Weeks 37-38: Box Progress

Not sewing yet.

I did attend the first in the new series of zoom lectures by Lauren Kingsland.  You can probably sign up too.

Here is the class write up:

In the Studio with Lauren
by The Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program
8- week FREE, online workshop on THURSDAYS Sep. 16th - Nov. 4th, 2021, 12-1pm EST. Relax, Learn, & Community! Theme for the series: Colors  (There is a Tuesday class too.)

About this event

Love Those Colors

“I love the colors in your quilt!” Is a compliment that always brings a smile to a quiltmaker. The basic principles of color interaction are important tools in our artistic toolbox. In this class weekly hands-on exercises will help you understand how YOU see color and how to manage to get the effects you want. Lauren will share color “recipes” and tricks to give you color confidence. Hands-on homework projects will be simple hand piecing OR may be done by gluing or fusing.

Students will need small fabric pieces ( 6” square or larger) of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple in light, medium and dark values. Bring what you have to the first class.

A looseleaf notebook may be used to create your own color reference book if you wish

Who is this class for?  You! This class is for anyone who is interested in learning a new skill and being a part of a growing community. Beginners are welcome.

Accessibility Notes:  This class is closed captioned.

About Instructor:  The class will be led by Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program (AHP) Artist-in-Residence Lauren Kingsland.

Lauren is an internationally known and beloved teacher, specializing in the intersection of art and healing. Her medium of first choice is quiltmaking and fiber art. Lauren is the author of several books, including “Healing Journey - Quilts about Transformation in the Presence of Cancer” and “The Extraordinary T-shirt Quilt - A Scrapbook You Can Sleep Under” as well as an experienced singer, and mindfulness practitioner.

No one read the descriptions, as we didn't bring our fabric pieces to class.  Lauren discussed hue and value and showed examples.  Our homework is to make a nice patch (or anything really) with different reds.

I am finally cleaning up my sewing room and will look for examples of red and orange fabric so I will be prepped for last week and this coming week.  

Also need to find the fabric I'll be using for the two classes I take next week with EBHQ: 

VIRTUAL WORKSHOP - AUDREY ESAREY AKA COTTON AND BOURBON - Abstract Arcs


The Abstract Arcs Quilt is a pattern that can be made into a small wall hanging or a large bed quilt! This workshop covers the concepts of curved piecing, inset strips, and improv piecing. We will also discuss the use of color in this quilt, as well as layouts that emphasize the use of negative space. Students will finish several blocks during class.

Haven't decided at all what colors to use for this!


VIRTUAL WORKSHOP - AUDREY ESAREY AKA COTTON AND BOURBON-Indigo Radial Quilt


The Indigo Radial Quilt is a wall hanging made using paper piecing and curved piecing techniques. This workshop covers the basic concepts of paper piecing on an arc, curved piecing skinny arcs, and precision piecing. We will also discuss color options, alternate layouts using templates provided in the pattern, and quilting ideas. Students will finish several blocks during class. The Indigo Radial Quilt finishes at 24 x 24 inches.

I'm thing perhaps different violets, purples and red or gold for my piece.

-----------

I had both my sewing machines maintained after a long break when I didn't use as I wasn't sure I should with the strange noises I started hearing when I was finishing the Christmas exchange blocks.

So I can also work on my EBHQ Lone Robin Quilt.  If I can finish before October 1 then I can be in the drawing - but probably won't be able to do that.  But perhaps if I find my notes on what I was going to make!

So hopefully my quilting and sewing will be starting up again.  And I will be able to continue going thru boxes too.

I had signed up for the classes I think when I saw that the  paperwork for the taxes would be submitted ahead of the deadline....  I have also been going thru boxes of papers and paperwork and making pretty good progress with tossing things, putting things into current file folders, and even started some scanning and then shredding.  I can see clearly now that no one will ever want to look at the records of things saved for tax preparation, so that will make that part of the adventure easier to do.

