It's b-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ck

Uh-huh, that's right. It's back, and soon you will know more...

see more...

read more.

It's back, baby - and so am I.

My sewing corner is buried

It's not dead, just inaccessible at the moment.

I got the crazy notion that I wanted to rearrange the lower level, and then I got a quarter of the way through the process and..........thbbppppt - ran out of steam.

Now, there's a chair stuffed into the open space of my beloved sewing corner, and other things piled on top (clean laundry, mostly) and in front of it, making room for the procession of furniture needing rearranging (and making it impossible for me to enter).

I also let myself become too absorbed in the gardening, plus I allow myself to become distracted in other ways (when gardening time is ended on any given day), then there goes my focus and desire.If you don't read my other blog, this is my overwhelming project. Once completely COVERED with weeds, now it's looking pretty good!

NO! Wait - that's wrong. My desire is not gone, it's just done in by exhaustion and big ideas. Oh, and fear. The fear of picking up and carrying on with the wrong next task. That leads to recrimination and self-chastising for wasting time doing the wrong thing.

Oh bother!

OK, so...new plan. When I come indoors today, after playing in the dirt, I bring the shovel with me and dig out my corner and weed - er, I mean...continue rearranging the indoor spaces. I will reclaim my sewing space!

A little May vacation

Boy, I hadn't realized that nothing had been written in May, but then I also haven't quilted since April, either!

Boo.

I was working a Scripty job from the end of April through all of May, and I would be working on another film gig right now....but I turned it down. (That's right, I was hired and I said "no.")

Yea and boo!

I had to (for several reasons), but I will not go into it at all here. Suffice to say I have been enjoying my down time in many productive ways, and while I miss working (the pace, the energy, the cash - inadequate though it $$ may be), I had several things I needed to attend to that would have been a larger problem had I not made the decision I did.

Did you follow that? Did that make any sense? Anyhow, I've begun a small sidetrack project for one of my sons.

Brian made himself a chainmail 'suit' (I'm sure that isn't the right word for his creation), but he needs a gambeson to wear underneath it. Once it is done, there will be a photo of the finished product and an image of Bud in it under his chainmail. This kid is gonna roast! But, he loves his Renaissance - has ever since his first Ren Festival - and if I can help him enjoy it in any way...then I am there for him.

More real quilting soon.

A decision

Nothing earth shattering, just a simple change.

Regarding the An Ocean Waves Garden project: When I do sit down to begin working on this quilt again, I think I will be piecing it quite differently. As I look at the photos (and the assorted bits here in front of me) it seems it could look more pleasing to the eye, and more complementary, with the colors positioned around the seed packet squares in complete groups, instead of in four seperate color assortments.

Does anyone want to weigh in on this thought process? C'mon, what do you think?

Found another one

Well...another four, actually, but here are the pieces of an "Ocean Waves" I began easily fifteen years ago.

Why I put it aside I have no idea, but I do remember the attempt to locate colors to add to the project, and having the worst time in the effort.

This was back when only one or two stores sold 100% cotton materials strictly for quilting (with a very small number of - and usually remote - specialty quilting stores existed) - and the selection was small, small, small. Colors were still predominately drab and the patterns and designs were nothing like our palette of choices today.So, when you found a very cool print (like this lovely seed packet print, above) you had to gobble it up and hope to find something else truly inspiring to use with it (maybe later...somewhere down the road).

Today, you can walk into dozens of fabric venues within a short driving radius and find hundreds of fabulous materials. Oh heck! For that matter, you can sit at home in your PJ's and shop from an endless supply of fabric dealers.

Thank goodness things are a-changing. Maybe now I can finish this little colorful relic from my past.

Well, maybe not "now", but definitely some time this year (or next).

[chagrined]

Just 'stuff'

"Little Brown Bird" by Angie Witting; 86"x86" Hand Applique/Machine Piecing

Without a doubt, this was the single most breathtaking piece at the quilt show happening this weekend in Detroit. There was a lovely vintage Grandma's Flower Garden which also blew me away, but this applique quilt was phenomenal (to say the least)!

Looking at Ms. Witting's applique work had two affects on me: 1) I just want to start learning and practicing the art of applique right now; and the other is to 2) completely forget about giving it a go, for fear of never being able to get close to her level of expertise.

