Sorry, I Drank all the Coffee...

It has been very cold here in PA this week. 

Did I mention it was very cold here? Did I also mention that some of our radiators aren't working? 

When the temperature is in the teens and the wind chill sends the temperature to around 0, my body goes into hibernation mode. Our house has been an ice box. I was thinking about taking my sleeping bag to work since it's toasty warm there.

Unfortunately, when it is cold and dark and my body is in hibernation mode I just want to crawl under my electric blanket with a book and not come out again until spring. 

~sigh~

Lets just say I wasn't real motivated to work on my creative resolution this week. I forced myself to get the quilting done anyway. I could only do a little at a time before my hands were frozen blocks of ice. I'm glad this was a baby quilt and not a queen size or it would never get done!

Fortunately, every week ends in a nice little weekend and my Saturday morning started off by me waking up at 4:30 a.m. I didn't actually get out of bed until 5:30 but I did manage to drink almost a whole pot of coffee before my husband was up and about. 

While highly caffeinated I also managed to cut and attach the binding to the quilt. If you remember, my goal was to sew the binding on properly, not almost properly like I usually do. 

I'm pretty good at binding, if I must say so myself, until it comes to attaching the binding to itself once I've gone 'round the quilt. The binding should be sewn on an angle anywhere it is attached and I have never been very good (read that as patient enough) at getting the ends to line up correctly. So, usually I just sew a straight line where the ends meet up and call it a day. Every time I do it I am ashamed of myself. I think, "I know I can do this properly but I just don't want to take the time. No on will notice anyway, right????"

Shame on me. Well, I did vow I'd do it properly this time so I took out my handy binding ruler which is supposed to make things super easy. Guess what? It still took me about 5 tries (which means ripping things apart 5 times) before I finally got it right. Luckily I know better than to cut the ends off the binding before sewing it together like they recommend. I know myself better than that!

In the end, I got the binding sewn to the quilt and pinned to the back ready for the last step (hand sewing it to the back). And all before 9 a.m.

Of course, Mike had to make another pot of coffee when he got up.......

Time and Creativity

I've been thinking quite a bit about my creative resolution since deciding to make it. In some ways, putting time limits on creativity is good and in some ways very bad. What is good for me is that time limits force me to get to work. Knowing I have two quilts to finish this month has made me get to work planning and cutting. The time limit isn't just of my own making (that I would focus on quilting in the month of January) but also of a natural sort (the two baby quilts are presents for babies due to arrive in February). 

The down side of time constraints mean less time to fuss and think and fix and redo. However, part of being creative is in the doing. Part of being creative is in the taking a look at your creativity and critiquing it. I heard once that the most creative people aren't afraid to take a risk, to put themselves out there, to just go ahead and take the plunge, no matter if the creating is good or not so good. 

So I'm trying not to be too hard on myself. I've had off work for two weeks due to Winter Break at school and must go back tomorrow. I spent a lot of time in my classroom cleaning and reorganizing and putting new works on the shelf for January. It never ceases to amaze me at the amount of time this takes. I'm taking a look at my time, asking myself if I am spending it wisely. I'm trying to determine if there is some way to streamline what I do at school so that I have more time for other pursuits. Like quilting!

So Friday I spent working on my quilt, Saturday on my classroom, and this morning back to quilting. One of the major necessities in quilting is measuring. I find that no matter how hard I try, no matter how accurate I think I am being, my measurements are always a little off. Oh my. Something to continue to work on, to focus more deeply on the next quilt.

In the meantime I am off to the fabric store to buy the backing for this quilt. I like to use flannel because it is so warm and snug, something necessary when a baby is born in the middle of winter. I hope to get the quilt sandwiched and pinned today if possible. I fear time may not be on my side, however!

Quilt Unveiled....finally

The quilt measures about 72x60 inches

A close up of the leaf appliqué block.

The organic line quilting.

The shirting backing reminded me of our sleeping bags growing up. 

I am finally able to show you this quilt. I made it for my niece, Allison, and her finance, Jason, who are getting married in August. The bridal shower is today. This quilt took me many, many hours and much thought. I like all of my quilts to say something about the receiver. In this case, Allison and Jason. Both are outdoor people. They will be camping in the jungle for part of their honeymoon! So I decided on an earthy quilt for them to snuggle under on those cold nights and to picnic on top of during the summer. 


