Scrap busting

Around two weeks ago I stumbled upon a sewing challenge on social media and thought why not. Up until now I have always been too scared to join in with sew along projects, as I never felt that my work was good enough or that I had enough experience. However with this challenge as it was using scraps of fabric cut into 2 inch wide strips or 1 inch wide strips, I felt that I wouldn't be under any pressure to be an expert quilter. 

I was in a bit of a panic though as I had joined two weeks after the challenge had started and members of the group were already sewing their strips together or had finished sewing them. I joined late on a Friday night, as I had been unable to sleep I had been on social media, when a video from Sugar Bowl Crafts  popped up. I watched it and thought that looks fun and it was promising a quilt made in record time. 

For the uninitiated a sew along is a just a fun thing to do, completely voluntary and you either are sewing part of a project that will be sent off and joined up with everyone else's or a project for you to complete at home. Some sew alongs require you to buy kits or set fabrics, others you get to choose your own. I liked this one as it is using scraps and I have been on a bit of a fabric buying ban because I am drowning in fabrics. Some I have bought and others I have been given. I always keep my scraps as I hate the thought of spending money on fabric and then not getting the maximum use out of it. I have scraps stored in 3 different locations and it was starting to feel overwhelming so the idea of a scrap-busting quilt really appealed to me.

I recently made a quilt for Mr Myasthenia Kid, using some charm squares ( these are 5 inch squares of fabric you buy pre-cut). He has wanted a quilt for ages and I kept promising him I would make one. But I never seemed to find the time. Since getting the embroidery machine and the dogs passing away at the start of the year, sewing had taken a back seat. I had lost my sewjo, I had done quite a bit of machine embroidery but actual sewing not much. As I was making Jay's quilt the love for sewing came back, I was planning on starting the Anna Maria Horner quilt kit I bought last year but have been terrified to start it in case I messed it up. Plus it is a huge quilt almost king sized and my largest quilt that I have made hasn't even been half that size. So this sew along was also a chance to put together a large quilt - my largest yet. So it was a win win on all fronts.

Jay's quilt.

The quilting on this quilt took over 4 hours and I lost two needles in the process. I am so pleased with it though as nothing was bought to make it. It was all made with items I already had in the house.

The sew along quilt's design was random strips of 2inch wide fabric joined together (or you can do one inch wide). My first job was to go through my scraps and pull out the fabrics I wanted to use and sort them into colours. Each piece of fabric tells a story as I can remember where it came from and what project it was used on. I had 4 charm squares left from Jay's quilt above, fabric left over from the lap quilt I made my mum for her birthday last year. Point to any of my fabric strips and I can tell you if it was gifted, came in a subscription box or if I bought it. I love that about this quilt it makes it highly sentimental and it is like my sewing journey in one quilt. 

I thought the sorting and prepping of the fabric would be a quick process. I hate this bit of any project, I loathe cutting stuff out. I am the worlds slowest and you can guarantee I will mess it up due to my poor maths skills (why thanks Dyscalculia ). I have a creative grids stripology ruler which has been a godsend. It has cutting channels on it every inch and half inch, so you can cut across the entire width of the fabric and know that the width will be correct.....as long as you chose the correct cutting channel. Eventually after several sessions over a few days I was in a position to start sewing the fabric into long strips.

I sorted the fabrics into colour groups. Group 1. Red / pink / orange, Group 2. Blues / purples, Group 3. Yellow/ cream / white, Group 4. Green,
Group 5. Grey / black / purple grey. Within those groups I put all the same fabric together and put them into piles (pinning them) that way when I sewed the fabric strips together to make my large strips I could choose fabric from a pile ensuring I didn't have to worry about sewing the same fabric together next to each other. It did sort of remove the randomness, rather than taking a chance and sticking my hand into the bag and pulling out a strip to sew.

I also at the same time cut one inch strips, from the same scraps and sorted them the same way.

Once the different fabrics were sewn together ( as above), the metres ( and it was metres) of fabric were then cut into 10 inch strips. For the 1 inch strips once they have been joined together you cut them into 5 inch strips.  The next part is to then sew 6 ten inch strips together to make your 10 inch block. Here are the 60 blocks that I have sewn, just so you get an idea.

I find it amazing how different the blocks look from a distance and all together.

Here are the first 23 blocks that I laid out on the kitchen floor.

I had to get hubby to stand on a chair to take the photo for me. Over the next few days as and when I had the energy I would put together the remaining fabric strips and turn them into blocks. Until yesterday when I finally completed all the 10 inch blocks I intended to make.

I had to do the layout in two settings as there was no more floor space!
Here are the remaining blocks, being "lab" tested 😄😄😄

I love the layout that I have in the photos so I am contemplating sewing the blocks together like this after they have been trimmed to 9.5 inch blocks.

