Commentary about works in progress, design & creativity
I really can’t believe this quilt is finished. It has been in process so long- at least since 2015. Three years! I wonder if that is an average for me? I really want to get to the point of starting a project, working on it and finishing it without stopping. Of course, that may not work for me as letting projects marinate seems to be part of my process.
I really am in love with this quilt. I love the border. I was really inspired when I made it.
It might seem unbelievably boring to see each of these blocks as I put them together. However, they make me so happy that I can’t help sharing.
I am particularly happy with this block. I started out with a cool center, which I love. Adding the dot fabric, which I thought would be warm, fits perfectly. It takes on a warm cast, I think.
I also counted up the dots I have and found 11. That is one short of those needed for the number of blocks in the pattern. I don’t mind repeating one, but I may make more blocks, which means I will have to repeat others. Stay tuned.
I am making progress. Going on Retreat helped, but it’s still frustratingly slow. I have to appreciate that I am still able to make some kind of progress. I also have to think about what speed would NOT be frustratingly slow.
Finished 2018 Quilt Projects
After lamenting last month that I hadn’t finished any quilts, I was able to add two finished quilts to my list this month.
Finished 2018 Quilt Projects
I am still at five quilts in 8 months. I know that Colleen has three, but I would still really like to have more off my UFO list. They don’t magically get done. I know the key is not to add anymore to my UFO list.
Finished 2018 Non-Quilt Projects
Doing Good
In Process
The ‘In Process’ is used to denote projects on which I am actively working or are on the design wall waiting for me to stitch. I try not to put away projects, because that will ensure I never work on them
Still WIPs
I still have WIPs. Who doesn’t, after all? A project in the ‘UFO’ category means I am stalled. A nicer way of saying UFO is a WIP. The list is a lot shorter and the projects are newer, for the most part.
Small Projects in Process
Most of my progress involves thinking or just cutting.
Ready for Quilting
In Quilting Process
Binding
Hunting and Gathering
Other
Gross usage is just over 152 yards. My net is at about 61 yards. I would still be ecstatic if I could make it to 100 yards NET used by the end of the year. I didn’t think such a feat would be possible, but I might be wrong. I do have a quilt out at the quilter and one ready to be quilted. If I finish all of those by the end of the year that could make my net number jump up, but 100 yards is a lot. It is good to have goals!
What’s on your list?
I slept better on the Saturday night of Retreat, but got a slow start in the morning. I ate too much the night before and my stomach was unhappy.
Helen took a lot of great photos, including one of the nametags made by the committee. Even though we weren’t asked to, everyone wore their nametags religiously throughout the retreat. As a bonus, nobody who attended the retreat has an excuse not to wear a nametag to a meeting.
I was still feeling like I didn’t get enough done, so I thought I would start sewing on the All Rolled Up Tote. I like the Crafty Gemini method of teaching, but the requirement to watch the videos can be inconvenient. I found it not to be conducive to a shared sewing environment so I switched to working on the next MetroScape block. This was a good call as it inspired questions about the ruler and about curved piecing.
People really made progress. I documented a bare sliver of the massive number of projects on which people made progress.
I admired Bonnie’s California poppy/quail pouch. The wide mouth pouch was a retreat project led by Theresa. I didn’t make one at the retreat, but a number of people did and they came out very well.
I shared the photo with SIL #2 and she wanted to know where the fabric came from. Bonnie and I looked at the selvedge and came up with Suzan Ellis for Northcott LL#655 State Birds California quail. I remember this line, I think. Bonnie said it was from a few years ago. I did a quick Google search and didn’t find any yardage to speak of.
One organization to which I belong would go crazy over that pouch, but I did not suggest that she donate it to them. One thing I don’t like is when people don’t value handwork and Bonnie spent a lot of time on it so I don’t think she should donate it. I do think that she should join the NDGW and I proposed it.
Nicki showed off her dual merit hexie and 9Patch challenge piece. There was a lot of well deserved praise. She is using her 2017 merit hexies to embellish her 9 patch challenge. It is wonderful to see all the different ways that people are using their merit hexies. Very different from mine.
Mary finished the top for her linking-design quilt. I know that quilt is a pattern with a name, but I don’t know what it is. Except for the half blocks on the side, it is a very effective design. She picked great colors as well.
You can also see the BAM merit sash. Every year there is some kind of hat or sash that people get to embellish and wear after finishing a project. This is in addition to the extra raffle tickets we get for finishes.
