Unstuck Appliques and Bendable Bright Light

Hey everyone!  How are all my bud's today?

I cannot tell you how NICE it is to have you out there -- all over the world -- reading my BLOG once in awhile -- commenting once in awhile -- and just being the sweet ladies you are.

I was REALLY disappointed in one of Edyta Sitar's applique blocks yesterday, and also disappointed with the NON-response from her website.  She is so darling, I can't imagine she wouldn't respond if she had received my email.  I have a feeling her husband is running things on the website.  A man answered one time when I called, and he wasn't very nice.  Maybe he was having a bad day.  One never knows.

ANYHOW, I was working on my 8th block, and I had major issues with it.  It would NOT STICK when I ironed it.  It has really pointy leaves, and I NEEDED them to stick.

Here is a pic of the block:

Imagine zig-zagging around all those POINTS on the leaves with them not being ironed down!  I did the first one while thinking bad words and grumbling the whole way around.  THEN, my lightning fast mind remembered Sulky Solvable.  I sprayed a piece of that with some KK2000 and placed it on top of the second unstuck leaf.  It worked a whole lot better, but then I had to wash it away.

I emailed Edyta at Laundry Basket Quilts HOPING she would send me another package of cut-outs for this block, but I haven't heard a thing back.

These fusible precuts are VERY expensive.  She needs to replace defective ones.

For the lady that asked me about the little lights I have on my sewing machines, here is a video all about them:

I'm off to get in my jammies and watch "how to crochet" videos.

I really don't want to do that much of it, however, as I feel it isn't much exercise for an ever-widening bottom and falling body parts!

Be back soon.

Hugs, Joy

My New Ottlite!

I made a video yesterday showing you my new Ottlite.  It is a darling little lamp, and I am so glad to have it to help me with making my beading adventures moveable aroundable.

Here is the video:

I JUST remembered that my friend, Margaret, texted me a picture this morning to show me that she was wearing the pink jewelry set I made her last year.

She is SO BEAUTIFUL, she would be pretty in a bed sheet, but she is especially pretty in pink!  I LOVE making jewelry for her because she wears it so well, and she is so fancy.  I always have to "up my game" when I'm going out with Margaret because she always dresses so nice.

And I have to go now.

It is time for dinner, and I can have ONLY a shake.  Actually, I need to leave out the banana -- leave out the fruit -- and leave out the Herbalife, and drink water!!!

Terry and I had lunch today at Roadhouse in Durant. I ordered the Shisk-K-Bob like I did the first time we ate there.  Terry ordered a BLT with a Pasta Salad. Terry finished her lunch and went to the Ladies' Room.

While Terry was away from the table -- FOR SOME INSANE REASON -- I asked the waitress if they had any desserts.  I assumed she would say they had Cheesecake and Brownies, and I could easily resist.

But, NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

WHO WOULDA THOUGHT that she would say, "We have a delicious RUM CAKE and I can heat up some caramel sauce and put it on top".

I asked if she had some fresh coffee to go with it.  She did!  So when Terry got back to the table, the waitress came with the rum cake and TWO FORKS.  It was D I V I N E !!!  SO, that is why I should have only water and air for supper tonight.

Gotta get.

Hugs, Joy

Applique Continued and Brain Update

Good Monday evening my friends!

I made a video for you this morning so I'll show it to you first:

I had lunch with Margaret today where we finally exchanged our Christmas gifts.  I would love to show you a picture of what I made for her, but I'm on the wrong computer right now.  She really loved it.

Have you all heard of the "latest" rage of grown-up coloring books?  I have seen them in the stores, and started to buy some, but I haven't.  Guess my subconscious mind must have known that my daughter and Margaret were going to give me some for Christmas along with colored pencils.  Margaret gave me one with quilt patterns in it.  It really is a fun thing to do!

After our lunch, I went to my doctor's P.A. to get my stitches out.  I have YET to meet the doctor.  I always see her P.A.  I really like her though, so that is fine.

