make backstitch difficult. I started on the first letter, but then decided to do stem stitch instead. It's probably the better choice for this purpose.

There are still two full balls of Valdani floss used for the Appalachian Memories quilt, and so I'm using it for this piece.

Off and on I've worked on this for the past day and a half, and there are just a few letters left. When the embroidery is finished, I'll be able to start on the rest of this little art quilt.

Also, I started top-stitching the last panel for "I Believe in Snowmen." When I was about halfway finished, it was time to leave for my appointment. Yesterday morning, I finished it off.

I used the triple stitch on my sewing machine to stitch in the window panes.

Now it's ready for embroidery. I'm working away on Mulligan Stew. I figure I have two more hoops to stitch, and then it will be ready for binding.

My nose was really hurting Tuesday evening. I'm taking only Extra Strength Tylenol for it, and it was barely tolerable. By yesterday morning, it was feeling pretty good, but I took it pretty easy anyway. After lunch, I took a long nap. Our weather has been chilly, and so once I pull a warm quilt over my body, it's hard to get out from under it again. When I finally forced myself off the couch yesterday, I got back to work machine quilting the blocks for Friendship's Garden.

For this, I had plenty of kitty assistance. Smitty was napping with me. He thought this new location would make an excellent place to curl up and resume sleeping.

He was encouraged to use the chair beside the machine, and I continued on with the quilt blocks.

Oh, but I had all the kitties with me yesterday. Sadie likes this window perch where she's high above her usual hunting grounds.

She could sit there, and I could continue with my quilting.

The last of the blocks were finished yesterday.

When the last of the quilt blocks were stitched, I changed to the variegated yellow thread. This is the same thread I'm using in the bobbin. I was just getting started quilting the horizontal sashings when I stopped for the day. I'm doing a sort of heart-shaped leaf and curly-cue motif. I'm hoping you can see it in this image.

After checking the tension and experimenting with the motif a little, I quit for the day. Today, I'll get back to work with a goal of finishing the horizontal sashings today. I might have time to finish the vertical sashings too. We'll see.

So, it was good to get so much accomplished. This was all quiet activity and so my nose was okay with it. I'm feeling even better today, and so I'll just keep on keeping on with quiet activity for at least another day. I'm hoping I can finish Mulligan Stew either today or tomorrow. 

With two quilts being quilted, I see a lot of quilt bindings in my future. Mike and I briefly considered canceling our camping trip to the beach next week, since it's going to rain the whole time. We're going though. I'll have plenty of hand-stitching to keep me busy, and he has plenty to read. If I know Mike, he'll find something inside the RV that needs repair, even if he has to break something first.