Wednesday, April 16, 2014

What is Your Superpower?

Welcome to the Superpower Blog Hop! It's my day to share my Superpowers!
I bet you didn't know I have Superpowers! Well, I do! But I only made a quilt about one of them! LOL
Guess which one?!?
I SURVIVED BRACES!

Getting a full set of railroad tracks put on my teeth when in my 50's was not a good idea. It was agony at times, and the rest of the time it was just plain miserable. My mouth was full of sores and my teeth constantly ached from being poked, twisted, and shoved around.
But I survived having braces and lived to make a quilt about it!
Now...more about my quilt...
The stitchery was done with variegated   DMC floss. I added some metallic thread to the word 'braces' but it doesn't show up well enough to make it worth the trouble of struggling with it!




The machine quilting is a combination of some walking foot straight lines, and some free motion quilting.



The centre block is a paper pieced mystery block from Paper Panache. This is one of my favorite websites, and you can buy this block and many more here.
Did you see the braces attached onto Ms. Sunshine?!? This is the real piece of hardware that was attached to my bottom teeth for 2 years. And now it is stitched onto my Superpower quilt!  

What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger!
A big thanks to Madame Samm and Pauline for giving us another fun blog hop celebrating the Superpowers of our blog friends. You can visit the blogs of the day by clicking on the links below and discover what their superpowers are:



And as a little giveaway for the Superpower blog hop readers, I made a couple of little scrappy mug mats. If you'd like to win one, leave me a comment about what your superpower is, and I will draw two winners from the comments.

66 comments:

Valspierssews said...

Thank God I never had braces! Well done surviving. I love your sunny quilt. Lovely mug rugs.
valspierssews

Janet O. said...

I love this commemorative quilt! And to have the real braces from your teeth--that is a hoot, Kathy!
I've never considered myself as having superpowers, but I survived braces as an adult, too--for almost 4 years! I feel your pain. : )

Judy B said...

Boy you differently have Superpowers to have endured braces! Your quilt is sew cute with the actual hardware included. Thank you for sharing.

nicolesender said...

I survived braces twice! My superpower is my "green thumb." I like to grow trees from small starts or seeds!

Sarah said...

What cute mats! I love your blog; I've read every entry for several months since I discovered it. :) My superpower is mothering people. :) sarah@forrussia.org

Michelle said...

I had braces in my early twenties. I know exactly how you felt. Great job with your project.

Anita said...

A fabulous quilt, and the story behind it makes it perfect!
I think my superpower is quilting, even though I only started 2-3 years ago. I am learning new things every day, and I get so pleased when I master a new technique!

Charlene McCain said...

Your super power should include super strength, patience and endurance to survive those two years. Good for you! Love your Toothy Sun mini quilt! (Paper Panache is one of my favorite sites, too. Love her Fairy Quilt Godmother wall hangings.)

Kylie Lloyd said...

That is one cool celebration

Shari said...

What a creative memory quilt...great project. I'm a super cross-stitcher...at least a wannabe one anyway lol!

Shirlee Fassell said...

Wow The smile on that sunny quilt looks so great and I bet yours does too!! Brave and expensive superpower.

Elizabeth Coughlin said...

Wow, I'd say you are Super Woman to survive braces at that age! Your project is so much fun!

Thearica said...

Surviving braces is certainly a super power! I never had them but it is one thing I never wished I did have. Your quilt is fabulous!

Jill said...

Glad you made it through those two years of mouth metal. One of my super powers is actually happening today. Fasting for too many hours before a blood test. I want coffee to wake up. Instead I am going to check out Paper Panache.

Karen said...

I survived major dental work. I had a bridge made for my front teeth right before my daughter got married. 14 years ago I survive my daughters brain tumor. I never thought of it as superpower.

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

Verynice Kathy! I need them,,but no way...LOL

StitchinByTheLake said...

Too cute! You've made me so thankful I didn't have to survive braces. :) blessings, marlene

Gill said...

Well done you for surviving braces!! my youngest son had his off recently after 3 years!!
Thanks for a lovely giveaway!

Sparky said...

oh my ....i remember those days...especially when it was time for them to tighten the brackets...I had braces on for 4 years, top and bottom...just got them off a couple years ago...and last week finally got the gold piece bracket on my bottom teeth removed...sooooo yes i soooo understand....yeah for you ...smile that beautiful smile... you do have superpowers....the reminder is lovely

Carin@Ullhärvan said...

I survived braces in my early twenties (that's 30 years ago) and I can still feel the soreness in my mouth now that ypu're talking about it!

krislovesfabric said...

Ah, I was a brace face once too...that tightening was killer :) Great project, thanks for sharing!

