When life gives you scraps - USE them!

It was a bit of a train wreck day, but I still managed to get three things done! Remember, I mentioned I had the shingles shot the previous day? Well, about dinner time yesterday, it hit me, although my arm had been sore for most of the day. It didn't help that I had done a lot of upper arm work with Brooke, and I could feel that in my arms as well. 

I had a slight fever, accompanied by a chill, and I was exhausted. I went to bed with a hot Magic Bag and fell into a deep sleep. I woke up a couple of hours later feeling much better, and today? I'm back to my old self! 

Good thing I didn't get the flu shot as well! I know those symptoms are an indication that the vaccine is working, but I hate that part!

The first thing I did was to grab all the batting bits from the lower section of the closet and sort them by size. Anything in the 60" range went in one pile, 70" in another, and so on. The sizes range from 40" to over 100". This way, it's a lot easier to find like sizes and group them to make a backing. 

Half of the batting bits

I still have the top section of the closet, which is a different batting type, and I guess I should have grabbed that one first, but it all has to be used up, so it doesn't really matter. There are still four more dog quilts, eight of my community project quilts, and approximately ten that I offered to do as a favor for someone. I doubt there will be any batting bits left by the time I'm finished. Wouldn't it be nice to get all this done before the end of the year? 

My November is a bit of a mess, so we'll see what happens. I'll do what I can! It's not that bad - not as bad as September, but there are a few trips, some work events, and some writing thrown in as well. 

So I joined the batting bits for the quilt I was quilting yesterday. And all was good. 

Joining the batting bits

I joined three pieces together, and that middle piece was JUST the right length. I think I've mentioned this before, but I've had offers from two people to help quilt the pile of community project quilts. There is so much work involved in preparing these quilts, especially in preparing the backing and batting, that it isn't worth it. I'd have to spend days prepping and then see it all go out. Nope - I'd prefer to work on one at a time, slow and steady, and that works for me. I'm usually doing creative things with the batting and the backing, and to do that for days to give it all away? Nope -- I get that done, while one quilt is on the machine. 

I thank those two people for the offer, but I'm happy to work alone. Then I don't have to be overgenerous with the backings or the batting. 

The middle section of batting was JUST the right length

And there is the quilt of the day. - DONE! The backing for this one was sewn at the retreat, so once the batting was made, it was easy to complete. 

Dog quilt - Number Three

While that one was being quilted, I got the batting made for the next one. Then I worked on the backing. Remember, those strips that I might have used for the binding? Well, they got cut and pieced together to help make the backing for the next one. Let's say there are a "few" seams in that long piece, but it's now wide enough for the backing. What is nice is that when I'm done, there will be very little of this fabric left. I had a roll of it and well, three quilt backings and poof - it's gone! You can't take it with you, so use it NOW. 

Working on the next quilt backing

However, that section is not long enough, but I have enough of the darker dog fabric to make it longer. 

Fabric to make the backing section longer

I have a knack for assembling this type of backing. I don't plan - I just measure and wing it. Thankfully, I have good spatial aptitudes, so it all works just fine. Once this quilt gets quilted, I'll see if I have enough of any combination of those fabrics for a binding, but I don't think so. No worries --- there's always Plan B because making the binding of this fabric was never my plan. It was just a thought. 

I thought of making the backing for the next one, but I didn't get there yesterday. I need to finish the one I'm working on.

However, everything is now ready to assemble, so I'm going to proceed with quilting the five remaining quilts this week. Hopefully, I can also start working on the binding, but I need to start writing and preparing for several upcoming events, so "free" time will be harder to come by.

I managed to sew a few half-square triangles, but I was unable to press and trim them last night, nor did I trim the quilt. My body just gave in, and I needed some sleep. 

Half-square triangles sewn

Here's the one thing that our non-quilting friends don't get. Quilting is a physical hobby. For me, I had to make several trips upstairs to Studio U to get all the batting bits. They will not go back upstairs since I now have plans to use these bits in the immediate future—at least for those four remaining quilts. 

The remaining batting bits

There are all the steps back and forth to the long arm from the sewing machine, the cutting table, and the ironing board. Loading and unloading a quilt. It's really quite a lot of physical movement, and I swear I want to be like my quilting aunt, who just turned 86; she is still teaching for her guild and remains pretty active and mobile.

I do NOT put my ironing board or cutting board close to my sewing machine. I need to move. Yes - my knees hurt like mad these days and my legs feel like they are made of rubber. Why? I've no idea, but it's not pretty. That doesn't stop me from doing things. I suspect it's the change in the weather? Even pills aren't helping these days. But if I sit in one spot, I'll seize up like a rusty engine, and I won't be able to walk. I can't let that happen. 

While I was standing at the long arm, I glanced at the photos on the wall. Oh my -- it seems that all four of them are askew. How did that happen? They are right beside the thread cabinet for the long arm, but there's no reason for me to touch them! It's like my life - topsy turvy! I'm not even straightening them -- this has happened before, so this is how they stay! Life is way too short to worry about things like this. 

The pictures are askew

Amazing what one day can do. The leaves came down in torrents, and I had to laugh because the city had gone by three days ago and blown all the leaves off the path. It's as if they never did it! Miss Murphy just blends right in. 

MOM - I'm hiding - can you see me? 

Look at this poor leaf! They are sticking to everything! 

Help - let me in - it's cold out here!

And that Murphy - I love when she sits or lies outside the window to Studio B. She needs to be out, but wants to keep an eye on me! Notice the bare shelves on both sides of that window? Oh, yes — when I did my tidy-up a while back, I removed some items that were up there. I am making progress in getting rid of things. While there are still things outside the picture that are up there, it's all coming together. 

Miss Murphy is standing on guard for me!

But look at her paws when she did come in. What a mess! The muddier she is, the happier she is. I have tried on numerous occasions to schedule an appointment with the groomer, but I've received no answer. I must try again. It's annoying, and she looks like a very shaggy dog. 

MOM - I LOVE mud!

While my sweet Miss Lexi is happy to snuggle on the deck. Her nose must be cold as it's tucked under her tail. But she loves the cool weather! 

MOM - I'm busy sleeping

I had to walk to the grocery store yesterday, and all the pumpkins were free! They still had quite a few, but some of them were quite interesting! Those are not your typical orange pumpkins!

Free pumpkins!

And someone in our house had a birthday yesterday. It was casually mentioned at the restaurant, and this is what arrived once the meal was over! I love going to the same restaurant every week. They get to know us - we get to know them. It's good. It's like Cheers! There was no fanfare, no singing! 

Happy Birthday!!!

I have such good groups - I have two sessions tomorrow, and today is a bit of a wash, and not because I don't feel well. You'll see the adventure tomorrow. But I wasn't going to have a lot of time to get their pictures into the presentations. So, I sent a note, and almost everyone has already sent their photos, which are now in the respective presentations. There will be a few stragglers, but that's okay -- I can handle a few. I wasn't going to have time for many! 

Thanks to everyone who sent in their pictures early. 

And on that note, I'm out of here! 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!!