September

It's been awhile. I have been recuperating from knee surgery. Four weeks now and PT (physical therapy is going well. Right now I'm about 75% functional. My PT therapist says I'm doing better than most who have had my procedure. Of course, I'm not a patient person and I'm working on not being hard on myself for not being further along. But I can walk without shooting pain and my flexibility is improving everyday. I even got more types of exercises to do. I'm planning on another tow weeks to see how things go and then I'll be ready to look for a new job. I don't know if I want to be on my feet all the time at the old job or deal with people this holiday season.

It's been rough trying to get creative again. Lots of starts and stops. Lots of tears. Lots of being mad at myself. I tell myself, one-day-at-a-time. Do a few things and rest. Think of all the cool and wonderful things I've done and celebrate. Put fear in the backseat and keep moving. It's hard. After being in constant pain for so many months, having the surgery, and not working, it is very hard. My self esteem is in the toilet and I just have little faith in creating right now. Once again I have missed out on several creative opportunities.

It's my favorite time of year and I'm working on enjoying it. The leaves are starting to change colors. I love that. The temps were cooler but we seem to be getting a late summer right now. All the fall and Halloween decorations are out in full force. I have to just look. Look at how people decorate their homes, both inside and out. I keep telling myself that one day, one day I will have my own home to decorate. Right now, that's kind of hard to hold on to.

I tell myself that each day is a new day. I've been trying to just get back to creating something. After surgery, all I could do was knit. So I made dish cloths.

I finally got a front page done for my Bullet Journal.

I started drawing mushrooms for a project I've been wanting to work on for over a year.

And I finally got back to my EPP (English Paper Piecing) using hexies. The mini ones below in the first pic will turn into something. I can see what I want in my mind but I don't know if it will happen.

The larger hexies have backings and will be appliqued down and eventually turned into pincushions. One can never have enough pincushions. Plus I'm trying to use up some of the fabric and other materials I have.

It's a start. I now have to finish them. Another big problem. Finishing things.

One Day At A Time. After all, I'm still healing. And I need to cut myself some slack.

And She's Off and Running

I'm not even going to apologize for being late.  It is what it is.  I'm here now and healthy.  So let's get it on!  Day one of the new month, I went to my painting session and did two small paintings and was invited to a BBQ evening dinner.  Saturday I helped friends with their BBQ business at the Persimmon Festival.  Sunday, I had the second sewing session with a young lady.  I'm teaching her how to sew.  She was so excited afterwards that she started making doll clothes with scraps I had left for her.  I believe we have a new sewer in the house.

First cut.

Second cut.
We had to go to the fabric store because mom forgot to get a pattern.  No biggie, we all went and I showed them both how to go through the pattern books, find a pattern in the drawers, and the basic fabric layout of the store.  We got back and I showed her again, where to find measurements for her size and which size to cut out.  We went over the info on the pattern instructions and read them.  I showed her how to lay out pattern pieces and she pinned.  We talked about straight of grain and bias.  We did the first step to making the pajama bottoms and then I cut out a square for her to make her very first pincushion. You can never have enough.  She sewed that and turned it right side out.  She was so tickled that she had made something. That was what I wanted to see.  A smile of satisfaction and joy.  I really do think she's hooked.

Here's how crazy I am.  I booked another craft fair at the end of the month.  So along with NANO, I will be making lots of Halloween holiday things, painting, and who knows what else.  I guess you'll have to keep checking in to see what antics I get myself into.

Cheers!

Projects

Here's my latest pincushion from my applique class. I may give it to the mom unit for her birthday or Christmas. You just can't have enough pincushions. She'll love it. I'm still working on my Hop To It blocks. I don't have many more to go and the class will be starting a new design this month. Yikes!

This piece is going onto a wall hanging. I made the wall hanging years ago and the owner wanted parts of it changed. The home for it is a cabin so I drew a bear, fir tree, and moose and appliqued them onto the red fabric. The piece will be stitched onto the proper spot on the wall hanging. I'll take a pic of that when it's done, which should be today. Stay tuned.

Tin Pincushion

Had my applique workshop for the month and again, had a blast. We had a small project to work on and we made this tin pincushion. My teacher found the petit four tins on Ebay, the white part and flowers are out of wool and there are pearl cotton French knots in the center. I love make it and take it projects because some of my other work can take awhile to finish.

I think I'll use this one for my applique needles. I love pincushions. I'd also like to welcome Golden Eagle to the party. You can find her at www.thegoldeneaglesblog.blogspot.com