justine199

I have arthritis in both feet, surprising since I am only in my mid-30s. Lately, it has been keeping me off my feet and from exercising which is a real negative for me. I was only diagnosed back in May and got custom orthotic inserts in June- this after a year of not knowing what was going on with the debilitating foot pain. Between the recommended stretches, the orthotics and losing some weight I’d been feeling great for over a month. I was walking for exercise everyday and pain free. The hip and knee pain that had developed as a result of compensating for my foot pain disappeared too. And now… a major flare up that has kept me from walking for exercise or really being on my feet much at all. I’m sick of it. I was feeling so great after I adjusted to the orthotics that I though they were the magic bullet. Not so, evidently. So I’ve been doing some reading and there are some additional stretches that I should add to the ones my doctor gave me, and some strengthening exercises that might help stabilize the joints. I took some Ibuprofen this afternoon and got out on foot to do some errands. Nothing major, but better than all the sitting around I’ve been doing lately. Supposively exercise actually helps not hurts so as long as I can manage the pain, I think it’s okay to try to start exercising again.

I’ve started working on this sampler while I watch TV or a movie. It is slow going, but I love to think of how pretty the final result will be. There is no question that I will get this project done eventually, unlike my many other unfinished projects, as the older niece can’t have something so special from me without the younger one having her own! As the younger child, I resented special privileges and treatment that my older sister got- more new clothes, more new toys, while mine were mostly hand-me-downs and cast-offs. The second kid should feel special too. So I’ll plug away on this until it’s done, although it may take me a while! Grace didn’t get hers until she was four, although that was mostly because I couldn’t afford the expensive of framing it for a couple years.

I’ve started picking up this project again as the heat wave is over and Maine is back to pleasant summer temperatures. I’m doing the “in-the-ditch” straight line quilting around all the blocks and sashing rows. This is going very well. The even-feed foot was money well spent. I tested my free motion foot on some spare fabric and batting and I have to say that all the freehand machine quilting ahead of me intimidates the heck out of me. I didn’t get very good results with my test piece with the stitch length varying considerably depending on how fast I was stitching.

I would love any advice the more experienced quilters have for me! Or will I have to do the curvy, fancy quilting by hand? Hand sewing is a chore for me so I hope not.