I am now starting on my one inch fabric strips, joining them together. So far I have done the greys/ blacks/ purples and I have also completed the blues. I have three more huge bags of one inch strips to join together before I then cut them into 5 inch strips and turn them into blocks the same way the 2 inch strips were. I intend to use the 5 inch blocks as a border around the quilt - which is different to the sew along border but I like being different. I have no idea how huge this quilt will turn out but hubby is already making noises about it being on the 3 seater leather sofa as it combines all the fabrics that we have in the lounge along with many more!

I have really enjoyed working on this but my old injury / problem has come back. My nerve has become trapped in my neck again and is leaving my hand and forearm (left side) with pins and needles / numbness. It is just as well that I haven't spent any money on the quilt as I have had to book in with my private physio again which costs £45 for 30 minutes. She is ace but on a limited budget it's a lot of money to find in one go. So I am having to set a timer when I work and do 15 minutes, have a break and then do 15 minutes. I will be seeing her a week Tuesday.

It isn't just sewing that is triggering the trapped nerve but any movement at all that involves my arm. Even using the chromebook or taking a drink is enough to have the cold pins and needles feeling start. It is highly irritating as it means I am severely limited in the amount of time I can spend doing the stuff I love. I am hoping the physio can get the blasted thing untrapped and me more comfortable again.

I will be sure to update you all with my scrap busting quilt progress.

Miserable ....you fill in the blanks

On Tuesday 16th July I went to my doctors appointment. As I can't get to these things alone due to my mobility issues and no longer having a driving licence, Jay and Dembe ( who is training to be my assistance dog) came with me. I had the doctors appointment as I have a lump at the front of my neck near my adams apple. It can't be seen by the naked eye but can be felt. When I move my neck and head in certain positions I can feel the lump pressing on my esophagus so it was important that this was checked out. 

We managed to rock up about three minutes late due to an unexpected road closure. We had hoped to prk up outside but instead had to use the carpak across the road. This all added extra minutes that we didn't have as Jay had to assemble my mobility scooter, get a parking ticket and get Dembe's lead on. We had put Dembe's high viz yellow coat on before we left the house. It says on the side of it "Assistance Dog in Training" and when he is "working" we put his coat on him so that members of the public are aware of what he is doing.

We managed to get into the doctors a little stressed due to being late. The main waiting room was practically empty it was as I was getting checked in that I was told my doctors room was at the end of the corridor. This was a major ballache as this waiting room is literally the width of a small houses landing or hallway. You can't swing a cat in there. When we got there it was jammed and there were only two seats left. Dembe was a little perturbed that so many people were so close to him. He is used to be given space. It's not that he won't behave, it is just this was our first visit to the surgery with him and we were playing sardines. The doctors surgery was also unbearingly hot. If I am complaining of the heat it is boiling to a normal person.

Poor Dembe was panting away, he wasn't unsettled but he was fidgeting a bit to get comfortable. We had a massive amount of treats and just practiced calm giving to get him to settle which he did. Considering he is just 8 months old today and this was his first visit he did well. Especially with it being so busy. There was no barking or crying despite the loud noises coming from the floor above. He really does know that when his coat goes on his behaviour has to change and it is wonderful to see. Many people in the waiting room were complimenting him on being so good for an obviously young dog. So what happened when we went into the doctors consultation room has really angered me.

The doctor made it clear from her facial expression she wasn't happy that I had both my husband and my assistance dog with me. Jay sat across the other side of the room and kept Dembe occupied. Doing various exercises silently so he was totally focused on Jay. He was sat right in front of Jay, well out of the way of the doctor. The only noise he was making was panting. The doctor needed to examine me on the couch as I made my way across she piped up "Your dog is very hyperactive". Had I not been in a doctors surgery I would have probably given her a gob-full. Instead I pointed out that he was just 8 months old, he was in training and that panting was not the sign of a hyperactive dog but a hot dog. Jay decided to take Dembe out of the room and walk him around outside the building, he was really angry with the doctor and didn't want to end up saying something that could impact my treatment. I was so angry that this doctor that obviously knows fuck all about dogs was making snide comments about him. A dog that had done absolutely nothing wrong. I didn't bother to speak much at all after that because I knew if I started I may have ended up having to look for a new doctors surgery. 

It seems that kids can wreck the joint at the doctors surgery, run around screaming, grab at people etc - all stuff I have witnessed. But a dog that is simply panting is hyperactive. Honestly the stupid cow should have seen him the first night of puppy training 7 weeks ago when he was play bowing, barking and generally being a dick - that is hyperactive. I would say if Dembe had been naughty or hadn't behaved as he should. I am not an idiot. The whole reason we are doing all these training courses is to ensure he conducts himself well when working / out in public. So for an uneducated, miserable cow of a doctor to say he was misbehaving by snidely saying that he was hyperactive is bang out of fucking order. It's been 10 hours since the appointment and I am still fucking seething about it.

