Taking Another Stab At It
I seem to have real issues being committed to this blog. The thing is, I want to be committed. I want a great blog. I want to be connected to all of my great blog friends. So, what’s the problem? Maybe it’s because I haven’t felt like I had a lot of crafty stuff to share, or maybe I’m just lazy. Whatever the reasons (or excuses), I’m going to try again to be dedicated to this blog and to all of you.
Despite the layoff this summer, I am employed again at the university - in a slightly different role, but still fundraising. I have a new office and new co-workers, but all in all, things are good. It’s been a few months and I’m starting to settle in and get my feet back under me. About two weeks after I started my new job, I found out I had kidney stones … in both kidneys. I had to have two surgeries - they were both outpatient (they blasted the little suckers with shock waves), but it still required two bouts of general anesthesia. Not fun. It took me quite awhile to feel “normal,” but I think I’m there. I have to change my diet a bit - avoid those foods that are high in oxalates (or at least consume them in moderation) and much to my dismay, black tea is one of the things I’ve chosen to eliminate. I’m trying to find some herbal teas that I like and I’ve been drinking a little bit of coffee (disguised in a lot of milk and sugar). Does anyone else think it’s strange that coffee is ok and tea isn’t? I’m also trying to drink the recommended 12 glasses of water a day. Do you have any idea how hard it is to drink that much water? It’s a major commitment - I promise you that.
I managed to do a lot of crafting this summer - mostly quilting. I made a queen size quilt for my guest room and gained a lot of confidence through the process. I painted the guest room a dark slate blue and the bedding I had just didn’t work. I’d had that particular bedding since college, and quite frankly it was time for a change anyway. The pattern I chose was the Mixtape Quilt by Elizabeth Hartman. It’s a great pattern, but the fabric requirement and the cutting directions for the sashing fabric for the queen size were incorrect. It didn’t turn out to be a big deal, but I just had to seam the pieces to make it work. Now that it’s quilted though, you really can’t tell.
I used a lot of asian-inspired fabrics which make the finished product kind of modern, but I think the white sashing makes it just traditional enough to fit into my house, plus it really helps brighten up the room. I chose a greenish-yellow floral backing fabric and I picked it mostly because it’s some of that extra-wide backing fabric, so I didn’t have to seam it. I’m lazy, but I think it works with the green colors in the blocks.
Now I need to get some nice sheets, a white bedskirt (finding a 21″ drop is a huge pain - any suggestions you have would really be appreciated), and some pillow shams. I think I’ll use some of the scraps I have left over to make a couple of accent pillows to try to tie things together. Re-decorating a room sure is expensive!
In the quilting arena, I’ve also made a cute lap quilt using some really funky Christmas prints - it’s at the quilter’s right now, but more on that to come. I’m signed up for a paper piecing class this weekend - I’m going to learn how to paper piece and get a great Christmas tree skirt out of the deal (well, if all goes well it will be great, although it could just as easily be a bloody disaster). I’ll let you know how it goes and since I’m trying to get back into this blogging business, I’ll take my camera and try to get some in-progress shots.
I’ve been teaching a few knitting classes (socks and hats mostly) and have a great sock in progress.
That reminds me, I’m not going to have enough yarn and I need to see if kpixie has any left (or even something close). I e-mailed kpixie to see if might on the off chance have a single skein hanging out in their inventory, but I doubt I could be that lucky. It seems like this always happens to me when I have the perfect yarn and a great pattern.
Ah well, if worse comes to worse the toes will be something wild and crazy. It won’t be the end of the world. If I have to go with a different color, what color do you think I should use for the toes?
Category: Quilting, Socks | Tags: mixtape quilt, tree sock
October 16th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Oh, hooray, you’re BACK! I was just gettin’ ready to holler at you!
Quilt is GORGEOUS! Don’t tell me you did the quilting. I’ll shoot myself, I swear. I’ve been doing a bit, myself, and am in the process of piecing the top for a quilt I started for my DIL and son about five-six years ago. Yeah. Speedy Gonzales here. Bed skirt: try Country Curtains or Plow and Hearth.
Glad to hear you’re working again…still baking?
I’ve got a new hobby, but I’ll save that for an email
October 16th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Forgot…sorry about the kidney stones and new diet. Can you drink green tea? That’s about all I drink these days and even have Terry drinking it. I can suggest a few if green is okay. As for herbals, try a bunch and see if anything floats your boat. I’m fond of mint at the moment, or cranberry apple.
October 16th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Lovely quilt! I’m glad to find your blog again. I used to read (and lurk. . .) years ago. I always like to hear what’s up in Laramie! I’m a UW alum; I grew up (at least part of the time) in Cheyenne. . . so it’s nice to hear a Wyoming voice now and then.
October 16th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
yay! you’re back! again! i LOVE the quilt- perfect mix of modern and traditional- looks like something that would be in an anthropologie catalog! try just carrying a big 1 liter bottle of water and sipping at it all day! it works for me!
October 17th, 2009 at 3:35 am
Wonderful to see you back! That quilt is really lovely - did you do the quilting too?
October 17th, 2009 at 3:56 am
Welcome back! The quilt is gorgeous. I hate paper piecing, though. Maybe you’ll enjoy it but I tell you, it sucks. So do kidney stones - sorry ’bout that. Oh, and try Garnet Hill for the bed skirt. Or maybe Country Curtains.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:59 am
The quilt for your guest room is beautiful, and I’m happy to hear that the kidney stone surgery went well. I hope you are feeling well!
October 18th, 2009 at 6:23 am
Welcome back! It is good to hear from you again.
October 18th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I like the sock, but I’m in love with that quilt. It’s just perfect- color, fabric, design- I love it all.
October 18th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
I’m glad you feel better now. Huh - it is really strange that coffee is OK but not tea - what is it about tea, I wonder?!
Love the quilt and sock!
October 19th, 2009 at 10:47 am
I am so happy to see you back and posting. That quilt is lovely, the modern colors and shapes are perfect. I can see how it would work in a room with darker walls. and the quilting is quite amazing!
October 20th, 2009 at 7:30 am
So glad to see that you are back. I click your link everyday so imagine my delight to find new posts. Sorry to hear about the kidney stones hope you find something that you like to drink. Love the quilt, love the socks, nice to see you posting again
October 20th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Great to see you back, Steph! Glad that you recovered from the kidney stones.
The quilt is gorgeous! You did a fantastic job on it. I thought about buying that pattern a couple of months ago, but who am I kidding? I’m not a quilter.