Thursday, February 5, 2015

UFO bustin' here...and Binding Blitz winner...and the prize for this month!

 I started these blocks last year, attempting to use up every little bit of my 2.5 inch strips and squares drawer.  This quilt was inspired by Bonnie Hunter's split nine patch blocks.  I thought the square in the middle of the block was interesting, so I added that.  It is all sewn together above!  Can you see my little bobble in the bottom left; the orange piece turned wrong?  A piecing problem!  May have to fix that...or not!
 Another view, awaiting borders here.
 The middle, before the blocks were sew together.
 Anther setting option I played with.
 And another setting option!  These are fun and versatile blocks...thank you, Bonnie Hunter for the inspiration!  I will be pondering the border issue now...
 Threads, anyone?  I made this block with Lisa Bongean, her quilt along for last summer.  The original little quilt has lots and lots of borders.  I brought the block out so I can think about it and decide how to finish it all up.
 One of the Woolen Willow design blocks, all appliqued down.  It is wonky!  And I truly love it.
 This bird is blind!!  I always like birds better when they have their eyes!
Binding Blitz winner!!!  I took a picture of the computer screen for the random number...and it was 13, as you see.  That happens to be Kathy, of Kathy quilts.  Kathy, I will be sending out your prize, the quilt kit, today!!



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


The gentleman came into the hospital, absolutely unable to breath.  Bi pap, lasix, and medications helped him tremendously.  He was unkempt, long hair and beard, long jagged broken finger nails and toe nails, and kinda stinky, frankly.  That is the impression a person got...until you spent a little time with him!!

I noticed on rounds all this about him, and we gave him a really good bed bath and shampoo.  I found out that he used to be an executive engineer long ago, but had a terrible stroke which left him completely paralyzed on one side.  Kinda hard to trim your nails when you can't move your hands!   He lived alone, having no family, desperately wanting to maintain his independence, but struggling to care for himself.  He thanked us quietly, and asked maybe if we could trim his beard.  YEP!!  we sure did, and his hair too.  I snuck in and gave him a mani/pedi too.  IN his quiet way, he told me that he was so embarrassed about coming in looking so bad, and also told me that when he was well, he was the most immaculately groomed man anywhere.   And I bet that was right!

I thought to myself how much better he must feel now!!  And thought on first impressions, what people must have thought, just on first impression.  And how much better it was to dig a little deeper, and find out what a kind and sweet soul he really was.

So lesson of the day for me...maybe that person we glance at and dismiss has a little more to them than meets the eye!!  I was blessed to get to meet and care for this very nice man!


Just for the HIPPA people...no names are mentioned, and no time frame is given.  Just a compilation of thoughts and musings
here about caring for people at my work.

Hey, the picture that snuck in right here?  It is the prize for the February Binding blitz!!  A gradation of reds and pinks for Valentines day, or any day, for that matter!!  15 fat eighths.  So get binding and I will too!



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Have a great day, all!!

Julie





26 comments:

Elaine Adair said...

Another beauty. The little bobble? Leave it in. That way the user will be able to put the quilt in it's "right" place after making up the bed. we LOVE those little bobbles!

Nancy said...

I agree with Elaine, leave the bobble. The setting you selected would have been mine, too - very nice.

Judging people without getting to know them is so easy, and something I am ashamed to say that I do. I need to work on that. Bless you and your staff for helping the gentleman regain his dignity. I hope that he has resources now to help with his daily care.

Terry said...

I love your quilt top! That may be my next scrappy project! And thanks for sharing about the gentleman patient. I think we're all too quick to judge unfortunately.

Anonymous said...

I love reading your Nurse's Notes. Brings me back down and reminds me how blessed I am and thankful for people like you who go the extra mile.
On the quilting side, your quilts are beautiful. I have never seen one I did not like.

Sherrill said...

That's one thing I ask for in my prayers every day is help to not be judgemental. I have a problem with glancing at someone and immediately making a judgement about them and I know I should not do that. So why do I? We probably all need to take a little more time and get to know people & I'm sure our first impressions can often be way off. I really like you, Julie, and bet you would be on a lot of folks list for 'Nurse of the Year'!!!