The first box I grabbed to scan happened to have the papers for my mom starting the year my father passed away and ending I think seven years later.  I had all the papers for when her home flooded and new flooring and kitchen had to be installed.  What a headache that was!  That sure reminded me of why I keep putting off having big things done to this house...  Also there were records for her medical care and all the work hiring extra people to help with caregiving.  That was really hit or miss on quality of care and record keeping.  I don't know if anyone could learn from the experiences I had.  I think unfortunately each person has to navigate the various systems and people themselves.  At least here in California.

Buffy is making wonderful progress.  She now has two or three walks a day.  Different lengths depending mainly on her mood, but when it has turned out to be hot I sort of move us toward home.  I think she was okay with that too though.

Sep 13 - her wounds are really healing well.  We are getting use to how she looks now and doing a better job of working with her so she is getting better with going up and down stairs and getting to places she wants to go.  She obviously feels better than she did before the operation.

Sep 16: Before I knew she was going to have the operation I also got her a new squeaky and crunchy toy.  She plays with this more often than her older ones. Fun to let her have it a little bit each day....

Sep 20: I had gotten her this game before I knew she would have operation.  You put a treat under each little cap - she smells it and bites to lift it up to get the treat!

A nice sunset in the neighborhood.

Sep 18:  A few years ago I got this canvas crate/bed from a neighbor.  Buffy didn't really like to sleep in it, but she would eat her food when it was placed inside. 
So I used when we were in hotels with her for that.  

Now Buffy really likes going in here to snooze. I have it so it makes her pen larger as the bed now is part of the wall. 

I like the way I can look down at her too.

Dogs sleep more than I realized.  

She has several hours of interaction time though that is very, very nice indeed.

My friend and I are back to walking - in the evenings though now as then if Buffy doesn't want to walk as long as I do, then my son or husband can watch her while I continue walking!  I'm looking forward to starting my online exercise sessions again too - but that will be after Buffy is better alone again, and I have more boxes finished.

Round Up Week 32 - 36: Buffy

Dog photo heavy post - not quilting at all.

Well, I'm just writing this for myself to try to document Buffy's journey.

August 15 we took Buffy to vet as her eye was very red and tender.  We left her and he called A to say it was time to remove the eye.  She had glaucoma and apparently it is very painful.  He said if she could tolerate it, he also recommended removing the second eye (which had been the first to start to turn red).

I had heard that this might be a possibility, but thought we could prevent that from happening by being consistent with the medications and doctor visits.  We were consistent to five or rarely ten minutes.  We noted everytime we administered drops and gave pills.  We recorded food given and eaten.  We recorded bowel movements and urine.  We recorded walks.  But it in the end that only prolonged the illness.  Our son had investigated all treatment options and he told me too that it was time.  

I knew she was completely blind for a while.  I watched her sometimes go up to a wall, touch it, back away and go another direction.  She would repeat that sometimes until she got herself oriented again. When she was doing this it reminded me of that old game Pong. She was and is eating well, sleeping a lot, and eager sniffing for treats and walks and to be near us.

So as awful as the day was when this happened, it is now almost a month later as I write this, clearly the right decision as she is doing so well.

8-15: The last photo before we left her at the vets. My son and I told each other later that we felt ill after telling the vet to go ahead.

==========

8-16: two photos the day after.  Her forehead started swelling so we tried to apply a cold compress to help bring it down.

==========

8-17: forehead still swollen, She does not look like herself with the round face.  We had set up cameras to monitor her while she was at the vet having the operation, we put collapsed banker's boxes around A's bed so Buffy wouldn't walk off into the air.  We have several cameras set up so we can see her in different rooms.

==========

8-18: comfortable with a choice of pillows and pet beds to sleep - placed on the floor in the den.  We put her food and water bowls on a yoga mat in this room too.

8-19: Her wounds started weeping.  She looks so sad in this photo, but she was eating well and near us when she wasn't sleeping.

==========

8-20: We sent photos to the vet and they said to bring her in.

==========

8-21: wounds were cleaned up, new meds given for infection.

