Fall Projects

While visiting one of our local quilt shops awhile ago, I saw this adorable fall panel and knowing I would never take the time to piece/applique something similar, I purchased it and hand-quilted around each motif. 

   

Pulling from my fall stash of fabrics, I pieced this fall pumpkin.  Although they will only be up until just after Thanksgiving, I am enjoying seeing them hanging in my home.

New Adventure

Day 1:  New Adventure

While visiting with my daughter the other day, I expressed to her some feelings I had been harboring and the frustration I was feeling at not being able to find “joy” in some of the things that normally brought me happiness.  I felt like I needed something “new” in my life to bring back that spark!  So being the wise woman she is, she began suggesting things I might want to do that I had not done for a while but adding a new twist or challenge.

Thus the idea of writing and posting on my blog was discussed as well as starting an Instagram Account and posting there.  As we talked about this, I began to feel some excitement.  So, to make a long story short, I took a little time to think about it and with her help, I’m off to a new adventure.  A new name was needed for the Instagram account and after a little searching the title “Life_Sew_Joyful” came to be.  My reasons for this being:

“Life” is precious to me even though it has not always been easy and many times more challenging that I would have liked.  Thought it would be a great board for sharing thoughts and feelings about what is going on in my life and perhaps getting feedback from others who might read or see the post as to what they are facing and doing.  Life is short and we need to treasure every day.

“Sew”.  I love crafting and sewing; especially quilting and embroidery and have missed being able to get downstairs to my sewing room.  Reading and stitching were lifesavers while I was recovering from a broken this spring.  I’m hoping that as I move forward, I can share some projects that I’m working on and see what others are crafting and creating. 

“Joyful”.  A few years ago, I chose “joy” for my word of the year because I wanted to find “joy” in my everyday life.  To help me keep my focus I stitched and framed “choose joy”.  It sits where I can see it daily and continues to remind me that I have a choice and can choose joy.

I'm looking forward to writing and sharing once again.

Happy Monday Morning!

As I sit here looking out my window enjoying my blossoming spring plants I am grateful to my daughter and her family for taking such good care of my yard.
Although I am now walking, with the aid of a walker, I am not able to get out in my yard and garden.  Have really missed being outside but know that this year I will not be able to do a lot.  However, that doesn't mean I can't enjoy the beauty I
see out my window.  Love observing the little robins as they visit searching for yummy bugs.  Their morning chorus is a delight to wake up to as they serenade me from the tree outside my bedroom window.

Finished another of my "Flowers Around" baskets.  Now have done one of each design and have four left to do.  Perhaps by the time I finish my outpatient physical therapy (which begins tomorrow) I will have them stitched and can get to my sewing room to find fabric in my stash to complete the table topper.

Quick and Easy

My daughter was able to bring some of my "stitching" fabric and light box up from my sewing room so that I could work on some projects.

I have been wanting to get to Gail Pan's "Flowers Around" tabletopper.

It is six embroidered baskets with flowers.  These will be appliqued to hexagons and then assembled.  Thought it would make a fun summer topper for my kitchen table.  Don't know if it will get done until I can get to my sewing room and dig through my stash for the fabric., but I can get the embroidery done.

Was able to trace off one of the baskets and stitch it.  Very quick and easy!

Hopefully, today I can trace another one.  It was so fun to do, but I must
remind myself to take "stitching" breaks and exercise my arm as it is not good to sit for long periods of time holding the hoop.

Life-Saver

Although I have not been able to get to my sewing room for the past few months, I have been able to do some stitching thanks to a dear friend who traced some patterns off for me and a couple of projects I already had in the works.  They have been life-savers in helping pass the time.  One can only read and watch so much TV especially when you aren't a big TV person. 

A couple of stitcheries are not completed and none are pressed as I can't get to my iron. 

So very grateful for handwork to help pass the time and make me feel like I am accomplishing something.  

Guess Who's Outside!

How awesome to be able to go outside after being housebound for so many weeks.  Today my Physical Therapist worked with me on getting safely out the front door and down the steps to my driveway.  We walked to the mailbox and then to my neighbor's house.  How wonderful to be outside!  Freedom to be out and about!

Of course, I have to remember not to go too far, because I have to return and it is a little more challenging because there is a slight incline.  But, now I won't have to rely on the neighbor boys to get my mail unless it is raining or I'm too tired!
I will try to take another short walk by myself this afternoon.

Each day brings a little more progress and independence.  I think back to when I first had my accident and how far I have come and am so grateful for the blessing of healing and knowing that I can get through hard times.

It's Been Awhile...to say the least!

It's been over a year since I last posted.  I kind of fell off the bandwagon and decided to take a break.
Seemed like many of the bloggers I followed were no longer blogging and it didn't seem like I had much to share.

My life took a turn with the passing of my husband in the fall of 2017.  While hiking the end of July, he took a fall and ended up with a traumatic brain injury.  He spent the next three months in a rehab
center and then in a memory care center.  Mentally and physically, he never really improved.  So, in many ways, it was a blessing that he passed.  He would not have been happy living as he was.  But, we know he is in a better place now.

In 2018, I decided it was time to do some updating in my home.  So for four months, things were pretty much torn up.  I redid the master bedroom, living room and another bedroom which I turned into a office.  Replaced hall and office carpet with wood floors.  Added bookcases to the sides of the fireplace in the living room and painted the brick fireplace.  What a difference it made and how I LOVE all I did.  Had hoped to do one more bedroom this year and start on the kitchen, but all of
that came to a halt in March.

I broke my ankle, tibia and fibula, and spent three weeks in a rehab center after surgery and a short stay in the hospital.  I have been on a non-weight bearing status for 9 weeks.  Thank heavens for wheel chairs.  This past Thursday I was able to start walking with a walker and oh, the freedom!
I will do this for a couple of more weeks and then meet with the surgeon and see what the next steps will be.  I have had a boot for a couple of weeks now.  Nice to get rid of the cast.   With all of this and the workout at the rehab center, I recently had a flareup of my arm and now have a occupational therapist coming to work on the lymphedema.  Am really looking forward to getting back to "normal".  Whatever that is.

But, through all this I truly feel blessed to have had amazing doctors, therapists, neighbors and friends.  My family has taken on so much and been there every step of the way.  I am so grateful for their sacrifices and time to help me through this challenge.

I'm looking forward to getting back to projects that have been put on hold and getting outside once again.