Warning: This is a LONG post…after three months of absence.
On July 6th we welcomed a brand new baby granddaughter, Maya, into our family. She is precious. Of course that meant “another” trip to Colorado to see our new little bundle of joy. Her parents are thrilled to say the least. It is SO hard to be so far away from them.
In May and June I caught the quilt bug! All I have been doing is working on quilts. First I would spend some therapeutic and meditative time in my garden weeding, then would have my shower and get to it! Last post I showed you the first two blocks of an applique quilt I am working on. Here are photos of the next six making a total of eight completed. Number nine is in process. (There are 16 total, so only halfway there.) It’s an easy applique pattern from Edyta Sytar called Sweet Sixteen.
I am committed to finishing projects this year. So here is a photo of a pinwheel quilt in process. Have the bug to use up old fabrics using half square triangles….hence the pinwheels.
Next I have a photo of my Japanese bento box that is still being hand-quilted by yours truly. I have only about a third of the sashing to quilt….but it seems to take forever. And when one has a million hand projects to work on….which one does one choose? (I even have one of those felt Christmas stockings I am putting together at the request of my DD.)
And last but not least I have made another 25 baby blankets with matching teddy bears. These are for my large quilt group Holiday Boutique which happens every year in November.
So between my garden, three active quilts in process, a Christmas stocking, 25 baby blankets and teddy bears, and a stabbing effort to get the laundry, cooking, and cleaning done….well…it’s a crazy fun world for sure. I did do a tiny bit of cross-stitch and taught my granddaughter, Sophia (age 9), to quilt (she made a small quilt for Maya); she learned to cross stitch; and learned to embroider (made two pillows).
And in the midst of all of this I was ill for five months…..April, May, June, July and August. In April I thought I got food poisoning. Not so. The painful attacks after eating, hanging over the commode, would last for four hours at least three or four times per week. After lots of doctoring, lots of tests, and my own experiments trying to be “fat free”, “lactose free”, “gluten free” nothing worked. Even the specialists at our wonderful Northwestern Hospital in downtown Chicago are mystified. However, I did learn after charting my food for weeks, that I simply cannot tolerate any kind of complex carbohydrates…no rice, no pasta, no breads of any kind, no crackers, no carrots or beets, anything with high carbohydrate content. There seems to be no name for my condition and no cure….but now I finally have no more illness so long as I don’t eat those things. I did lose a LOT of weight during this time (not such a bad thing…a bonus for me). Guess I just have to live and eat differently now. Golly I miss my junk food!!!!
For now it’s good to jot out a fresh blog post. I have silently lurked amongst all of your blogs in the past three months and they are wonderful. Thanks for visiting. Amities, Averyclaire
Averyclaire 
Jane
Aug 27, 2011 @ 13:00:35
So glad to hear you are on the mend again. Congratulations on the arrival of your new grandaughter, definitely the highlight of the summer. Enjoyed seeing all the projects you’ve been working on too
Margaret
Aug 27, 2011 @ 15:49:18
Wow, that’s so scary about your illness! And so weird that they couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Hope you’re on the mend for good now. Congratulations on the new granddaughter — she is so adorable! Love all the quilting going on too. Beautiful! I bet your other granddaughter is very happy learning crafts from her grandmother. Wonderful times!
Jackie
Aug 27, 2011 @ 17:26:00
So sorry that you’ve been so ill but happy that you figured out what was going on. Even though you’ve been sick, you’ve gotten so much done. I especially love your applique project and your granddaughter is so very precious.
karolsroseystitching
Aug 27, 2011 @ 21:40:08
Your grandaughter is beautiful! all the quilting is absolutly georgeous. Thumbs up on teaching the next generation!
Carol
Aug 28, 2011 @ 07:52:06
So nice to see a post from you! What a busy last few months you’ve had–and such a terrifying thing to deal with an illness of unknown cause. I sure hope the current diet you’re using keeps it at bay!
Your little granddaughter is so precious–I love the photos of her with her parents. And how nice that Sophie is following along in your footsteps. She looks so proud of her handiwork–and rightly so.
Your quilts and blocks are lovely–I’m glad you’ve had such enjoyable outlets to help you through your illness 🙂
NicoleDavet
Aug 28, 2011 @ 08:25:23
Ah ! Karen….il y a un temps pour tout..
Et je suis ravie que le temps “pour être malade” soit loin derrière toi…
Quelles jolies petites filles..la plus grande semble très heureuse de faire ce quilt aux couleurs de bonbon..Félicitations à elle : de jolies et tendres couleurs, comparable à son sourire !
Pour ce bébé”tout neuf”..Un vrai bonheur pour tous!
Maya a déjà trouvé “sa” place, il me semble!!!