==========

8:21- still weeping.  We took turns holding her and applying warm water compress to soften the weeping, then used other cotton balls or pads to remove several times a day.

==========

8-23: To vets for another eye cleaning and this time he did another incision to remove infection.  This was A's first day of teaching anything ever.  He has three undergraduate courses to plan for and present at the university. 

==========

8-24: still weeping from the wounds. She was making sounds while breathing so we sent a video to the vet.  He said to bring her in as soon as he saw the video.

==========

8-25: Here she is on the way to the vet, at the vet's on a recovery bed on the doctor's desk, and after.  They changed some of the sutures and cleaned her up.

==========

8-26: Feeling much better.  We took away the pet bed with the sides as she was rubbing her stitches even though she had the collar on.  She got up by herself from the bed and walked to the water and her food dishes.

==========

8-27: Photo showing the pillows and plastic boxes arranged so Buffy will not hurt herself on sharpish corners of furniture.  You can also see the yoga mat with the food and water.  We were taking turns sleeping there with her to keep her company and monitor her movements.

==========

8-28: Very little if any weeping now.  BTW she never tried to remove the e-collar.  We were too afraid to try to remove it ourselves to give her a rest from it so it just stayed on unless they removed at the vet's office.

==========

8-29: So pleased that she is finding the food and water and helping herself!

==========

8-30: Went to vet - these photos show the blue stitches.

==========

8-31: 

==========

9-2: Before I knew she was going to have surgery I had gotten this stroller for her only because I thought it would be nice to go walking in a different neighborhood or if we went to a ham radio convention or art fair as we have done several times.  I put her in the stroller on this day just to see how she fit and would react.  It's much smaller than I thought I would be, but she fit in nicely and I could picture her snoozing for the part of the walk when we go on a busy street to get to the other neighborhood.

==========

9-3:  I took her for a brief walk in the neighborhood.  We didn't want to have her walk on the streets until her stitches were removed and she was more healed.  I walked a little more than half way down the street then turned back.  She never relaxed during the trip - but she does have the collar on so perhaps she could feel the sides of the compartment.  When I got to two houses away she started standing on all fours and sort of walked.  So I was glad I hadn't taken her very far away from home.

==========

9-5:  She is doing so much better now.  Sleeping to heal, eating, prowling for treats we put on the floor of the den.

==========

9-6:  She knows who to go to for the best massages and belly rubs!

==========

9-7:  Stitches removed!  Nice to see her without the e-collar on. We did replace it during the night time to help her not scratch herself while we were asleep.

==========

9-8: Set up her pen in the bedroom with the dream that I'd be able to get work done while she rested or hung out.  But that didn't happen.  Ended up putting her harness on and putting her on top of the bed.  I put the leash under me to prevent her from walking off in the air.  It worked well - but very little work was done by me.  She only has the e-collar on now at nighttime.  And she only has the harness on when we are with her.  Have been using that to guide her up the stairs and down the short stairs.  We carry her down the steps from the second floor to the first floor.

==========

9-11: She spent time upstairs with me in the play pen and on top to the bed.  I had her in her harness and leash when she was on the bed, then put the leash behind my back so she was safe.  She walked up and down the stairs with the leash, doing very well.

==========

9-12: Unclear photos of the front walkway - but I put then here to remember her first walk after the operation was 11 minutes. She almost ran down the street! But going to the second street she then turned around to come back. She did the same for the afternoon walk - turned around on her own to indicate it was time to return home.

So happy with her progress! She now has access to the den, up three steps to the dining area and kitchen and down a hall to A's room. So far she hasn't made that trek, but we blocked the hallway off so she won't be near anything that might be sharp for her to hit.

When she is upstairs she has the playpen, or the top of the bed with me at her side.  I discovered I could put a three-hole punch inside a pillowcase with a pillow next to her to keep her contained if I had to go the restroom.

I was able to go thru three banker's boxes full of different papers while she rested today. I got rid of two boxes completely, filed some of the items, and put about 8-inches of things to go thru again after I have gone thru the rest of the boxes in the room.

==========