Thursday, November 17, 2011

Wheww! all the blocks are done!!




First of all...don't mind Rosie the poodle. She is working her way through college, working as a quilt model...don't hate her 'cause she's beautiful! Actually, she just needs to be in the middle of whatever is going on, and that is just fine with me. OK! Here are all 270 jewel box quilt blocks. I see one that I need to separate, because the same plaids are touching, and a couple blocks are humility blocks...see upper right corner...but all in all, I am going to set this together and call it a day! Except...for the border. It is all cut out and mostly sewn, so you will have to suffer through one more picture of this quilt later. Here is the thing...I feel pressure to make really big, big quilts for the bed, but they make me tired! And anxious...I may have to re-think this. After all, we have plenty of covers to stay warm...so maybe my quilts don't have to all be so huge! Yes, that is the edge of a saddle on the left upper part of the picture...dear husband's saddle.

Here are all the blocks neatly (HA-HA!!) stacked on the piano bench. I love the cacophony of colors, that somehow all go together. Scraps are the best ever! And plaid scraps are heavenly!




*********************WORK at the hospital********************

I thought I would surely die yesterday. I had 17 admits roll through the door...SEVENTEEN new patients! I was in charge, not enough nurses of course, so I ended up taking patients and being in charge....really thought I may not make it. No eating...bathroom break? Forget it!!! But, I can say...everyone lived and that is a good thing!!

************************************************************

I was scared to death today...I was driving to meet my dear husband for lunch, and a motorcycle (crotch-rocket type) jetted past me, in between the lanes of cars...doing at least 100 MPH. I was just terrified for him! I have taken care of a few of these guys, post the inevitable near fatal wreck...one was 23, and had been a quadriplegic for 4 years...totally with it in his mind, but his body unable to move at all. I just gasp then hold my breath when I see these kids doing this! Is it just here, or do these kiddos ride their motorcycles like this where you live??



Everyone, I wish you a wonderful day! I have painted most of the day in the kitchen...arms sore and tired, but wow, it looks so much brighter!!



Julie

47 comments:

Monica said...

I notice this happening in DFW all the time. One time we were in heavy traffic near Mideval Times in Dallas when one of those bikes blew past us. And right on his butt MAYBE three feet behind was a huge SUV following him. Scared me to death!

~Joan said...

That's either a huge quilt or a tiny dog...or perhaps BOTH!! Looks great.

Sharon said...

Love your scrappy quilt. And yes, they ride those crotch rockets like they are invincible. Scares the daylights out of me, especially when there is a young girl on the back.

Angie said...

Julie, Julie, Julie you are one AMAZING woman!!! I adore your Jewel Box plaids (what size blocks did you cut?) and Miss Rosie only adds to its beauty. *sigh* But seriously, girlfriend, you really can make small (or smaller) quilts and we will all love them (and YOU) just as much as the great big ones. :) Cut yourself some slack, girl. About those crotch rockets and kids...I literally hold my breath when I see them --- and the teenage girls behind the wheel of a vehicle, texting, talking on the phone, friends in the car, and putting on makeup---all while driving a vehicle. I try to stay off the roads as much as possible. Hugs, sugar.

berylthepearl said...

That is a beautiful quilt, now I need to put that on my to-do list after I finish Plaid Obsession! Yeah sure do love plaids...

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

Love your quilt! Oh they scare me on their bikes too! We don't have as many anymore as the patrols are on them pretty fast. And they have 'eyes in the sky' and have gone to their houses to arrest them too. Word got around and now there are much fewer risk takers.

Anonymous said...

I see people driving like idiots on bikes too. People don't realize they are mortal beings sometimes.

Love the quilt! You will be so happy when that big beauty is done and on your bed! i also prefer big quilts. It is just the quilting that gets to me!

Terry said...

Your big quilts are amazing! But you should give yourself a break and make some smaller ones. I find they're much more fun and less stressful than the bigger ones! :0)

Kristie said...

Julie, that is just beautiful! I love BIG quilts and I have to have big quilts on my bed because Richard ends up trying to roll up in them during the night. :( I think your quilt is just stunning!

BTW...I have my saddle in my bedroom! LOL! We have 8 saddles in the barn but mine was a little costly (for our standards) and I can stand the thoughts of putting it out in the barn. :)
Kristie

Anonymous said...

Wow! Progress on your beautiful, scrappy quilt...challenging job AND painted the kitchen? You are amazing! Can't wait to see a pic of your finished quilt.

Karen said...

This is a good block to use for the chain of squares look running through the whole quilt. I know you are glad to reach the point that you have on it.

Quilter Kathy said...

Your quilt looks fabulous...and huge!
Re: "donor-cycles"... they ride like that here too, but only in the summer. In the winter they ride the snowmobiles the same way.

Rachel said...

Reading your blog makes me so happy! Your positive spin on the smallest things brightens my day!

And 17 admits... oh my GOODNESS!

Deanna said...

If you have more big quilts than you need for your bed, I know of a cold and lonely bed that would be interested in giving an unneeded quilt a happy home. :)

Janet O. said...

"Scraps are the best ever! And plaid scraps are heavenly!" Couldn't agree more.
And plaid scraps in your hands are a thing of beauty!!

Amy said...

Your quilt is fabulous. That's a whole lot of blocks. My soon to be daughter in law is a nurse and she says the same things about motorcycle drivers.

pcflamingo said...