Bravo à tous pour le bonheur de ce bébé.
Je t’embrasse Nicole
J’ai perdu toutes les adresses de mon carnet d’adresses ( nettoyage de mon ordinateur !!!) Si tu m’écris sur ma bal, ton adresse email réapparaîtra)
An Older Woman
Aug 28, 2011 @ 08:43:11
Where to begin? The baby is beautiful and how fortunate for you to have grandchildren. Lucky. Lucky. Lucky. And your quilts. They are beautiful and you are so prolific. I know a little something about applique, and have done it before. I feel qualified to say that your technique is incredible and your points are perfect. Good for you. I too get the urge to quilt now and then, and I may start (or should I say finish) a project this winter…something small to hold my attention. I also love the teddy bears, and what a cute idea.
It would appear everyone in your family is attractive. Are you French? I know you speak it because of the above reply. I am a Francophile (as well as an Anglophile) and love all things French, especially design, but also attitude. Paris is my favorite city, and I would live there in a NY minute if I could. Perhaps you’re Canadian. I need to read more of your posts.
Glad you are feeling better, and even if it is forced you will be happy with the better lifestyle and eating habits. I don’t know your age, but I’ve given in to my body and now let it control me instead of the other way around. Changes needed to be made, so I’m making them. It’s all about feeling good, having energy, and being able to move about. My greatest fear is not death, but rather being incapacitated. We all need to keep moving!! Hope you stay well, and glad you’re back. Thanks for the fun read.
Annie
Aug 28, 2011 @ 10:30:22
These bodies! They just don’t know how to behave and it’s so frustrating when you get something that is difficult to diagnose. Glad you’ve figured out the problem!
You have really been busy! Congrats on the new princess! Love your work and all those blankets! Incredible hands!
Virtual Quilter
Aug 28, 2011 @ 19:53:59
Great to read about all that has happened in your life over the last few months. The new granddaughter is georgous, and hope you continue to feel well!
Judy B
Karen
Aug 29, 2011 @ 10:45:46
I’m glad you are feeling better now, some things just can’t be explained. Maya is VERY precious! Your applique blocks are fabulous and I love the bento box, a perfect way to quilt it. So many wonderful projects, what a nice bug to catch! 🙂
Marjorie
Aug 29, 2011 @ 14:20:36
Oh, my! I’m so sorry to hear you were so ill. I’m glad you persisted and found a solution and I hope you contine to feel okay. I’m sure your new granddaughter helped a lot with the healing process. She’s a sweetie!
Jacquelynne
Aug 31, 2011 @ 17:57:02
Glad you are feeling better. Your grand daughters are delightful, I’m sure they fill you with joy.
Nanouanne
Sep 01, 2011 @ 06:27:02
Hi,
This post is quite amazing in several ways!
Fist this lovely baby girl with these cute parents.
Then this quilt she lies on you sure made. It is marvelous.
Then Sophia and her first patchwork! Congratulations to her and to Grand’Ma who taught the girl!
Then the map of France I can spot behind Sophia…
Then all these tiny appliqued blocks…another wonder to be completed
Then ALL those baby quilts and bears…when I only made one for a Japanese child somewhere near Fukushima.
Then this scrap quilt: the ones I really prefer to sew.
Then this incredible illness you finally identified! I know how it is scaring when after all the investigations le doctors say “we do not know…” It happened to me when suddenly I could not walk anymore…and fortunately a physiotherapist got THE idea and then it was all over (after 4 months) with a little piece of leather in my shoes!…If a big problem happens, keep being optimistic, the solution may be simple.
YOU are amazing! I love you.
Siobhan
Sep 02, 2011 @ 04:08:49
I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve been sick!! How scary. I don’t know what I find more scary–the thought of no junk food or how sick you were before you realized what was causing the problems. (((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))))
Your granddaughters are ADORABLE!!!!! Congratulations on the birth of Maya. She is too sweet–I love that hair! Your very accomplished and talented older granddaughter is gorgeous.
Beautiful work on all of your sewing. Quilts, blankets, applique–you are a woman of many talents!
Doris
Sep 04, 2011 @ 15:43:18
So glad to hear you are in health now and feel better. Congratulations on the arrival of your new grandaughter, Take care.
colour du jour
Sep 18, 2011 @ 13:08:00
Blessed woman you are,
with a new little grandbabe,
and an older one
that is willing to learni
needlework and fabric arts.
Glad you’re on the mend.
Must write you
a proper note.
I’m off the blog for now,
but there’s lots of news
amities.
Ullan tilkut
Oct 06, 2011 @ 09:38:32
Hi! Greetings from Finland! That Christmas stocking is so nice! I love it! It’s so nice to find other quilters from other countries!