Wednesday, December 10, 2008

I have been busy....

I am back. Sorry about the Right Royal Funk yesterday. I left it up for an hour and then decided I would not have a temper tantrum in public after all. It was ONE OF THOSE DAYS. Enough said.

Today has been better. I saw the doctor this morning and she has indeed referred me to that specialist centre, so I am hoping I will hear from them in the next day or so. And I have a raging ear infection. Gee. Just what I need right now. So the pill count is now looking quite ludicrous over there on the kitchen counter. This could also explain my mood yesterday. It is just as well I bought a pre-pay thingy for prescriptions.

Margaret the garden fairy came round today and I no longer have 2 tons of wet leaves in my garden. She zapped about clearing it all for me. She is a star, as I have said many times. And then Jean popped round, and we put the world to rights, and managed to get her signed up for broadband and cable , so that was productive too. I have spent the day wondering when my First Class delivery from Amazon will appear. It should have been here yesterday. Sigh. I did indeed pare down the basket, by the way. I was ruthless.

And I have just downloaded the photos from my phone. SO IF YOU KNOW ME AND ARE EXPECTING A CHRISTMAS PRESENT, LOOK AWAY NOW.......... and that includes you, my children.....

I bought some simple white hand towels from Ikea, and then I used my embroidery machine to embroider motifs on each of them.....

And when you add a bottle of hand wash or a guest bar of soap, they make a lovely present for very little financial outlay!I haven't wrapped them up in tissue paper yet. But I will. Tonight.
And then here is what I made very simply. I had complicated ideas, but realised that using the saw was not going to be wise, so I cut small rectangles and rounded the edges with the saw, sanded them and then glued on small wooden pegs with either a star, heart, or tree onto the top, pegged a small notebook underneath, and stuck a piece of magnetic tape on the back to make a magnetic shopping list. Sigh. Simple is sometimes best. I then put each one in a cellophane bag with a matching felt tree decoration, and some chocolates.
Voila!

I know you can't see very clearly, but you can get the general idea. This one has a tree decoration and a tree on the peg.
And then I finished the first of the memory quilts. This one is for my oldest son. It has photos of him with his Dad on it, and some embroidery and stuff as well. Lots of bits. Each of the children has one uniquely personal to each of them individually. I have made all the tops, but not finished the quilting etc yet. I am getting there. It is actually a lot more complicated than that. I have been making them for a year, but it is not just sewing. It is the handling of the fabric too. They are all made of Geoff's shirts which I kept when we sorted through his things.

This is one close up bit .....
Anyway. There are some of the things I have been making. There is more. But that can wait.
It is time for supper. I need some food. And did I mention that the new physio exercises are nearly finishing me off? I have to balance on my bad leg for 10 sec at a time. I cannot describe what that feels like. I am also doing some kneebends with a towel between the knees slowly up and down, but the problem is that my left leg keeps rolling inwards, so I have to consciously turn out from the hips. You have no idea. Thank heavens I went to ballet lessons. Once. A very long time ago. I remember a milkmaid costume..... At least, though, I know how to "turn out"!

19 comments:

Susan said...

Your gifts are lovely and delightful!!!!! The quilt....oh my, Linds, what a labor of love and what a treasure for your son. It almost moves me to tears.
Susan

Judith said...

Linds, You and my daughter Barb, at "A Chelsea Morning" are so creative, and you both do excellent work.

Those you shared are beautiful, but the quilt is beyond mortals' words.

Vee said...

Linds, everything that you are doing is wonderful. You could go into business for yourself you do such amazing work. That quilt...what an incredible labor of love and how appreciated it will be. But I hear you, this love's labor does cost you something.

Yay for the "turning out"! I took ballet; I remember a tutu somewhere, but I'm certain that I don't remember "turning out." Hang in there, you'll be seeing progress very soon, if you haven't already.

Hope that you saved my excellent comment from yesterday's post. ;> I'm so full of myself! LOL!

Anonymous said...

Loks like you are in a perfect creative Christmas mood :-)
I am happy for you.

Anonymous said...

Linds--I am a long time reader, but have not commented before. Looking at that quilt brought tears to my eyes. That will be the best gift under the tree.

Needled Mom said...

What delightful gifts you have made, Linds. All will be greatly appreciated, but that quilt will certainly make for a flood of memories. I can imagine how difficult it must have been to make it, and I am not talking about the manual labor. WOW! The kids will really treasure having them.

Sorry to hear about the ear infection. Those are miserable. Hope the antibiotics clear it up.

Chris said...

You, my friend, are beyond wonderful. Any child would be so proud to have one of those quilts! They are keepsakes that will be around long after you and I are gone.

I am quite jealous of your creativity, and quite honored to call you "FRIEND."

Many hugs.

Barb said...

What nice things you are making, Linds. I love the memory quilt and your children are going to be thrilled with them. I have a friend who made a beautiful quilt out of her husband's work uniforms, four years after he passed away and I know how much that quilt means to her. I also know how difficult it was for her to work on it.

For someone who's constantly in pain and now has an ear infection, you're sure getting a lot of nice things made.

someone else said...

Oh my goodness! I've been waiting to see a photo of one of the memory quilts. Linds, that's a brilliant idea and so very precious.

We're off to the mountains for several days, so I'll catch up with you when I return next week.

Crystal said...

Oh, LInds - that quilt is a true work of love! How many memories it must hold for you and surely will for your son too. I can't imagine how hard it was to work on. You are truly a fiber artiste, my friend! And your little creations are so sweet. I know that they are going to be loving reminders of your friendship and love. You are truly celebrating and sharing the gift of yourself this season. ((( HUGS )))

P.S. I have an aching tooth so I know how it feels to be hurting - I hate it! Hope your ear infection clears up right away. Keep going on those exercises. Your granddaughter is waiting for you to play with her!!

Dawn said...

Everything is wonderful! I am in awe of the quilt and what sacrifice it was for you to do it. Just wonderful.

I am so glad you're finjally get somewhere with the knee. My SIL got much quicker help when she hurt her wrist. I don't quite get it!

Edith said...

Linds - LOVE the memory quilt. Other commenters are absolutely right - it will be the most special gift under the tree.

Glad you are beginning to get somewhere with the knee. Hope that soon you will be feeling much much better.

Have a blessed day.

Laurie in Ca. said...

Hi Linds,

Okay, broken record here because I'm late, but the Memory Quilt is just amazingly beautiful in love and thought and memory. Bless your heart as these will be so treasured for a lifetime. I have to read back on you to catch up after the holidays are over. I will say a prayer for your knee too.

Blessings to you today, Laurie in Ca.

Sandra said...

Linds, I LOVE your handmade gifts, Oh my goodness.

The Memory Quilt is just amazing, how sweet is that, I only wish I knew how to quilt.

Pam said...

I can only echo everyone else. Lovely presents and especially lovely quilt. What a wonderful idea.

At A Hen's Pace said...

Oh, how special just to see that quilt--can't imagine how much that must mean to you and your kids. I wish someone had done something like that for us with my grandpa's shirts.

Blessings--

Jeanne

Marlene McGarrity said...

Tears, tears, tears....

The memory quilt with your husband's shirts is the sweetest gift ever.

Merry Christmas. I will be praying for you this season as I know it may be difficult.

Anonymous said...

ohh...beautiful...I hope you have many wonderful and courageous adventures...

sorry for your loss,
Sarah

Anonymous said...

I LOVE your memory quilt! What a fantastic gift for your kids. I can just imagine all the memories you re-visited while making the quilt tops and I'm sure your son will re-visit just as many when he opens this gift. I hope you have a treasured Christmas...