Donation tops get 4 extra raffle tickets. Gerre put a top together and received more tickets. The top she put together is similar to the one that I put together.
The blocks are from kits put together by Peggy and Michelle and were fairly easy. I think the tops are too small, but Peggy assures me that they are a great NICU size. I know I feel the way I do, because the quilts I make are large. Even my small quilts are large.
Sarah, the famous Sarah of Planned Improv fame, finished putting together another stellar quilt. Why do I like other people’s quilts better than my own?
We were able to take a group photo to memorialize the event. It was a great time and I am glad I was able to attend.
“I am proud of what you did out there. You did your best. You left it all on the field” (pg.122).
What this quote says to me is something that I try to live by, but need reminding about periodically. I always says that I need to show up and do the work. That isn’t enough and this quote reminds me of it. Yes, I need to show up. Yes, I need to do the work. I can’t, however, do it in a desultory way. I need to give it my all. I need to look at my work throughout the process. I need to think about what I am doing. I need to try different things and do my best work. It might not actually end up being my best work, but I need to give quiltmaking my all and not hold back.
“I used to think I had to save it all up for this or that” (pg.122) speaks to me. I recently bought some Tula Pink dots and stripes and in September I started to use them. Using my good fabrics is FANTASTIC! I have done this a couple of times lately and I have to say that saving fabrics for the perfect project is horrible for me. I have fabrics I used to love and now I don’t even remember why I bought I them. It is sad. Using my good fabrics means that I can see them in my house and use the quilts and enjoy the fabrics.
In this context, Carrie Bloomston means herself. She compartmentalized herself and doled parts of herself out as she saw fit. She writes “some knew me as a mom, some as an artist, some as a spiritual seeker, some as a kniiter, glassblower, a painter, a designer…I finally let go of that a few years ago when I began the process of letting go of control” (pg.122).
I know the examples are different, but I believe that using my fabric now is the first step in stopping the compartmentalization we, as humans, are prone to engage in. Letting go of control or planning isn’t easy. We all have busy lives and like to squeeze a lot into our days. “Befriend incidents, accidents, and mishaps. They are your greatest teachers” (pg.123).
“No matter what form your creativity takes, you have to let go of expectation and perfection. For the record, there is no such thing as perfect. …if you ever finally made the perfect quilt or painting or cake, you’d never need to make another one, right?” (pg.123). This quote is profound to me. I know that there is no such thing as perfection. Every project I make sparks a ‘what if’ moment. What if I made the blocks bigger? What if I used pink instead of green? There is an endless number of what ifs that populate my mind as I work on quilts and other projects.
For me, trying my best (despite what Yoda says) and working towards my best work and towards perfection is what I have to do, what I have been doing and what I will continue to do.
Carrie says the same thing when she writes “There is only trying, doing your best, and leaving it all on the field. If you do your best, honor your journey, and love yourself along the way, then you will find the pot of gold at the end of your rainbow. The pot of gold is everywhere when you go with the flow, surrender to the process, stop controlling, and let yourself be filled with joy and love” (pg.123).
She ends the Spark with “I hope you have learned that no matter what, you are good enough exactly as you are right now, and your lief experience will fill your work with your spirit” (pg.123).
You can see the last post on this topic from several weeks ago.
Nota bene: we are working through Carrie Bloomston’s book, The Little Spark. Buy it. Support the artist. Play along. There is much more to each spark than what I am writing. The original chapters will help you. Go buy Carrie Bloomston’s book, so you get the full benefit of her fabulousness! You can see my book review, which is what started this flight of fancy.
This Sealife quilt-let started as a piece of fabric I bought at PIQF. Perhaps I bought it last year?
I bought this piece of fabric to make a quilt for my friend’s grandchild. Since I was giving his granddaughter the BAMaQG Color Round Robin, I couldn’t very well leave her older brother out. I wasn’t up for a full on boy quilt and this piece of fabric seemed to be a good compromise.
I call this a quilt-let, because there is no piecing. I don’t know if there is another name for this type of work, so quilt-let it is.
After basting it in my hotel room on Friday night, I spent most of Saturday quilting the piece using some flannel for the back. I used the lines on the fabric to guide my quilting.
I have to make a binding and sew that on. I didn’t bring fabric to do that so that is a task for another day.
I am not sure this project was on any of my project lists, which means I can’t cross it off. Still, the fabric has been laying around my workroom and now it will be finished so and off to its new home.
