Baby Jackets and Hospitals

Grandma has hit a rough patch health-wise, and had to go to the hospital on Friday.  They packed her hand-work (but no clothing) so I was able to finish her latest baby jacket for her while we visited her there.  Isn't it cute?  This one is already spoken for.  We have not done a white one in awhile. 

Grandma is doing pretty well (really exceptionally well for 103) and should get to go home on Monday.  She had a nasty infection, but the IV antibiotics seem to have gotten it under control pretty quickly.  She was much happier after her doctor allowed her to remove the (really tight) compression stocking from her sore ankle. 

I told the nurse that Grandma learned how to crochet in 1916 when her family was quarantined when her father had smallpox.  She could not believe it.  How many people alive have actually seen smallpox?  It was eradicated in the US in 1949.  One hundred three is really old.  Remember baby Sybil on Downton Abbey?  Grandma would have been old enough to babysit her!

Must crochet faster!

Grandma finished a second baby jacket and I hadn't even finished the first one yet.  I finally got the lavender jacket edged Saturday night while visiting with Grandma.  Her ribbon supply was getting low after making so many jackets, so Larry and I hit Hobby Lobby on our way to Shreveport and picked up a selection of pastels. 

There is always lots of yarn left (from two skeins) after making this pattern.  At my suggestion, Grandma combined the pink and variegated yarns to make this darling little jacket.  I edged all around the top, arms and front with the variegated yarn, which was then almost completely used up.  I edged the bottom in the pink.  

I really like how mixing up the edgings unifies the design.  I had just enough yarn leftover to make a little variegated rosette to pull it all together.  I think this pink jacket might be my favorite one yet.  It was certainly the most fun to work on, and it definitely doesn't look like it was made to use up leftovers.

Larry and I are just a couple of enablers.  We made another trip to Hobby Lobby after we got home to buy more variegated yarn for Grandma.  Now she can use up more partial skeins.  I think there is more crocheting in my future - at least I have gotten much faster! 

Nearly Wordless Wednesday - Crochet

It's official.  I can't keep up with a 103-year-old woman.

Confetti Baby Jacket

Grandma has been keeping me busy with her baby jackets.  Isn't this confetti one adorable?  I still have to finish off the armhole edges and weave in the ends, then it is off to Grandma's house to select a ribbon.

Thank God it's Friday!

Happy quilting,
Susan in Texas

Gifts from Silverton

Larry got back from seeing his Dad and his sister's family yesterday.  He took the shuttle and the train, and I picked him up at the station in downtown Fort Worth.  Much better than driving out to the airport during rush hour.  And he brought me presents:  three darling cards, with actual knitting and a real nine-patch block on them!

I teased him about finding a fabric store, and he teased me right back by finding one.  It is apparently call the Hi-School Pharmacy and is an amalgamation of a drugstore, craft store and a hardware store... which had fabric too.  

Larry went straight for the batiks (I think I will keep him.)  I am thrilled with his selection, and also with the fact that he asked the locals where he could purchase fabric, then walked there.  It is very good to have him home; he is the sprinkles on my cupcake!

Happy quilting,
Susan in Texas

Wordy Wednesday - Baby Jacket Presentation

Grandma had some pink ribbon, so we were able to quickly finish the pink baby jacket on Sunday.  Grandma was very pleased with the new cap sleeve version, which was good because I forgot to add any extra rows to the sleeves!

Her friend, Janice, has a brand new granddaughter, and was even more pleased than Grandma with the jacket.  Janice is the administrator at Grandma's assisted living facility in Shreveport. Grandma is by far the oldest resident there at 103, and they spoil her so much!  It is nice to be able to return the favor for a change.

Of course, Grandma already had another baby jacket ready for me to edge, but that's a post for another day.    

Six on Sunday - Week 3

Tomorrow is our 30th anniversary.  Thirty years!  Hard to believe it has been that long.  My Mom and sister sent us these beautiful flowers yesterday.  Aren't they gorgeous?  And today is Cindi's birthday too.  Happy Birthday, Cindi, you are now three years older than me instead of only two.  I always like that.  :)

We are still harvesting our Six on Sunday selections from the master closets, though I think Larry has let go of all the clothes he plans to donate for the time being.  I still have lots more clothing to cull through.  For sure none of these pieces sparked any joy.

5 sweaters, 1 pair sweatpants: 5 lbs

The Neat scanner is leftover from when our home was burglarized two years ago.  Everything we had scanned was in one of the stolen laptops.  That is when we decided scanning was definitely not for us.  Talk about not sparking joy; quite the contrary, that dang thing brings up nothing but bad memories.

