Week in Review 2026 – 03/06

A Little

I have been doing a little of this and a little of that, as my attention is drawn to numerous must dos, along with those unnecessary items that sooth me. Miraculously, I did get some stitching done between the essentials.

On the home front, we have had barely any more snow since the infamous blizzard. However, there has been enough snow, freezing rain and sleet to require I chip away ice on the driveway several times this week. This is absolutely essential to ensure safe passage up and down the long steep driveway.

Secret Mission

I did manage to sew thirteen curved seams on my secret mission quilt. I would have done more, if I didn’t have a few other sewing items I wanted to get done, as well.

A partial Secret Mission block.

A few notes about the above photo. You may have noted a pin in the lower left corner. This is how I keep track of the first block when I am chain piecing. Otherwise it is easy for me to get muddled, between stitching and ironing, which is the first and which is the last block in the chain. The pin also acts like an arrow, pointing to the top of the block. Something that is absolutely vital in this seemingly simple but actually quite complex layout. I do double check by returning the blocks to the design wall.

Project Quilting

Hooray! I was thrilled by Project Quilting’s 5th assignment for the year. The stitched piece must feature complimentary colors. I knew I wanted to use blue and orange. Love that combination. Since I had very little time to stitch, I knew I needed something that wouldn’t require much time in the studio.

I wish I knew where my inspiration comes from, it can truly feel like a muse is shouting in my ear. It hit me a koi fish in the water would be perfect. I had no time for research, either. So I turned to Etsy to hunt down a koi to stitch out on my Bernina 990. Don’t you love this pattern? It is called Japanese Koi Fish.

The piece measures 8″ x 8″ x 1.5″

Keeping It Reel

My apologies when I filmed this reel I made a little booboo. I forget that Instagram really only handles vertical orientations well. Hopefully I have learned my lesson. The reel shows my Bernina 990 in action at the beginning of my Project Quilting 17.5 piece. You can view the reel on both Instagram and Facebook

Rainbow Scrap Challenge

I even managed to do a little stitching on my 2026 Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt. The color assigned to March is red. So, I made one of the two red cat blocks needed for the quilt.

Each cat bloc measures 6″ H x by 7.5″ wide.

This block truly used lots of tiny and irregular shaped scraps. Hence, the very heavily pieced background fabric.

SEDOSO Update

We got the good news, this past Wednesday, that the SEDOSO (Senior Executive Officer of Studio Operations) was being discharged from the hospital and transferred to a rehabilitation center, just five miles from our home. Not sure how long he will be there. There is lots of PT and OT in his future as recovers from his fracture. He is pleased with his progress and the staff that is assisting him.

Question of the Week

What advice do you have for how to balance essential needs with self care re-energizing requirements?

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By Gwyned Trefethen

I am an artist who uses fabric, thread and miscellany to create designs gifted to me by my imagination.

24 comments

  1. What a cool response to the challenge! As for your question: Focus on what needs to be done. Realize it may take longer to do those tasks. Chart how you feel at the end of the week or if it’s been a rough few days, chart every day. Sometimes, progress happens one day; but, then regression happens. Sometimes, progress is so slight, it is hard to say it happened. Celebrate all the wins and belly laugh when it isn’t going well. Follow the therapy rules and doctor’s orders. Don’t be afraid to tell what hurts or what isn’t working. Finally, believe you can.

    1. Thank you, Terry. You always write such supportive and thoughtful comments. Yes, we are tackling one thing at a time. The SEDESO is rallying, following Doctor’s orders and doing more and more on his own exercise, PT and OT wise. Such as sitting up and transferring from bed, to walker to wheel chair, with supervision, but not assistance. The original transfers barely got him sitting on the edge of the bed and when that was mastered he required multiple attendants to complete the process. So this is huge process.

      I was so excited to find an “instant” solution for PQ 17.5. So pleased you enjoyed my response.

  2. I’m sorry to hear about SODOSO’s fracture. I hope he recovers quickly.
    I love the koi – orange and blue! For me, breaking down tasks into the small steps that it would take to accomplish them makes it easier to do at least one small thing every day.

    1. Thank you, Sherryl. The initial week was one step forward and two steps back. However, as we finish up week two post fracture he is only moving forward. The good news is he is very motivated to recover and his doing what he can to achieve that.

      Isn’t that koi stunning. I did my usual and played with the thread color to really punch the blue/orange theme.

  3. Love the Koi. If there are household chores to do, I can’t create in the studio. It weighs on me. I have to clear the chores first and then shift into creative mode with no baggage. Good to hear Sedeso is rallying.

