Dina

I am excited about my bargello quilt, as I was really worried about cutting the strips. I don't actually "see" a straight line because of my eyes (macular degeneration), and I have relied on my Shape Cut ruler for all my quilting. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to fold the strips in sizes that I could use the Shape Cut ruler for.

But I can. I got to the step I was worried about this morning, and I can do it! I am pretty excited, as starting this quilt was a bit of a "leap of faith."

Here is where I am now. I want to thank all of you who gave me hints for making a Bargello and help on fabric selection. This continues to be fun.

Dina

Misty's Mom

I'm jealous. You're way ahead of me. I'm still picking colors. Congrats, it's looking beautiful. What part of Texas are you in?

Tartan

Looking pretty! There is new hope for macular degeneration in the esight glasses that are just out. I looked them up as my mother has MD. On their site, MD is listed as one of the conditions it helps with. A man developed them for his legally blind sister. Very expensive of course but some hope is better than none.

Dina

I am in Wichita Falls, about 2 hours northwest of Dallas. Lots of ice and junk here. Not going anywhere and can't, so plenty of time to quilt, though I should be cleaning house.

Dina

Dina

Yes, they keep coming up with wonderful things for macular degeneration. I lost the center sight in one eye 15 years ago, and I was told the other eye might lose its sight in months and there was nothing they could do. Since then, there are many different treatments for my type of macular degeneration (myopic wet macular degeneration), mainly shots in the eye. So far two shots have kept my "good eye" useable, or I would not be able to quilt at all. It is the combination of my good eye and my bad eye that gives straight lines a curve in the middle.

Sorry, more than you want to know. But I always appreciate information about new stuff that could help.

Dina

katier825

Beautiful! I love the colors!

Dina

Thanks! I spent a long long time selecting my colors. I also had a lot of help from members of this board. I am very pleased with what I ended up with.

Dina

DogHouseMom

Looking good!! It's such a fun process ... isn't it??

Just out of curiosity with regard to your eyesight ... if you closed your bad eye and only used the good eye, does that improve the ability to see a straight line??

Dina

Sort of....the problem, or at least the way it was explained to me by my retina specialist...is that you see more with your brain than with your eyes. When I close my bad eye, the brain sort of "continues" seeing as if both eyes were being used. That would change if I permanently closed my bad eye (eye patch). (Remember how long it can take getting used to a new pair of glasses....sort of similar.) The problem is that if my bad eye was permanently closed, eventually it would be no good at all for sight, and I may need all the sight I can get out of that eye, if the good eye goes bad too.

So, I sort of make do, just being glad that I can see as well as I do. I can still read, drive, cook, quilt, etc. That won't be possible if the right eye goes bad.

But the June Taylor Shape Cut Ruler makes me cut a straight line, no matter what I actually see. It is wonderful, and I can quilt because of it. Happy quilter here.

Dina

ManiacQuilter2

I think that your color selection is great. I would love to see more of a pattern that you are using. You set up you fabric samples in order at the top which shows good organization skills. Can't say enough on how easier it is to do a Bargello with the use of a design wall. Looking forward to seeing the quilt pieced. Good Luck and always take your time with a Bargello.