Looking Back

Look what I found at Patchwork Cottage!

This lovely quilt made entirely of Moda's Brannock and Patek "Looking Back" line of quilting cotton fabric.  

The pattern is "Star Flowers" from Out on a Limb.

The quilt maker is Kathy Oppelt.  She did a wonderful job.  I just love this quilt!

Adding to my confusion.

When I was at Harper's in Prairie Village, Kansas, I purchased some black fabric because I thought I needed to round out my stash with a bold neutral. So I purchase these beauties:

Then I got home and discovered I already had Brannock and Patek blacks from their "Looking Back" line for Moda. Oops. I should have remembered! They are really beautiful! (Thanks Mom!)

I am trying to get back to work in my sewing room, but, honestly, what a dang mess!

The books Mom gave me when I was up there are in the fish tank, whoops, I mean the light box which is holding up some stuff; I don't remember why I put it there (the stuff OR the "light box").

And here is my sewing table. What a really big mess.

One major reason for the mess is I have neglected sewing all together because I have been having some health problems. Here's the skinny (intentional pun), they are trying to figure out why I was able to go from a size 12-14 to a 6-8 in 10 weeks. Part of the reason is that I was on Jenny Craig, but my weight-loss consultant sent me to the doctor because the rate at which I lost 28 pounds is unusual. I was planning to reach my goal by March in order to fit into a certain dress by family reunion time. I have been "cheating" plenty, but I am still losing weight. Honestly, I am kind of scared, so I have been to a general practitioner, a digestive health specialist and a gynecologist. So far we have ruled out diabetes. And, as of yesterday, we have discovered MENOPAUSE. What the heck?! So I had to buy this informative book (and Godiva chocolates) at Borders.

This cheer-me-up-shirt from Target:

And then I had to buy shoes. My feet have lost a full shoe size and all my shoes have become trip-and-fall hazards.

I wanted black shoes, but, alas, the Nine West store had none in this style in my new-smaller-for-me size, so I had to settle for red and purple which go better with the t-shirt anyway.

And, luckily, both pair of shoes go with the gold socks I found. Man, what luck! All the fabric I have played with has given me cross-over skills in the accessory matching department.

This is my formerly-size-10 foot waving good-by (for now).

What Is Going ON? I give up.

I am not feeling like I am doing so well on Moda's Tula Pink "Nests." I was using my Singer Featherweight, but I don't think that is the problem. I adjusted and played with everything but the bobbin tension. All of the blocks did this "cupping" thing when I sewed corner squares on the bias, and I don't seem to be able to make the blocks come out as 14 inch squares. So I went ahead and re-measured everything. I may have it okay now. I did 9 blocks to the 10 inch square, and next weekend I will solve the brown fabric problem and add the portions to the blocks to make 14" (I hope). I have posted pictures of the first two blocks that are messed up. I am not sure if I will try to recycle them....