Playing around with my new toy

I finally had a chance to get up into my sewing room today. There are a few tops waiting to be completed, tops waiting to be quilted, and fabric waiting to be ironed and cut into new tops. The sewing room could also stand a good cleaning. NOT going to happen! I needed a chance to do only what I wanted to do, nothing that I 'must' do. And, that is exactly what I did!

I still have lots to learn about my new embroidery machine, but today I played with it some more, here is what I made. I need to figure out what happened with the flames-see the white area? Not sure what caused that, I'm hoping I can find an orange pigma pen and just dab it away. I'm not to proud to 'cheat'!

OK, so what do you do when.....

life keeps you too busy to get into your sewing room? Well, I just get myself involved with yet another project! On the way home from a doctor's visit the other day, I succombed to the siren song of JoAnn's. I had to drive past it, and I haven't bought anything in sooooo looong, and I did just join a Shakespeare in the Park group.........so, I stopped and I bought.

I have been trying to decided what colors to use, if you go to the Judy Martin site, you'll see many example's to inspire you. Many seem to be blue and white. I love blue and white, but I don't want to do that for this quilt. What to do, what to do? A while back someone shared a quilt on her blog ( I think it was Mary, but wouldn't swear to it) That was purple and orange and absolutely breathtaking. It was an entirely different pattern, but the color combination is what caught my imagination. So, that is what I am going to try. When I finally get that far, I'll make a few blocks in this combination and see how I like it. I may wind up changing after that, but for now, here's what I bought to work with. Looking at these fabrics, I'm thinking that I may need lighter values of the orange, maybe some more of the darker purples. What do you think?

just a quick update before work...

As I said, son is doing pretty well. He returned to campus yesterday, said it was a bit much getting to class and he was tired, but ok and not in too much discomfort. He has to come home Wednesday for a post-op visit with the doctor. Meanwhile, since he hasn't suffered terribly and has maintained a good sense of humor the whole while, I thought you might get a chuckle out of this photo. Boy! What a charmer he is. He says he figures once everyone sees how stylin' he is, this will be the next fad on campus!! As I said, he kept his sense of humor. I can't imagine that wearing this thing was much fun, but it did keep any bleeding from running down his face. Sinus surgery, yuck!

I've been gone for too long

I haven't posted in a while. Last month Mom really deteriorated and we had to bring in Hospice. Both the nursing home and hospice were fantastic. Mom passed away last week. My brother made it in time to say goodbye- many claim that even when unconscious, patients are able to hear when spoken too. She died the day after he arrived. He was able to help me begin sorting out her things, as I had never emptied her little apartment in my lower level. The majority of that remains to be done. Thanks to hospice, her passing was peaceful. The picture is of Mom last fall, just after arriving in the home, hamming it up!

Meanwhile, my youngest has been fighting that MRSA thing. His sinuses were infected and unable to shed the infection, so yesterday he had surgery for that. The surgery went well, although it took about twice as long as the doctor expected. He must remain quiet for several days, not bending over or doing anything that will raise his blood pressure. He is not too uncomfortable, which is a blessing. Would you believe that last night was the first time in weeks that I have slept through until morning? I'm beat.

Today while the house was quiet with son and dh napping, I finally got to do something sewing related. I did some online lessons in digitizing for my new embroidery machine, and also worked on some quilting designs for my midarm--whenever I get back up to the sewing room. I have several things on my short term to do list: make some FAPs for a birthday exchange, make something for a friend's soon to arrive grandchild, finish the top for my son's quilt. I'm sure that I have forgotten something, but I hope to have something sewn up and ready to show soon.