Childs Quilt-Extraordinary Colors

I just finished quilting this top I pieced while at quilt retreat.  It's a kit "Extraordinary Colors" from Hancocks of Paducah.  It's a fun kit that comes with an adorable book about mixing colors that I plan to include with the quilt. "Hadley Hippo paints her toes a mix of orange and red. Together these make the color Vermilion.  Hadley thinks it's one in a zillion!" 

I have a special child I plan to gift this too----

I had plenty of fabric in the kit (In the Beginning Fabrics). The designer is Jennifer Heynen. The kit is still available. 

I quilted it with the Circle Lord "Square Dance" template board. One of my favorite designs. 

Extraordinary Colors

I picked a cozy flannel backing.

Cut out square motifs and add triangles and borders to create the quilt top.

Close up of wide border print, and quilting.

Seeing Double

My eyes are improving slowly. Day 10.   Yes, I count the days as I feel so restricted and can't wait until the post-op appointment at the end of the month.  My restrictions are primarily nothing strenuous, not bending over or lifting. I guess we don't realize how much of these are part of our daily activity.

I decided I could do some machine embroidery, that wouldn't be too strenuous. Except for dropping scissors and bobbin several times, (no bending over to pick them up)--- it's gone well.

 I swear I didn't even think about the name of this Anita Good Design reversible project until I had cut all the fabrics and picked out the threads.  "Seeing Double" seems so appropriate as I have experienced some out of focus moments lately! LOL!

"Seeng Double" took about 2 days to complete, and unexpectedly used a lot of thread! Bunches!  I loaded a new Hemmingworth mini cone of Olive Green, and still ran out and had to switch to a cone of Isacord in a close green color to complete the middle section. All of the table topper is done "in the hoop" except for the satin stitch around the middle design section.  That was stitched on the sewing machine.   In the hoop projects still awe and amaze me! I can't even imagine conceiving the concept, let alone digitizing and executing such complex designs. These are some very-very talented machine embroidery Artist. Thank you PJ!

(just a bit of clean up needed to remove stabilizer and loose threads)

Eye Surgery-Missing in Action

I had eye surgery on Wednesday for "drooping eyelids" which I have endured for the past year.  It has been affecting my vision for sewing and reading and when push came to shove, I opted to have Interior Ptosis surgery on both eyes this past Wednesday.  The healing process is long, but has not been painful. It's keeping your head upright, and not bending over that is the difficult part. Oh, the cold ice compresses every hour or so do make my eyes feel better too.

Today I can see pretty well, (through a blur)--- so I'm writing to let you all know why I'm missing in action. Literally---there is nothing going on in the sewing room, in the garden, in the kitchen or at the long arm. I did load my Sansa Fuze with audio books, and it's been a great deterrent to the sheer boredom of not being able to read or do much of anything.

More later---Happy Mother's Day!

British Sewing Show

I don't know how I've missed hearing or seeing this series of sewing programs, "The Great British Sewing Bee" but I found out about it just a few days ago and I've been glued to my iPad watching the series on You Tube. (The BBC channel player is not working)

The show is wonderful!!!

It's sort of a the english version of "project runway",  only much-much more interesting and entertaining!  

Here are the links to the four shows of the 1st series on You Tube videos.

#1:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8te1WAO20I

#2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5trYhyBMuI 

#3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8MRlT9mAuE

#4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5KcpvBLELo

Enjoy!