2 pair shorts, 2 polo shirts, travel iron, Neat scanner: 10.5 lbs

I hope everyone is having a terrific Memorial Day weekend.  Larry and I are really enjoying just hanging out here at home.

Take care,

Susan in Texas

Grandma likes her new Chair

We visited Grandma in Shreveport again this weekend so I did not get too much done on Harlequin-Johnny.  When we peeked into her room, we found Grandma snoozing (very soundly) in her new chair.  Do not let the sleeping frowny face fool you, she actually likes her new chair just fine.

They replaced Grandma's bed with a hospital bed a while ago and put her bed in storage.  Recently they told us we had to get it out of there, so we rented a Home Depot truck and moved it to the old house right before the rains started.  Perfect timing. 

Grandma said she wanted her old chair removed too, but we convinced her that she needs to keep it around to have a spare lift chair available in case one breaks again.  I promised her I would work my redecorating magic to make the chair fit in her bedroom after it is repaired.  What she does not know, is I am planning to have all her dolls sit on it.  She loves her dolls, and they are currently all on a corner table; this will be much better.  All in all, it will be the perfect end to chair-pocalypse.

Harlequin Progress and a Funny Video

I am making slow, but steady, progress on the 100 Harlequin corner "ears".  I sewed twenty-four together, for a total of twenty-eight corners completed.

I pinned another nine corners together while watching Flip or Flop on TV.  I love that show!  Even when they have disasters, they make remodeling look SO easy.  Christine on the show makes design choices seem so simple.  Whenever I go shopping for tile or flooring, I am always completely overwhelmed by the choices. 

You always hear me talking about my family in Green Bay, right?  My sister, Cindi, called me last night.  Her grand-niece was the little girl who wrote into Jimmy Fallon this week from Green Bay.   This video of Jimmy reading Phoebe's letter is hilarious!   (She was right about her baby brother too.  lol)

Grand Illusion - Clue 4 Complete and the Great Chairpocalypse

Finally done.  Larry helped me tremendously doing all the pressing. He says he likes to iron.  (I warned him how picky I am, but he was very brave.) 

 

We had a massive crisis in Shreveport today.  Grandma's lift chair, which she lives and sleeps in, broke.  They had to pull the plug to get her out of it.  We ordered a new chair, since she cannot be without one for more than a few hours.  Her wonderful friends, Edie and Tom, picked up and delivered the chair.  All is good, right?  Wrong. Larry called Grandma, she hates the chair. Apparently it operates too fast for her.    

To make matters much worse, ten minutes after Larry got off the phone with Grandma, I get a call from the nurse.  The new chair broke.  Just kill me now.  Grandma is fine, she just slid out of it unhurt.  La-z-boy in Shreveport agreed to send someone out right away, (thank you Jesus).  Robert, the repairman, was able to fix it, (thank you again, Jesus).  Apparently something just has to be pushed back into place.  I made sure Robert trained the nurse and Grandma on how to make this fix before he left.  God willing, chairpocalypse is over.

So much for the quiet weekend at home in Fort Worth.  I feel like a limp noodle and it is not even Saturday. 

Grand Illusion Clue 4 - Progress

I worked on clue four of Grand Illusion this weekend while we were in Shreveport visiting Grandma.  So far, three fourths of the half sections are done.  I just have to assemble the yellow-turquoise-white sections, then, of course, I have to fit the halves together into broken dish units.

Assembling Units

None of the half square triangles were the correct size, so I did lots of sliver trimming.  These colors certainly makes a pretty pile of trimmings.

Slivers Trimmed

While we were in Shreveport, Grandma was interviewed by the Shreveport-Bossier magazine.  People are fascinated by folks her age (103).  Grandma was cute and funny as always, though we had to keep reminding them to TALK LOUDER, because she is profoundly deaf.  I look forward to reading the article, but it will not be published until next month.

It was too bright for Grandma outside, so she borrowed Larry's hat. Time to get out of the sun!

Weekend with Grandma in Blooming Shreveport

I did not get much quilting done over the weekend, we visited with Grandma in Shreveport instead.  She was a little gloomy when we arrived.  They had put up a construction wall that covered up the windows she loved near the dining room in her assisted living facility.  Bless her heart, she thought it was going to be permanent. We got the full story and set her straight.  It is just a two month project to enlarge the activity room.  Oh happy day!  lol

To make up for the ugly construction wall, we showed Grandma pictures of the azaleas blooming at the old house.

