Bittersweet

Good morning, my friends. Yesterday was a day of things getting between me and my sewing. As much as the day tried to keep me fabric free, I was able to get in a little bit of slow-stitching and a successful FART (Fabric Aquisition Road Trip). It was a day for physical therapy. I was in need of a couple of fabrics for different projects, and so I sweetened the bitter trip to PT with a trip to the fabric store. 

Before I needed to leave, I took the first stitches on October's block for a year in the garden. Mainly, I was using up bits and bobs of floss from the last time I worked on this.

I made dinner yesterday morning, so I wouldn't have to cook when I got home from PT. After having some lunch, I gave myself an extra hour ahead of PT to visit the fabric store. I was on the hunt for a backing for the Land & Sea quilt:

There were several I liked, but I settled on this one:

Smitty appurroves.

Also, I was on the hunt for some fabric for this pattern. I forget where I saw this. All I have is the picture. I can figure out how to make it myself. 

It seemed a good choice for these two long-time residents of my stash. I thought these fabrics were so beautiful when I bought them, but I've had a hard time figuring out how to use them. They are large scale prints. I left the rotary cutter there for scale.

Also, I remembered these as being Kaffe Fassett fabrics, but they are not. The first one is called Flutter Bright. (It might be a good name for my project.)

And here's the second one. I don't think I ever intended for these to be used in the same project, but it could work.

And again...not a Kaffe fabric. 

So, I was on the hunt for a solid in that little pop of green. I neglected to take anything with me for matching, but my eye was able to pick the right one.

Looking again at the picture...

I'll use the butterfly print in the larger squares. I'll use the begonia print in the smaller squares. I'll use black where it appears in the picture, and I'll use that green wherever the light blue appears. When there's another opening on my WIPs dance card, I'll start this project. 

Okay, and as much as I love whining and complaining, I'm afraid I'll have to admit that I think the PT is helping. I've noticed more strength and stability in my shoulder, and it's easier to get comfortable to sleep at night. I have a whole new and more challenging set of exercises to do, and I'll keep doing them. It's easy to stay motivated when I think they're actually working.

When I got home, I did a little more stitching on my block. It looks like this now.

It's a grocery shopping day. We'll need to make several stops, but our grocery list is relatively short. (It just means we'll have to go again early next week.) As for today, I'm hoping to have time to get back to my top-stitching. Mike and I are going out for dinner tonight. It's a planned wine tasting and pairing event, and I'm looking forward to it. 

Tomorrow, I'm walking with Matthew. The forecast looks great for spending some time outdoors. Knowing I'll have an early start in the morning, I'm taking tomorrow off from blogging. I'll be back Saturday to tell you all about it.