Love my weekends

Making things makes me happy.  Every weekend I try to spend a little time messing around, doing whatever it is that I want to do.  It washes away the stresses of a busy week.

A while back, I found this antique aquarium for a quarter.  It has a crack in it which no longer allows it to hold water.  The kids and I started getting antsy for spring.   We went to a local nursery and bought $6 worth of plants.  Then we scavenged a little moss from the woods.  Easy peasy.   Our own indoor spring. Go make one! It's fun and I promise you'll love it.  There's nothing like creating something that offers up immediate gratification and takes very little time and money to achieve the effect.

A quilt for my sweet boy

In the last two weeks, my little guy turned 5 and started Kindergarten! I can just barely wrap my mind around this. When we arrived at the door of his classroom on the first day, he stopped and said, "mom... I don't need you anymore." My heart did a flip flop, but I quickly recovered, knelt down and said, "okay, buddy, so you don't want me to come in the classroom with you?" He replied, "Nope... I got it." So... I gave him a huge hug, and watched him walk into his first elementary classroom (that was filled with the other parents and their kids.) I walked about halfway down the hill from the school before my thoughtful smile turned into tears. My baby is in Kindergarten, and he is soooo ready. I felt many different emotions just as I had when my first went to Kindergarten. This time, though, it was mostly a feeling of excitement for him.






A few days later, I got to bring Popsicles to the classroom for his birthday. The teacher greeted me and told me she couldn't believe that he was the youngest in the class. She told me that he was one of "the most with it" kids in the class and that he was doing awesome. Maybe teachers say this to parents all the time, but it meant so much to me. I have agonized about the decision to send him to Kindergarten when he would turn 5 after it started. The thing is, all indicators in every area point to the fact that he is completely ready. I can't tell you though, how strongly the majority of public opinion is slanted towards delayed start for our boys, ready or not. Everybody and their brother has expressed this opinion to me, which really is too bad. It's none of their business and it is hurtful. So I've held my head high, listened to my inner voice, watched for any signs that I got it wrong, and cheered him as he bounces in and out of the door to school each day.




I had hoped to have this quilt done by his birthday, but you know how it is. Instead, I gave him a stack of 20 improv log cabin squares that I've constructed over the past year. It was really so sweet to watch him carefully look at each one with his sister. He was over the moon that I'm making him a twin quilt for his bed. Now, I'm in the process of sewing on the sashing... Kona snow cotton. I'll explain that process when I get the top completely done and show it to you. My friend, Katie at sewkatiedid gave me the suggestion. (She's so smart!)

So this morning is really the first morning I've had to myself since they both started school. I decided to give myself a few hours for what I'm calling a mini-vacation since I never really had one this summer. It feels so good to let go and sew just for fun. I think I could definitely get used to this!

Summertime sewing

In between eating from our garden, working part-time, pool visits, running, and bike riding with the kids, I've been fitting in a smidgen of quilting here and there. This one's for my niece who turns 1 in a couple of months. I've got some other's that I'm working on.... really three, but who's counting?! They'll get done eventually and it's all about therapy for me if you get right down to it.

I straight line quilted this one and kept it nice and light for that sweet girl. The better to mush between her teeny tiny fingers as she's falling asleep.

I had a ball doing straight line quilting! I always use free motion because I so love drawing with the thread. I like the way it came together though, and the quilting fit the look of the quilt. There's squares from the clothing of my kids in there because every baby quilt needs that "I heart you history part." Really, lots of the fabrics in the quilt hold different memories for me. It was a lovely way to share a chunk of us with this spirited, beautiful, not-so-new addition to our family.

finished!

Here it is! My latest quilt. It took me almost a year to complete, but who's counting. It's funny how hesitant I am to share any of my quilts on my blog. I am not prolific, nor extremely accomplished, but I do so love patchwork and free motion quilting.

This one is for close friends. In memory of their son, Alexander Oak. I quilted a tree in the middle and leaves throughout.

A quilt is the one way I know how to extend comfort to friends whose loss is beyond my imagination. Quilts are made to provide healing and happiness in my mind.

I fell in love with the backing. Lonni Rossi. She is so talented. This print seemed to embrace the cycle of life. I used fabrics predominantly by her with the exception of a few batiks and Aboriginal prints.

So, I've sewn the sleeve on the back for a wall hanging and the threads are snipped. Now, it's just ready to be delivered to it's new home. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Spring Cleaning

Such a lovely weekend we had! It's been in the sixties here and we just can't help but think about spring. Honestly, it's been hard to come indoors, and we've been working hard at cleaning up the yard and getting the garden ready. I did rummage around in my sewing room, and it's time to let go of some fabric. A Moda Wonderland Jelly Roll, anyone? We've been feeling the crunch of the recession on our family's business (and primary income.) I love all my fabrics, but it also feels wonderful to let go.


