Where does time go?

Posting on my blog has been subjegated throught March.  If I ever try to think about the things that have taken me away from posting they seem like frittering away my time. But some of it was what I considered a mandatory down time for me after a health issue was discovered.  We all need them but not necessarily health triggered.  Changing your focus can allow your mind to resolve things that have been blocked.  Some time was spent working on a volunteer assignment which is proving to be quite time consuming and challenging but we need those just like we need down time.

I did a lot of quilting and piecing and handwork.  Of the 48 blocks required for a large quilt I want to enter into a show, 2/3rds of the work is done.  I put a picture of the block in a previous post.  The fabric colours have brightened up the dull days of March.  Assembly sewing is at time mind numbing but it is also a quiet time to listen to good music.  I finally have my computer hooked up to a BOSE speaker which can travel throughout the house and makes music resound as if in the concert hall.  My music collection, in boxes since I dismantled my old stereo, is back and brightens even the dullest day and the dullest sewing.  Listening to the opera on Saturday afternoons with full, vibrant sound is a pleasure.  Loved Madame Butterfly from New York last Saturday.  It was the first opera I went to in Rome.  Memories.  The Baths of Carracula; the Italian gentleman behind singing with the performers.  It made me an opera lover.

Some quilts for others have come and gone off the frame to homes where they will be cherished. So that is time spent creatively.

But happiest of all a quilt, for which the fabric was purchased probably before 2005 and the top made in 2008, is finally finished.  One thing I know is my piecing and applique skills are much improved.  The quilt was used as a display for hand quilting for two years at a local exhibition.  I really wanted to hand quilt it and when it came back to me I tried to finish the hand quilting already begun.  I did discover that when a quilt is used for this purpose, it has 'variable' stitching.  My own stitching was not as good as the best but most of all I cannot sit at a hand quilting frame without some physical discomfort.  So the quilt which had been stuffed in a bag was taken out and all the stitching removed.  Threads, threads, threads which the swishy tails of golden retrievers have a tendency to spread.  Everywhere!! After all the mess was removed, the quilt was put on the big frame and quilted by Hortense with a bit of help from hands. Thank goodness for talking books during the tear out process.  It was lovely to have the blues and yellows of summer to look at when the days were dull.  

I also tried a different border treatment after I had done so much straight stitching.  I made myself small 'rulers' out of large washers from the hardware store and used them to have random intersecting circles on the border.  It was an exercise in patience but adds some interest.  I would certainly incorporate it in future quilts when it is appropriate.

The quilt on the back of the bed with the hexagons is a damaged one I found which when time permits will become the headboard cover.  And behind is the 2nd quilt I did on a big stand up quilt frame.  The 1st was a disaster.  Enough said.  Learning happens through doing.

I mentioned handwork above.  This handwork is for an art quilt based on a challenge.  And it is a challenge.  When it is finally finished and given away, I will publish a picture.  The poem on which it is based is Emily Dickinson's poem.  'hope is a bird'.  Right now HOPE is important.  Hope my choices of design are right; hope my use of the fabric is right and hope that the ideas can be executed and hope the quilting will make the piece come alive.  Amazing what ideas come in the early morning hours as one listens to the quiet of the house, gentle dog snoring and snuffling as they chase squirrels in their dreams and kitties snuggle with soft purring.

Hope you like this quilt and thank you for reading my post.

April 1 - Joke Day

It is a good thing this is a day of jokes because it is raining big fat rain drops.  The sky seems to be reaching down to touch the soul and it is a chilly touch.  Lights are needed in the house and all the animals are huddled with looks that say 'Light that fire lady'.  But all is not lost.  Upstairs are the beginnings of a colourful quilt.  There is a bit of a raindrop there in that the designer was not terribly expressive in describing where something matched.  In fact the designer said nothing so I have a couple of squares where the match is just off by a hair past a whisker.  This will require detailed examination with a cup of hot coffee to decide on convenience or that dreaded seam ripper.