Carolyn said...

I admire you for going through that in your adult years. I never had braces, but I do remember my son going through them, and it wasn't fun. What a TOTALLY creative superpower! I just love your little quilt. :)

The mug rugs are adorable! I would say my superpower is counted cross stitch - especially stitching samplers. My favorite! Thank you for sharing and for such a lovely giveaway. :)

Quiltdivajulie said...

GREAT superpower quilt! Love that you incorporated the actual hardware . . . I had braces in high school and that was bad enough. I really admire you for surviving braces as a grown up!

My superpower? Playing with colors!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

cute quilt! how brave of you - braces in your 50's - I don't know if this is a super power but I survive living with an auto immune disease to the point that a lot of people who know me don't even realize there is anything "wrong" with me! I don't hide it, I just don't talk about it - it isn't who I "am"

Susan P said...

Going through some dental issues now. Trying to survive a tooth that had a root canal two weeks ago and then had to be pulled two days ago because it cracked below the gum line. the tooth was dug out in pieces as it shattered. Ugh....hoping my super power kicks in because this is painful!

Deanna W said...

Can leap from quilt store to quilt store in a single bound,can search out a bargin,fast as a speeding bullet paying for purchases with the credit card, amassing a fabric stash to carry me well into the next millenium!!! Yup I have a super power!!!
Love Ms. Sunshine, I would say you were very brave getting braces when you did.I just started going to a dentist in my 40's. Guess we realize we must take care of ourselves! Love the mug rugs too!!

Vicki B said...

Not sure what my superpower is maybe being a grandmother as I watch my 5 grandchildren. I feel for you and your braces. I just had a bracket to straighten my bite and I thought I was going to die at times.

Linda said...

How adorable and clever! Your new beautiful smile will show every time you see it!!

Lana said...

ADORABLE! Great Job!

barb said...

what an inspiring quilt! we have all survived something. and it feels great! babscorbitt@gmailcom

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

I had braces for 4 full years, when I was growing up. My father got them when he was 60. Lucky him only had them for less than a year. Cute quilt, but, I don't miss braces at all.

Doris Rice, The Quilting Queen said...

Cute project! My superpower is Quilting. I revealed it last friday. :)

Carla said...

That is a fantastic superpower. I love that you used your braces of the wall hanging. You ARE superpowerful! Great project!

Heidi [Banks of Frog Creek] said...

What a fun project!! I should be thankful I had braces in grade and middle school :) superpower of mine? Yikes, haha, there's a reason I didn't sign up for this hop... so I could ignore this question! But, I'll bite... Superpower of being a mom and a sewist at the same time ;)

Vickie said...

That is a clever super power idea and totally unique to you....GREAT stitching !

Judy D in WA said...

Oh Kathy, what a cute and clever little quilt!
You do indeed have super powers!

Calicojoan said...

Amen sister, nothing was worse than those blasted braces! I love how you turned lemons into lemonade and made a quiltie out of it! I'd want to say what a great memory piece, but then sometimes the memories aren't that great! LOL!! LOVE IT.

Bonnie said...

Such cute mug rugs. thanks for the chance to win one. My super power is flexibility in my life (not so much my body). Seems that plans change quite often around my house, so I have learned to go with the flow.

Kitties and Quilts said...

I think my superpower is sewing. I had braces too, in my twenties. Wouldn't want to do it again. Debbie in WV

Rebecca in AK said...

Your quilt made smile!! It is just great, especially the addition of the actual braces! I survived braces, I remember the PAIN! I never thought of myself having a super power, I guess perseverance? I usually stick with something until I get it right.

Jane's Quilting said...

Ahhh, good for you! You are beaver than most . Getting braces when you are older is no fun. Your quilt is so cute. You had a great idea making it.

Marcy said...

What a darling quilt for your superpower. I am sure it took more than power to get through it.

Anonymous said...

Hi Kathy-Love your star quilt with the braces. Both my husband and I went to the same orthodontist at the same time but didn't find out until after we met. Did you know that orthodontia is inherited, so both our daughter's needed help only we noticed with the change in technology we had to endure "bands" around ALL our teeth whereas new "paste-on" ones are now put on all except the back teeth. I can still reacall the doctor hammering them in place-tink-tink. You are truely brave. Thanks for sharing.

Purl Buttons said...

I didn't think I had a super power, but maybe I do! I survived braces, too! Cute little wall-hanging.

Carol Swift said...

I never wore braces but watched my kids suffer through them. What a super woman you were to survive them! Cute, cute way to show off your superpower!

LJ said...

That's a great superpower though I'll bet your smile also has superpowers now!

