I am still shuffling my animals here and there trying to find them cool places they'll tolerate. This seems so funny to me because I gravitate to the coolness and stay there for the rest of the day!
My hip continues to give me problems and as sitting is the most comfortable postition, I sit and applique. Less than six months ago I was religiously walking 10000 steps a day but that is a thing of the past, partly because of the heat and partly because of the sore hip. The orthopedist didn't do much, the acupuncturist didn't do much and I'm wondering when I will give in and start to use a cane... My husband tells me I'm finally coming to the reality of getting old. Grrr... So, now the floor is not getting washed, the trips up and down the stairs to put away things have lessened and I am rather angry at myself for not being spry and agile (though I'm not sure I was ever spry and agile.)
But the sitting around has done wonders for my applique and I have finished the top for the Labyrinth quilt that I started making.
This project has been in my head for over a year after I learned about prayer labyrinths and meditation of centering on God. I took a diagram of the Chartres Labyrinth and spent many hours mapping out a plan on a large piece of paper and then I rigged up a string and pencil compass of sorts to make my lines. I was getting confused with so many lines so I followed them up with pathwalking lines (in black) and cutting lines (in red) before transferring the pattern for reverse applique.
Since then, stitching, stitching, stitching. This will probably be stitch-in-the-ditch quilting as soon as I can get it sandwiched.
I visited with my friend Mrs. N for the first time in three years, and we even made a trip to the fabric store together!!! Mrs. N is finishing her mammoth quilt for her grandson (three years in the making) and she is putting on binding this week and raring to get started on something new! I need some of her motivation and enthusiasm! I told her that I was starting a "new" applique quilt and that was why I was going to the fabric store and she said, "I want to make that too!!" So off we went.
The "new" applique is probably going to be for Leiya... Last month I posted the picture of the finished Songbird's Garden quilt that Leiya had asked me to make for her... I'd bought the quilt kit and finished it up and she and I were both surprised at how big it was!
"I didn' think it was going to be that big. Where am I going to put it?"
I realized that maybe she'd seen a picture of the only the center medallion of the quilt whereas I had bought the full quilt. Hmmm... She had been hoping for a smaller wall quilt. I was pleased to find that there was so much leftover fabric from the kit though and with the purchase of some white fabric (and maybe some light blue) I could pretty much make the center part of the quilt again... And if Mrs. N wants to do applique too, well, I could even get a third block ready for her from the leftover fabric!
Mrs. N is gung-ho about applique but not so thrilled with preparing the pieces so I've done that work for her along with my own... That's why you're seeing double! (The centers of the flowers will be added later). Mrs. N will stop when she likes as the block grows... I may let this get a bit bigger with the added applique borders... So in this heat I've been standing over the ironing board preparing applique pieces!!! (I like to suffer.)
From tomorrow the Obon holiday, returning of ancestoral spirits, starts in Japan and every morning at the cemetery there are a few families scrubbing their family graves and arranging flowers. The gardeners have been working hard to shape the bushes and cut the grass and take away any dead flower bouquets. We regularly talk with an older couple of gardeners there over twenty years. They are in their late 70's and have their own farm but they spend a few hours each week tidying up the grounds... I snapped a photo of the wife washing out buckets and emptying trash...
And I came home to paint this in colored pencils and watercolor.
The weather seems to be super hot all over! It's hard to leave the coolness of the AC to go outside. I, too, am having issues with my hip which isn't helping. I want to be active but then I am in pain.
ReplyDeleteI really like the center medallion idea for the smaller quilt.
Nice drawing/watercolor of the gardener!
I also suffered with a sore hip. Not sure, but if you can do physical therapy in Japan, but it made a big difference for my hip. I have bursitis in my right hip. Also look up hip exercises on YouTube, those were also very helpful. Don’t get the cane just yet. Love the blog, too!
ReplyDeleteI like the labyrinth quilt - I've gotten to walk a portable (canvas) one once, and thought about either one in my yard or a finger board one, just haven't ever gotten to one of those...