Wow! I'm with Joan - that's either a very big quilt or a teeny tiny dog! And so, so beautiful!! My sister is an RN and refers to motorcycles as "donor cycles".

AnnieO said...

Good heavens, Speedy, you're matching that young man with your sewing machine whirring! Wow, impressed at how much you have gotten done in so short a time. Obviously between working hard, painting hard, and sewing hard, you are not sleeping much!

Oh, and yes, those future road statistic type crazies scare me too!

Elisabeth said...

Your quilt is so so beautiful !! I just wish it was mine :-) Great work!

Elisabeth

regan said...

Your Jewelbox quilt is gorgeous! I can't wait to start mine! Yay plaids!

Merilyn said...

Oh my goodness Julie!!! What a marathon effort!!!! It looks great I have to say!!!
Yes we have bike hoons here too!! And I've nursed a few (dozen)over the years, their bikes are too powerful and they think they are bullet-proof!!! You can't tell them.......

Helen in the UK said...

Your quilt looks stunning! Rosie - your glamourous model - really gives a great sense of scale to the picture!
Riders (and motorists in general) do the scariest thing ... can't wait just 2 seconds if they think they can get further ahead. So sad when it goes wrong.
Enjoy your quilting :)

Stina Blomgren said...

WOW!!!
Oh how I wish they all were mine..lol.. NICE WORK julie!! :O)

Anita in Florida said...

Julie you really do inspire me with your beautiful plaid quilts...looks like another on my to do list! and all I make are lap quilts...just can't manage larger ones any more. Thanks for the inspiration!

Lorri said...

Julie your quilt is lovely. I am a nurse also and totally understand your admit issue for a day!LOL. Love the quilt and happy I ran across your blog

Debi said...

I absolutely love the quilt, it is so comforting! I know what you mean about the motorcyclists, I almost hit one of them changing lanes on I-30 this morning.

Lori said...

Woo-Hoo!! It looks so wonderful!!

I've had a motorcycle pass me doing a wheely going about 100 on the freeway in Seattle! It was crazy!!

Loris said...

Rosie really knows how to show off those plaids :-) and the quilt is awesome.
Your job challenges are just going off the chart! I can honestly say I know what those days feel like...and it is not particularly good :-( Staying true to your standards and focused somehow gets you to the other end of the day. I'm praying the stressed situation eases up and that God protects you and the patients through it all.
As to suicide rider...can't but wonder if the brain damage occurs even before they get on the bike!

Lois Arnold said...

Absolutely gorgeous! Both the poodle and the quilt! We are on the freeway daily and see the dare devil bikers all the time. Sometimes they are on the pavement with an ambulance and police cruiser blocking lanes of traffic. I don't envy the medical team that has to deal with the injuries. It has to be traumatic for all concerned!

Barb said...

Your quilt looks wonderful. I pray for those motocyclist all the time...

Aliene said...

Love your scrappy quilt. It sure looks big. Very pretty.

Anonymous said...

Your quilt is beautiful.

Janet said...

Wow, what an amazing quilt and a piecing marathon!I know what you mean about the big quilts so every now and again, I make a lap quilt for a quick finish, they get used quite a bit.
I can't think about my step son on his bike, It's scary but they think they're invincible.

liz said...

I have 2 poodles just like Rosie. They are called Coco and Lola. I didn't notice how funny that was until someone pointed out the resemblance to a carbonated black drink!

My husband calls people who drive recklessly "temporary Australians". It scares me too. Love the plaid quilts. The more plaids, the better they play, don't you think?

Stephanie D said...

17 admits? Not enough nurses, but they want to lay some off. Brilliant. I'm getting a callous on my forehead from beating my head against the wall here. Sigh.

Woohooo! All the blocks made! Nice going!

What color will the kitchen be?

I like the term "donor-cycles." I've always called the riders, especially the helmetless ones, PODs: Potential Organ Donors.

Unknown said...

Oh Julie i just adore this plaid jewel box - my absolute favourite pattern and in plaids to add that extra magic - as for the motorcyclist whatever is it that makes these guys think they're invincible??? Mind you I bet there aren't many females in the category - such a waste when things go wrong

Leeanne said...

Once again another stunning plaid beauty!

Nicky said...

This is turning out to be another masterpiece! Love your addiction to plaid scraps!

Loretta said...

Love your Jewel Box quilt! It's on my bucket list...

Jenni said...

I can't believe you set it all out on the floor! I'd have just started sewing it together and dealt with the last lot of match ups when I got to them. It looks amazing Julie.

Jenni said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Quilting Martha said...

I see young guys around here riding their motorcycles like that. It scares me to death too! I live in Massachusetts, so it's only in the summer.

Jan said...

I see the motorcycles doing that all the time on East I-30,--scares me terribly. Love how your plaid quilt has turned out!

Jeanne said...

Love, love, love your quilt! Happy Thanksgiving, Julie!

Binsa said...

Happy Thanksgiving Julie, loved seeing your progress with the quilt....love Miss Rosie...Hugs, O'faigh

Browndirtcottage said...

Oh YES....I.LIKE.

Hanne said...

Lovely quilt you have in the making :-)

Puffins and purples!!

I was tempted by Puffins...a squirrelly breed!!  LOL!  This fabric was shared with me, and I have been loved these bright, candy corn colors...