Summer's Almost Over...Time For a Change!!!

Quotes for the Day:

"Our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." ~M. Scott Peck

"Go where you are celebrated—not tolerated.If they can't see the real value of you, it's time for a new start." ~Unknown

You're probably thinking I've fallen off the face of the earth...again...but really I've just been incredibly busy.  I can't believe that summer is over because I feel like I've not really had a summer yet this year.

My summer started out with deadlines for finishing three quilts...

Clark's 1st Birthday quilt...

Kate and Jon's wedding quilt...

...and Karen's comfort quilt...

In July, we took 14 days and went to Georgia to take care of our two grandsons so that their parents could get away to celebrate their 10th anniversary.  

Just a few short days after returning from that trip, I decided that I had to make a job change to maintain my own sanity, so near the end of July I started job-hunting.  It didn't take long before I had an interview...followed by a job offer...which I accepted last week!  I have put in my resignation at my current employer and this week will be my last work week there...followed by an already-scheduled vacation for our daughter's wedding. 

After my vacation, I will start my new job in the PACU (post-anesthesia care unit) at West Virginia University Hospital.  I'm excited and apprehensive at the same time!  Change is always difficult, but I'm so ready for this new phase in my life and career!  

In the midst of all of this job hunting/interview/preparing to leave my current job, etc., I've been seeking calm and peace in my quilting.  

I pulled out a project that I had purchased at an estate auction 4 years ago.  The blocks were already pieced but needed put together and quilted.  

 

I squared up the blocks, laid them out on my design wall in the layout above, then decided that they needed some cream-colored sashing between them to help break up the "busyness" and help make the top large enough to fit a queen bed.  They are now sewn together with the sashing and I am currently working on making a "piano-key" border with the leftover fabric.

I've also been hand-quilting on my daughter's wedding quilt.  (She gets married in 2 weeks!)  The quilt won't be done in time for the wedding, but just this weekend I reached the half-way point and am now working on the second half!!

Loretta

Another Quilt...

In June a dear friend and co-worker was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.  Since then she has been off of work while she receives daily chemo and radiation therapy.

I am heartbroken by this turn of events as this lady is probably one of the nicest people you would ever hope to meet.  And she's a great nurse, to boot!  She was my nurse in the Recovery Room last year when I had my surgery.

As quilters do, I decided that I wanted to make her a lap-quilt.  Last weekend I pulled out a "UFO" (unfinished object/project) and put the blocks into a quilt top and this weekend I machine quilted, bound, and labeled the quilt.

After taking it to work to have our co-workers sign the blocks, it is now ready to gift to her...hopefully, sometime this week.

The pattern is called "Wonky Stars" and was a free one that I saw around the internet.  I choose it to be my "leader/ender" project from June 2013-June 2014.  It was a great pattern to use up those odd shapes of fabric that you end up when cutting out a quilt and doesn't require any matching points!!!

Loretta