This is backwards

I've been recovering from routine (yet major) surgery, so I've been a bit sluggish. Still tired, and sore from time to time.  Nothing out of the ordinary for recovery.  I've actually stopped taking the prescribed pain medicine except on rare occasion.    Like tonight.

I was a little extra sore today, so thought I'd take a pain pill tonight to help me sleep through the night.

And here I sit WIDE AWAKE at 1:00am.

I went to bed at 10:00pm.  I just could NOT fall asleep.

I imagine I'll have no trouble drifting off to sleep tomorrow in the lazy boy recliner, but right now it alludes me.

Would be the perfect time to get some sewing in, but that would wake up my roomie who has to work in the morning, and that wouldn't be good.

So I'll just hang here in blogland with you guys, K?

;)

AMW

Fractions pattern

This will be a picture-heavy post.

After my last post about a quilt that I wasn't crazy about, but that grew on my, I thought I'd share a finish that I've loved from the beginning and love even more now.

The pattern is called "Fractions".  

It used mostly fat quarters with the exception of the sashing and borders.

I quilted it on the long-arm after I got done doing the black, white and red quilt as practice.

Just a large all-over meander.

One of the things I love about this one is how nice it "crinkled" after it was washed.

The "crinkling" has made me a fan of NOT washing fabrics before piecing.

The back.

Although originally made to go in the remodeled office, this has been my go-to quilt during surgery recovery.  I LOVE it!

 It will make it's way to the office eventually, but for now, I'm loving snuggling under it!

Do you always pre-wash your fabrics?  I used to, but lately haven't.  I find it easier to cut and easier to piece fabrics that haven't been washed, but I especially love washing it and seeing how it turns out.

AMW

It grew on me...

I wanted to make a black, white, and red quilt.  I found some fabrics that I liked, and just had to figure out what to do with them.

I figured a simple pattern would be best.  So I just did a trip around the world on point.

Well, when I got the top done, I didn't like it.  Has that ever happened to you?  You plan something, and get it nearly done, and then don't care for it?

I figured I'd use it as a practice piece for the long arm, and backed it with something else that I didn't really care for.  Since I didn't really like the front, I couldn't see putting a great back on it!

I used it as practice, and quilted it all over with a loopy pattern, and really had a good time playing with it.

And was glad when it was done!

But funny thing - when it was done AND BOUND, I didn't hate it so much.  It grew on me...

I'll admit that it's not a quilt I could cuddle under and relax.  But it's perfect for throwing in the camper, or the back of the car.  Using it for a picnic quilt or just general purpose.  In fact, we used it Labor Day weekend when we went camping and someone sitting outside was cold.  Threw it around her shoulders, and it warmed her right up.  So all is not lost.

Have you ever made anything that you REALLY didn't like, but it eventually grew on you?

AMW

What? Did I miss something?

Yeah, I've been MIA again.  Kinda, but not really...  I've been reading all my favorite blogs, just not writing.

I'll blame it on being a little busy, but also on feeling like I didn't have anything to say.

Now I'm recovering from surgery, and am getting to the bored point.  It's only been 5 days, and I'm bored.  I still can't move a whole lot, and am still in a fair amount of pain, so sewing is out for now.

And frankly, you guys aren't posting any more than normal, so I don't have any EXTRA reading material.    Can you all just step it up a bit?  If all of my favorite blogs did one extra blog post a day, well, then I'd hardly be bored at all...  Yeah, I know it's a lot to ask, but it's for my sanity after all.  And what's one extra post a day??? (Asked by someone who hasn't posted 6 weeks????)

Fine.  Keep up the normal pace.  I'll try to catch up on a few posts that I've been meaning to write.  And share some of the happenings from the last few weeks.

AMW

My Morning in Traffic Court

A few weeks ago, I was driving along, minding my own business, not doing ANYTHING wrong, when one of Norfolk's Finest thought it would be a good idea to pull me over.

I wasn't speeding.

I had my seat belt on.

I wasn't texting (or facebooking).

Just minding my own little business.

He thought it would be a good idea to remind me that my state inspection was due by the end of June.  And that it was July 6th.

So, maybe he had a point in reminding me that this was something I am supposed to take care of on my own without reminders.  And I took care of it the next day...

I had heard (and remembered) that sometimes if  you just show up in court, and show that it was taken care of, they'll dismiss it.  It was worth a shot, since the fine and court costs would be $90!  $90!

I show up this morning, and immediately see a sign that no cell phones are allowed in the court buildings.  I guess this is something that I should know since the sign was dated 2006.  But I didn't, and I had my phone, and didn't have a clue what to do with it.

Being a good geocacher (check out www.geocaching.com) I just decided to stash it in the bushes.  Fearing that it could go missing, and my non-stop connection to all technical life would be on hold, I made sure it was hidden well!

Imagine my surprise when I walk through the door of said court house, and there are lockers!  LOCKERS!  Right there for anyone to store anything they needed to store.  For a mere 50 cents.    UGH!  Go back and get said cell phone and securely lock it up, or risk it????

Yep - I risked it!

