Pulled muscles - Work in Progress

As you may know, from my last post, I have started a new exercise regime...  Mostly walking... but also trying to make an effort to stretch and a few other tidbits when I am walking...

Well, in the process, I pulled a muscle in my back --nothing serious -- just a bit of tightness,  but it became a bit difficult to sit at the sewing machine --- maybe it was even working at the sewing machine that caused the 'pull'.

So for the last few days I haven't been sitting at the sewing machine, hunched over (not really hunched) making things but instead sitting in my recliner making some more crochet snowflakes from the book I mentioned a month or so ago called 100 Snowflakes 

 

In the last two days I have managed to crochet 14 of these little treats!  I am thinking I might put some of them into my etsy shop, once I have got them blocked and stiffened...

 

 

For a few of these snowflakes from the book, I have actually been 'elaborating' on the designs and creating a few of my own variations!

 

 

I haven't shown any of my very own versions here, but basically I have adjusted a few of the designs from the book that are 6 pointed stars to either 5 pointed stars or even a few 8 pointed stars...

 

Being my own designer is quite the process, tho in a couple of cases, my written instruction was not so clear, even to myself, so to make a second one, I will have to look at the original to make a second one! If I get the writing instruction straightened out I'm sure I would find my own designs easier to understand!

 

And since he has not appeared for awhile on the blog here is a peek at WALTER, peeking at birds that are sitting on the roof of the townhouse across from ours...

 

 

 

Linking up today with the Needle and Thread Network...

and Freshly Pieced (see the button on the side bar to link back)

Renew, Review, Revitalize....

Time slides away so quickly!

You may know that my favourite sewing machine is currently out of commission, and will remain so for awhile yet -- due to financial constraints, BUT luckily I do have a good "just in case" sewing machine!  It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the Janome 6600P, but it certainly can fill in the gaps...

So, I have been reviewing some of my priorities lately and sewing is not on the top of the list, even though I do take myself into my sewing room pretty much everyday!  What?  The sewing room is also where I keep most of everything that falls into the 'crafty' category, so yarn, and ribbons and even some specialty papers!

Part of the reviewing process include renewing listings in my etsy shop and concentrating on the sewing related items that need to be listed or relisted...

 

So I am adding some fabrics that I am pretty sure I won't be needing and hopefully someone else will find value in them...

 

These, plus I am adding a few more - mostly fat quarters or half meter cuts - will be added in the next week or so...

 

A few more vintage dress, skirt, pants or suit patterns were also added this morning to the shop...

 

For a quick look, click on the link on my sidebar to the right...

 

And, I had a light bulb moment last week...

 

Exercise.  I need it desperately!  But because of a slight problem with walking any distance I have been reluctant to walk around my neighbourhood or in local parks...  I refuse to get one of those ride on scooter thingys!  My brother actually offered me one a couple of weeks ago -- what a nice guy! -- but I said no, I will find a way.  I think his concern actually helped to motivate me!

 

So here's my secret to getting a good walk in at least three times a week and not having to appear like my disability is showing...

 

I have taken to walking around the big stores, using a shopping cart as my "crutch".   In the great outdoors, I can barely walk to the end of my street and back, but in a store, using a shopping cart I can stay walking up and down rows for as much as an hour!  In Ikea, an hour got me into a bit of a sweat, but joints and muscles did not ache to where I was unable to keep going!   Now on my list of stores to use as circuit walking routes is Wal-Mart, Superstore, Rona, Home Depot, Canadian Tire and if I had a membership I would wander around Costco, too.

 

So my motivation to walk and get exercise seems to be revitalized and hopefully I can use my secret exercise plan on a much more regular basis!

 

Now today is a walking day, and I am headed over to Home Depot, I think!

Work in Progress --- CLUNK!

OH, not a good sound!

 

But lets start with the good stuff...

 

A friend gave me some unfinished fabric experiments as she called them...  And some practice pieces of quilting that she could not find any need for...   The quilting practice pieces were not too large, but large enough and the fabric used on both sides was a very good quality...  So I trimmed the quilted sections into Hexagon shapes and put a binding around --- Now -- Mug Rugs!   A couple of the applique practice bits also became Mug Rugs...

 

And, I thought I would give my own bit of arty touch by photographing them out by the birdhouse made from wine corks that I found in a garage sale for two bucks!

 

Now, having been inspired by those 'practice pieces' I thought I would make a couple of place mats with some scrappy coffee themed fabrics...

 

CLUNK!  Error #5 !

 

 

And thats where it sits, until I can get 'er packed up and lugged over to the sewing machine repair guy!

 

Now, I do have another "utility" sewing machine that I can use in a pinch, but can you believe I kept waking up in the middle of the night wondering if I should go and turn on my Janome to see if the problem had cured itself?  I know it hasn't, tho...   Why does it become so important to sew something when the NUMBER ONE sewing machine is not immediately useable?  Why, the tension and just a tinge of worry?

 

They say that needlework is relaxing...

And I do have a fairly rich stash of yarn...

Ooooo - KAY!  I will start another crochet project...

Just a quick one.

Would you believe I was hunting up something to do at 4am? Yes I was!  Yarn picked and project started by 4:30am...  Then I dozed off while sitting in my chair til almost 7am --- Proof that needlework is relaxing!!

 

 

A Mobious Headband

 

I came across this free pattern at PD Designs and it is a quick and easy pattern and best of all, FREE!

I have made a couple of changes tho...  The yarn I used is a wool blend and a bit finer than a worsted weight, so I found I needed to increase the beginning chain by 10 -- then after getting most of the way done, I decided I preferred a more 'solid' weave so ripped out the third row and just did two more rounds of the second row of the instructions... Not quite done, but no more than a half hour of crochet stitches to do...

then I think I will add a contrast yarn in a simple running stitch along the edge...

 

Linking up with the Needle and Thread Network...