We managed to visit while they are near their peak, and they are pretty spectacular.

It was such a mild day that we took Grandma for a short spin outside, and sat for a spell in the gazebo.  She lives in a lovely, park-like setting, with manicured gardens and a beautiful small lake, but Grandma rarely wants to go outside.  She is more of an indoor girl.

What a kidder.  Doesn't she look terrific for 103?  We should all be so fortunate.

We had a very nice visit!

Happy quilting!

Spring is blooming at the Botanic Gardens and a Start on Dear Jane C2 - Streak of Lightning

We had fun on Easter at the Fort Worth Botanical Garden, even though the rain threatened us the entire time we were there.  Here is my dear husband, Larry, tatter extraordinaire, and resurrecter of Singers, peeking through a beautiful blossoming cherry.  We are so lucky to have such a wonderful (and free!) place to enjoy nature right in the heart of Fort Worth.

I got started on my Dear Jane block, C2-Streak of Lightning, though only the center section is completed.  Instead of having four inset seams, I think I will just applique the center to a single piece of muslin, then applique the purple diamonds to the muslin.  Easy peasy, and more handwork to take along on vacation.

It still has the papers on, so it will barely stick to my design wall, and every edge insists on curling, but this part of the block actually turned out really well.  I had to fussy cut the purple like mad to eliminate the crazy wild pink in this batik.  You can see a hint of the pink in the lower diamond.  You just never really know how a lively batik like this will make up in a block.

Nearly Wordless Wednesday - Vintage Handkerchiefs

We found many treasures while cleaning out my father-in-law's house, including these two lovely handkerchiefs.
  

lawn handkerchief

It is likely that my late mother-in-law crocheted the edges of both handkerchiefs; she was very gifted and craftsy. The square one above is made of a very fine lawn, and has an interesting, asymmetric embroidery motif.  The one below is of patterned, tone on tone silk. 

silk handkerchief

I have never seen silk with such a subtle pattern before.

pattern in silk

Both handkerchiefs are in really excellent condition; I am very fortunate to have them in my collection.

Vintage Sunbonnet Sue Blocks

I inherited sixteen vintage Sunbonnet Sue blocks that were made by Myrtle Hattie Guier McDaniel, who was Larry's Grandma Vivian's mother-in-law.  Myrtle died at 80 in 1963, so I am guessing these blocks were made in the 1940s or 50s.  There are an even number of left and right facings "Sues", all with their hats embroidered.  Each block is completely unique.

I just love them, especially this pretty yellow girl.  The backgrounds are yellowed with age, though not stained.  Another chance for Retro-Clean to work its magic?  The blocks seem very strong yet, so I think they would hold up to being made into a quilt or wall hanging.

I am not sure what the protocol is for blocks of this vintage.  They are not terribly old.  I know it is recommended that antique blocks be preserved as is, but I cannot help thinking that Great Grandma Myrtle would have loved to see the blocks actually made into a quilt.  I love the little pink doggies in this dress.

The blocks are each 8.75" x 11", so sixteen of them with sashing and a border would make a nice child sized quilt or, more likely, a wall hanging.  I noticed each block of muslin has a line of holes from machine stitching all the way around the border, which I have learned is needed to prove they started out their lives as feedsacks.

I'll have to study the backs a little more closely because it looks as if the applique was embroidered down all the way along the edge with a visible outline around each appliqued piece.  I have never seen Sunbonnet Sues constructed in this fashion before.  

In addition to the sixteen completed blocks, there are sixteen sets of Sunbonnet Sue pieces all cut out and sewn together neatly in order.  Grandma Myrtle was a tidy worker.  I wonder how long they have been basted together like that!?

How fun would it be to put these together in their own quilt someday?

I finally finished Clue 3 of Grand Illusion last night.  My next task is doing the second paper-piecing section on Harlequin Johnnie.  After working on all those Clue 3 units, it will be nice to do some simple paper-piecing for a change.

Marcella - My very first Treadle

Look what followed me home from Green Bay at Christmas!  It is my very first treadle - a Singer model 66 from 1905 in its original case.  It was well cared during its 110 years, and works just fine now that Larry has replaced the belt.  All I had to do was dust it and clean out the drawers.

This wonderful gift is from my sister's mother-in-law, Ida Mae, and is named after Ida Mae's mother, Marcella.  You may remember Marcella, she is the great grandmother holding my niece in the picture for which Larry tatted a new frame.  Larry's first tatted commission made a terrific thank you gift for Ida Mae.

