Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Well...now what?

 HI Y'all!  I worked my lots of days in a row at the hospital, and at last have a little time to play with this quilt top.  It is a very pretty thing in person...somehow the black make all the string colors pop! 
And here is the whole thing!  My questions for you...I know you experts out there know!!  Is...how do I border this?  and how wide should the border be?  And should I put a little something in the black cornerstone blocks?  I learn so much from you all, so thank you for your opinion!!


***********************Nurse's notes*********************

I actually "hit the wall" yesterday at work.  For the first time ever, I just had to sit down and take a minute.  I worked for 8 hours at a dead run, non stop.  High stress, patients coming from everywhere, titrating drips, epi, levo, insulin, diprivan, all of it.  Vent patients, demanding patients, truly needy patients, then a fresh one from the EP lab with 7 sheaths that needed to be pulled...and he was on blood thinners (coumadin).  About 6:00 pm, I had about 3 hours of work that needed to be done by 7:00 pm, but I just could not go any more.  I developed a truly sudden, splitting headache on the right side back of my head...thought I was stroking for sure.  I sat down with my head down and just rested...and then could go on.  Now this has never happened to me..I kind of scoff at those nurses that whine all the time...I thought I was tough enough for anything.  Weird...and it was gone after I got home and rested a bit...SO!  I guess I am not invincible!!!

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


Thanks for listening friendlies!!!

Have a great day,

Julie

39 comments:

Mary said...

Oh Beautiful quilt!!! Thou art a thing of beauty!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! You have certainly outdone yourself on this one!

Take care of you, you are precious to me!!! Sorry you had the day from hell.

Hey girlfriend! Found me a featherweight!!! I pick it up on Friday!!! I'm so excited! Finally! I've been wanting one forever!!!

Finished peicing my twister Christmas Tree quilt. I'm machine quilting it now. I'm getting better at machine quilting. It's coming along. Can't wait to show you!

Nancy said...

Hmmm, I don't know about a border for your quilt. I love it just like it is. If anything, possibly a thin black border and then a wider piano key border with black corner stones.

I'm glad that rest helped you bounce back yesterday. Just like when those oxygen masks fall on the plane, if you don't put yours on, you aren't able to help others around you. Take care of YOU.

Cyndi loves to stitch said...

IT is Beautiful!!!! Nancy beat me to it that was what I was going to say. Skinny black strip or Skinny black strip and then more strings if you have them sewn on like piano keys.
I love the 3-d sashing and cornerstones you did.........perfect!!!

Grit said...

This quilt is so beautiful.
Liebe Grüße Grit

Kim said...

Well I think I would add a wide border with a meandering vine and more applique. Yes I would do something to break up the heavy black bits.
I love this quilt.....you've done an outstanding job.

Thank goodness you were there for those patients I sure know I can not do it any more. It is more mentally draining for me than physically.
I sure hope when I need a nurse a good one will be there for me that really cares like you do.

Angie said...

Julie, this quilt is absolutely gorgeous!!! I wouldn't add a border---I think it is perfect just the way it is. Love the black with the strings and applique---a really beautiful quilt, girl!

~Joan said...

I am not a huge button fan, but a bright button sewn to the center of those black squares might be cute. I like the thin black inner border with wider string outer border idea. Not a fan of applique (like to look, just not do!).

Unknown said...

This top is absolutely STUNNING Julie - if it were me I would now put a thin black border round say 0.75ins maximum and then a white border with applique to match or compliment the sashings (you could do two rows of is side by side going around the outside of the quilt) in approximately the same width of background as the string blocks no narrower and then bind in the black again - such a gorgeous gorgeous design - a real treat to share with you

Monica said...

Cute quilt top! I don't think a border is necessary. I think it would take away from the quilt to be honest.

Mad about Craft said...

Sometimes we have to look after ourselves so we can continue to look after our patients.

luv2quilt2 said...

As hard as your day was, I am so gladf there are such dedicated nurses who are willing to give so much for their patients. Bless you!

Joyce said...

Hi Julie. I just love this quilt. I totally agree with Kim and Nancy. A thin inner black border with a wide white border (maybe 2x the size of the sashing) with the vine and buds on it. I would also add something to "soften" the black corner stones. Then maybe do a scrappy binding. What ever you decide to do I know it will be spectacular!!
Take care or yourself and don't let work get to you!!
HUGS, Joyce at patches4me@aol.com

Joyce said...

Hi Julie! I love this quilt. I think I would add a thin inner black border. Then a wider (maybe 1.5x the size of the sashing with the vine and buds on it. I agree that softening the black cornerstones is a good idea. I can see a scrappy binding on this one. What ever you decide to do I know it will be spectacular, all of your quilts are!!
Take care of yourself and don't let work get you down. We all love you!!
Joyce at patches4me@aol.com

Rosa said...

This quilt is fabulous.Love it without border but what ever you decide will be fantastic!!

Frog Quilter said...

No border, black binding. SOOOOOOoooooo pretty.....Ooooooohhhhhhhhhhh

Janet O. said...

I vote black binding--no border. I don't applique, so I can't believe I am suggesting this, but maybe an open flower appliqued in the center of the black cornerstones--possibly with a leaf coming from behind, would blend them in more, but still give them the eye-popping effect.

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

I love the idea of black binding with no border but, if it were mine:

I would border it with a thinner black inner border then a wider outer border of piano keys from your bright strips and then black binding. I would confine the applique to the central portion.

It is truly spectacular!

Hope you're feeling better today.

Cheryl said...

