Love Bug Pillows

Fabrics for the first pillow

A few days before I left to visit my daughter and granddaughter, my daughter let me know one of our activities would be helping with a birthday party for my granddaughter's best friend. That news meant I needed to come up with a gift! For best friends, that meant that I also needed to make a second item for my granddaughter!

I remembered making Love Bug pillows for my older grandchildren a few years ago. The pillows had places to hide notes or small gifts. The pillows are still being used three years later so this would be a good gift idea.

I uncovered the pattern and set about making two more pillows. I'm glad that I documented the finishes in a post as it was helpful to review the Shabby Fabrics video on how to sew the pillow.

I pulled my fat quarter containers and found a half yard piece to use for the wings, A bright purple to use for the body, a light purple/pink to use for the head and a gold for the back. These were all batik fabrics and three were fat quarters.

Pillow top 

The layout of the pillow looks a little weird. The directions are well written. The video follows the written directions which are available at the video link. This time, I machine appliquéd the eyes. I also used an aurifil spool to draw the eye shape. It didn't take long before I was ready to attach the legs and sew around the perimeter of the pillow. I placed the legs differently between the two pillows. I also used hem facing that was in my grandmother's stash. There was enough for both pillows. I folded it in half and stitched close to the edge.

Back of one pillow

I had a bag of bits of batting that I've been saving for a long time. I used that, some leftover polyester batting and pillow forms to fill the bug. I made a separate case for the stuffing materials. The stuffing case allows the outer fabric to be laundered when needed.

First Love Bug finish

I have a book, a card and some stickers to slip into the folds of the pillow. The wings and head are three dimensional. I can slip my hand in those areas and that is where I will place the gifts. The pillow is the wrapping. I hope it goes over well!

Second Love Bug finish

For the second fabric, I used fabrics that had a wedding theme and were pink/purple since pink is my granddaughter's favorite color currently. The pattern called for five fat quarters; but, since I cut away the corners, I'm estimating that I have almost a fat quarter in scraps! I have processed the scraps into useable units. I did cut strips and squares. 

Usable units remaining after scrap processing

Again, I made a separate case for the stuffing, batting and pillow form. The pillow forms may have come from my mom as I don't remember buying circle pillow forms!  I over stuffed the pillows because after a bit of hugging ,the batting will compress. 

Finished back of second pillow

The girls liked their pillows. Annabelle was getting a big girl bed and her mom sent the photo of her princess bed. She had a Frozen themed party. Can you tell that she is a fan of Elsa? Note the Love Bug pillow in the upper right.

Annabelle's big girl bed 

Miss A got a kick out of getting a pillow. She knew where to find the "treasures" that I had packed into the pillow.

Miss A and her pillow

I used two and a quarter yards of fabric from stash to make these gifts. This brings my use of stash this month to a net loss of two and a quarter yards. For the year, I've used 13 yards from my stash! Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew & Tell.

 

Happy Mail

 

Happy Mail bundle

Out of the blue, I received some happy mail from my friend, JoJo. Inside the card she wrote that she was thinking about me! Thank you, JoJo!

Snowman dish towel

Inside the bundle was an awesome dishtowel. It is a cross stitched snowman with buttons that are snowflakes. There are also some sparkles!

Detail of the snowman

There was a piece of an ornament print. I love it because it has a red background and the ornaments are varied in size and shape.

Ornament print

Then there was a sweet print of animals in a vignette style. 

A print to fussy cut

Next was a print that was another piece that would lend itself to fussing cutting. It is such a cute print!

Two color ways of one print and a print of trees

The final three pieces of fabric also had a holiday theme. What an awesome unexpected piece of mail! At first I thought these fabrics would make into great accents on dish towels. Then. I didn't know if that was the best way to use the fabrics. What would you do? Gertie, my inner squirrel, has been holding out on me regarding her thoughts. Documenting this happy mail was goal number five on my March list.

Linking to Finished or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts.

Sashiko--A Flimsy!

Progress in January

I posted about picking up an abandoned project in a January post. It was a sashiko project that I began in a Sylvia Pippen class I'm not sure why I stopped working on it other than Sycvia's stitches were so even and beautiful. My stitches are not even and beautiful!

February progress

By the end of February, I had made more progress. I had wanted to add the applique in time to share at my March book club meeting; but, I didn't get the project to that point!

Finished flimsy

I was close so the first part of March I managed to finish the sashiko and added the appliqué. My stitches were uneven to the end; but, I like the piece. I'm not sure how I will quilt it. I did enjoy the handwork and I look forward to having a finished project!