Linda C said...

oh my! Kathy, I swear I thought that was beads on there till you said otherwise. I do see the metallic thread now that you point it out. I bet you have gorgeously straight teeth now and it was worth what you had to go through to get them.

I think that my parents were lucky that only one of 6 kids needed braces (her teeth are gorgeous) and no one had any broken bones or serious illness.

Linda C said...

oops hit send too soon. My super power is stitching, hand stitching in particular, about any kind.

THX for the giveaway opportunity and hooray for your neato superpowered piece today! I would say that foundation piecing is also your forte!

Suze said...

I have heard braces are painful. My daughter got braces in high school and in college, she couldn't endure them any more. That was the end of that journey. My hat is off for you for doing that for yourself. How adorable to put the actual braces on your quilt. Thank you for sharing your superpower and hopping. My now deceased husband used to tell me I was stubborn. He said if I weren't stubborn, I wouldn't still be here. I've endured many things that most people never, never have to endure in life and am still going. He very quickly told me it was a good trait, not a negative.

Mara said...

That is too funny that you added the real deal to your mini quilt, my step-mom had braces at the same time that my little brother had braces, it was pretty funny, she had hers because she grinds her teeth at night, but for both of them it did look painful and I don't think either of them saved their braces.

Amy said...

I had braces and an awful palette expander. Anyone who survives them past the age of 20, is definelty a super hero with super powers. Beautiful little mini quilt. ;)

Quilt n Queen said...

Kathy...clever girl using your braces to make your wall hanging. In order to correct my bite and straighten my teeth, they would had to break my jaw...that was 50 years ago and about 5 years ago I asked my new denist what would have to be done to straighten my teeth...the 'break the jaw' was mentioned again. Well, my bit is still off and my teeth are not straight. Luv your sunshine quilt with the beautiful smile. Thanks for sharing in the blog hop!! Happy stitching, Pauline

Chantal said...

Oh I LOOOOOVE that smile!! Did you smiled that bright when you had the hardware in your mouth? A lovely Ms. Sunshine quilt it is. You sure know what pain is for enduring it for two years. Glad it is all behind you. My superpower is super humour. It is important for me that the people around me are happy and I usually find the bright side of basically any situation. ;^) Thanks for the giveaways (they are so cute!)

maggie said...

Wow Kathy,
Wonderful wall hanging. Very original and super cute.
Cheers
maggie

maggiemine42@gmail.com

jan said...

LOL! Very cute! I love Ms Sunshine and her braces!
xo jan

Createology said...

Wow that was a Brave SuperPower. Great quilt to honor You! Thank you sew very much for Hopping...

Pam in IL said...

I survived braces too, except I was 21. Love your quilt! I'll be posting my superpower on Monday, so I can't tell you what it is yet ;-)

Dana said...

I read a lot of quilting blogs and I've never commented before, but I have to for this one. I've had braces for almost 5 years now! My orthodontist swears they'll be off this calendar year but I'm starting to disbelieve. We just finished up another 500-count bottle of ibuprofen from Costco. So CONGRATULATIONS! I'm jealous. :) My superpower is connecting people. Or for quilting, it's probably math.

Mary Pat Callihan said...

Hi Kathy, what a super idea for your superpower! I want to see that beautiful smile! I wore a night brace for years, but in my elder years, my teeth have shifted again and my bite is off. I was thinking of getting braces, but I thinks you have cured me of that idea!
Loved your post and your quilt! My superpower is thinking outside the box! I am an OMer!

Anonymous said...

Your are a survivor.! Great job, thanks for sharing.

margaret said...

souinds like a lot of paain, amazing that they can straighten teeth in adults, at one time they used to say they had to be done whilst young, think I will pass on my top ones sticking out and being crooked, bit of a wimp . Love how you used the brace in the quilt! Interesting seeing how you have quilted it, have still to try machine quilting, not sure how to or where to start.

Brenda said...

I keep identifying with everyone else's superpower. I survived braces -- twice. Once as an adolescent, once as an adult. And then corrective surgery which resulted in my jaws being wired closed for a month. Great idea and great execution! I love it, and wouldn't have thought of it myself.

Kathy H said...

I survived braces too and I love your quilt. How cute with the braces!

kadyb said...

Hi, I love your blog but don't read it every single day - I save up and then read several days at a time. It fills my heart. Congratulations on having a wonderful superpower - great quilt. I don't know if I have a superpower, but I know I am pretty good at enduring life's challenges and growing through them.

Kathi Harris
kadybird2002 at yahoo dot com

Helen said...

Cute mug mats.

Mokki said...

Wow well done for surviving braces as an adult. It doesn't sound fun. Your quilt is like a trophy for you! Love the addition of real braces.