As I mend......

  The knee is better finally after 12 days.....I am walking rather than limping.  The swelling is less, pain is much better, I just am cautious when stepping out or turning/shifting direction.  Today I picked up the knee brace and wore it when we did two errands.  No photo....it is not elegant.  In fact it is ugly/awful  and stiff....but it does help keep the knee stable.

  But on to better things.  I have not done much in the sewing room....sorting and finding things I had set aside.  I was asked yesterday if I was still quilting.  I hated to answer with yes, and no.  But it is truthful.  I am a quilter, just not productive recently.  Pain is the biggest sap to my creativity.    That silent enemy I battle each day.  Like the little train that said, I think I can, I think I can.......I keep pushing and planning.

  I have pinned two tops for quilting....the floral rail fence and the floral scrappy mountains.  These are my main project for the month.....get them quilted.  I can only sit for short periods and have to move around to reduce the stiffness, so it might just take me all month.



   The shopping therapy.......I gave in to the need for more wonder clip things.   The dozen I had just were not  enough.  Instead of the expensive "name" set, I found 100 of them for  much less  on Amazon.  Mixed colors and 2 sizes satisfied that need.

Notice what they are resting on?

    I  found a set of six fast food trays to use for project trays.  Linda at Art In Search  commented that she was using cafeteria trays for her floral squares/strips.  I loved the idea and broke down and got a set.  I chose the smaller size of 10'' by 14'' fast food size.  If I am using them for floral squares, they stack and fabrics don't slide around.  They have the sides to contain pins, clips, small appliques, etc.

   I set this one up for my leader ender assortment.  This is a very scrappy Double 4 Patch in various stages.  I have about 10 blocks put together and the rest of these parts/piece units.    Instead of putting everything away, I plan on letting the tray next to the machine so I can make progress on this one.

    The guild's Quilt Show is this weekend.  I am slated to sit at the admissions table on Saturday morning.  So I need to bake up some goodies for the  "food room" as Sir Old Man calls it!  That should keep me out of trouble for today.
Thank you all for checking up on me during my knee rest.
Keep on stitching.

Venture down the Rabbit's Hole

  Have you ventured down the rabbit's hole?  You know the one I mean, don't you?  Pinterest....it's a handy tool for inspiration for design ideas, or it can suck up your time and deplete your vision.    I have shared many quilting hints, tips and finds on my Friday Finds posts.  Readers asked how I found that....here's a few things I  have learned/discovered along the way.

•      I ran across a couple of small wood working projects that I showed Sir Old Man.  He said to save those......instead I had him create a new board for his pins.  I also had him make it private, so only he or I can view.  That will keep those pins from overwhelming my followers view with wood working ideas.  

   So where is the rabbit hole?   When I click on a photo to pin to a board, it is isolated on my screen.  A pop up window shows up for me to select the board to save the pin to.  So I can save it and view any time later, and go visit the original source to get the details.   This is a recent find.....improv birds from pieladyquilts blog. 

•  But, you can also find and view other pins that may be related in description or subject,  just by scrolling down the page.  And that is where the rabbit hole begins.  

  Like a detective unraveling clues to the mystery, one pin leads to another and another.  Ideas begin to appear and expand on the monitor.  You save one and find another.  Surprises happen, you find a better idea or unexpected solution.

• Follow people who like the things you do.  I don't really follow a lot of pinners, but when I see some one that likes much of what I like, I follow the boards on their page that I have an interest in.  If your taste/style change, just unfollow that board. 
• Their pins will appear on your main feed.  Of course you get some ads....hint, click on the small "x" of the ad and answer you don't like ads/or that they are offensive (the latest buzz word it seems).  Lol....many disappear.

 
I have a link button on the side bar or click here to my main page on Pinterest.    Don't be afraid to try Pinterest or to set up your own boards.  Just be smart in how you use it and don't stay down the rabbit hole too long. :)

There you have it....find some pins, search for ideas, and enjoy!

A quick update;  Some of you offered prayers for my friend's daughter who was facing a double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery.   I got an update email this morning that precious Carlin came thru 9 hours of surgery and over 500 stitches!  She is beginning to walk and regain strength, and will have a follow up with doctors tomorrow.  This amazing young wonder woman will hopefully be home by Thanksgiving.  Thank you for the prayers.
Happy stitching.