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you have Physical Therapy providers available? My DH has knee issues, and found that physical therapy makes a big difference if he keeps up with the exercises at home. His PT lady always says 'no pain' - meaning that the exercises she gives him shouldn't cause pain (if one does, she changes it or finds a different one).
He still sees her - although now it's to help with his right shoulder (injured in a car accident in January). He went to PT for the shoulder in February, and while it got better still wasn't right - she referred him to a sports-med doc, who found a severely torn rotator cuff. He had surgery for that in June, and is well along in recovery with 3-times-a-week PT sessions (same lady, same 'no pain' mantra. From observing his sessions after the surgery, body position makes a huge difference - being out of position can cause pain). He also had to ice the shoulder (ice pack - using a special pad and 'ice-bucket' with a pump) 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off after the surgery (now it's to 'ice' for 30 minutes after PT and PT 'homework', or any time the shoulder is achy)
Another thought is to look up Katy Bowman, who studies body mechanics/alignment and how to move. She has several books available, and I think also has videos available online (for a fee).
(I'm not a medical professional - just noting from DH's PT sessions after surgery - it was outpatient but was a major surgery and really had him 'out of it' for several weeks, so I go with him to write, and to help keep track of what and how to do the PT 'homework'...)
--Jean Marie
PS - love the finished applique quilt!
Your Labyrinth applique is lovely as is your plan to to make a smaller applique for Leiya. Your generosity extends to preparing Mrs. N's applique pieces!
ReplyDeleteLove our watercolor, too. You're one talented lady!!
Sorry for the tupos, I cannot see what I'm tying as it's white text on a white backgound due to my old computer.
Hugs!
I used the same labyrinth idea as you did, but in a 12X12 format. I was careful cutting and was able to make two mini-quilts: one positive version and one negative. I really like the batik flower you used in the center. I feel your pain as far as heat is concerned: we have had almost 50 days of above 100 degre heat where I live and hardly a drop of rain (only enough to wash the car windshield!!!)
ReplyDeleteOh Tanya, I understand your feelings of pain and the emotional difficulty that pain and it’s effects do. I am scheduled for knee replacement surgery in October as I have been diagnosed with severe arthritis and both knees are bone-on-bone. The pain has impacted my life and my ability to enjoy things a great deal.
ReplyDeleteHot and humid weather zaps our enjoyment, doesn’t it!?
Your appliqué is gorgeous.
I will tuck you into my nightly prayers.
Sincerely, Helen from Kent, Ohio
Oh dear Tanya, look after yourself, autumn is not far away and hopefully the weather starts to cool. I had an aching hip which resulted finally to having a hip replacement, best thing I ever did. Your labyrinth is beautiful as is your sketching.
ReplyDeleteIt is very hard to not be quite as one was, especially when the weather is so hot!
ReplyDeleteYour labyrinth is lovely. I have another one on my to-do list for my daughter's friend, but reverse applique is a lot harder than my embroidery style. The heat is bad but the humidity is hardest to take. Hip pain along with back pain is not easy to deal with. Please take care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteWell, I have no great solutions for your ("our", apparently, reading your Comments) hip pain. I too, have experienced hip pain in the last four months. I do know that it is from sitting around during the Pandemic and not walking, running, cycling, and swimming like I used to, two years ago.
ReplyDeleteI have gone online and Googled hip bursitis exercises. (Mine is not bone-on-bone, just a niggling pain that travels as it sees fit. Ha.) I have to say, as much as I disliked the exercises at the start, I do see a great improvement in my standing, walking, and even running, pain-free. Not every day, but most days.
Hey, you all, Google and try it. Try it (them) for four weeks and see if there is a
difference made.
Postscript: I think my hip pain/bursitis is a result of sitting in a really soft easy chair, too many hours/day. I blame Covid.
Here’s a suggestion to try for your sore hip, see Liebscher & Bracht on YouTube, he has wonderful exercises for all your aches and pains.
ReplyDelete