    1. I hear you. There are some chores or to do items I find easy to ignore. Others are too distracting to sit down and sew.

      So glad you like the koi. Part of its appeal, I think, is that it is set in a fantastical scene of cherry blossoms and a splash.

  4. That is really good news about the SEDOSO! I’ve been thinking about you all week, Gwyned. Be careful yourself on that ice! Your koi turned out beautifully. And I love the cat block – with the cat’s paw hanging down! My balance for self-care time vs the “have tos” is that old 15 minutes of sewing thing (or whatever you want to spend it on) – if just 15 minutes is all you can manage, it will still give you some “me” time and move your project forward. In my final year of teaching before retirement, I had the most challenging class I ever had, and 15 minutes of sewing every night after dinner kept me sane!

    1. Still no more ice. Just rain with temps 4 degrees above freezing. Isn’t that cat block fun. I did see the different poses in a free pattern, but I completely redrafted the pattern in order to be able to paper piece it.

      I am treating myself to sewing for at least an hour on my typical studio days. I usually spend 6 – 8 hours 3 days a week. So, I am down from approximately 20 hours to closer to 5. I have noticed that the number of texts and calls are dropping. They were appreciated, but also time consuming.

    1. Thank you, Karen. I enjoyed making them. The SEDOSO is making great strides, literally. He walked down the rehab corridor and back with no assistance other than a walker today. He is quite proud of himself.

  6. Glad to hear your husband’s recovery is progressing this week. I have been a caregiver several times (including now) and my best advice is to take care of yourself. Get enough sleep, eat at the normal times, relax, sew…. Hire someone to take care of the snow and ice outside. I recently hired a cleaning person and this has taken a huge load off my husband and I.
    Orange and blue is one of my favourite combinations too. Love your koi!

    1. You are so right, Gail. One thing I have been consistent with is self care. I’m eating my meals close to my normal schedule, maintaining my sleep schedule and getting 20 – 60 minutes of exercise in daily. The good news is the weather has warmed. So no more ice and doesn’t look like we will have any in the future. Ironically, I have been begging the SEDOSO to allow me to hire a housekeeper for years. He is very fastidious about things are cleaned, so he does 90% of the cleaning and do a similar 90% of the picking up. However, one of my very first thoughts, sad I know, is now I can hire a housekeeper. I’ve started working on that.

      Nearly 40 years ago I took a class on how to go from quilter to art quilter. One of our assignment was to fill a shoe box with color combinations we liked. I have long since got rid of that box, but I still remember realizing how I cut out pictures of strong blue/orange combos.

  7. Hooray for the rehab center! They will get him in working order fast, even if it’s hard being away from home. My advice for your question is to celebrate success & remind myself that most of the deadlines that stress me out are actually self-imposed, so just stop! For example, I talk in my post today about getting no red done because I’m doing a vanity project for myself. And I’m allowed to do it & enjoy it!

    1. Yes, the rehab center is getting the SEDOSO working. Sometimes it is as simple as sitting in a chair for 30 minutes. Other times he is practicing transferring from bed to walker to chair and back. Yesterday he was walking the corridor unaided but supervised. Progress is slow and there have been several regressions, however there is progress.

      We are our own worst enemies when it comes to self imposed deadlines. That secret mission had a hard deadline in my brain, but if I am a month or ever a year late it will be appreciated.

  9. Secret Mission is pretty, I love to see the small hints about it. I do the same with chain piecing and pinning the first block! Both Koi fish and Cat are pretty. I’m so happy for your husband, he’s recovering quickly. I agree with Gail, take care of yourself first. It’s like the instructions given by flight attendants during the safety briefing: start by putting on your own oxygen mask, then help others. Otherwise, you won’t have the energy you need. Quilting is a self-care bubble. Thank you for sharing and linking up, hugs.

    1. My Secret Mission sharing feels a bit like dumping out a jigsaw puzzle without the seeing the picture on the box. Each piece suggests possibilities, but it is hard to imagine the final work, unless you actually designed it. Of course, I have that privilege. Yes, the SEDOSO is improving more than he is declining or staying stagnant. I need to hold that thought close when he has a tough day.

  10. Oh my goodness, that koi fish is beautiful. I too place a pin on the beginning block to keep my place. I hate when I mix things up. I am glad that SEDOSO is progressing in his recovery.

    1. A pin on the top block/unit is so simple and so helpful. Not surprised you do it as well. I was very impressed with the koi pattern, too. There are some amazing embroidery designers. I’m blown away by their talent.

    1. Amazing what can be achieved with the embroidery side of my Bernina 990. So many fabulous designers. As for the SEDOSO, most days are step (literally) forward.

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