Getting it to the flimsy stage was goal number two on my March list. Linking to Oh Scrap, Slow Sunday Stitching and Sew &Tell.

Here's they why I had time to finish the handwork. . .I was visiting my daughter and granddaughter in London for three weeks. I attended lots of activities including my granddaughter's fourth birthday party! I returned on Friday and am working on getting over the jet lag.

Lupine and Laughter Off to the Longarmer--post 5

Prewashed and tamed backing

Prewashing the wide backing fabric isn't a big deal; but, I sure dislike ironing and squaring the ends of the fabric! it is a task that I will put off and put off until I can't! Such was the case with this wide back! I should have taken a photo of it after I removed it from the dryer; but, here it is tamed!

Backing and flimsy ready 

At the longarmer's I chose pink So Fine thread and a floral pantograph design for the quilting. The So Fine thread blends well that the texture of the quilting will be evident; but, not the thread color. The Gresham Senior Center longarm group will be quilting it. This is my Lupine and Laughter flimsy. Yes, I was preparing the backing the morning I delivered it! 

Lupine and Laughter before quilting

Getting this project to the longarmer was goal number seven on my March list. Linking to Finished or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts.

Piecing A Back for the Kaffe Challenge Take Two!--post 5

Top on left; stash fabric on right

I spent a lot of time online shopping for a Kaffe print for the backing. I found several; but, I couldn't justify spending so much money on a backing! I decided to look into my stash for an option. If I couldn't find something suitable then I would make a purchase.

Auditioning the pieces

I found a purple Paula Nadelstern print. She came to our guild in 2002. I likely purchased that two yard piece of fabric around that time. I haven't used it for making blocks that have a kaleidoscope effect in all this time so I used it.

Three seams remaining

I'm glad I pre-washed it as it bled purple! There was a little of the green fabric remaining from piecing the back  of Scrappy Kaffe, I used it. After I had trimmed the length of the Nadelstern print, I found it was almost the perfect size if I turned the print to run horizontally rather than vertically. I like the interest turning the fabric gave to the back.

Finished back

I stitched the pieces together. Soon, I had a finished back. This one will be used for the challenge top! There is about three yards of fabric in this back. I chose a red purple fabric from stash to be the sleeve. I cut the purple binding. One day, I'll layer and baste this project. Documenting making the back was goal number one on my March list. 

Linking to: Oh Scrap and Sew & Tell.

And More Sourdough--post 5

Overnight Baguette Twists

This is post number five of documenting recipes from "Artisan Sourdough Made Simple" by Emilie Raffa. There is no quilt related information in this post. Gertie, my inner squirrel, disagrees with me. She believes sourdough fuels the quilter. She has a point!

As I bake a new recipe I try to remember to take a photo before cutting into the bread so I can document the recipe. Sometimes, I am successful! For New Year's Eve, I had planned a quiet evening with appetizers as dinner as the way to ring in the new year on Central time. My family had other ideas; but, I had already started the bread so I made it anyway. This was the Overnight Baguette Twists recipe. 

Checking out the texture of a slice

We ate the first loaf as a snack. That loaf evaporated! I wrapped the second loaf in plastic. We ate it for dinner on New Year's. I froze the third loaf for another day. I liked the size of the slices as they were the perfect size for spreading with cheese from the charcuterie.

No-Knead Chocolate Chunk Focaccia with Cream Cheese and Nutella

Miss A, the youngest granddaughter, asked for a chocolate bread. She loves chocolate! I baked No-Knead Chocolate Chunk Focaccia with Cream Cheese and Nutella. We tried a slice while it was warm. It was too rich for all of us!

Light. and Fluffy Brioche

In the middle of January, I baked the Light and Fluffy Brioche. It was light, tender and delicious. I wondered how it would be because small chunks of cold butter are kneaded via a dough hook into the dough. Shaping the loaf was different because some of the butter was still in chunks. I chose to shape four balls and make a decorative loaf.

The first slice

I think the holes are where there was a chunk of butter! I would make this recipe again. It is a rich dough. It tasted great warm and it tasted great after it had fully cooled.

A few weeks into the new year, Jennifer, who writes the Elefantz blog, posted this link about medieval peasant bakers. It's about a twenty minutes video which I found enlightening. No wonder when I eat "store" bread, I feel hungry in about 20 minutes; but, a slice of my sourdough bread will keep me going for hours! Jennifer also shared a video link from Homestead Kitchen about how to make sourdough starter. If you already have a starter, skip to about the two thirds point to watch her bake a loaf.

