New year, New Career??? VACCINES!!!!!

No human on the planet has been unscathed by the crazy of 2020!  My heart aches for those who have lost loved ones to the Coronavirus.  Lost jobs and homes.  Lost their own previously healthy status.  Lost the ability to visit family and friends.  Struggled to help the rest of us attain supplies and groceries.  Put forth Herculean efforts to teach our children whether in classrooms or their homes.  For those who refuse to protect themselves and those around them through simple travel restrictions and mask wearing - I have zero respect or sympathy.

I have been far more fortunate than most.  My four children remain healthy despite working on the front lines in restaurants, doctor offices and school classrooms.  And while I know many who have suffered from this unrelenting virus, some paying the ultimate price, most of those near and dear to me remain well.  Further, B and I were blessed with the option to stay home together and the wherewithal to entertain ourselves.  Through his work as a healthcare provider he was allowed a Covid vaccine a few weeks ago and is eagerly awaiting his second dose.

2021 has certainly brought more horrors as hate filled marauders invaded, looted, and vandalized our Capitol - beating and killing police officers, threatening our lawmakers, and attempting to overturn a free and fair election - just because they didn't like the outcome.  Because a horrible man with no conscience, no belief in democracy, no willingness to do anything for anyone other than himself - told them to.  2021 brought the grim total of deaths due to the Coronavirus to more than 400,000 souls - here - in the United States of America.  There are now more than 24 million cases in this country alone.

Still, I am not without hope.  With intelligent leadership and the obvious result of unchecked viral spread, I am hopeful that more Americans will wear masks, utilize common sense, show respect for their fellow man.  I am hopeful that sane leaders and peer pressure from the vast majority of Americans who believe in justice and the rule of law will tamp down the crazy that has been spread in the dark corners of the internet and from the bully pulpit.  Finally, though it will take time, I am incredibly hopeful that vaccinations will turn the tide in this epidemic.   To that end....

I am now on a team through our local health department to provide those very vaccinations!!!  There are those who say such a position is below my pay grade.  That I am over trained.  Given the current state of our world, I can't think of any better way to spend my time and skills!  I have the blessings of my peeps - albeit with some trepidation.  I was not able to attain my vaccine as a healthcare provider until AFTER I started working.  Not ideal.  But, as the powers that be won't allow healthcare workers a vaccine without proof of employment - nor are folks with risk factors (missing lung, asthma, post chemo - though I am probably out of the woods with that last - in my case) currently allowed a vaccine unless they meet some other criteria like age, etc. - that's the breaks.  Given the vaccines take place in a "drive by" fashion and the fact that I am actually trained to protect myself from communicable diseases - the Guardians of my Galaxy have relented!  It feels good to be productive.  To do SOMETHING to help.

My path over the past two years has been - well, I really don't know the words!  I left my practice of 13 years as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner jam packed with valuable lessons, incredible friends, and amazing patients with mixed feelings.  I was sad to leave, but had great plans of a dream trip to Italy with B and finding a new position closer to home on our return.  All of that was not to be.  Instead, just days after my last work day and a few weeks before our scheduled departure - my "last scan" for melanoma revealed ex-goblet cell adenocarcinoma of the appendix.  Damn!  Trip canceled.  Multiple surgeries and multiple organ removal was followed by nasty ass chemo.  My return to health was infuriatingly slow.  Poop patrol in a manner conducive to leaving the house seemed insurmountable at times.  But through amazing care and encouragement from my peeps, endless gardening shows (Thank you, Monty Don!!!), actual gardening, sewing and gradually increasing exercise, I worked my way back!  Early plans to rejoin the workforce and land of the living in 2020 were quickly dashed with the advent of Covid.  Nevertheless, I am here!  I am well.  I am working to help as best I can, so that ALL of us can return to the lives we want.

Take good care.  Wear a mask.  And I beg you - get a Covid vaccination as soon as you are allowed!!  Much love and virtual hugs ~ les

Sew Chaotically! ~ The best dude and the quilt frame he built!!!

I casually mentioned I'd like to make a quilt.  I made it clear I didn't know HOW to make a quilt!  That I really had no idea how to proceed with such a thing.  No matter.  Within minutes B was busy!!!  He did a little research, ordered a pattern, and was off to the races!

Cutting out side supports.

Getting all those rails and gears set.

Sanding it carefully!

And there she is!!!!  Isn't she pretty?  Three rails with gears, locks and a support beam!!!

I researched various 'leaders' on both hand quilting frames and long arm machines.  I used canvas duck to create these.  B helped me mark their centers and other points I needed to help line up the quilt layers properly.  He used a staple gun to attach them to the rails.  No more excuses.  I had to quilt something!

I wasn't ready to risk all the work I've put into my sashiko squares in my first attempt!  So...

...as mentioned in my prior post, I put this 60X60 throw together using the Carolina Chain Quilt pattern from bits and pieces I'd been collecting for some time to serve as my quilting rattie!

Trying to make sure I test all aspects, I decided to go ahead and use my Hera Marker to make 'dents' for my stitching lines in the border as a test for duration of said dents through the quilting process.  My super cool new cutting mat was the perfect surface!

