Passing time has a bit of a double meaning for me right now.
We put my mom in hospice at home this past week and have been staying by her side daily. My folks live in a one bedroom apartment, so there is little for my sister and I to do while we care for mom (92) and watch over dad (94).
After 11 days, I am going a little crazy not having anything to do with my hands while we sit and wait. Even though we are caring for all their daily needs, there is a lot of free time in between.
I bound my charity quilt before this all started.
Today is the first day I had a break from sitting there, so I decided to put my stars into rows.
Next time I can sit at a machine, I will get my rows together and I will have this top complete.
I need some handwork and since all my UFOs right now are quilts that need to be quilted or require a whole lot of prep to get something going (like my Dear Jane), I pulled some Halloween fabric out and started cutting out a project that I have been gathering fabric for. I have been wanting to do this for quite some time. I don't expect that it will be done by Halloween, but at least it feels right at the moment and seems somewhat easy since my mind is in such turmoil right now.
I managed to cut out 13 cats from freezer paper at dad's yesterday.
So today I pulled the fabrics that I had collected
and some from my stash and then paired them up (bottom one is the background of each block and the top fabric is the cat.
Oh....and I even found some backing that I had bought when a local quilt shop was closing. I even bought the stripe for the binding.
I may tea-dye this fabric since there will be creamy colors on the quilt top.
This is the pattern.
from this book.
A wonderful blogging friend was going to send me the cat drawing, but found this book which is out of print and sent it to me. Thank you Sharon in Washington.
So, I started cutting out the two pieces for each block.
Black background will have an orange cat and the orange backgrounds will have black cats. I am going to try my hand at reverse applique.
This will give me something quick and easy to do while I am at mom and dad's.
So, please say a little prayer for me and my family. It's a sad time, but also a blessing.
My thoughts are with you. The cat handwork project is just the thing you need to occupy your time and still be present in your mom's time of need.
ReplyDeletePraying for you and your familu
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute quilt this is going to be. Glad to hear you found some hand work to do while you're taking care of your mother.
ReplyDeleteThis is a perfect project to take your mind off things...or at least to keep your hands busy! I have this book and have been looking at this project for ages! I am going to enjoy watching this quilt grow! Wishing you and your family all the best! Big hug!
ReplyDeleteP
I've been thinking about you non-stop….
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were able to find something to help keep you occupied.
Hugs!
Sharon @ TotallyObsessed
Dear Mimi - thinking of you so much - you with your Mom in hospice, me with my Dad there too since Saturday...the hours and days move at a different pace don't they. Here we both are - you making appliqued Halloween cats and I keep shoving strips of fabric though my sewing machine. What ever projects we are working on now will be stitched with the memory of these days. Take good care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteHappy to see you found a sweet project to work on while sitting and caring for your Mom & Dad.
ReplyDeleteYou and your family will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers!
hugs,
Doreen
That is going to be a darling quilt, Faye, and you will always think of your folks when you use it. ((HUGS and PRAYERS))
ReplyDelete