The quilt guild putting on the event is the Detroit guild my friend Maria took up with more than a year ago, and they've since brought her to a new level of quilt excitement. It was very easy to see why.

There were quilts by individuals as well as quilts from several members representing a class the guild had sponsored. It was interesting to see different interpretations and color schemes of similar patterns and/or guidelines (like making your quilt from one or two materials only).

We had fun walking the zig zag path of quilts (at least 200 of them) and the astounding assortment of vendors.

There was an intricate PVC display system assembled for the display of the quilts, and I just had to study that, too.

I was completely in awe of the sizes of some of the entries, and I felt dwarfed by many of them. Then I found myself wondering how they managed to stretch and sandwich the largest quilts - what sort of rack would allow for such a huge quilt?!?

At any rate, there were a large number of absolutely gorgeous pieces on display, so it was thrilling to see that - even in the big city - the art of quiltmaking is not disappearing any time soon.

We spent hours walking and talking, observing and studying, and collecting inspiration (and dismissing those quilts that were not pleasing). It was a great way to point out things to keep in mind when choosing thread color and quilting stencils or patterns for the topstitching.

Despite the need to get other more pressing tasks done, first, I am so geeked to quilt today that I can hardly figure where to begin!

Sometimes...

...a quilter's gotta do what a quilter's got to do.

Just finished cutting a much larger version of a stencil I bought for quilting the Ohio Star, simply because it needed an extra 3.5" - all the way around!

Three-and-one-half inches!!! That's seven inches of too tiny!

Was I sleeping when I read the description? Was the description worded incorrectly? Should I not be allowed near my PC with a credit card and a wish list? I don't know!

Perhaps it's a little from column "a" and a smidge from column "c". Maybe it's all column "b".

All I do know is that I am very happy to be at the point of actually stenciling the quilt now. It's all downhill from here, baby. ;)

Handwork

Handwork can be good for the soul.

This is one of two attempts at hand quilting (for myself). From the top it looks grand, but I have to do a lot of pulling and re-stitching (a second, and sometimes third time) to make it look as good on the back as it does on the front.

My great-grandmother was a hand quilter, and I imagine she got a lot of practice to refine her handwork.

In all honesty, I do not specifically remember the hand stitching on the quilt my great-grandmom made for me, because somebody walked away with it years ago while at a volleyball tournament. But I do have childhood memories of tracing the stitching with my fingers, and I do remember they were straight and prominent on both sides of the cover.

I will finish my two little (and I mean "little") projects (this Amish-style offering and a miniature Triple Irish Chain), but then... never again. I will save my hand stitching for my crazy quilting and binding application.
Oh, and maybe a wee bit of applique'.

Good point

Jean pointed out the fact I seem to be most concerned that the navy and green Flower Baskets is in the most needful condition (that is to say, I am concerned for the raw edges unraveling any further), so then - the decision has already been made.

OK...I will piece together a backing and get busy with the navy quilt next! (Besides, there's nothing that says I can't also work on assembling more blocks for Karl's quilt on the side....is there?

Thanks, Jean.

Re.: My quilting time

I think I've devised a plan that will let me divide my time among the things that need doing and the things I would like to do (as far as quilting goes - thbbppppt to the rest of it).

Without starting anything new, I can work on quilting the Ohio Star and get another quilt sandwiched (basted), which would require either assembling backs for one of two finished tops, or...............continue assembling the squares for Karl's quilt so that I can put that top (and backing) together while I finish quilting the P&BOS.

See, then I can just move on to quilting the next project and keep this whole process going. I do have a good selection of projects to choose from....but where to begin?

Simply put, I think this method will allow me to conquer the pile of existing projects more efficiently, whittling them down and not leaving anything in the dust. In theory I should be able to tackle the bulk of the existing projects (in their various stages) and come up empty-handed by the end of the year - free to begin new quilts (yea!) without guilt.

A new project without guilt! [squeal of joy] That sounds grand.

So, what do you think? Which of these should be next on the assembly line?

Flower Baskets: Navy and Green

OR
Snail's Trail 1: Orange and Brown

ORDouble Nine Patch: Funky Cats

ORKarl's quilt: Jewel Bugs

?