Just as I was leaving there, my grand daughter, Lindy, asked if she could come over.  OF COURSE, she can!  I was so surprised because it is a very rare treat to get to sit and talk with Lindy when it isn't any special occasion.

She works three 12-hour shifts each week at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital as a CNA.  She was telling us all about her job at the hospital.  I was it COMPLETE SHOCK at what this darling, pretty girl has to do there!  It takes a very special person to have the stomach to get through it at all -- never mind enjoy it and go back for more.  Well, she doesn't enjoy some of it, but you know what I mean.

She also goes to college and is in her second semester.  She was telling us all about that too.  It was so amazing to see her sitting there ALL GROWN UP and talking about such grown up topics.  We are VERY proud of her!

We just got home about an hour ago, and I have ice chests to unpack and food to put away so I have to go.  I'll be back soon though.

Hugs, Joy

It is SUPERnatural!

Hello "My People"!

ISN'T OUR GOD WONDERFUL!?

I'm FLOATING this morning on a happy cloud because I feel like myself again!  I had to stay so still the last two days, I felt like a lazy lump of coal.

I WANTED to do so many things, but every time I barely moved, the muscle under my right boob hurt like crazy.  No bruising.  No broken ribs.  It just decided to hurt.  Probably got wrenched by the dog leash or something when I fell.  Since I don't remember falling, I will never know.

I hit the ground running this morning.  I grabbed up all the dog toys, dog treats, dog quilt, dog towels, dog bowls, etc. and began vacuuming.  NOTHING HURT!

I had to run and find Jerry and ask him if he realized HOW AWESOME our bodies are because they AUTOMATICALLY, SUPERNATURALLY know how to heal themselves!

But wait, that isn't right.

Isn't it that some piece of slime crawled out of the ocean and decided to grow legs and climb up a tree and become an ape, and then the ape decided to turn into a man?  Whew!  I almost forgot that!

How can ANYONE actually believe that nonsense!!!

Here are some pics I snapped a few moments ago:

The MRI is scheduled for 4:30 today.  THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for your advice on how to endure it.  The thing that sounds the most awful is -- according to Jerry -- you have to raise your arms above your head and hold them there the whole time.  I hope I don't have to do that.

Time to finish UNdoggyfying my house.  Honestly, we won't miss the chewed up rugs and blankets or the giant holes all over our back yard.  We bought a fire pit for our patio in Kingston, and Josie chewed up THREE of the rubber knobs that you push to start the fire.  We finally quit replacing it.

And I must tell you one thing before I go.

In case you don't know:  My SIL, Len, and my daughter, Tammy, have had a Kennel for years.  They breed Golden Doodles.  That is how I happened to have two of them.  We took them back to them on Tuesday night and asked them to sell them.  They were sold before noon the next day!

My daughter is a chatter box -- like me (big shock) -- and she told the lady who bought Josie to watch my BLOG when she got home, and she could see Josie on it when she was a puppy.

Last night, Len sent me a copy of a long text that lady sent to him.

She said in the text that she had put one of my videos on to watch.  She said Josie JUMPED UP like she had been shocked and got super excited and looked all around.  She had to turn it off because she didn't want to upset Josie with my voice.

She also texted that she would love Josie as much as anyone ever could, and that she was going to wait a few days before introducing Josie to her boys.  Can't figure out WHERE her boys would be, but....  Tammy and Len told me that both dogs went to super good homes right here in Edmond.

Gotta go vacuum and dust and maybe even start a new quilt!!!

GOD IS SO GOOD, and I love you, Terry!, and Happy almost BIRTHDAY!!!  So sorry I won't be there to share it with you.  So glad you liked your present.

Hugs, Joy

Shocking How a Split Second Can Change Everything!

Here it is Thursday already.  I last posted on Monday.  I had planned on doing some organizational "tuts" for you, but something happened that has put me on a totally different track.

The WORST part of the whole thing is I have to be STILL or I hurt.  It is not easy for me to be still. Tomorrow at 4:00, I have to have an MRI and from what I hear, I have to be PERFECTLY STILL for 30 minutes while lying in a tube the size of a straw.  H E L P !  I told Jerry that I want a steak dinner when it is over.

