Spring showers!!

Hello!  It has been raining a lot here, so the grass all looks so green and lovely!!  Thus the title Spring Showers!

Above is a jelly roll quilt start.  We were discussing using precuts, and this one is a fast and fun quilt to make.  The pieces are 2.5 by 3.5 inches, then sewed together in connector corner fashion.  This is FUN!!!

Annie and I are making barn stars!!  The book is very popular right now, and these blocks are huge, and such fun to make.  

 I have been sewing tiny nine patches! These are two inches finished.  Bitty!!

*************************In other news*****************************

My life has been absolutely consumed the past while with work, and the biggest thing:  My husband had a knee replacement.  He was declining so much in his ability to walk and function.  He made the decision to undergo a knee replacement. He is now ten days out, and still in a lot of pain.  I am staying home, and my nursing job now only has one patient 24/7....him!  He is able to walk, uses his walker, and we are taking short walks outside now.  He also is having therapy 3 times per week, plus my therapy too.  He has a private nurse!!

Hope each of you is enjoying your summer/winter time!!

Julie

Progress of the week

Good morning to you!!  It is bright and sunshiny here in Texas.  The redbuds are in full display, and the lawns are greening up, with new leaves on the trees.  Although...cold weather is coming again, per the weather forecaster.

Above is a pineapple blossom quilt, from smaller strips than the pattern.  Using up scraps and loving that!

PineappleBlossom.pdf   The pattern is from Quiltville.

I became enamored with a lady's Dresden plate quilt at the quilt guild.  Here are my first two blocks.  How fun!!

I mastered this clam shell pattern; rather I made my own pattern and went on gut instinct!!  These are fun gifts for the gals at work.

The biggest win of the week was to ALMOST complete all the blocks for the mystery quilt!  Hurrah for concentrated sewing time.  I love these!!

Hope you are doing great!

Julie
 

HI everyone!!

Above are my Johnny Jump-ups, that survived the winter!  Hurrah!!

What a pretty pot of loveliness!

I have a few plants in the little garden, and more seeds are sprouting minute by minute, assisted by a lovely rain last night.

More seeds in a big pot!!  Flowers are coming!

I don't know who this heifer is!!  (me)

I am beginning some Dresden plate blocks.

I made a big tote for the quilt guild.

The amaryllis is huge this year!

Lucky is always the best helper.  Doesn't he have lovely eyes?

I just need a binding on this patient quilt.

I am completely done with this baby quilt, made with cherished fabric from my dear friend Annie.

Just a binding needed for this one!

This patient quilt is all ready to gift.

 And this one too!!

So that is what I have been up to, and of course work at the hospital.  Volunteering some too!!

Julie

Hello to everyone!  Above are my sashing strips for the Quiltville mystery quilt.  I am on the final stretch, to get it all done!  Hurrah!

Quiltville's Quips & Snips!!: Lupine & Laughter Mystery!

This is the link...all the steps are still listed and still free.

This is one of the blocks.  

These are the centers of the alternate block.  Purple and pink!  I used only what I had on hand, so it is pretty scrappy.

I have been working on hand quilting the border on my old-time string baskets quilt.  I love strings!

This quilt is all done and ready for gifting to a patient.

This quilt is also ready to gift!!

February is just around the corner, so it is time to finish this one up out of the old, old UFO pile.  It just lacks binding now.  

 And this is my Sunday applique project for now.  Progress is being made!!

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

I met the most darling man in the hospital.  He came in with cancer, and he is also homeless.  He was the nicest gentleman I have ever met, no kidding.  Yes ma'am, no ma'am, please and thank you.  Just a darling.  With a hemoglobin of 2.7.  Yes, this is a record low patient hemoglobin for me!! (Hemoglobin is the blood component that carries oxygen to the cells).   We transfused him with blood, and right quick, too.  Untreated cancer...poor baby.  He was a slight man, and had just spent the night outside.  It was 28 degrees that night.  His temperature when I received him from ER was 93.3.  All his worldly possessions were in one suitcase, battered and worn.  I aim to fill that suitcase with new clothing, as his is horribly dirty and decrepit.  He said he would love that, so here I go!

That same day, I had an organ donation patient.  He had a brain bleed and was declared brain dead.  I took meticulous care of him, and went with him to the OR, where a liver, two kidneys and lungs were sent winging to patients who desperately needed them to live.   Folks in Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth will now lead semi normal lives due to this man and his sweet family.  I was glad to take care of him, and his family and friends, all gathered around his bed.

Flu A is huge in our hospital.  Lots of sick folks...

Nursing is a big part of who I am, day to day.  Thank you for letting me share a little about what I do in ICU

Progress is ongoing!  The above is a little baby quilt for an Army veteran.  

Before the red borders.

This is ready to quilt!  It is an oldie.  I just love the repro  fabrics from long ago.

 This is step four  in the Quiltville mystery quilt!

I hope you all are having a lovely holiday season!

All things quilting and family!

Hi to everyone!  My Christmas cactus is blooming! Hurrah!!  I tried to get a picture...while the phone was upside down.  I love the color even is the photo quality is not so good.  I bought a thimble sized cactus from Home Depot 2 years ago, and it has grown so large that I have repotted it twice. 

I have been working on hexies in spare moments...waiting in doctor offices, on planes...Here is where I am in this project, using my scraps in hexies.

I am making a t-shirt quilt for a lady I work with.  The father whose shirts these was a diver and owned a dive shop.

Above is an organized jumble...the quiltville mystery quilt!!  I always love sewing this quilt with my great friend Annie.  It is so much fun!

Quiltville's Quips & Snips!!: Lupine & Laughter Mystery!

Above is a pile of quilts for JPS hospital network.  I have been working on finishing these for our guild, for that hospital. Our own hospital does not have a program like this, so I am giving these to our county hospital, JPS.

These nine patches finish at 2 inches, and I am loving making them.  SQUIRREL!  I will make them until I tire of doing so.  This is looking into the bottom of a basket.

I had the privilege of visiting my grand babies, and I am so excited!  Will is studious and fun!

Kitty cat Lucky likes the Christmas tree.

And Becca loved making cookies with me!!!  She had a good time rolling out the cookie dough and cutting out shapes.  

Onward...and I hope each of you has a great day.  Are you ready for Christmas?

Julie
 

Happy Sunday!

I have been thinking about my box of tiny nine patches for a long time.  I at last grabbed them up and started sewing.  Here is where I am with my design.  ON point!!!  Hurrah!

I am hand binding this quilt for my darling DIL Lara for Christmas.  She does not read the blog, so our secret is safe here.  This was quilted by Paula, my quilting partner.  She is retired and has a longarm!

Fall has arrived, with the arrival of tiny fall pumpkins at the grocery store.  I love them!

Some zinnias popped up volunteer, from seeds planted in the spring.  I love their cheerful colors, but the wind was blowing...that is OK.  I can still see and appreciate the colors.

Lookee!!  I do not know what this is...a plant from Home depot, on sale.  It is blooming!!!

Julie