The disappearing 9-patch

I’ve been watching Kathryn Chambers or k3n clothtales on U-tube since January.  I haven’t been able to complete many of her projects this year but I have done a few.  This is my most recent!   Now, there are many ways I could have reassembled my quarter squares.  I liked this one the best because I’m not making a quilt, just one quilt block.  What a concept, the disappearing 9-patch!! 

Wood worm

I am using paint from this escargot dish that I bought at a thrift store many moons ago. Many of you know that quality watercolours last a v-e-r-y long time. The Cotman #1 brush is the smallest that I have. Amy called her pattern tunnel; my inspiration is from the backside of a piece of bark. I’m calling it wormwood. My fave is the E-shape path the worm left. Okay, so I just looked it up and these tunnels are actually made by beetles or weevils. 

Mindful Art Challenge

Here is my entry for the Mindful Art pattern challenge from yesterday-overlapping.  I’m just using leftover paint.  I painted over two blue lodges on my piece of paper using my new triangle brush.  The “vessel” is left over from cutting out the roundish and egg shapes.  I used cheap 90 lb watercolour paper. 

Another milestone achieved

Another MILESTONE achieved!  I’ve made friends with Bertha again this week.  I have to admit though that I don’t wear the seatbelt assembly properly.  I just fling the cross body strap behind my arm.  I can’t stand anything touching my chest.  It’s “good enough” for me, I need my freedom! I drew this on Monday just before we drove to the small city to the north of us. It isn’t a grand depiction but it’s “good enough”!! The yellowish green in the windshield represents the cedar trees that I park in front of and the yellow in the rear view mirror is the trees and bushes at the back.   I didn’t want to make them too dark as in real life because I wanted to write in that space.  I guess I could darken the rear view mirror reflection but I’ve turned the page already. 

A friend of mine gave me that lei that I have draped on my rear view mirror.  Now that so many people have black cars, it makes Bertha look prettier and easily recognizable! I’m not the only one who owns a black Toyota! 

I’m stitching again

Last week we were in the big city visiting the family.  My husband finally bought himself a new MacBook Air and our son-in-law found a new home for his old horrid PC. 

I finally found that I wanted to stitch.  I was hoping to do more on this portion of the 9 patch vintage quilt but at least I did something.  This particular quilt block didn’t require work as the fabric was in good shape so I just stitched it.  Stitching will keep its strength intact.  I didn’t have a plan other than I started with the circle, then started adding lines.  Next time I’m there, I should be able to finish the block and move on to the next one.  I haven’t counted the number of blocks but the quilt is sized for a double bed. 

On the health front:  I asked my husband how long it took him to have his chest feel normal after his double bypass;  he told me a year. E-gads!! My chest feels like I still have a ghost impression of the weight around my heart and on the right where the lobe of my lung was.  Bottom line: I still can’t sleep on my side (either one) so sleep can be slow to happen.  Last night was one of them.  I hate night time.

My first Coptic bound sketchbook

I DID IT!  I made my first Coptic bound sketchbook.  I watched a tutorial by Lindsay, The Frugal Crafter on U-Tube.  This actually took me several days as I had to do a work around because I don’t have the exact products she used.  I don’t have mat board so I used an unwanted book that was “close” to the size of my paper.  I don’t have the fancy crocodile gizmo she had to make holes in the book board so I used my Japanese screw punch, I couldn’t find my bookbinding thread so I used crochet cotton and waxed it myself (of course, I found it afterwards).  I used the mixed media paper from this book that I cannibalised awhile back.  It’s a bit “Lucy goosey” but it does lay flat.  I know I will make more and I’ll improve my skill.  I invite you to check out this tutorial if you have been wanting to give this a go. 

Health Update:  I’m still not sleeping through the night but I’m able to get back to sleep.  The weight on my chest is much reduced and it’s mostly just feels weird.  I can feel where the weight was, it’s like it has been imprinted into my flesh.  It sometimes causes enough discomfort that I still take a Tylenol at night time.  When I touch my chest with my palm it feels weird too; sensitive in places and numb in others. When we were away I had to get my husband to drive me to a store to pick up a sports bra to capture “the girls”.   Apparently they don’t like to be jiggled.  When dudes have by-pass surgery they don’t usually have to think about that so I didn’t get the heads up from my hubby.  I still get the odd jolting pain so I’m not driving yet.  I’m not napping during the day anymore but I do rest when I feel the need.  And of course, some days are better than others but it’s mostly “pretty good, not bad, I can’t complain”! (I think that’s from a John Prine song).