I love aqua therapy!

 If I have to do PT, I hope it always includes aqua therapy. The pool at the Wellness Center is warm and calm, with only a few early morning swimmers doing laps while I am exercising. My therapist, Laurie, is a perky, slim girl who is always happy and encouraging. Being a longtime water baby ( I have been swimming since I could walk) I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the pool. I'm feeling a little better and definitely stronger.

On the Homefront, I can still do only one quilt a day before the pain is too debilitating. I think that's okay, and I am slowly plowing through the line of projects . Here are the quilts from the last few days.

My friend, Linda, brought a family heirloom in to be repaired. Seems a puppy found one corner of the quilt delicious and chewed it completely off! I started by un-picking the back-to-front binding and cutting two pieces of closely matching solid fabric for the new corner.

I stitched the front piece along the original seam

I pressed the long edge of the back triangle under and hand stitched it on, then carefully trimmed the old , damaged part off, added a triangle of batting, and restitched the binding.

I hand quilted the corner like the other corners, and gave the quilt a wash and dry. Voila! Good as new!

My quilting isn't as tiny and even as the maker's, but it looks okay front and back.

The original label took a beating, too, so I scanned the photo of Nina (the maker) and printed it, (and the details of the quilt) onto EQ printable fabric.

It came out very nice, and I was happy.

This quilt is wonderful. Obviously, Nina was a master at precise hand piecing and quilting.

All those little diamonds, all perfect. Aside from one tiny hole and a place along the side where the top fabric came loose from the binding, the quilt was perfect. A quick stitch up of the flaws and the quilt is ready to go home and be used for many years to come.

On Sunday-Funday I quilted this project someone in my evening guild made.

Its a charity quilt, so I used a loose stipple for the quilting.

I'm sure some child will love the bright colors!

I had just enough of this swirly black fabric in my stash to piece the backing.

I bound it by machine, and it is ready to donate.

Yesterday, after PT, I quilted number three of six jelly roll quilts from the same customer. This one is dark leafy batiks.

I used a panto called Leafy Vine with King Tut variegated thread. It really popped on the darker colors.

The backing was this batik.

In the morning, we got a call from the dog groomer who had a cancellation and would take Penny in the afternoon. I was thrilled, because she was looking more bear-like by the day! She always smells so fresh after a groom! Pretty girl.

Before: Our messy, woolly bear of a dog.

After: A streamlined, smooth and fluffy girl!

I started working on the next repair, and realized I hadn't taken a 'before' picture. Rats! I forget this step all the time. The quilt was Granny made and has been used by two generations of little ones in the family. Granny sewed the pink fabric to the backing (with a thin batting) then sewed the embroidered squares on with a small zig-zag. She quilted the corners between the squares with a zig-zag stitch through all layers. The quilting is made up of motifs of animals from the squares. Because there is so little quilting, the blocks were worn through wherever there was a wrinkle in the underlying pink fabric. The middle square was totally shredded and had to be replaced. I traced the motif from the same patterned block and. hand embroidered it to match.  There are two of each design in the 12 block quilt. I used off white So Fine thread to close the many tears in the blocks, and re-sewed the edges of all the blocks, carefully smoothing the excess fabric toward the edge, pinning it in place, and zig-zagging it down. I have a white with tiny pink flowers fabric, similar to the backing, to make small frames to go around each square and cover all the frayed and worn edges. I think it will work well and reinforce the quilt for many years to come.

Thankfully, there was a block to use for a pattern to re-make the missing one.

Here is my block, sewn in and looking good. I sure wish I had taken a picture of what it looked like to start with. I'll take a couple of pictures of where I am today, and what it looks like when I'm finished.

Now, I'm back to the studio and  jelly roll quilt number four...

Pain continues

 I went to Gainsville expecting to come home with pain relief, but my hopes were dashed when we were informed that it was an evaluation visit. The nurse practitioner was knowledgeable and friendly, but she really hurt me! There were tests of movement and strength as well as manipulation and palpation of the affected areas. When she finished, I could hardly stand  and had to sit for a few minutes to recover from the blast of pain. We went home with the promise someone would call and schedule my procedure. I got the call today.  It will be the 22nd at 8:00 AM. We'll have to be up at 6:00 to get to Gainsville for the prep. The injection bit takes 45 minutes and involves three big needles. At this point, I don't care. I just want to get back to normal and back to quilting.

I am able to do one quilt before I can't bear the pain, and this makes getting through the line of waiting quilts daunting. Here are the finishes I accomplished this week.