My grandmother baked sourdough bread. For my grandfather she baked rye bread because he became gluten intolerant. I know that her bread had yeast and she didn't wait 12-24 hours to bake a loaf. . .but, if she had, perhaps, my grandfather could have eaten her bread. 

Perhaps, I'll be phasing out the store bread purchasing and begin eating my homemade sourdough loaves instead. The challenge is the loaves don't last all that long. Three days is about the limit. Perhaps, I need to bake smaller loaves and freeze one or give one away. 

Mighty Multigrain loaf with a dusting of flour

Mighty Multigrain was the next recipe that I tried. I've wanted to try this recipe for sometime; but, it was challenging to locate the spelt flour and 10 grain cereal that were two of the ingredients. Instead of going to the grocery store and searching, I did an internet search to find the products locally. My husband picked up the items. Yes, he still had to search. . .the 10 grain cereal was the last package in the store and it was located behind another product! How he found it was through the help of one of the shoppers who fills store orders.

Cutting the first slice

This recipe allows the fermentation to take place on the kitchen counter so the loaf can be made in a day. The crumb is soft and bouncy. I liked the flavor and will make this recipe again as it is a favorite!

Flaxseed with Spelt Flour

Flaxseed with spelt flour was the next recipe I tried. The actual recipe called for golden flaxseed. I had regular flaxseed so that was what I used. Again, it took a long time for the bread to raise and the dough was sticky; but, in the end it baked well. It is another recipe that can be made in a day. There isn't a photo of it as a whole loaf because I forgot to take a photo before I cut into it!

We decided that while good, it wasn't as good as the mighty multigrain recipe that I had baked the previous week. It is a recipe that I would make again!

Multigrain loaf

Another recipe using the 10 grain cereal was the Multigrain loaf. The recipe makes a huge loaf. It was delicious. It was moist and had a soft crumb. While my husband was munching his slice, I asked him which was his favorite. He replied, he needed a bake off and even then, he wasn't sure he could decide! I'm glad he didn't ask me for my favorite. . . as I'd have to answer as he did!

View of the first cut

I'll be baking a few sweet recipes next. 

Piecing a Back for Scrappy Kaffe

Back before the scrap addition

This was supposed to be the back to my small group Kaffe challenge. I "found" a few more scraps after I thought that I had finished the back. Gertie, my inner squirrel was adamant that I add the bits to the backing. I thought adding the scraps was a good idea as I am trying to not add more bits to my scrap bags!

Finished back--er top

As I pieced, I laughed and said this back could become a top. Gertie replied and why not? What a debate we had! I wanted to make a reversible quilt. Gertie claimed with the addition of the scraps the back was too big for the top. It was. It measured 65 x 80. The top measures 48 by 65. That meant there would be a lot of chunks leftover after quilting. 

Remaining scraps

I did have a tiny amount of scraps remaining! The largest are the oranges. The top orange is about a half yard and the dark orange is about two thirds of a yard. The bits are: one four by 12 inch scrap, two green strings, one 1.5 inch blue strip, two 1.5 inch squares and one two inch square. All the Kaffe prints are in the project!

Auditioning pieces

Gertie said this back wanted to be a top and to let it. I could have a bonus quilt instead. I countered with now I need to make two backs! She said it was worth it and to pull from stash. I said I would look in the stash to see what was available. 

Pieced backing in progress

I found a combination while wild and not that great looking on its own, does relate to the quilt top. The batik on the left has been in my stash for a couple decades. The batik on the right was a leftover from a backing I used six years ago. The orange and green print fabrics were leftover from previous backings this year! 

Finished back

I began sewing the pieces together. Again, I was surprised at how the chunks went together with little scraps left! There are four yards of stash/scraps used in this backing. So now that I have a back for the back that became a top, the top needs a name! I'm calling it Scrappy Kaffe!

I'm definitely not quilting this "bonus" on my domestic machine. I took it to the Gresham Senior Center longarmers. I usually determine the binding and have it ready to go when the piece is finished at the senior center. This time. . .I don't know for sure what I will use. . .that is "to be determined!" I'll audition options until I locate the one that speaks to me or rather Gertie, my inner squirrel agrees with the choice.

Linking to Oh Scrap and Sew & Tell.

Knee Update--not quilt related

WARNING!!!!!

STOP here if you are expecting to read a quilt related topic. This post is all about my left knee.