BUT it am happy it is raining and that I have to decide on ripping out some stitches because I now have two repaired eyes.  The cataracts are gone and this has given me back much more than I thought I had lost.   I can actually SEE the rain.  This is something that creeps with stealth so that you accept the limitations it creates without realizing the extent.  But I now have 20/20 vision with only the need for those little reading glasses.  So I dug out a pair I wore when I was younger and thought I looked serious and now ...........  Well I leave that to your imagination in that I have grandchildren who are not babies.   Now I do not have to rely on the automatic threader on the machine entirely.  Although funny enough I could still thread a needle for hand sewing right up to the 2nd surgery.  Must be the determination of the quilter.  We are a hardy breed made up of optimism and determination and imagination

In the sunshine of this weekend I kept noticing things that I had forgotten about.  The gravel at the side of the road has pink in it.  The yarn I ordered because is was a rosy red is actually an orange red.  Bummer.  The blue sky over the Annapolis Valley goes on forever.

I have been given the gift of my quilting all over again.  I cannot wait to truly see what Hortense can do.  She is quietly waiting in her quarters for a quilt to be done with little tractors.  Just need the all clear from the doctor tomorrow to bend and stretch and lift and just be unrestricted.

More quilting here I come.  Gifts come in different packages and mine were delivered by the doctor in the form of tiny lens in my eyes.  And this is a gift that will go on giving to me which means I can go on giving to others.

Power of Women and the Internet Library

Just a quick post on a snowy day in March.  Oh Mother Nature you led us down the garden path yesterday with sun and warmth.  But that is March.  Today is a day for quilting.

I have blogged about the warmth and caring of guilds and in the case of mine it is 100% women.  This is not uncommon but changing in more cosmopolitan areas.  Last night I was introduced to a Womens group which has existed in Canada since the late 19th century.  It is the Womens' Institute.  Some of you may be familiar with this institution (British version) from the movie Calendar Girls.   This local gathering was to celebrate many, many years of service.  It was a privilege to listen to members recall accomplishments but the overriding comments were about the collegiality of the institute like that of a quilting guild; warmth; acceptance; friends; welcome; antidote to the loneliness of raising your children and about how the institution collectively has brought about tremendous change.

Sometimes in all the hectic activities in which many of us seem to be involved and what are sometimes both pesky and petty concerns that make our blood boil we forget that we, women, collectively are not without power for change and the power to support each other and those who need support in the face of life's problems.  Our nurturing natures do not make us soft but give us life skills that make this a better world.

Switching streams
Never discount what good things you will find on the internet about quilting.  It is like a gianormous library which you can use to search and find.  I needed a band aid to sooth my quilting soul as I pick out some stitches (actually a whole lot)  where I made a bad decision.  Well today a monthly e-mail from Superior Threads arrived and my band aid was in it.  It linked to a teacher called Jamie Wallen.  Not only a band aid but a salve to sooth my hurt pride at least when I finish taking out the tiny stitches.  Harking back to my childhood this would be something that is 'good for my soul'.

When the stitches are ripped out I will have something to show.  Hortense do not let me down please.

What comes first?

A sigh of relief; a shout of yippee or just a body slump?  I mentioned in a previous blog that I have a new long arm quilting machine and I asked for suggestions on how to quilt a busy blue and white quilt.  First of all now that I have had some experience with both I will call the quilt Patience.  I have now sighed and my body is not like a stretched wire.

This has been a learning experience and all the videos in the world or directions in manuals substitutes for experience.  I learned the following:  (some applies to any quilting but some is more specific)

• Make sure your quilt is truly flat both in seams and at joins with borders (see note below)
• make a checklist such as clearing your sewing surface of threads and other objects (long arms do not like loose and/or stray threads (this makes bumps and squiggles where you do not want them or the threads can end up showing through your quilt top)
• do not quilt when you are tired or upset
• quit when you are tired
• plan how you are going to quilt and keep a picture of the plan or write it down  (this is something I learned when using my old mid arm.  Another hard lesson)

Note:  a little bit of stretch on a border can cause the main part of the quilt to 'hump' up a bit and that bit is a nuisance.  Also consider pressing seams open when doing complex areas of the quilt but make sure your machine stitching is not going to come apart.  I made a solemn vow to cut and piece with the greatest of care and to reject anything not perfect or I could not press flat with intense heat, steam and sheer force of will.  :)  Hey I am no angel and perfection is beyond my scope.