 I have seen some crap doctors in my time but she took the biscuit and it wasn't just the issue with Dembe. I also told her about my dry eyes and the fact they are drying out at night causing abrasions on my cornea. She said she would prescribe me something for my eyes. I told her I needed something at night as that was when the damage is occurring. My eyes are very dry during the day as the Hyloforte drops are only providing about 20-30 minutes of relief at a time. But I need something at night to stop my eyeballs sticking to my eyelids. She has totally ignored that and prescribed me drops for day time use. I give up, what part of the conversation didn't she get. She didn't even think it might be important for me to see an ophthalmologist to get my eyes checked. To see of we could get to the bottom of why my eyes are dry and what could be done about it. She has taken it into her head that I am allergic to liquid paraffin when I have used it in another eye ointment perfectly fine. I was so pissed off by this point other than repeatedly bang my head against the desk I had to just smile and breathe rather than tell her what a giant fucking cockwomble she was. I do try not to lay into doctors, its a thankless job, so many targets and patients to see. But of you aren't going to fucking listen and then make pronouncements on my dogs behaviour despite clearly being no expert then I am afraid you deserve everything this post has coming for you.

As I left the doctors I had to book in blood tests ( check my thyroid) and the doctor is doing a referral for an ultrasound to check out this lump which she believes is a lymph node. I can tell you something for sure I will never be making another appointment with her again. The receptionist was really lovely and said what a lovely dog Dembe was and how well behaved he was. She wouldn't have known what had gone on in the room as I was literally at the desk seconds after the appointment was over. As I looked out of the surgerys door I could see an old chap fussing Dembe and Dembe sitting there loving it. No barking, no crying just a well behaved, panting dog. That made me even more angry.

Jay said the old guy was talking to him for a while and made a massive fuss of Dembe. Dembe was a little scared at first but Jay passed the guy one of Dembe's treats and he was won over immediately. He said it was so sweet. Jay said the guy was obviously quite lonely but because of the love he was showering Dembe with Jay just let him and was chatting away with him. Jay said after about Dembe that maybe we should get  him trained as a Pets As Therapy dog as he loves having attention and has such a loving nature. It's definitely something we will consider in the future once we have his training mastered.

After the doctors we walked over to the mini Marks & Spencer as I had a delivery to pick up. As we walked through the door all the staff were smiling at Dembe. It is lovely when we take him anywhere with us in his assistance dog vets, people who have looked as miserable as sin just moments before just beam at him. I love the way this dog makes people smile ...apart from you know who..Miserable.......you fill in the blanks.

Dembe was really well behaved in M&S and on the walk back to the car. To reward him this afternoon we took him up on Woodbury common and I accompanied them on my mobility scooter. So I will end this angry blog post with some beautiful photos of my hot dog, not hyperactive one. Stick to diagnosing people love, as animals are just not your forte.

The last one is Dembe working, wearing his assistance vest.

Thanks for reading!

Dry eyes

I got diagnosed with dry eyes over ten years ago, it could have been 15 years ago, I just know Travis ( our first Weimaraner) was alive then. How I found out I had dry eyes was due to the fact a cigarette end had blown into my eye whilst we were in the car. The agony it caused I will never forget. I had a burn to my cornea and thankfully no lasting damage but a few weeks later my eyes were feeling very sore so I took myself off to the eye infirmary where I had a few tests and found out my eyes were incredibly dry.

On and off for years they have been treated ( very poorly) with the first line treatment for mild cases of dry eyes hypomellose. That treatment in all the years I have been taking it does nothing, the liquid evaporates off my eyeball in a matter of seconds and I am back to the sore, itchy burning feeling I basically put up with 24/7. On the odd occasion when I have made a fuss I am given lacrilube to use at night, which is alike vaseline for your eyeballs. It is fabulous stuff but it means you can see fuck all for hours once it has been applied so has to be done when you are certain you are going to sleep.

I have brought up with numerous doctors that my dry eyes were getting worse, that I am waking up with crusty eyes that then burn and sting for the rest of the day. For some reason I just haven't pushed this and have allowed myself to be fobbed off with the excuse that it is my medication causing my dry eyes as if this is in some way my fault. I am now coming off all medication that causes dry eyes - even though I have been put on these after the diagnosis of dry eyes was given.

On Sunday morning I woke up with with my eyelid stuck to my eyeball. That is as grim as that sounds. Only I didn't twig what was going on until after I rubbed my left eye and it felt like the top surface of my eyeball had been removed. The pain caused my eye to water profusely. I also worked out that this has been happening for months to a much lesser extent, I keep waking up with a searing pain in my eyes, my eyeball has been sticking to my eyelid.