Your quilt is truly lovely!! I would leave the corner posts plain. Does it really need a border?

Ali Honey said...

A wee warning perhaps. Take care ( like Nancy said! ) Hugs .

Lori said...

What about a black binding which would sort of be a border. You always "do" out of this world borders, so I imagine this is not an option:)
Did you crash because of no sugar? Yikes! The day caught up with you.

Terry said...

It's beautiful just the way it is! I say leave the cornerstones plain and don't worry about a border. It doesn't need it! :0)

Sewing Sue said...

I think it's beautiful but it does seem to want some kind of binding. Maybe a calming strip of one of the small prints in the strips with a black binding? If I were doing it I would want something that didn't detract from your lovely sashing and didn't compete with the strings.

Take care of yourself! Can't take care of others if you don't... nurses are my heros.

Quilter Kathy said...

Nope...not invincible! Sure wish we were though!
Good to listen to your body when it tells you to sit down and rest! Take good care of yourself!
I think your quilt is perfect and just needs either a scrappy binding or a black one!

regan said...

I'm loving your quilt so much! That sashing is gorgeous! And I am agreeing with those that said the thin black border with a mixed piano key outer border. And bind in scrappy. Have you auditioned a 3 or 4 petaled flower in the cornerstones. I think that would be so darned sweet! Just using the same little leafy shapes you used on the vines. Just a thought!

And I'm so glad you took that rest when your body was screaming at you to do so! Sometimes we forget to listen to what we need! Especially when we're helping everyone else! Take care of yourself. We need you!

Ellen in Oregon said...

Your quilt is great and you don't need an experts advise on how to finish it - just let yourself get some recovery time from work and once rested you will see just what to do. I have been one of those demanding & needy patients most of my life, not always, but often enough. I am always grateful to the nurses long before the doctors. You do the real work that allows the patients to heal and go home or die with dignity. I remember years ago when hospital nurses had time to give patients a back rub each evening, now you only have time to run medications, shut the alarm off an IV and do your chart notes at the end of your shift. It is sad that nurses are so overburdened with responsibilities that they have little time for the art of nursing. Despite all the time demands you still manage to convey how much you care to your patients. Please take care of your health & needs because you can't help others if you don't take care of yourself. You are much appreciated.

Leeanne said...

Me like the black binding idea.

Unknown said...

I'm impressed that even with your hectic schedule you'd still able to make a quilt that beautiful. i can relate with you cause I'malsoa nurse. It isn't an easy job. your always on your feet and on ready when emergencies strikes.
personal trainer marketing

Helen in the UK said...

I'm glad to hear you recovered from your nightmare busy shift. Maybe your body was just telling you that you NEEDED those few minutes to gather yourself.
The quilt is STUNNING. I wouldn't do anything to the cornerstones and would be tempted to just bind in black. If you want/need to add a border, how about strings allround? Whatever you decide it will continue to be a stunner :)

LesQuilts said...

Hi!
I agree, the quilt is beautful! Doesn't need anything else, I suggest a multicolour binding, then the wear and tear won't show.
As for work, I had a terrible day too! I had 20 mins for lunch at 1:45 pm. Ok, girl! You know all about prevention. That is why you are paid to take those coffee breaks and entitled to a lunch break! Headache = hypoglyceia! Please look after yourself 1st, before you look after us, otherwise, you won't be there when we need you!
Take care, Leslie

Julie Kaye from KS said...

Your string quilt is beautiful. I'm not much of a border person so I can't help you there.

The Calico Cat said...

I'd love to see something appliqued over the block corner stones. Maybe scrappy bulls-eyes - aka circle over circle like the target logo or a dart board

Lois Arnold said...

Hi Julie, You have several suggestions to choose from, but it seems like the majority like the idea of the narrow black border first. I like that too, then whether you do a larger repeat of the sashing or a piano key border would be up to you. I think either would be spectacular!

I also agree that you need to listen to your body and stop when it says, "enough!" Take care of your self as well as you patients. I still say if I ever get sick I want a nurse just like you!

Linda O said...

Your quilt is spectacular!! Like others have said, I think it would look great with a narrow black followed by string piano keys. You always do such wonderful borders..can't wait to see what you do. Sorry about your rough work day. You are such a blessing to your patients! Be sure to take care of yourself, just as you take care of them.

Anonymous said...

Love your quilt, I along with so many of your other friends wouldn't put a border on it. I think it's lovely.

Can feel for you (after reading your nursing notes)I work of a group home of medically fragile kids and it's exhausting to me emotionally. Some times you have to come apart so you don't come apart. Take care,
Joann in Annapolis

Shelia said...

Julie,
The quilt is beautiful. I too think a thin black ending border or even just black binding would finish it off.
I totally understand the crazy day at work. I too remember the ICU crazy days and now the days from H**ll in the Emergency Room. somedays you think it will never end and when it does you don't think you even have energy enough left to walk to your car, much less drive home.
You are wonderful at what you do and your patients are blessed by your loving caring hand. That is what I tell myself and how I can get through the day......along with a little chocolate here and there.
Happy Quilting!

Karen said...

The quilt is gorgeous. I'm not sure I'd put a border. Maybe a black/greyish nondescript fabric. Something that won't take away from what's going on. It's wonderful.

Jan said...

Please take care of yourself--we need you! Your quilt is lovely. I would bind in black with no border---it is perfect the way it is---nothing in black corners-the eyes need a place to rest.

Jan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nicky said...

No border, dark pink binding and a quilted flower design in the black cornerstones!

Or something else you prefer...!

I just like to throw something else into the mix!

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...