Isn't the face plate a beauty?  The motif matches the decals.  Ida lives next door to my sister, Cindi, and her husband, Dave, so we always visit with her whenever we are in town.  I have known Ida Mae for nearly forty years - Dave used to bike over to our house.  Cindi and Dave moved into his grandmother's house a few years ago and this came with the property.

Now Cindi is about as likely to ever treadle as she is to go scuba-diving under ice, so it was really just taking up space.  We dug it out of their closet last fall when we flew up for a family reunion.  They offered it to us (with Ida's permission) and Larry and Dave took it completely apart at Christmas, then we drove it back to Texas.

The decals on the machine are in great shape but the bed shows lots of wear, so I can assume Marcella was a keen seamstress in her day.  I do not know for certain, but I do not believe she was a quilter.  I will have to ask Ida. We have no plans to refinish the head; it is in too good of shape and holds too many memories.  The quartersawn oak veneer is another story; it has a few issues.  Someday I hope to strip it and bring it back to its former glory.

It is really precious to me.  I have fond memories of Dave's Grandma Marcella from the very early 80s, and Ida Mae is a very special lady.  I am so glad we get to welcome Marcella the treadle into our home.

Wheelchair Bag for Grandma Vivian

Grandma Vivian just loves her new wheelchair bag.  

She made the needlework squares in plastic canvas a long time ago.

All 24 of them!

The back and front are identical, as are the sides.

I found the squares last fall when I organized her craft stuff.

I showed Larry how to sew them together,

then I whipped the top edge, and put in the lining.

Larry sewed on the handles,

which we put on the ends instead of at the middle.

The bag works really well on the wheelchair.

It even accordions at the seams when the chair is transported.

Grandma was VERY pleased.

Grandma was honored at her church on Sunday for being the oldest Mother present.

At age 101 she had them all beat by a mile. 

They presented the altar flowers to her as a gift.

It was a beautiful bouquet, almost 3 feet across.

It poked me in the arm as we shared the backseat of the car.

lol

Grandma said she had a really wonderful Mother's Day.

And I hope you all did too!

OCD, Using One's Powers for Good

We were talking about stash-tracking over on Stitchin Fingers.  Now, I know a little something about this subject, having spent about two months this fall organizing Larry's Grandma's stash.  She's 101 now, and has the stash to prove it.  Grandma moved into assisted living and I promised to organize all her craft stuff as a housewarming gift.

I had no idea how much craft stuff she had.

For heaven's sake, she had been living in a one bedroom efficiency apartment!

She had six dressers and only two drawers had clothes in them.

And project boxes.  OMG the project boxes.  Nothing sorted or put away, she had duplicates, triplicates, even octuplicates of so many things.

There was a sorting frenzy that went on for weeks. 

But it's all much better now.

I borrowed a label maker from Liz, my "work niece", bought the extra-large tape for it, then labeled everything in nice big block letters.  (You get the discount if you buy clear shoeboxes by the case from the Container Store - ask me how I know!  lol)  I put her beads & yarn below where she can get at it, and tucked the less likely stuff up high.

"That Susan, she sure knows how to get things organized."

"Yup."

"I bet you didn't know I had that much stuff!"

"Nope."

It makes finding things a snap, and best of all, she loves it!

I made a sweet little old lady very happy. 

(If you look closely, you can see I even labeled the phone for her; she likes that too.)

Always use your powers for good.

Valentine Bears

Larry and I decorated a small tree for Grandma Vivian with all the Christmas decorations she had made over the years.  I put her favorite dolly underneath the tree, and it looked so adorable that she wanted to keep it up all year.  I convinced her that the CNAs would think we pretty lazy if we let that happen, so I promised her a seasonal tree (because, you know, I really just don't have enough to do. lol)

We were cleaning out more of Grandma's stuff at Dad's house when I came across a whole box of these tiny little bears.  I took them home, stabilized some red velvet with tear-away, then figured out how to do a "combi" stitch on my new Bernina.  Fortunately that turned out to be very easy. 

I drew the hearts right on the stabilizer and cut them out, then I hot-glued some red floss to each heart and tied them onto the bears.  Now I have a whole army of adorable little Valentine bears to put on her tree, with a few left over for a matching wreath.

Too bad the Bernina doesn't have a shamrock embroidery option.  I'm not above flogging a good idea to death; I even have bears left over.  I wonder what the original plan was for all those bears?