My left knee joint replacement surgery was October 1, 2024. (I had my right knee joint replaced April 4, 2024.) The 17 months of rehabilitation of the left knee has been painful and difficult. Seven physical therapists, three acupuncturists, one massage therapist and one physiatrist later, I'm still working through the healing process. 

The amount of swelling and pain I have experienced led to decreased range of motion which led to a less active lifestyle. I missed neighborhood walks. I missed swimming laps in the pool and teaching swim lessons. I missed going places that were more than a 30 minute drive from my front door. I even missed in person shopping! Had there not been a Zoom option available for me to connect with my guilds and small groups, I would have felt even more isolated.

Some days the pain was so great that I thought having two canes to assist me hobbling about would be more helpful. Some days, the swelling was immense. It didn't seem to matter if I walked and/or stood a lot or not. Two days before Christmas, I had a swollen area that was about six inches in length and about three inches high on the left side of my knee. I didn't notice it until I was getting out of the pool and saw the swelling. No wonder I felt more pain that day!

Over Christmas, I needed to use a cane even when I was in the house. Cooking dinner, even though we simplified the menu, was a trial. Two days after Christmas, I was back to walking without the cane. After New Years, I was walking backward (a PT exercise) when I felt severe pain again in my knee. I stopped the movement mid stride. The pain was so sharp and immense that tears ran down my cheeks! I don't cry easily. It was even a few minutes before I could speak! 

Again, after a couple of days, most of the pain was gone. The physical therapist said I twisted my knee as my muscles around the knee are imbalanced. Mid January, I had an appointment with a physiatrist. A physiatrist is a medical doctor who focuses on restoring or improving function for people who have had long term illness or pain. I went for an ultrasound appointment. The doctor found a small nodule on a tendon in my knee that could have been causing me pain. He injected a steroid into that area; but, it didn't change my pain level.

Next, the doctor selected an area where there was swelling around a bundle of nerves. He made two injections in this area. The first day, I didn't notice much of a change in my pain level. The second day, I would say there was an improvement in pain. I was able to get through the day without the assistance of ibuprofen. Swelling was less in my knee, leg, ankle and foot. I was not pain free.

The third day after the injection, I had a PT appointment. The therapist had me walk so I could work on my endurance. I managed a mile using hiking trekking poles. She was pleased. My range of motion was 0 for extension and 112 degrees for flexion. I said I would be pleased after waiting four hours to see if I had swelling and pain. I didn't. The fourth day was a work day. After work, I walked a mile. I was tired; but, I had the same result as the previous day. I did order a set of trekking poles. I liked these because they collapsed and folded up for packing into a suitcase.

The fifth day I went to the pool and actually did water aerobics for about 15 minutes. I had more soreness; but, swelling was less than it had been. The sixth day, I walked a mile again. I was hopeful that I truly was on the mend.

Three weeks after the injection, I was able to kneel in the pool on the steps with my body in alignment. It wasn't a totally pain free move; but, it was doable. Four hours after the kneeling, my knee was painful and it swelled. The following day, I felt it was less painful overall. Although, I haven't been able to move my knee back into that position since.

It's been seven weeks since the injection. I feel the pain level is the same although, I am able to manage the pain most days without ibuprofen. The swelling is less. I am taking a two to three month break from physical therapy to see if I can make progress on my own. I do plan to revisit the physiatrist to try again to attack the painful part of my knee.

Using the trekking poles, I walked a little over a mile a day most days for the month of February although, I did walk almost seven miles in one day towards the end of February. I was stiff and sore the following day; but, I didn't have huge amounts of swelling or pain like I had back in August when I tried walking longer distances.

It is still painful to stand--it feels like I'm ripping the inside of my knee to pieces. I'm working on increasing the extension as well as the flexion; but, the flexion part is immensely painful. Perhaps, the physiatrist will be able to alleviate this issue. It feels like the tendons/ligaments are too short in that part of my knee. Standing continues to be painful and there is no way that I can kneel. Maybe the nerves are over stimulated in this area and they are the reason why I have limited range of motion and pain.

I am using a NMES (neuromuscular electrical stimulation) unit once a day to encourage a quadriceps muscle to engage. Several times a day, I'm doing hamstring and calf stretches. I even use a rolling pin to roll over areas that are truly tight! Seventeen months post surgery, I would have thought I would be in a better place by now. My right knee while much better, also needs some TLC. It would be easy to throw in the towel; but, I'm not ready to accept that all I'll be able to do is to hobble about.

Let's see where I am in another two to three months. Posting this update was goal number four on my March list.