There are some other things but that is enough housekeeping for now.  I hope this helps someone else to avoid some pitfalls.

I call the quilt Patience because I barreled ahead with an idea and it took an hour to pick out the tiny stitches.  I was frustrated with something else hence the advice to be calm. I am not sure who suffered more; me or the threads I pulled out. Then a design element would not go right when I repeated it vertically.  Think about writing your name vertically rather than horizontally.  My brain would not do it. I have some tools but they were too big.  Then in the middle of the night I thought of a tiny (and expensive) can of cat food which was the perfect circle.  But it was too high so after scrounging around the kitchen I found a circular cover to a light which was just perfect.  I did not do this in the middle of the night (I am not crazy).   Sometimes keeping bits is handy.  Do not overlook simple solutions.  Try drawing the element and break it down into parts that are simple shapes.

So the quilt is on its way.  I will NOT pick out the imperfect elements but since it is a busy quilt it will not be noticed.  That is another thing; practice on a busy quilt.  It will not show when you make a boo boo.  And if someone finds it after searching carefully re-evaluate the friendship or the familial relationship.  :)

On a very cold and snowy day the sun has peeked out of the clouds both inside and outside of the house.  Now off to my sewing room to make some (I hope) close to perfect 12 inch squares.  However the iron will be hot.  

Thought dashes

This has been a week of topics popping in and out of my head.  One I am trying to put into practice.  You have all heard the words 'Just Do It'.  Well when I was still working the words meant something different from what I was thinking about.  I was thinking something more positive.

I have heard there are a large number of people who procrastinate including me.  So I started timing how long it took me to do some of these little things.  What I discovered was that I spent more time thinking about doing them than the tasks actually took.  I have freed up more time to think about 'Just Do It' in relation to quilting.  It could also be phrased as 'Just Try It'.  So a project that has been occupying brain space is now a project occupying space on my design wall.  It is taking shape and it even has a name which makes it more legitimate than just a bunch of blocks in my head shifting and changing.

'Just Try Doing It'.  It is liberating.

Other thoughts have been around the variety of people who quilt and the many, many reasons they do so.  Like people some quilts are rough and gruff; some soft and pretty; some rigid; some free flowing.  Some are very flamboyant.  Do they match their people?  I must watch to see if they do match and what matches; the designs and/or the fabrics.  Or are lots of people like me who like every quilt and quilting style.  My fingers itch to try everything I can and hence my own campaign to 'Just Do/Try It'.

I also like to knit, design machine embroidery, do thread painting, do needlepoint and sew clothes.  And I love to quilt on my long arm.  I feel like I am painting.  Sewing clothes has been shelved for quite a while but each time I see the lovely fabrics I brought back from India that type of sewing stirs me.  But would I be a better quilter if I took these away and just concentrated on quilting?  Are these considered cross training like in athletics?  I sure hope so as I ordered a complex cabled sweater and yarn this morning.  The lure of a challenge?  Does this match up with 'Just Do It'?  I think it might.

  What I don't like is house work but actually did some today.  Could that be considered as discipline which helps in getting UFO's finished?  Maybe I might feel better about housework if I looked at it this way as self discipline.

Off to enjoy some sunshine in the sun room.  Must bank those sunny hours against days without at this time of year; at least if you live in a  coastal northern climate.

That quilt - what to do

As promised here is a picture of the blue quilt.  I just love it and will love it more when quilted.  So simple or complex quilting?  Any comments?

As today is a busy day (snow shoveling) I will only say 'Have a good one'.

Here is a collage of my quilting room walls.  I think I am going to run out of room.  But oh so much fun.