So WHAT happened?

This did:

This was yesterday, the day after I went to ER and got stitches.

This was this morning.  It looks even more lovely than yesterday!

And this lump on my arm has gone down a bit, but my whole arm is sore when touched.

Terry was quilting a quilt on the longarm, and I was attempting to redo the black/blue blouse, which I'm not sure I've shown you yet.  I remembered that I had ordered some beads for a project I was working on, and I decided to run downstairs and walk up the looooooong ROCK driveway to our mailbox.

My next decision is what caused the incident.  I decided to take the dogs with me.  We have two big 80-pound dogs -- as you know -- Jackie and Josie.  I always put Jackie on a leash and let Josie run free because Josie will not run away unless Jackie can run away too.  I always wrap the leash from my left wrist around my back on into my right hand.  I felt like it gave my whole body the ability to hold Jackie instead of just my wrist, and I have done it several times in the past.

WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL, this time proved to be a real bad mistake!  We had walked a short distance when I realized I was lying on the ground, and the ground was wet under my face.  Jackie was still attached to the leash.  I had NO memory of actually falling.  I knew I was in trouble, so I reached up and unhooked the leash from Jackie.  She and Josie took off.  SUCH LOYALTY!  

I did not have my cell phone, so I knew I HAD to get back in the house and get Terry's attention.  I grabbed my unzipped hoodie front and held it up to my face to catch the blood, and I went into the house.  I got to the bottom of the stairs where I had to scream for Terry because the longarm was running and the radio was on.  It is a miracle she finally heard me.  

Terry FIRST prayed for me, and then she helped me to my bedroom where I laid down.  She called Jerry at the store, and Jerry dropped what he was doing and came right home.  

We don't have much to pick from in the way of hospitals where we live, but I figured our mini-hospital in Madill could at least sew up the gash in my face.  Jerry took me to the ER.  They weren't busy, and they took me right in.  There was only a P.A. on duty and a nurse who talked kind of funny.  Both were very nice!  The P.A., Karen, said that I needed to have my head x-rayed (HOW many times have I heard that!?) because it sounded like I had passed out.  They wanted to rule out a brain bleed.  I thought it was silly, but ....

Evidently, the mini-hospital didn't have the world's brightest Radiologist on duty.  The x-ray of my head showed a mass of some kind.  He determined it could either be a non-benign meningioma OR a brain bleed.  Next thing I know, the nurse comes in and tells me to remove my blouse.  She puts a hospital gown on me.  Then she sticks a needle as big as an ice pick in my arm!  Jerry is sitting in the corner, and he is staring at me and I'm staring at him.  Jerry says, "WHAT is going on???"

The nurse tells us that they have called an Ambulance, and that I'm going to be transferred to another hospital in Oklahoma City.  They tell me my brain might be bleeding and I might die if they don't get me there soon enough!  

I KNEW I was okay.  I felt perfectly fine except for the SCREAMING PAIN in my vein from the ice pick she had just shoved in me.  

THEN, we waited.  My gash was still open, and nobody was paying the least bit of attention to it.  I was there SIX hours!  Jerry left to go home and find the dogs.  Terry came to relieve him.  Terry was there when Karen came back in to finally sew up my gash.  ANOTHER NEEDLE poked into the wound FOUR TIMES!  Finally, it was numb and sewn up.  I'm praying it doesn't leave a scar that makes my eyebrow appear to go all the way to my cheek!  I was having enough trouble with my eyebrows as it was!

Karen, the P.A., was beside herself.  She had spent most of the hours ON THE PHONE trying to figure out where to send me.  Mercy -- where I wanted to go -- would not take me.  It seems that Obama decided to make a law that you have to go to a certain place that is "on call" when you have a trauma incident.  Nobody could figure out WHO was on call or WHERE!

After 4 or 5 hours, Karen was able to reach the on call location where she was able to talk to another Radiologist who -- I guess -- was able to look at the picture of my brain.  He told her immediately that it WAS NOT a brain bleed.  The Neuro doctor told her to send me home and have me go to my own doctor and order an MRI.