As B built it, I tried to figure out how to use it!!!  With so many folks using regular sewing machines, long arm quilting machines and hand quilters using hoop type frames or none at all to make their quilts, it  was a bit of a challenge to find information on these Amish style quilting frames.  While the internet can be used for ill, it also connects folks and allows us to share information of all kinds.  I owe a great deal of thanks to Shawnae Somsen for an excellent video she created after finding it difficult to load her own - Loading an Amish Quilting Frame.  I loaded mine much as she did.  AND ~ I think it'll work!

And because B is super awesome, he made a work table to go alongside - replete with shelves and inset magnetized work bowls!!!

I am pleased to embrace this new adventure.  I am incredibly fortunate and privileged to have the means, space, and access to such extravagant entertainment - the opportunity to develop new hobbies.  I am more than blessed to have a partner who will indulge my whims and play my silly games.  Thanks, B.  I love you.

May you all find peace and comfort in things large and small during this crazy time.  ~ love, les

Sew Chaotically! ~ I made a quilt!!!!

 Well - a quilt top anyway!

This quilt has been in the works for a very long time!  I have been cutting bits and remnants from all my makes into 2 inch wide strips and squares for the longest - inspired by this post of Julie Lou's Bonnie Hunter's Carolina Chain Quilt.  

I have stitched many "quilts" together in the past.  Lots of little patchwork throws for the kids when they were growing up.  I even made a full sized bed cover for Roo when she moved into her house -

They were pieced with random shaped scraps, their layers tied together with embroidery thread.  Still, having finished all my sashiko blocks - you can peep that prep here:  November's Nesting and Making - I figured I'd better learn some actual quilting skills and practice them on something a little less precious!  With all those pre-cut pieces sitting in a box, I figured they would be a good starting place.  So, last week I got busy.  I decided upon a throw measuring 60" X 60", as a gift for a dear one who just completed and moved into his first house.  I selected greys, browns, blues, and greens from my box as they match his interior.  

Before I began, I read several quilting books.  I watched dozens of quilting videos.  Things can get confusing pretty quickly as quilters are passionate about how they do things ~  Use only size 9 or smaller quilting needles.  No, use embroidery needles!  Use quilting thread.  Wax it.  No, buy pre-waxed.  Use DMC pearl cotton #5.  Press seam allowances to the 'dark' side in one direction.  Press seams open.  Cut this way.  Pin pieces this way.  And so much more!  While all those seemingly disparate techniques can be a bit over whelming to a new quilter - I am ever so grateful to all the quilters who went to the trouble to post their advice, techniques and create tutorials.  I am particularly indebted to these generous quilters for the inspiration and information they provide:

Carolyn Gibbs Quilts      Suzy Quilts      The above mentioned Just Julie Lou

Farm and Folk      Karen's Quilting      Vacilando Quilting Company  

Elizabeth of Mend Learn      Bonnie K Hunter's - Quiltville

Though slow going at first, I began to get the hang of what I was doing and managed to piece the top in about 5 days.  MANY lessons were learned!!!!

• Quilting is most certainly a 'pay me now or pay me later' sort of thing!  I had cut my stash of pieces rather hurriedly at the end of garment making and had to trim up most of them more carefully if there was to be any hope of them going together with sharp lines and points as they should.  Once the quilt top was finished I created a cardboard template for my sashiko squares, so I could press the edges under and stitch round them to create finished edges and consistent sizes.  Again, I had not put tremendous effort in cutting the rectangles perfectly knowing they were to be hemmed!!!  Given that, a good bit of fiddling and measuring to make certain the stitched designs were centered was required.  Both instances necessitated a stern conversation with my past devil-may-care self!
• Making a quilt from garment scraps is - sensible, nostalgic, earth friendly, sustainable, useful.
• Making a quilt from garment scraps is - CHALLENGING!  For this quilt I bought nothing other than a poly/cotton batting and grey linen-esq cotton to use as backing and finish out the top's border.  Finding colors that work together wasn't too difficult as my wardrobe of makes is pretty cohesive.  However, having enough contrast in the fabric I had on hand was a real challenge.  I was very worried that the 'light' and 'dark' lines would not come through as they should.  If I had selected fabric FOR this quilt, that would have been much easier.  Still, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  (Despite the block that is turned the wrong way!!!  We'll just call that a design element and leave it at that!!!)  Having to use fabric in a variety of textures and types created another issue.  This quilt top contains linen, tencel, various cottons, including bits of quilting cotton.  Clearly some of those fabrics have far more give than the fabric they were paired with, so it was easy for the squares to go a bit wonky!  I'm pleased enough with how I managed to keep the lines straight, though a few blocks won't tolerate close inspection!!  I just hope they will all hold together with use.  Shockingly, quilting cotton is steady as a rock and stitches together perfectly!  Who knew??? (All quilters - that's who!)
• Through trial and error, I settled on pressing seams to one side, but alternated the direction at intersections.  I found this method created a lot less bulk and I was able to match seams much more easily.  After the top was completed, further reading led me to a quilter who recommended that practice as well.

Overall, I am quite tickled with how it turned out.  I've made and installed canvas leaders onto the three rail quilting frame B made me.  It is AMAZING!!!  Blog post coming on that adventure soon! Today, I hope to get the top, batting (learning about THAT was a whole other thing!!!), and bottom loaded on it!  

New Year = New Lessons and Adventures!!  Happy New Year and Happy Making to you and yours! - love les