Hope you heal quick Cathy. Keep those exercises going.

That's a big 2nd from here !!

Cathy, Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Maureen, I had my knee replacement last Thursday. I am doing well, but the exercises hurt. That is to be expected. It is very necessary to do them. I hope you can get it scheduled soon and get on the road to recovery. I will be praying for you. Well, I am off to bed for another nap. That is important for recovery too. That part I do like.

So sorry to hear about your knee Maureen. Is there any chance of a cortisone shot before then? Or have you had those already? I hope you don't have to wait too long.

Sorry to hear about your knee Maureen, hope you don't have to wait too long

Rita - Really like your scrappy projects - especially the piano keys border.

Maureen - Like your group block challenge idea, I bet all enjoy! Hope your surgeon visit comes up quickly!

Barb

Thanks for the encouragement Lois, as you say by using scraps I will not have to stand to cut fabric.

I have given my small weekly group a challenge of making a different block each month. We each started with a block and then a new person takes it and makes a new block, brings it back. It goes around to everyone keeping to the same colours as the first block and at the end the owner of each set of blocks then puts it together as she wants. I have been choosing the blocks so maybe I could suggest one that deals with scraps next month. Any ideas?

In the UK our NHS (National Health Service), which is free, is not very quick unless there is an emergency. I have had all the tests and x-rays and am waiting to see the surgeon. Once I see him and we are both happy with what is going to happen I will be put on his list for the surgery which could be a couple of months.

Maureen, it's hard for me to believe that a kick in the you-know-what would stimulate creativity when you are dealing with constant pain. I understand your feeling about painkillers and hope you manage without them. Have you scheduled a knee replacement? I think the random placement of scraps/crumbs making blocks might be just the ticket. No standing to cut fabric. No detailed planning might and the hum of the sewing machine help your brain recover from the pain killers. Good luck!

Maureen, I hope you will soon be without that pain. It just stops everything.

Rita, you sure have been busy. I really like all those bright colors

Rita, you have been busy and your quilts are wonderful, well done, I need a kick up somewhere to get me started. I have loads of scraps, so maybe something small to start with as I love anything scrappy.

For a while I have been on 8 painkillers a day as I need a new knee and was finding everything was really hard to do as brain wasn’t working to well. Decided that pain was better than being a zombie so I have come off them now and am hoping to get things started as my group Threadlines has another exhibition in June next year. The title is Marks & Stitches, ideas are in my brain but won’t come out.

Yep. I made the Celtic Solstice too. Needs the borders, but that won't stop me from doing the Bonnie's mystery this time. Also have a leaders and enders nearly ready to sew into blocks. It will probably get done with this next mystery. And yes, I need to get going on something for Nov.1. I am also sewing some clothes for myself. Every few years when I can't find anything I like in the stores I go back to making a few garments. I am always so surprised at how quickly the clothes get done. Of course we don't cut garments into a million pieces before we sew them together. Hmm…

Wow, Rita, you really have been busy! They are all wonderful and you're sister will be thrilled! I knew you know about Bonnie Hunter since you made her beautiful Celtic Solstice mystery quilt last year. I'm hoping to make this year's mystery quilt. She already announced the colors and they are gorgeous. Definitely take a look, Wendy!

I've been working on Christmas presents. I had a couple of kits for bags that I've bought through the years when they were on sale, so I'm making them up. I probably won't get pictures posted until after Houston.

Marilyn, Bonnie has been a great inspiration both for many of my scrap quilts and her hexagon quilts too. I forgot to mention that my one is getting close to the end too. I will have to wait a while before I post a photo though. At the moment I am still attaching the final round of flowers and filling in all the gaps to square it up. I have not counted how many hexagons I have made but I reckon I am well over 5000 by now. Kicking myself I didn't make them bigger to begin with as I would have been done in half the time.

Wendy you will find Bonnie Hunter's blog at http://www.quiltville.com there's a wealth of information there for any quilter including free patterns etc. Enjoy and we will see you back here sometime in the distant future.