One of the symptoms of my MS (not that I am possessive of my MS effects many people differently) is periodic eye problems...optic neuritis. Most of the time I have a warning that it is starting - extreme pain. Sometimes it just sorts of slips in and the vision in my left eye gets wonky...maybe I miss a few steps on the stairs or run in to a door. When it is "full blown" I have partial color-blindness. For instance the bottom of this pile of red fabrics I am pretty confident about but as you move to the top it becomes very grey...even though I know it is not! (The good news is this all either resolves on its own or I can get a steroid treatment that makes it resolve quickly...)
Heat is one of the triggers to an MS episode. So the heat wave the past few weeks have left me pretty much housebound. This can lead to lots of quilting. I do hate being housebound though and even the few ventures out brought on the optic neuritis...
So I put aside some of the project I was working on (sprigs and stars, Tennessee checkerboard, and 1908 Halloween) and opted for playing in the pastel piles. The clearer colors are easier for me to see correctly. Also I "know" these fabrics...besides I'm doing random scrappy so it is hard to go wrong.
Most of the things I'm working on right now are just play pieces. Blocks I was curious about trying like a solid Aunt Mary's Double Irish Chain ...yes, solids are more of challenge for me right not but it is perhaps the best organized part of my fabric stash!
or a mixed (solids and prints) Irish Chain...
or donation quilt for AQI that would use up some orphan blocks (I think this needs more dots...it is nod to one posted on facebook.)
Often when I am on internet blogs or other quilt sites there may be a quilt that the construction is interesting. Drafting them can be as good for the brain as a pile of Sudoku puzzles! If you make them in doll, baby quilt, or table runner size then it isn't a huge commitment of time or fabric to test out the blocks.
Last week I saw an antique quilt made with a quarter log cabin. What intrigued me was the strong horizontal design. I tried making the blocks emphasizing the horizontal even more by doing a rainbow (my DH calls it clown colors!) The blocks are 4inches finished so it will be small. I'm working on an interesting border for this....
This was only a half day's work. Not a big commitment. Should finish it today. It has kept me busy and in the air conditioning so maybe in a few days I'll be able to work with my repro fabrics again.
12 comments:
I think it is good for all of us to change our style and color choices once in a while. I know I can get very stale when I limit myself. Good for you. Tell hubby everybody needs a clown quilt, it will bring lots of smiles and sunshine, not that we need more sun right now. He does have a good sense of humor, doesn't he?
I like the bright colors in the summertime. They match the flowers. Even the clown quilt looks good. The construction is very interesting.
Love all the bright and cheerful fabrics... I often start projects just because the fabrics lift my spirits!
Thank goodness for air conditioning...
oh man, we have this conversation every year. get a place somewhere cool for a couple of months in the summer! (and hide DH's phone so he can't harass you)
Loving the bright colors. I am in that summer phase of quilting too. This is when I wish I had a stash of kaffe or Amy butler style fabrics! Keep going loving the quilt. I also like the cute donation quilt. Red circles would be fun.
I'm glad to hear you are still able to enjoy a sewing project despite your eye and general MS issues! I have been hearing of the high temps and dry conditions you are having to deal with this summer, it even made the news here insofar as it is affecting your farmers, especially the wheat growers, and how our wheat exports to you for this season at least will increase because our season here has been pretty good! I am appreciating our winter because I know what we are in for when our summer arrives LOL!!!! Stay cool, and I hope your eye condition doesn't get too bad, enjoy your projects, I especially love the quarter log cabin block, it provides a striking effect!!!!!
Optic neuritis sounds painful but you haven't complained of pain--just difficulty with vision--so I hope it doesn't hurt! Your blocks look great. Hope the slightly cooler weather trend continues. My sister lives in St. Louis and it was above 100 degrees for like 9 days, one day short of a record. I know she's been living in her basement with a stand alone A/C unit since her house system went out!
Sorry about the MS flare up. We have communicated before about my daughter with optic neuritis. She and her DH decided against his acceptance to a prestigious program for his Master's degree because it was in Arizona, and she didn't think she could handle the heat. At times she hasn't been able to sew at all because she can't see clearly enough. It has done some permanent damage to her eyes, but she gets by okay until it gets really hot.
I love the bright projects you have going. I have to do one now and then because they are so cheerful. That last photo of your quarter log cabin blocks is so clever--I love what you are doing with all the color!
Hope you are feeling better soon.
Just love the setting of those blocks on the diagonal... Just Lovely!
Really like the diagonal setting on the quarter log cabin blocks. Stay cool and keep stitching!
It's interesting to hear about how your MS symptoms affect your quilt making. I hope you will note these stories on your quilts.
Come back to Englnad as we're freezing and wet! Seriously, hope you feel better soon and can get out some. I have been cooped up for weeks so know how you feel - just wish I had time to quilt though!!
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