I realised quite early on, that I had an abrasion on my cornea but I just didn't want to have to go to the local minor injuries unit with the high probability that they would send me onto the eye infirmary. I foolishly thought how bad could it possibly get ? I decided that I would ignore it in the hope that the pain settled because ignoring it has always worked so well in the past. We decided that we would take Dembe up to the local supermarket to give him some experience of dealing with a shop environment, noise and large volumes of people. He handled it like a pro and we were both so proud of him.

He is walking like a dream and has stopped jumping up at me when I am on my scooter. He now sits beside me and waits for me to give him a cuddle.

My eye pain was ok as long as I was 100% distracted, so I threw myself into binding a quilt I had made for Jamie aka Mr Myasthenia Kid. I wanted to get it finished and he wanted it finished and on his bed! I managed to get that done but as soon as I finished and no longer had anything to distract me the eye pain ramped up by about 500.

I actually waited until Monday to take this photo.

We decided we would start watching season 3 of Stranger Things. I sat with a hot compress on my eye because my logic was the heat would help it as they advise a hot compress with dry eyes. I was kidding myself still that the eye pain was dry eye and would settle. I lasted 20 minutes until I asked Jay to take me to the local hospital where they had a minor injuries unit. I knew (well I hoped they still had it ) that they had all the kit for an eye exam, I kept my fingers crossed that they wouldn't insist on sending me to the hospital and the eye infirmary. As I knew the wait would be horrendous and sitting up like that for several hours would knock me for six.

Jay dropped me at the eye infirmary and he took Dembe out for a walk. I am extremely grateful that I was seen within 20 minutes of arriving. It wasn't busy but there were other people coming in with more serious issues than I had. I was ushered in but immediately told that they would only do a basic eye exam and then send me to the main hospital as I had Ehlers Danlos syndrome. I questioned this as I knew it was just an abrasion and no need for the trek to the hospital ( one I hate due to a couple of twatish doctors based there). I was informed as the eye is made up 100% of collagen they couldn't mess about. I was shocked that this nurse was so on the ball with EDS. Normally they are clueless, not their fault if they have never come across it I must add.

I made a few grumbling noises along the lines of its just an abrasion there is nothing wrong with the rest of my eye and that sitting for hours up there would make me much sicker in the long run. I had an eye test which I think I did reasonably well or well enough to convince her I wasn't in danger of losing my sight imminently. So she acquiesced and did a proper eye exam. The local anesthetic stang like hell, it felt like I had a million paper cuts on the surface of my eye and she had poured vinegar on it. Once the stinging wore off it provided me with a lot of relief as the pain was dulled massively. She had a look at the structure of my eye which was all sound. She then added the lovely yellow stain that they put in and immediately could see I had a superficial abrasion right across the centre of my eye. I hadn't been able to pinpoint where the pain was coming from my eye hurt and hurt more every time I had to blink. It made sense that it was right across my eye.

Me when I got back from the minor injuries unit. I was given antibiotic ointment, as my eyes were so dry it would provide some relief as it has to be put in 4 times a day. I was made to promise that if it wasn't any better the following day I had to head to the main hospital and get it checked out. Thankfully it was an awful lot better the following day.

I have an appointment with my gp next week that I had booked for another reason - which I will still be bringing up! By the time I go to my appointment the local injuries unit would have informed them that I had an abrasion on my cornea caused by my eyeball sticking to my eyelid and that my dry eyes need to be treated! However as it is more than a week away I have spent £30 on dry eye ointment for night time to keep my eyes moist and to prevent them sticking to my eyelids again and some much stronger eye drops that should provide more relief than the tap water ( sarcasm but that might as well be what it is) I have been prescribed up until now and that someone saw fit to remove from my repeat prescription list. 

My eyes are still quite uncomfortably dry, I am awaiting my delivery of the day time drops as nothing I have here if I wish to be able to see at all will provide any relief. When people say they have dry eyes unless you have experienced it you would never realise how bloody painful it can be.

Migraine

I had wonderful plans for what I was going to write this week but at 4.30am I was struck down by a migraine. Thankfully it is on its way out, the attacks have been shorter in duration since I worked out my migraines are triggered by instability in my neck when I am asleep. As soon as I know a migraine has started I put on my soft cervical collar and keep it on for several hours. When I can I add in 2.5mg of diazepam to relax the muscles that go into spasm on my forehead. Although the length of time I suffer with pain has shortened the after effects last all day. I am very limited with screen time. Hence why this is such a short post.

To make up for the lack of words I will spam you some more of Dembe, who is an absolute angel when I am poorly. He stays by my side and will only start behaving like a 7 month old pup once I am up and moving around.

Hopefully normal service will resume next week.