The leaf blocks were taken from a quilting book by Elizabeth Hartman called The Practical Guide to Patchwork. In the book the instructions say to iron-on the leaves and then machine appliqué over them. I just can't reconcile iron-on appliqué and soft quilty love for some reason. So....I spent many, many, many hours hand appliquéing the leaves onto the blocks. 


After making quite a few blocks, I decided it needed something more than the quilt in the book had, so I added the patchwork blocks. I wanted the quilt to be large enough for a picnic and for two to snuggle under on cold winter nights. I chose to use batik fabrics for two reasons. The first is practical: they don't fray so much when hand appliquéing. The second is that both Allison and Jason spent time overseas during college. They both have a love of all things international. Allison also likes purple. I find this color challenging when looking at fabric to be used by men and women. Batiks solved this dilemma. I guess that's really THREE reasons.


I always wait to choose my backing fabric until the top is finished. In this case I found this fabric that just screamed 'sleeping bag' to me. At first I was skeptical that it would work for this quilt but the more I thought about it, the more perfect it seemed. What says 'outdoors' more than sleeping bags?


Finally, the quilting. I pondered this for a long time, too. I bet most people don't realize how much thought goes into a quilt! I love the organic line quilting because it reminds me of the journey of each persons life. Married couples embark on very special journeys that take them places they never imagined. I prayed for Allison and Jason while quilting. I prayed that their journey will be one of fruitful living. I know they both have a passion for Our Lord and I pray that they use that passion for His Glory. I know they will. 
  

In the Shop

The Scrappy Quilt. I call it the I Spy Quilt.

Quick Pinwheel quilt with Organic line Quilting

Up close and personal with the organic line quilting.

Satin Baptismal Minky Blanket

Close up of the Baptismal Blanket 

Antique Pie Tin

1960's Dial-X Sharpener

It's been a productive week (I finished everything on the list). I finished my hourglass quilt which I am very pleased with. I am in love with the organic line quilting method. It does take a lot of thread but it gives the quilt so much texture. I was going through my scrap box and thinking of making some kind of scrappy pieced quilt. Most of the scraps were too small so I decided to make a quilt that is sandwiched first and the scraps sewn right onto the top. It's piecing and quilting all in one. I will never do it again. I like the quilt ok but I don't love it. I HATED making it. It took a lot of energy to finish it. I dislike having unfinished projects so that helped push me along.


On Friday I took a trip into our local Re-Use store and snatched up a boatload of satin. Much of it was between 10 and 15 inches wide and of various lengths with quite a few smaller pieces. I just couldn't resist buying the lot. I think it cost me $10 at the most. I decided to make baptismal infant quilts with it. The quilts ended up being about 26x26 and are backed with the softest minky fabric. I got 4 quilts out of the stash. Now I'm going to try to make baby booties with some of the smaller fabric. I have one larger piece that I'm hoping to make into a baby dress of some sort.


This morning I went to a few garage sales. I snapped up the pie tin and Dial A Sharpener you see above for a total of 75¢. Everything is listed in my etsy shop. I'm hoping to make enough money to cover my gas expenditures traveling to Philadelphia this summer. Traveling 3 hours every day for seven weeks is going to be expensive. I have a few other sewing projects in mind with the rest of the fabric I bought. More on that later this week. I think I need to make a list......

Gardening and Quilting

 These red beets look a little larger in this photograph than they were in real life. They were between one and two inches in diameter but they came from our little garden. Nolan and I had great fun pulling them out of the ground last night.

 Since I knew that the greens were edible and full of some kind of nutrient (800% RDA of vitamin K among others) I sautéed the greens in olive oil and added them to our plate. I roasted the beets with some sweet potatoes.

In other news, I'm doing some more organic line quilting. This is the last quilt I wanted to finish while I was off work and before my Philadelphia classes begin in June. I'm hoping to finish quilting it today and fully finish the quilt this week. What I'll do with it after that, I don't know. I do love the line quilting because it reminds me of life's journey. The road is never straight and sometimes it gets closer or farther from others roads but the journey is really the important thing. It's what makes us who we are.


Well, I'm off to help a friend dye her hair for a job interview! I warned her I've never done such a thing so I'm glad she trusts me!