I take my seat on a hard wooden bench and wait for my name to be called.  When my officer is up, I notice they are going in alphabetical order.  Of course.  By last name.  Notice my initials:  AMW.  Surprisingly, it only took about 35 minutes.

AND MY CASE WAS DISMISSED!  YEAH!  I can think of so many better things to spend that $90 on!

Left quickly (so there was no time for him to change his mind) and went to my hiding spot to grab my phone and............

IT WAS STILL THERE!

So while I had to spend part of my morning in Traffic Court, it coulda been worse.

AMW

FTF - Full Circle

Well, this week seems like a good week to jump back into the Favorite Thing Friday with Shay over at Quilting in my Pyjamas!

On Friday, January 28th, I posted about the Norfolk Botanical Gardens Eagles as my Favorite Things Friday.  I posted an update on February 16th, announcing 3 eggs laid.  I didn't get a chance to post that all three eggs had hatched and eaglets were doing ok, before the devastating news that the Mama Eagle had been hit and killed by a landing plane.  I never followed up about what happened to them, although I followed them regularly.

The three eaglets were removed from the nest and taken to a world-renowned wildlife center.  The Wildlife Center of Virginia.  This wasn't without controversy, but the experts decided that Daddy Eagle wouldn't be able to provide for three growing eaglets and himself, and that several would perish or Dad would perish if he tried.

Fast forward to this week, and three months to the DAY that they were removed from the nest.

All three were released into the wild, as well as two other juvenile eaglets that from different situations that were rehabbed and ready to go.  A 5 eaglet release into the wild.

I went and attended this in person, and this is my Favorite Thing Friday this week (even though it happened on Wednesday!)

These incredible birds have come full circle and are now free to live out their destiny as the symbol of our country.  Here are some pictures of the big day:

This picture does not do justice how many people were there.  Last I heard there  were 1200 people from 22 state and 4 provinces in Canada.

DGIF (Department of Game and Inland Fisheries) were on hand just in case a rescue was needed.

Ed Clark was THE man of the hour.  He is one of the main people in charge at the Wildlife Center of Virginia.

Ed Clark gets ready to release the first of 5.  Can you just SEE the size of these creatures???

Release in ONE......

Two......

Three!  And off she goes!

Dr. Miranda (a key vet in the eaglets care) gets set to release another one.

Off to freedom in ONE.....

TWO.....

Airborne!!!

Steve Living (with DGIF) gets set for another release.  Note the sign in the background.  It refers to the mama eagle who some have dubbed "Lady Legacy".

Getting ready for lift-off!

And the toss!

And she's airborne!

It was truly emotional to watch, and I cried as each eagle flew to it's freedom.  Happy and Proud tears.  I wasn't the only one!  Lots of folks were crying...  LOL!  I think it was really Eagle dander in my eye....

And lastly, for your viewing pleasure, I managed to capture one of the releases on video:

Thanks for hanging in there through all the pics and the video!  I hope you enjoyed it ever-so-slightly!  

AMW

I have a problem

What's my problem????  Too much fabric, too little time...

Pieces of fabric are stashed everywhere in the craft room...  And a great variety. Part of the problem is that I don't buy the minimum amount I think I need...  I buy the MAXIMUM I think I need.  Need a yard?  Why not get 3???

Polka dot fabric

More polka dot fabric

And while it's all **somewhat** organized, it's still a big mess!

Fat quarters

One specific project waiting to be started

Various charm pack and jelly rolls

Why yes, that IS a bookshelf in a BATHROOM full of FABRIC.  That's not a PROBLEM, is it???

So, you see my problem?  Where to start?  So many ideas in my head, yet no where near enough time to do what I want....

Ok - going to figure out what to do next!

AMW

T-Shirt Quilt Makeover

Last year, I was asked to "makeover" a t-shirt quilt.  Now, I have to admit that I forgot to take before pictures, and that really bums me out.  Not because it was that bad, but because it was that bad!  (Sorry, Kelly!)

Kelly was in band and graduated in the early 90's.  And after she graduated, she took her band t-shirts, and kind-of cut them square, and haphazardly sewed them together with some other random fabric.  It was in rough shape...

So, I took it, and pondered what to do with it, since the shirts were neither square, nor all the same size.

Her school colors are black and orange.  I looked and looked for some kind of complimentary fabric, and finally found a black background fabric at JoAnn's with musical notes in multiple colors on it.  It was perfect!

But I still had the issue of random sized shirts...

I stabilized them (a definite must for t-shirt quilts!) and then took some of the black music fabric and sewed 1-2 inch strips on all sides of the offending shirts, and then trimmed them all to the same size.  Odd solution, but it ended up blending well...

OK, OK, OK.....  Here are the pics of the finished quilt, since I didn't take before shots:

Front

Back

Happy Recipient

With both of us

And this one she posted to Facebook laying over her sofa. 

She said that she has napped under it many times.  And that makes me happy...  And I learned that I actually REALLY enjoyed making this T-Shirt quilt.  I'd be happy to make MORE of these...  I've got to add one of these to my growing project list!

Have you made a T-shirt quilt?  Would you have one made for you?  It sure is a fun way to save memories and have something to snuggle under....

AMW