So, I'll be offering up yardage as I come across it (or can part with it.) Most of my fabrics are out of print, so there promises to be some good stuff over the next few weeks. If you're local and want to buy, email me and we can avoid the shipping and paypal costs. Any advice you have is welcome, as I'll be figuring this out as I go. I've noticed lots of folks destashing for seemingly fair prices, only to watch the buyer turn around and sell that fabric for more. That just doesn't seem right and I want to earn for the needs of my family. So... spread the word if you will, it's all here. I'd appreciate it.

Really?!

I was bitten (attacked, really) by a dog that was on leash when trail running 8 days ago. This picture is from day 3. It has been one long week, and I'm still struggling to wrap my brain around it all. This definitely falls in the unexpected events category for the summer. I've been dealing with alot of pain and I'll spare you the emotional details associated with being attacked by a dog.

I was inspired by this and joined team Improv(e) your Butt to focus on getting more excercise. I had no idea that my goal for getting healthier would be curtailed by a dog. I did, however, piece an improv doll quilt for our sweet friend's seventh birthday after I could move around again. She loved it and that made it all worthwhile.

My sister gave me a card addressed to "gimpy" and the inside said something to the effect, "that mama said there would be days like this." Really? O.K..... but such a huge chunk of the summer? Come on, now. It has to let up soon.

While she naps...

I'm back in my beloved mountains of North Carolina now and feeling grateful. My mom and dad are doing really well, and my mom is on her way to health. I got served breakfast in bed this morning by my husband. It was just so nice to have someone take care of me. I didn't know how much I needed that. I am enjoying being with the kids, walking around the garden, reacquainting myself with our home.

I am so thankful for all of the amazing friends that we have. It was as if the kids were on a mini summer camp; each day that I was gone was filled with special events and loving friends taking care of them. Meals rolled in the door too. Really, the last two weeks would not have been the same without so much support. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I got to do a little piecing when my mom was napping. I had intended to do something a little more off kilter, but found myself needing the stability of straight lines. I've been saving these fabrics for my son's four year old quilt. So I cut up strips and started putting them together however I felt. Therapy.

A retrospective

These photos make me nostalgic. I took these pictures at the end of November. I can't remember seeing this patch of ground without snow. It's been covered in shades of white since December 19. My, how February does drag on this year. I nearly killed myself going for a trail run on the snow and ice this week. Still, I slugged through six miles of varying degrees of ice, slush, mud, and snow. Mentally, I felt better for it, but I pulled my butt muscle. Well worth the sacrifice if you ask me.

This quilt was fun for me and quick. The design is Chinese stacked coins... I think. I used Moda Wonderland, and sliced up a jelly roll. I figured the layout and dimensions on my own. I was just itching to make a quilt and I feel that same itch right now. Sadly, it's not in the cards at the moment.

I made this lap size quilt for sale. My first. I listed it for $195 at our November show. My friend told me later that she felt it was under priced. It was such a lovely compliment. I have no idea. I never listed it to etsy, because I felt so conflicted. Making a quilt for sale just didn't feel quit right. That's hard to explain. I think it's because every ever quilt I've made was filled with intention for the recipient. I often stitch the word "love" into the the free motion quilting of a quilt that I make. That's pretty literal intention, isn't it?

So... because it never felt right to list it for sale, I'm considering donating it for my daughter's school fundraiser. It's a public school that is brimming with good things. What do ya'll think? I'm curious to know. I need to make my decision in the next few days.

Any thoughts?

Giving up the goods, part two

I'm sharing more of the gifts we made because as always, my hope is to inspire others. I often never take pictures of the things I'm making and post them. It starts to feel like bragging or something closely akin. That's not how I am at all. I'm confident, but I try to be humble. I don't want to minimize myself or the things that I choose to do, but I don't want this space to be a braggart's book. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that hopefully my sharing is inspirational for you. Maybe I should just stop rambling, and show you the goods!

These are a new pattern I created for jumbo crayon rolls. They were fun, but I found that when they are actually rolled it is not as smooth as pencil rolls because of the crayons' chunky nature. Also, I think kids this young probably need an elastic rubber band closure, and not a tie. Still, they turned out remarkably cute and the hedgehog fabric is my new favorite.

A roll for my daughter which she bugged me endlessly about. She somehow felt neglected because her brother received one from me in August. It cracked me up because of course, I was only waiting for Christmas to arrive to give it to her. Silly girl.

Another new favorite for me, is this robot roll for a boy. I want to insert a quick "thank you" to all who purchased pencil rolls from me in the past few months. I had no idea how popular they would be and by Christmas I had made about forty. That's a lot of pencil rolls since August. Some day I will share the pattern I created, including a little tutorial.... you know, with all my free time.

One of the things that I enjoy is my children's excitement about creating gifts for others. The act of creating and giving is something that is very much a part of my family. My mom and dad have done it for years. They both have an incredible array of talents. Every Christmas to this adult day, my dad gives us each a bundle of hickory and often, black walnut chips. He carefully gathers the nuts every year, dries them, cracks them open, and then sits with a needle hour after hour picking out the nut meat. Isn't that just phenomenal? We call him a squirrel.

