Much Sewing and Reading but Behind on the Blogging!

Kathy brought me some pretty flowers.  I got the blocks cut for Ruby Jubilee part two.

I spent much of February working on Wild and Goosey blocks so I could add another row to my top.  I love this add a quarter ruler for trimming up after each piece.

I added the row and deemed the top finished--finally.  I think I started this in 2013.  Each block takes an hour or so and it is 9x8 so many blocks, hours, scraps!  This was my American Patchwork and Quilting UFO for February.

I made a few more little trees while I had my scraps out.

I got my yellow Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks cut.  

I am loving my Stripology Squared ruler for cutting these.  The little star markings help to cut my one and a half inch strips so square!

I started my March of the Mammoths read for this month--"War and Peace" and am enjoying it.  Many characters and confusing names, but the plan is to read 44 pages a day to complete it by the end of the month.  I am on track so far!

 These are all of the books I read in February 2022.  I think I have a new record.  I did listen or listen/read to many of them.  This is the upside of so much time in bed or in the recliner.  

I am also working on my March American Patchwork and Quilting UFO which is Packer Bliss.  I had already made enough parts in green for a complete top last year when I decided I should do all the parts in yellow and make two Packer color quilts instead of a green one.  Always lots of people to gift them to.  I am about 70 blocks in on the yellow sixteen patches already so this may actually happen this month--or at least one of them.  I am one ahead on my UFO list, so if I do not finish the second one I will slot in when the finished one is pulled.  

Rainbow Scrap Challenge for February and More!

My daughter got me this book for Christmas after I watched a documentary on an octopus.  The book was good and Hazel liked the cover so I had to teach her the sign for octopus and show her the one from the documentary.

                                            

I finished up R Trail!  And took a photo of the Attic Stars mystery...all wrinkled already!

Read and listened to "The Storyteller." And read and skim read the PPMS book.

The UFO number for this month was 7.  So I am adding another row onto my Wild and Goosey!  Honk honk!

The color for Febrary is aqua I think...sure hope so since I got right on it!  Here are my Butterfly Bush blocks.

And this picture is sideways, but I labeled and put the log cabin love parts in order of which they are sewn.  This made it SEW much easier to do them.  I left all the labels and the lights so it will be even easier next month!

I am now joining in on two (and maybe three) online book clubs.  The Eclectic Book Club is reading this one in February.  I started it this morning.  I am also judging the Booktube Prize and have been assigned six books to read.  I reserved some electronically and then put it to pick some up at the local library too.  

 

Valentine's Mini Mystery and Ruby Jubilee in Other Colors!

I finished up the flimsy for Kathleen Tracy's Mini Valentine Mystery today.  Nice and simple.  Barb's is below though she added a roses border on hers and it is cute!

                                                        

I sewed with Becky a few days ago and convinced her to start Ruby Jubilee! She wasted no time in picking out fabrics and whipping these up.  She was my blogging friend before I moved to Arizona and we lived close enough together out there to be in the same guild!  You may remember we did the Quiltville cruise together and lots of hiking too.  Now we sew together online now and then.  SEW much fun!  Barb finished hers up in greens.  It is going to be so cool to see these three come together in three different colorways.  The next issue of Quiltmaker is out digitally and so I know we have plenty of blocks to make in the next few months. I get it on Scribd which I have a free trial of.  I just cannot figure out how to print from it (unless I screenshot and do it that way and it usually does not enlarge well when I try that) and though I have the patterns from Quiltmaker and could go that route, I am tempted to just wait for my actual issue to arrive.  I have plenty to keep me busy!

Recently finished these two books.  I liked them both.

I have been working on R Trail and so it is trimmed, stay stitched, aqua borders cut and added and final borders assembled.  I am hoping to get at least two of them on tonight, more if I have the energy. 

In family and health news:  my daughter, son in law and granddaughter are over covid.  My oldest has it again (I think this is the third time) and it looks like my mom and dad have it too.  My sister thinks she had it a week or two ago.  It is crazy contagious and amazing Kathy and I have not caught it, but with all my medical appointments I feel like it won't be long.  Hazel starts daycare next week so we may pick it up from her (and Hannah starts a new job too) so our exposure will be greater.  I have enough issues without that on top of it.  Not sure if I told you guys but my RRMS was changed to PPMS.  They originally thought I had PPMS, then decided I did not and now the new neuros think that was what I originally had.  Of course, that is the worse type and I have been on meds that do not help the other type which explains my downward spiral somewhat.  I have now started PT and OT and they are putting in for a scooter (I got a walker already) so I can get around if I need to.  May your health be good!