Debi said...

Beautiful quilt and blocks Julie. How wonderful of you for making that lonely man feel love and respected. So far this month, I have bound 3 quilts! Now to get quilting on a few more!

Kyle said...

A sweet story with a good lesson. I had looked previously for your bobble. It probably would be easy to fix, but only if it was going to drive you crazy.

Kath said...

hello Julie, I just arrived while blog hopping. I enjoyed seeing your quilts and I agree, leave the bobble, your quilt is absolutely unique and beautiful.
'm just going to enjoy a look at your older posts now. best wishes Kath in England

Norma said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
julieQ said...

Norma my heart is with you!!!! Thank you for sharing!!!

Chantal said...

Wow! Love that quilt! I want one too. Good luck with the borders of the darling little applique.
The Feb giveaway is soooo wonderful with some double pinks in there. Have to participate this month. SOOOO many things this month, among other things, a new job in coming Monday! Yikes!
Anyway, go Rebel heart! and sneak in to give mani/pedi to the lost soul! ♥ it. You are soooo endearing.

Janet O. said...

I just wanted to cry as I read your Nurse's Notes. What a tender example of not judging others.
Great quilt--bobble and all!
I did most of the Primitive Gatherings SAL, but have decided to leave off the last 2-4 borders (haven't decided yet) so that it will fit in the available space.
Even what you have done makes a sweet little decorative piece.

Quilter Kathy said...

Oh my gosh I am so excited to be the blitz winner!
Thanks so much Julie :)
A heartwarming story of the gentleman that needed some care and love.

KaHolly said...

Julie, my dad's in a Ft. W hospital right now, and I just hope he has a nurse half as sweet as you!

Michelle said...

Oh my gosh...the story of your patient brought tears to my eyes. What a sweet story. Love your split nine patch...your quilts are always so bright and fun! I have the wool quilt along going too...I think I have three of the borders and I'm going to stop there. I love it just the way it is now...so that's how it's staying!

Leeanne said...

Love the quilt, so many setting ideas to play with. Both appliques are cute. Love the story of the man, we are all guilty from time to time of putting people in 'boxes'......to judge, glad you were there for him.

audrey said...

Some very fun projects. I always love to see your scrappy fun.:)

Mary Jo said...

Love reading your Nurse's Notes. It is because of nurses like you that some people get to experience love that they might not otherwise get! I love the quilt too...great way to use up scraps. I might just have to make one myself!

Helen in the UK said...

Great scrappy! I liked the offset barn raising too :)

Patty H. said...

Love that quilt! and yes, I'd leave that Orange Rebel in there.

That is a great story-that gentleman. We never know a person real story do we? And yet we are so quick to judge. THank you for taking care of that man. I know that you will be greatly rewarded for it.

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

What a sweet story ... you're right, there's often more to the story than our eyes can see.

I wonder, if I give up sleeping, will I finish my grandson's quilt in time to have a chance to win that fabulous fabric? ;-)

Loris said...

There's always so much good stuff to read and see here! I am inspired by your Bonnie quilt...need to get a leader/ender project set up again...I'm busy sewing blocks and wasting an opportunity!
congrats to Kathy :-) we are a fine group of binders!
Moving story of your patient. I hope he was blessed by the love you and your co-workers.

Unknown said...

So lovely to hear about your patient and how you saw through the initial impressions - a little time and the willingness to care reaps so much for both the carer and the patient

Me and My Stitches said...

Great split 9 patch, and that bobble is not noticeable at all.

Love your nurses notes (as always). People always need to remember not to judge - we never know what might be going on in the lives of others. What is it that Robin Roberts says...Everybody's got something...

Lori said...

The old saying, YOu can't judge a book by its cover is so true!"
XOXO
Any chance he can get some at home help?

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

I hope that the gentleman will be able to find someone who will help him with the grooming that he can no longer do himself. How difficult it must be to go from very well groomed, to, can't do it myself anymore.

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...