Yoshi 2.0

Merry (Yoshi) Christmas!

Last Monday noon, after a trip to the docor for a jab, I finally started the Yoshi quilt. First things first - checking the layout, calculating, recalculating, nibbling on a piece of Advent calendar chocolate.

I decided to tackle the 1020(!) pixels and minimise distortion by dividing the image into nine quadrants. You can ignore most of the numbers because I recalculated a bit after taking the pictures. I settled on adding a row to the left, top, and bottom of the original layout, 30 rows across, 34 rows down. This way I can quilt every two pixels and still have an even grid which I wouldn't have with 31 rows across.

Then it was time to do some serious cutting. I mean seriously serious cutting.

In the end, I my back refused to cut everything in one day, let alone one go. Also, my mind craved to get something "real" done. I needed to see results, not just know I'd made progress.

So, over a cuppa, I arranged rows of pixels to sew up.

Chain-pieced them, assidiously ticking them off my layout for orientation.

Did some ironing. (But only one of these piles. Ironing seams can be as annoying as cutting pixels.)

And finally sewed up the lower left quadrant!

And fell in love. Seeing things come together really makes all the effort worthwhile. After day one I had one quadrant and two pieces of grass with black.

As well as a bunch of unironed pixel strips, a slightly achy back, tons of motivation but also some doubt about the feasibility of finishing this quilt until Friday night.

... to be continued ... 

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas with tons of love!

Christmas Holidays

I'm back. Back in Berlin, back online and back to better health. Thanks so much for your comments and concern. I did take things slow and have recovered nicely.

After my last post I spent a wonderful, relaxing weekend with my husband, my sister, and her partner. Amongst other things we took a leisurely stroll around a handmade Christmas market where we bought delicious marmalade and my sister espied cutesy Christmas tree ornaments. She especially liked the owls, however, didn't really dig the fabrics. Obviously I hatched a plan immediately and rummaged through my stash as soon as they left on Sunday. I came across my Sew Stitchy layer cake which I won in Fiona's giveaway in June. June! Seriously?! Time has hurried along like mad.

I hadn't touched these pretties since making my hexie pouch and a few proved perfect for wintry, not too Christmassy ornaments! I brainstormed with this on my table...

... to finally turn out these.

They're blue and white respectively in back and front. However, I made a third one combining both fabrics.

And it's smaller than the other two... Yep, I'm going to be an aunt come summer. I'm so excited and happy! Can't wait to gift them these little darlings. Here they are all together.

As you might recall most of my time this Monday to Friday was dedicated to the Yoshi quilt project. I'll be posting about my progress in chronological order over the next couple of days - my Christmas present to you.

Have a wonderful Christmas, friends!

Some Days Have All the Luck, Some Days Have All the Pain

Negative post ahead, I just can't help it right now.

Today sucks. After vomiting in the night and spending it in only light slumber, I tried for the longest time to get my body to work, hoping I could somehow make it to my big appointment today, but had to give in and see a doctor about severe stomach pains, dizziness, and nausea. I think the stress has made my recently diagnosed gastritis and duodenitis flare up like hell. It's incredibly annoying. I was well prepared and didn't even feel all that stressed. I wanted to be done with it so badly, I cried, but there was no way I could have made it through an hour of public transport, four hours of writing my exam, and another hour travelling back. Ten minutes to the doctor were more than enough.

I'm now on meds, have slept for a couple of hours and try to rest some more before leaving Berlin in the evening. I'm still in pain, though it's much better than five hours ago. I'm annoyed with my body. It didn't catch he bug that struck down my sister earlier this week, yay, but still managed to throw a spanner in my plans, meh. I'm annoyed that everything's being delayed until late January now.

On the upside, it could be worse. I didn't have to go to the hospital. I can still travel back home and cuddle up next to my husband. There's love and tons of good in my life outweighing most that's bothering me. Being in pain and being upset will pass. I'd put a cheerful picture somewhere if I weren't so tired.

Thanks to those who kept their fingers crossed for me today. I promise to slow down a little and take care of my health. I'm positive I'll be back with nicer things to share come Christmas.

Speak soon. x