How Many Quilts in a Lifetime?

One of the things I hear constantly in a quilt shop is “I wish I had more time.”

Usually someone is walking around a store, inspired by the work of others, inspired by the patterns, inspired by the fabric, just plain inspired.  But what is it about quilting that brings out the lament, “I wish I had more time” ?

When I worked in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented job, I never heard those words. Never.

Something about the act of creating makes us wish we had more time.  Or maybe it makes us wish we didn’t have to ever make any decisions.

But the truth is, we all make decisions about how to spend our time. Walking around a quilt shop, looking at all the work and beauty that goes into each and every project, we come face to face with the hard reality that none of us will ever be able to do it all. We simply cannot make all the quilts, travel to all the places, have all the adventures, meet all the people, have it all, be it all, do it all.

None of us.  No matter how productive, no matter how many sewing machines, no matter how much time we devote, no matter how skilled, no matter how trained or talented, no matter how much balance or non-balance, no matter how hard we plan, or how well we implement the plan, no matter how. hard. we. try.

We cannot do it all.

And every now and then, we look at one another and while we’re in a safe place, we say the words out loud.

I wish I had more time.

On a good day, someone smiles, gives us a hug and replies, “Me too.”

Larger than queen size. finally assembled and ready to be hand-quilted.

Larger than queen size. Finally assembled and ready to be hand-quilted.

 

 

 

 

Color My World … with Polka Dots

I’m ready for the World Wide Polka Dot exchange.

The fabric has been cut.  The envelopes are stuffed.

Now all I have to do is bring it all over to the quilt shop that’s sponsoring the event —  Prairie Stitches Quilt Shoppe in Oswego.

Honestly, there’s still time if you want to join!  It took me a total of about an hour and a half to 1. cut the fabric, 2. stuff the envelopes, and 3. add my return address labels.

I realize, of course, that this whole little event will mean I absolutely must create something with the fabric I receive from others.  But that will be a fun little challenge I can take on over the summer.  I’m leaning toward a sweet polka dot garden idea. With ricrac.  Because what in the world is cuter than polka dots with ricrac?

polka dots 1readytogo

 

Mylar Easter Eggs

I just ordered some of these decorative Easter egg embroidery designs from Purely Gates.  I can’t wait to get them and try them out.

The pics on this page are stunning.  They are reminiscent of Faberge eggs.

purelygates1purelygates2purelygates3

 

 

 

 

I know the last thing I need on my list of things to do is another embroidery project, but it’s cold and rainy outside today…and who of us this winter doesn’t need a little colorful spring cheer around their house?

puerlygates.com

 

Thank You Robert Frost

panaramic2

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Cedar Waxwing. Is this not a stunning bird?

Cedar Waxwing. Dozens of them.

cedarwaxwing2

 

Stitching on Paper? Leather? Fabric?

I don’t really know what to call it.

Technically, I believe it is paper.  But, apparently it can be machine washed and tumble dried. Call me skeptical.  Even so, it is a very fun product to stitch!

It’s called Kraft-Tex paper fabric.  The project is listed on weallsew.com.

kraftexkraftex explanationThe description on the packaging is pretty accurate. It DOES look and feel like leather.  It’s also a nice warm brown color, that makes everything pop out a bit.  I can see using it in a number of different ways.  For me, it borders a little more on the “crafty” side of sewing. But I could see it used in collage work, scrapbooking or anything that requires some dimension.

 

 

 

 

 

 

binder coverbinder spineI went ahead and created the binder cover in the pattern.  Of course, I used a different embroidery design.  Mine is a medallion from urbanthreads.com.  

The feel of this stuff is pretty hard to describe. It’s not rough, it’s rather soft. Which is why it compares to leather.

I have not tried to wash it yet, so that’s an experiment for the future.

The project went together quite easily and frankly, I was impressed by the quality of the paper/fabric. I had never heard of such a thing and it behaves, in my opinion, a little more like paper than fabric.

 

If you are someone who dabbles in multimedia, you’ll want to give this a try. I’d love to use this for painting and drawing and then incorporate sewing into the mix.  If only I had more time in a day, and more inspiration in a night.  The products are out there.  Might as well find out what you can do with them!