Sunday, May 30, 2021

Sewing Reports Week 22

It's been awhile. I've all but quit sewing; it's my eyes but not what you probably think. My eyes aren't focusing as well in the last couple of months and my sweet spot of vision has gone from 10-12 inches down to 4-6 inches. Getting that close to the sewing machine needle has been really hard on my back and I am only able to sit at the machine for a few minutes before it starts hurting. I was hoping to get my quilted tops completely finished before my next eye surgery, but I don't think that is going to happen. I can still read, and have been spending more time reading lately to take my mind off my decreasing vision.

While I should be working on UFO quilts, I decided to go off target and make something else instead.  What stitching I have been doing in the last month has been on a little project that I can work on for a few minutes at a time until my back needs a rest. They are pen holders for journals or reading books. I thought of the idea last month when I finally reached my limit with the inconvenience of hooking my pen into the spiral binding of my book journal and then either losing it or not being able to open the journal without removing it, and then I lay it down and leave it somewhere. I googled and sure enough, it was not a unique idea, but none of the ones I found were quite what I had in mind, so I designed my own. Cheap, easy to make, and no velcro or buckles that add bulk, plus it fits onto any size reading book from little paperbacks to large hardbacks. I'm making these for members of my book club so I have plenty of time to finish them before December even working at snail speed.



Because of my very slow pace and frequent breaks, my sewing reports are not impressive. But that's just what it is right now. I also had to buy some fat quarters this week in bright colors to go with the bright bands. Those only came in five colors and they are not my usual choice of colors so I had very little to choose from. I also had to buy some fusible interfacing. That purchase didn't help my stash report, but happily I've already made a dent in it. For the most part, I was able to use scraps from my stash.

I'm joining the usual Sunday groups here. It will be fun to see what everyone else has been doing while I've been lazy the past few weeks.


Sunday, May 9, 2021

May One Monthly Goal

Word to the wise: Don't make any plans for the first month after your spouse retires.

Hopefully, Hubby's enthusiasm for getting things done around the house has waned and I can have my own To Do list for May. I will admit though, it is nice to be able to put the car in the garage and to have an organized desk again. All of the raised beds have been moved and partially filled with new garden soil, and two beds are planted. The stock tank water garden has been moved, repaired, and filled again. The old stock tank has also been moved to the far side of the barn.

You might remember that we spent the first week of April with my mother and now I am planning her 90th birthday party. We are having a family only birthday at her house followed by drive by birthday greetings. If anyone has done a drive by birthday party, tell me what worked and what didn't.

Since I didn't accomplish anything sewing related in April, I am repeating it as my May goal even though I've missed the linkup deadline. I should shelve it since it is not on my PhD list, and I am running out of time before my next eye surgery, but I'm afraid if I don't continue, it will be harder to get back to it. So for May, I want to get all the blocks made for Glory Be! That's the blocks, the whole blocks, and nothing but the blocks!