Friday, July 27, 2012

Family Autograph Quilt

My paternal grandmother pieced this quilt.  She pieced quilt tops for all of the grandkids.  Mine was a log cabin which I'll show you in a few weeks.  This was an extra one, I won the draw.   It has the names of all her children and their children, some friends (or else family member I don't know), and towns in the area embroidered on it.  She also put some Bible verse on the quilt.  I would love to know why these verses meant enough to her to put them on the quilt.  She died August 1981, early in my senior year in medical school, from peritoneal carcinomatosis.  She didn't have much trust in doctors/hospitals, so when she finally sought help and surgery was done, it was an open and then close.  Her abdomen was completely seeded with tumor.  My Aunt Earlene doesn't know what the primary was and her death certificate doesn't say either.
Anyway, I love the quilt.  It measures 67 in X 91 in.
Here's the one with my name (mispelled-- Romona). 
and this one is my dad’s block
and this has my brother John’s and sister Susan’s names
In our family there were two Randy’s, my brother and a cousin (younger, often referred to as little Randy).  My grandmother put my brother with our Mom (the yellow block) and my cousin with one of his sister’s (the blue block),
These next three contain Bible verses.  As mentioned above, I would love to know why she choses them. 
and this  (Mark 13:18)

and this (Matthew 22: 14)

My grandmother pieced the quilt top, my mother and sister Cathy did the quilting during my first year in college.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Two Articles on Bone Biology

There are two good articles worth reading on bone biology and physiology in June 2012 issue of Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 
The first one is a good review of the basics, blood supply, cell types, bone matrix, bone formation, bone growth, and bone remodeling.  The second article then uses the first to discuss clinical correlates.
Bone Biology and Physiology: Part I. The Fundamentals; Buck, Donald W. II; Dumanian, Gregory A.; Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 129(6):1314-1320, June 2012; doi: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e31824eca94
Bone Biology and Physiology: Part II. Clinical Correlates; Buck, Donald W. II; Dumanian, Gregory A.; Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 129(6):950e-956e, June 2012; doi: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e31824ec354

Friday, July 20, 2012

Three Knitted Hats

I have over the last few weeks knitted three hats.  Two of them for my young friend with breast cancer for whom I made the "one pink heart" quilt.  She has lost her hair to the chemo, so I knit her a couple of hats.  The third hat is for her husband.  You can read their blog, “Fighting Fancy,”  here.

This one is a mohair/silk yarn (Artyarns Ensemble Glitter Light) and is very soft.  The pattern is Tähdellinen by Tiina Kuu.

Here it is from the side:

The second one is not quite as soft.  It is made using Little Monkey's Stitch n Spin Merino Fiber which is 70% merino/ 30% banana fiber.  The pattern is Intuitive by Julia Zahle.  It can be worn either “cuffed”



or as a slouch hat, unfolded:



Here is the one for her husband.  It is made using Tahki Yarns Tara Tweed yarn.  I used the Cross Skull Cap pattern by Kimberly Nicdao Villareal.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Puppies in Waiting Wall Hanging Quilt

This wall hanging is made using a linen tea towel as the centerpiece.  I framed it with a lovely brown/black batik and added appliqued dog biscuits.  I used the same machine the trapunto technique I used on the African whole cloth quilt to help add a little 3-D effect to the puppies.

Here is the finished quilt.  It measures 25 in X 33 in.  It is machine pieced, appliqued, and quilted.

Here is a close up to show the one dog looking forward.

This one show more of the border detail.

Here is the back which is brown/white print.  I'll add a sleeve for hanging ease and a label, then I plan to donate it to the Humane Society of Pulaski County to be used in one of their fund-raiser silent auctions.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Links of Interest

Updated 3/2017-- all links removed as many no longer active.

These links are of interest to me and perhaps will be to you.
Today is  @jordangrumet’s birthday.  Did you know he has published a book of his poetry?  I have my copy which I am enjoying.  Read his post on how to obtain your copy.

Via @FauquierENT who tweeted this:  “Creative Ways to Wear a Scarf for Patients with a Trach or Ugly Neck Scar http://bit.ly/NfdmSG”   Not all the 25 ways shown in the video would actually work for patients with trach but enough of them do.  All of them would work for the rest of us who might just want to know more than one way to wear a scarf.  Check it out.

Have you read @joannacannon’s post  “Watch Out For The Normal People”?   If not, then I recommend you do so.  It is wonderful.

Friday, July 6, 2012

Knitted Lace Shell Top

So I frogged (or unknitted) the May Day Poncho and used the yarn to make this top.  The yarn is Artyarns Ensemble Glitter Light which is lovely, a 50/50 blend of silk and cashmere.  The pattern is Date Night by Nikol Lohr.  I’m really happy with how it turned out.   The neckline is very flattering.
See the finished sweater here: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/rlbates/date-night
I may knit this again and see how it turns out in say linen as the tunic version.  We’ll see.