These are two pillows that my daughter drew, and then specified that I sew a certain way. She used Pentel fabric crayons, and her designs will not wash out. The Santa scene was for our family and the cardinal and nest was for her brother on his bed. He was thrilled to discover she'd made him a gift. I think he's old enough now to understand how special that is.

Finally, even though it was just a couple of days before Christmas I made a doll quilt for my niece. I just had to, really I did. I had made one for my daughter, and my niece is super special to me. So... I focused on that six year old girl's excitement and I got busy.


Design-wise, I wasn't that crazy about my the front of the quilt, but I love the back. The nifty thing is that no six year old will pause to care about color and value in a quilt top.



I was inspired by the size of the doll quilt. I think in the coming year, I will be creating more small, artistic wall hanging type pieces. I still get to draw with thread and play with fabric, but on a smaller scale. We'll see.

Anyhow, now I'm off to go enjoy an afternoon walk with my family. Presents for the holiday are done, and now it's time to ring in a new year. We are staying in tonight... we pretty much always do on New Year's Eve. It's board games and baked brie tonight... oh, and some red wine for mama, of course. Happy brand New Year to you, wherever you are. May it be filled with health, peace, joy, and creativity!

Handmade Holidays Show

It all starts with a lot of sewing. (How many bag handles can you count?)

Then comes the fun part.... drawing with thread.

Finally the big day arrived. All that prep, and set up, and suddenly you are part of a show put on by two wonderful women in support of local craftswomen and an amazing grassroots non-profit called Arts for Life.

I have to tell you that it was just a lovely event. The women who are invited to sell at this show are some of the friendliest and most talented. It was really something.... an absolute pleasure.

It wasn't just about the money I made or the money that we raised for Arts for Life, although all of that was wonderful. This was the second year of the show, and I have begun to feel a sense of community with these women. I had some amazing conversations that inspired me to want to create and explore more.

I also received so many affirmations about myself as a blossoming quilter and artist. This last little bit may be hard for me to explain, but I'll try. There were many talented and tasteful women there who gave me compliments about my work. Visualizing myself as an artist is something I've been working through for many years. There are certainly some self esteem issues to sort through and old messages to cleanse. I'm working on it; this weekend was such a positive step in that process. So on that note, I want to say thank you to all of my friends and my family who supported me. It was important to me in more ways than you can possibly imagine.

(P.S. I did have a handful of bags left that I will post for sale on my etsy by the end of this week. If you're local and didn't get a chance to stop by, email me and you can come take a look.)

I shouldn't have...

... but I did. I just get itchy to cut and piece fabric sometimes. I like the repetitiveness of it, and how it all comes together. Yes, the difference between meditation and addiction can be a mighty fine line sometimes.

Chinese stacked coins quilt top. For more inspiration, visit the Flicker group here. If you're brand new to quilting and want to give this design a try, there's a wonderful tutorial I found here on the right side of her blog.

School time equals sewing time....

It cracks me up how quickly I move through the sadness about summer ending and school starting. Blink, blink. That's it. I've adjusted. A friend emailed me last night and told me to go for a run and sew during my free time... skip the cleaning and laundry. Thank you, dear friend. That is exactly what I did.


I've had this custom order to fill and got it done and shipped today. It's amazing how much I can accomplish when I'm not tripping over my kids. The best part is that I still get 2 mornings a week and every afternoon with my little guy. Then walks and dinner when my big girl gets home. I'm feeling like one lucky mama.

I think this may be one of my favorite bags I've ever made. It's o.k. to say that, isn't it? I didn't want to give this bag up. But, then, it was nice to earn some money. Plus, the young woman who is the recipient just happens to be a person who chattered away to me in the car as I drove her to Kindergarten. Now she's starting her first year at high school. Wow. I'm sure it's only her that's getting older. Definitely not me.

I taught myself how to do a covered zip pocket for this bag. I was so excited. It's streamlined, nifty, and attractive. Patagonia, eat your heart out. You should have me as one of your designers.

Always, my favorite part of all was doing the free motion quilting. I sometimes dream about "drawing" with thread. That's seriously messed up, isn't it? Now I just need to make one for myself.

Early Morning Art

I was recently lamenting to my sister that I could remember during toddler years of my first, I was filled with spontaneous crafty kid ideas. This was jokingly said on my part because I had checked a book out from the library, "The Preschooler's Busy Book" by Trish Kuffner. It's good and full of things that I often just busted out with in the earlier years of parenting. It's not rocket science, after all. But it does take a few extra brain cells and a light heart to "be fun" with kids when you're overwhelmed with life's details. So this morning (before 7 a.m., mind you) I broke out with my child-like heart, and these are what we made for breakfast. A "monkey face" for my boy, and an "I love you" for my girl.

Have yourselves a good one, friends!

Asheville Quilt Show

Just exquisite, isn't it? I was so inspired, and this is only a tiny sampling, of course. Go check out Liz's post with a bunch more!