Quilt 14: adding just one more border

Here's the design for quilt 14 (friend Julie's civil war prints):

I've already made a few changes to the design (with Julie's approval) but am finding one more that seems wise: the borders in the original design (the large band on the outer edge) was originally to be red. But... hm... No.

We went shopping and found this fabric:

We had the top with us at the time and agreed it would be a nicer, more subdued border instead of the red border. And here it is, sewn to the edge of the original top. This photo makes the colours look a little off... but that's just the camera. The border actually melds really well - definitely better than the red would ever have been.

And here's the fabric Julie wanted as backing for the quilt:

I think she chose wisely and, as you may have noticed, this print is in the blue blocks on the top - so the theme is transferred to the back.

The only problem I saw with her choice of backing is the fact that this wavy-line print would be IMPOSSIBLE to use if we had to have more than just one width of the callico. Those wavy lines would NEVER match up well. Fortunately, the width of  the callico suited her as a max width for the quilt - and so off we go!

Say It Isn't So...

I've had my cutting mat for quite a long time. Normally I take pretty good care of my tools, but I've sure messed up this time. There'd been quite a few cutting sessions on the dinner table - and on one particular day I was just really tired and instead of putting my big mat away properly, I just leaned it up against a chair. Then I forgot it was there. It stayed there for several days before I remembered. When I finally did... it was warped:

It doesn't look TOO terrible until you see it right from the edge:

I've tried everything - ironing it, laying heavy books on it for days on end - just everything, but nothing is smoothing it out. I've been using it anyway - limping along - but have to admit it's driving me up the walls. That bend in the middle makes it hard to keep longer pieces squared up. So... I'm giving up now - going to retire this one and purchase a new one. I hate to do that, as cutting mats are pricey - but it's a tool that I use quite a lot, and having one that isn't up to scratch is making me crazy.

Falling Down on the Job

Yup - you are right. 3 strait weeks now, and nothing about quilting. As a matter of fact, here it is: THURSDAY and I'm only just putting up my Wednesday post - and a pitiful one it is, too.

A big "thank you" to my loyal followers (and esp. quilting guru Pauline and soon-to-be quilt-a-holic Jen) for sticking with me during this rather dry period.

Next week: I'll get my act in gear.

...and the answer is...

...apparently "no".

Last week I allowed myself to have the momentary fantasy that quilting would be a good cure for high blood pressure.  Well... quilting can be relaxing, which is good for blood pressure, but it won't, by itself, overcome the effects of having been VERY sedentary over the past 2-3 months.

So... Looks like I'm going to have to (gulp) set down my needle and thread from time to time and (gulp) EXERCISE!

So OK. I am no longer in denial.

I now solemnly promise to perform exercise - either walking (preferred) or riding my stationary bike (much loathed) - every day.

I much prefer walking. Walking doesn't feel like exercise. Walking feels like snooping (because I walk around the neighborhood and check out my neighbors' properties). The stationary bike is another matter. I hate it because it's boring. BUT... I have a PLAN!  Today I discovered that I can set a book up on the handlebars and I can set my computer mouse on the book - and with that, I can play

...(drumroll, please)...

SPIDER SOLITAIRE on the computer!

I'm never going to love this bike, but Spider Solitaire will make it bearable - at least for a while.

Wish me luck!

Quilting and Blood Pressure

So, OK, the doc says my blood pressure seems to be "elevated". It's been that way for quite some time. She's suggested I may have "white coat syndrome", but in all honesty, after all the medical adventures I've had... ...well I told her "Look, Linda, you're just not that scary!" But she's thinking that we need to get a handle on this, so today I picked up her clinic's portable BP monitor - one they loan out to patients. I'm to keep it for a week and take my BP at points throughout my day, and record the results. Then I'll go back and have a chat with Linda. -sigh- I REALLY don't want to end up taking another medication. My quilting hoop kicked cancer's butt two years ago. Can it stomp out high blood pressure? Hm...