DANDY FLOWERS DONE

I finished the quilting, got it off the machine, made the binding and got that sewn down, all before dinner time.  Yea!

Now I have to get ready for work tomorrow.  I'll be taking it with me to sew the binding down by hand during my spare time.

ALMOST DONE

I've been putting a lot of time into the Dandy Flowers quilting.  It's coming along.

It's his birthday today, his daughter and granddaughter took us out to lunch at a new Indian restaurant in Burien, Royal Everest.   Excellent food.

Then we jetted over to the Admiral Theatre to see Murder on the Orient Express.  It was good, the sets and costumes were outstanding.  They messed with the story a bit, in an attempt to liven it up.  I don't like what they did.  But, go see the movie and decide for yourself.

STARTED DANDY

I started quilting on the Dandy Flowers quilt!  I feel much more confident since I practiced on paper first.

A LITTLE EASIER TIME

The back for Dandy Flowers went a little bit easier.  I only had one time I had to use my seam ripper, but it was a long seam.

I was in a hurry to get the top and bottom panels attached to the center before I left for an appointment and ended up putting the top panel on upside down.  I started to pick out the threads and realized I wouldn't be  able to get it done before I had to leave, so I took it with me.  I figured there would be waiting time at the eye doctor's.  And there was.

After the nurse did the preliminary questions and tests, she left me in the exam room and said the doctor would be in shortly.  I was able to pick out that 40 inch seam before he showed up.

This is how everything looked after they dilated my eyes.

The back for Dandy Flowers, with Tula Pink's Disco Kitties and leftover fabrics from the front.

Once I got home, I got the rest of the panels onto the back, even with my aching eyes.

FIRST DAY

I was still tired this morning.  It was a long day yesterday and the dogs make it almost impossible to get a good night's sleep - one on each side of me and they are way too hot.

I took them to the dog park this morning.  They enjoyed that and got some good exercise.

When I turned the machine on, the tablet didn't come on.  I checked a bunch of things, turned it off and tried again.  I ended up calling Randy in Missouri.  He was very helpful and all it was that I wasn't holding the on button on long enough.  Oops.

I played a little more trying some allover swirl designs - see, I don't even know what to call them.

I then felt I had to finish sewing the rows together on the Dandy Flowers quilt.  The top is done now!

Then I played a little more on the machine - I guess I need to get a name for it (him, her?).

MACHINE ARRIVES, SORT OF

Finally, the day I've been waiting for since March arrives.  My new A1 Quilting Machine was scheduled for delivery.  Listed on the bill of lading was three items, a pallet, and two crates.  Only the pallet showed up, and the truck driver knew nothing about the others.

I quickly called Missouri where A1 is made and told them.  They were great, they called the trucking company in Kent, where they found the missing pieces and arranged to have them delivered first thing in the morning because Kim is coming to put the machine together tomorrow.

In the meantime, I kept busy working on the Dandy Flowers quilt.  I got all the parts made and put it up on the wall.  It only fits crossways.  I got two rows sewed together, but stopped because I was too worried.

the pallet

I'm a little worried about this top piece that is smashed.

SOME STEMS

I'm making progress on the Dandy Flowers quilt.  I finished the last of the flower heads this morning and started on the stems.  I've probably been overdoing it.  Yesterday I had to spend the afternoon resting my hand - which means I couldn't do anything.  I watched a movie.

My hand feels much better today though.  No more Tylenol needed.

My beautiful white bandage is getting dirty and covered with threads and dog hair.

DAY AFTER

I had carpel-tunnel surgery on my right hand yesterday.  We checked me in at 6:30am and we were out of there by 9:00am.  I'm actually not sure about the time because I was still a little woozy when we left.  But amazingly I was feeling pretty good very quickly.  I had very little pain but I did take tylenol that day and today.

After a dog walk with just Jelly I sewed some more of the Dandy Flowers blocks.  But I probably over did it.  My hand is tired and so am I.

The day of surgery, back at home.

My left hand took a beating too.

The Dandy Flowers blocks.

I'm really loving these colors and fabrics!  

LAST DAY

Tomorrow morning I'm having carpel-tunnel surgery on my right hand (I'm right handed).  I'm trying to prepare for being incapacitated for a week.

I know I won't be able to cut fabric, but I might be able to sew.  So I've been cutting fabric like crazy.

Saturday, at work, I trimmed some half-square triangle squares, making that project all ready to sew together.

Today I finished sewing the rows together on my Wallflower quilt (kit).  I folded it up and put it away - I still need to make a back for it.

After walking the dogs in Lincoln Park and lunch out with the DH I started cutting up fabric for the Dandy Flowers quilt that I discovered online.  It was a quilt-along, but I didn't participate at the time.  I've been gathering fabrics and thinking about it.

I bought the fabrics for the stems and leaves at Missouri Star Quilts in Missouri last week.  Still thinking about what color to make the butterflies.

I had to sew one of the flowers together.

The stack of fabrics, all sorted, for the flowers.

All the fabrics, including the background, ready to go.

Here are the fabrics I used.