 

Growing the Rhododendron Trail Quilt!

I finally tied this eye spy quilt (and another one, no picture) after a long time of it hanging out waiting.  

I have been growing R Trail by a row or two each day.  I am now on the other half row three!  So three giant rows to go, then on to borders.  If you are doing this beast, how is it coming along?  

I won this beautiful book from a booktuber (MsReadsAlot) and I happily passed on my cheap paperback copy on to Jay.  This one is so fancy!  It has beautiful full color pictures inside too.  Years ago, I read a story a night aloud to Kathy but we eventually stopped. No idea where, but may have to start that up again with this copy!

These were the rest of my advent calendar gifts.  My favorite was the Jane Eyre Christmas ornament.  The books are always nice too!

 

Making Progress!

I  got my Ruby Jubilee all cut and sewn (two blocks not pictured, but they are all done).  Loving all the reds!  This may not be for my RSC but they are all red so linking up!

Barb got her first two blocks done too!  She is doing green.

Finished this book today.  It was alright.  Sending it on to my mom.

Still reading this one with my book club.  Much better than "The Iliad" in my opionion!

I did the simple little clue for Kathleen Tracy's Valentine mystery today.

I finally started assembling R Trail tonight.  I cannot tell you how tricky this one is for me.  I started out doing both ends at the same time like I usually do.  Then I realized that the butterfly blocks are tricky and I should check that both ends were the same.  They are not.  Unsewing and reusing what can be reused with less unsewing commenced.  I also realized that every other row the first half block and last half block switch.  So lots of checking and doublechecking before sewing.  The one inch sashing and cornerstones also require time and attention and pins!  

 

Books and Progress on Two Mystery Quilts

My advent book box finally arrived.  I decided to go ahead and read one story and open one gift a day.  So far I have opened these:

Day two was sheer-ish drapes with book quotes on them.  I did not take a picture apparently.  So far story two was the best.  I have not read today's yet.

I decided to do the booktube spin publicly this time.  Here are my twenty books for all the pulls this year (or at least the start list...as books get read they will get replaced).  They pulled two numbers and I got Earthbound and The Pursuit of Mary Bennet.  Looking forward to them!

                                

Currently reading "Hamnet," "The Odyessey," "The Twelve Days of Bookmas," and Violetta from Netgally.  Also listening to "Maybe in Another Life."

                                                                

My daughter has Covid (and likely my granddaughter though so far not her hubby).  We seem to have escaped it (though early yet to know) and we went ahead with our finally scheduled Booster shots yesterday.  Hitting Kathy harder than me as usual.  My MS keeps my body busy.  I am having new symptoms and finally saw my new neuro and his fellow.  They have changed my diagnosis to Primary Progressive Multiple Schlerois (PPMS) and will change my medication.  The meds I have been on do not help with this type (the worse type) of MS.  Lucky me.  Three times a week burning shots for several years and they were not even helping me.  Shaking my head.  Grateful to have switched my PCP to a good doctor who referred me to these guys.  Things are going to improve from here.  They already started me a new med for my leg pain and are getting approval for anther to help me walk.  Next up, infusions.  I got my new walker too.  I just need to sit and rest a lot but hopefully can do a few more things now that I have it--once Covid calms down.

Okay, now on to quilting which is what most of you came for!  This is not the greatest picture, but I only have so much floor space, and even less wall space!  Bug had to run on in and pose too.  This was the Attic Stars mystery quilt from New Year's Eve/Day.  The pattern is still available online free for now.  I love how it came out.  Barb's is great too but so far no picture of it all.

Friday the reveal for R Trail came out.  I somehow managed to sew the corners, and setting blocks in both directions (Hazel stayed home with sick Mama).  

Here are all the parts so far.  (Whoops, except the flying geese!) Not sure I am loving adding the aqua.  Will play with it a bit.