Quilt Show

 On Wednesday I walked downtown to the AQS quilt show. It was a beautiful day so I decided to walk instead of drive. It was a real treat to take the whole day for myself and to be able to be in no hurry whatsoever. I feel very blessed to have these few months to do some of this self-preservation. I don't even feel guilty about it. 


It was a wonderful way to spend a day. I had only been to one other similar quilt show many years ago. I'm very glad I went alone. I was able to walk past those quilts and vendors in which I had no interest without wondering if my companion wanted to stop and I could stand and look at something for as long as I wanted without feeling I was imposing on anyone. 


Although I do have photographs of some of the exhibited quilts, they prohibit the uploading of those photos onto the web. The above photo is from a vendor. I asked permission to photograph this tiny quilt and put it on my blog. They happily agreed. The company, Paper Pieces, sells paper piecing supplies. They will send you a free sample if you ask. 


If I am to be completely honest, I enjoyed the quilts at the vendor booths much more than the exhibit quilts. Everyone has their own opinion, of course, but I like quilts to be used. I appreciate the skill and time it must take to make the quilts on display but most are more appropriately called art quilts. Art quilts just aren't my "thing". 


I was inspired to keep sewing and quilting by the show. I also was able to purchase a few things and I hope to share those with you in the near future. Some are just fun purchases, some for inspiration and a few are really useful items that I'm looking forward to using.

Rainy Day

It's a rainy day today. The kind of day that makes me want to sit in a comfortable chair and put my feet up.

 This is Walter. You may recognize him from the Muppets movie. I have to admit I'm a bit smitten by him.

 Actually, my husband is a bit smitten by him as well.

 Walter was one of my latest sewing projects. Mike and I went to an Oscar party dressed as Mary and Gary from the Muppets Movie and we needed Walter to make the trio. The kids were a little freaked out by my waltzing through the house singing "Everything is great, everything is grand...." with Walter on my arm. Mike had him almost the whole night. Smitten, I say.

Here's my seat for the next few hours. I've got an applique project started and Memoirs of a Geisha on the iPod. I won the movie at the Oscar party but wanted to re-read the book prior to watching it. Since I have a pretty hefty applique quilt project to work on I thought the book-on-tape (or book-on-iPod) would be a good companion. I hope you are having a relaxing rainy day!

Sewing a Goodbye

Here's my stacked coins quilt top. The coins don't match up. As long as you don't lay the quilt out straight you can't tell. Oh my.


Sewing always gives me time to think. What I've been thinking is that I'm not sure my sewing has any purpose and is taking up time, money and space in my life and my house. So I've made some hard decisions. I've decided to give up my sewing room for good to the computer. There is just no good reason to keep sewing. I've got no one who wants my quilts and my kids are too old to make things for. Nolan even told me today that if he was in a play or musical he didn't care if I helped with costumes. It just didn't matter to him. I guess that made me realize that I have other more important things to do.


So, I'm going to try to use up my stash. I'll make baby quilts and put them away for the odd baby that comes along. When the stash is low I'll give it to Lancaster Creative Reuse. The boxes will be gone and my sewing room will be rededicated to school work and Mike's music. It is right, it is good. 


I doubt this blog will last beyond the boxes of fabric. I'll share my last few quilts here and I'll be glad that I've spent the last few years chronicling our life in this way. I guess every mother has her moment when her life changes and she has to give up who she thought she was. It's hard to say goodbye to yourself but I guess that's an important part of mothering....knowing when it's time to say goodbye to the person you thought you were and taking on the role that others need from you.

Slice and Dice

Here's my friday night/saturday morning project. I've decided to make a stacked coins quilt (or maybe even two). It's a fairly simple quilt that uses up a lot of stash fabric. I'm really looking to decrease the boxes of "stuff" around here and decided to dedicate my current sewing to that end. 


We've had quite a month of school with Nolan. It's been challenging for him to be thrown into a new school in the 8th grade after being homeschooled for several years. I wanted to give him (and me) a break this weekend so we worked diligently last night to get all of his homework finished. I cut rectangles while helping him and got up this morning to cut more. 


Nathan and Mike are at a cross country meet and Nolan and I are heading out to market. After that I'm planning some more dedicated time to cutting and sewing. I'm really looking forward to this relaxing weekend. 


I hope yours is peaceful as well.