I'm really fine.  I only hurt if I move.  My arm and my chest and my face.  No broken ribs.  I am very lucky.  I think of soldiers who come home missing limbs and even their minds, and I can't imagine how horrible it is for them and their families.

The dogs are gone.  I returned them to my daughter and her husband, Len, from whence they came.  Len sold them both this morning.  Each one went for $500 to a very good home with well-to-do people.  I feel like the fact that they paid for them is a sign they will really love them as we did.  They won't be together any more, and I imagine they will both be a lot calmer alone than they were together.

Won't keep you.  That was a looooooooooooong story!

Hugs, Joy

Hello on Monday "My People"

I made a new video a couple days ago in my pajamas and in my bed.  Feel free to not watch it.  It isn't, however, as nutty as the one I did today showing you my husband's underwear and mine too!  I'll show you that one in a later post.

Here is the first video -- if you are interested -- in which I discuss pillows and jewelry-making while my computer rocks back and forth on a metal computer bed tray and makes weird noises.  Once I realized it, I tried to be more still -- which is NOT easy for me!

SORRY!  Got a letter telling me I could go straight to jail for mentioning a company's name in this video.  I have deleted it.  Good grief!

Today, I went with Terry to have lunch at the new Applebee's in Durant.

We are really thrilled to have another restaurant there because we really need it, but Terry and I were kind of disappointed.  I ordered iced tea, and Terry ordered water.  I noticed right away that the tea tasted like it had dish soap in  it; AND I remembered the last time Margaret and I ate at an Applebee's, the same thing happened to both of us.  Terry told me that her water was really nasty and asked me to taste it.  YUK!  It was horribler than the tea!  Both of us, having lightning fast minds, concluded that the tea was made with the nasty-tasting water.  We informed Drew, our waiter, and he said the water was filtered.  They must filter it through the dishwasher!

After lunch, we went to Lowe's so Terry could buy some paint for her new sewing room.  Then we went to Walmart for some things.  I will show you in my next video what I came home with.

I'm starting to compile some short videos of organizational tips because I have been asked many times to do it.  I don't know WHAT about my videos gives people the idea I am organized, but they must.  I AM organized.  I just don't know how my videos portray it.

OHHHHHHHHHHH!  I have to run upstairs and show Jerry some pics I took.  When we got back home, Terry and I drove down to our Marina where everything is a total mess from the flood.  The entire Marina and dock floated across the lake in the flood.  The boat stalls were really messed up.

We noticed that the Marina restaurant is BACK in the right place, but there is no way to get to it unless you want to go by boat -- which there is no ramp for due to the current flood -- or by helicopter drop off from the sky.  At least, it is back where it belongs.  We then drove over to the other side where we used to put our boat in.  It is a horrible mess due to the recent rains.  We were both shocked.  I took pics, so I have to run upstairs and show Jerry.

I'll be back soon.

Hugs, Joy

New Year's Day and Super Secret Project

I showed a picture of the super secret project a few posts back, but I am still receiving questions about it.  I made a little VLOG for you, and I talk about it why, when and where -- if you are interested.  You can see my latest jewelry project and the fun gifts I received from Diana.

So here, again, is a picture of the Nurse quilt (super secret project) that I made for my grand daughter, Lindy, for Christmas.

THIS was the FIRST one that I messed up.  I had it bound and ready to pack, and then decided to wash it.  Due to me putting vinegar on it to get some holes out of the picture paper, the quilt yellowed in the washer.

The dogs now lie on it at night.

This version was meant to be a wall hanging.  I used a room divider screen from a Peggy Sager's video for my pattern.  Terry helped me with the math.

And NEXT is the one that I ended up giving Lindy after I started all over.

I decided to make it in darker fabrics so she could just throw it in her car or whatever.  I had to custom-quilt this one, but it turned out nice.  I changed some of the blocks.

This shows detail of the quilting I put in the borders.

I have to go.

I've been sititng WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too much.  Time to start a project or two.

HAPPY 2016, MY FRIENDS!

Hugs, Joy