I love the designs on the batiks used here. The maker says it is a Jelly Roll Race quilt.

The pattern I used is called African Heat Wave.

The backing is this terrific feather fabric. 

This panel was made by a customer who is trying to finish her UFOs. She bought it at a yard sale because she liked the colors, and added a few small borders.

The quilting doesn't show well because of the busyness of the pattern. 

Its called Espalier

The customer sent a back that was too small. A quick call to her and I was able to substitute fabric from my stash for the back. It was perfect!

Two quilts to show for a week's work. Pitiful. With PT twice and the trip to Gainsville and a lost day recovering, it is no secret why. I hope next week will have better results. 

On a happier note, here's the grandson doing what little boys do best...having fun in the snow with his dad.

Don't you miss  the carefree days sledding and trudging back up the hill only to speed down again? I do. I love winter and snowy days. Sledding, skiing and skating on the lake. Oh, to be young again!

Sunday funday...Monday therapy

It was a really nice day yesterday and I was able to sew and quilt for 6 hours before my back hurt too bad. I first quilted a QOV that I have had for a while. I know they need these done, so I figured it was best to do it now.

The pattern the quilt maker used was really pretty, and I like the scrappiness of it. Two block quilts are always interesting to look at.

I used a panto with stars that I can't remember the name of.

The backing is a bit too stiff for my liking, but I assume it will soften with washing or daily use.

After finishing the QOV, I quilted and bound the dogs in space charity quilt.

It turned out so soft and cuddly! The binding is the same houndstooth check used in the top.

I used the same panto as the one on the QOV.

There was enough of the doggie fabric to back the quilt with, so I chose that.

Durinng the quilting process, I cut the pieces for a boxed square quilt. The customer one from yesterday had me thinking about the pattern, so I dug out a Lonni Rossi jelly roll and started in.

I'm going to try to work a bit on this today

Stacks of fun!

This morning, I had my first aqua-therapy at the Wellness Center. The water in the pool there is nice and warm, o it felt good. My therapist had an hour's worth of exercises for me, and I was able to do everything she asked. However, once back on dry land, my back was throbbing. I came home and sat with the heating pad, and now I had better get going and get in the studio. Tomorrow, we go to Gainsville and see the Pain specialist. I should be getting the deep nerve block shot in my back. Wish me luck!

Work is fun!

I may only work five hours day, but I am getting quilts done, and that makes me happy! I first finished this lovely Kaffe Fassett quilt. The colors are luscious and blendy. Yum!

The HSTs are strip  pieced, and each one has three different fabrics.

The pattern is called Adore

The Grunge fabric on the back adds to the deep colors of the top.

It was my birthday on Thursday, and Mr Wazoo and I had a wonderful steak dinner, followed by cake and ice cream. I had an all around good day, hearing from all my children and my Dad, sister and big brother. 

Mr W found this little cake at the bakery .

I have to show you the card from Daughter in Portland. She ordered it on line and wasn't aware it was a Mother's Day card. The little sign in the pop up flowers says Mother's Day, but her message is happy birthday. I told her she has both events covered!

Next, I worked on a little baby quilt (the customer's first quilt) and a charity quilt of mine.

Not too bad for a first attempt. There were a few puckers and tucks in the seams, bit the quilt is soft and nice for a little baby. Good job!

The panto is Bubbles

Another Grunge backing. I did the binding and label tonight while watching another episode of Vera.

For my wild UFO charity quilt, I added a scrap binding finish. 

A simple meander was appropriate for the quilting.

I had this great Jacks fabric in my stash from Cotton and Steel, and decided to use it on the back.

The next customer quilt was a boxed square pattern in reproduction fabrics. The choice of colors was very pleasing. It may have been a jelly roll.

You can find this pattern free on www.maryquilts.com

The panto is Scrolled Feathers

Click on the picture to see it closer.

While Chewy was quilting , I sewed this charity 2-3-2-6 top. It ia all flannel and very soft

Doge in outer space. Too cute! I'll get it finished tomorrow.

Grandson's latest escapade was a jaunt out on the ice of Lake Mendota for a kite flying event. These three cat kites are...(are you ready?)...The cat's meow!! Yellow cat looks to be giving grandson a pat on the head.

Here is a regal looking couple of disheveled beings. Shaggy Penny is beginning to look like a brown bear! Mr W on his throne (the power recliner) with his morning coffee. My two favorite housemates, although Penny needs a bath. P-U!!