As usual I added to the stash of donation blocks that the guild needs to keep our charities well supplied.
As mentioned, I spent some time with the Accuquilt cutting 2.5 inch squares. I have to cut more scraps as my scrap drawers are overflowing. Aside from cutting with the Accuquilt, that is something I can do it bits and pieces of time I find while dinner is cooking or when I am waiting for DH to be ready to leave.
A number of the blocks were made at the BAM Retreat.
I didn’t sleep well after the first day of the retreat. New bed, weird noises, the usual. Nothing crazy, but I do like my good sleep.
The Retreat Committee started off the day by giving out retreat prizes. They had amazing prizes this year including a Daylight Slimline standing lamp. I really wanted that, but someone else got it.
After that I was focused on the V&Co Aurifil thread box. We get more raffle tickets when we finish things, so I got some for the charity work I did (described below).
I am almost never alone now after years of spending a lot of time working alone, so it was a novelty to be in a hotel room alone and I stayed closeted away for quite awhile on Saturday morning. After finishing my tea and writing in my journal, I had very few excuses to stay in bed, so I got up and got moving. After a big breakfast and a small walk, I got busy on quilting the Sea Life quilt-let.
Yep. I did my own quilting. I finished as much as I am going to do, quilting-wise, on it, but I do need to make and apply the binding.
The Sea Life quilt was my major activity. I was ready for some piecing, so I made a charity top and put together some 16 patches. The charity top (bottom right) blocks were made by someone else and I just put them together. Three seams and I was done. I used the charity top and blocks and to get over all that quilting on the Sea Life quilt-let.
The time has really flown by. It isn’t enough and I don’t know that I have accomplished enough. Of course, I accomplished more than I would have at home, but, still, I had hoped to accomplish much more.
Sheesh, October already!
The last time I wrote about this project was after last year’s Retreat. I can’t believe I have done nothing on this project since then. Well, I really can believe it, because I don’t like to quilt. The Retreat is the only time I seem to be able to tolerate it.
I has some problems as mentioned yesterday, but got the binding most of the way on, so the end is in sight.
I don’t have my binding tool, but there are YouTube videos and other tutorials on joining the binding, so I had some hope I would be able to accomplish that at the Retreat, too.
I have high hopes that this will be on the coffee table for Thanksgiving, if not before.
BAM’s retreat started on Friday. I did not go to the gym Friday morning, though I did go for a walk. I could have gone to the gym and that was my plan, but I decided I wanted to relax a little bit and not rush around.
The night before DH decided he needed our larger car on Saturday to ferry people to the football game, which left me with our small car. I pared down projects a little bit, though not much. We packed some of my gear on Thursday night so I would mostly be ready to go. I had space, but used most of the available area to cram sewing supplies in.
Rhonda was kind enough to save me a seat. I sat between Sonja and Liz while I was across from Gerre and Rhonda. Our side of the room was relatively quiet, compared to the Mary-Amy side of the room, which was hilarity personified. We did talk about the Supreme Court nominations quite a bit. What a fiasco.
One of the first things I noticed was that Maria brought the swap pillow I made for her. She is using it to make the hotel chairs more comfy. Gerre also had a pincushion I made and the EPP kit I made. She was showing them off, which was sweet. I am really glad to see people like my work and use what I make.
The tables filled up quickly as people trickled in throughout the day.
People also started working on charity right away. I made a block as I pieced my MetroScape blocks. I used my own fabrics, but it doesn’t really matter. I’ll make more tomorrow. Claire finished a Spiderweb quilt that Liz had made.
Peggy made a really cool quilt top from the additional blocks made when we used the Chevron design. It is kind of improv Flying Geese-y.
After finishing the purple dot MetroScape block, I turned to the Thanksgiving Tablemat. I started quilting the center. I didn’t have the right green for the background, so I stuck to the lines in the center.
As I put on the binding, I saw the back and realized that the tension was terrible. Not anywhere near good enough to salvage, so I ripped it all out, finished putting on the binding (still need to join the ends) and called it good. The piece doesn’t have a ton of quilting, but it has enough for its purpose.
The Retreat Committee is really well organized. Everything is going very smoothly. We have a HUGE array of prizes that will be distributed throughout the weekend. We got a bunch of raffle tickets just for arriving. I put most of my tickets in the cup for a Daylight Slimline lamp. I don’t think I really need it as my lighting situation at home is good, but it would improve the situation so much. It is making me think of reorganizing and revamping my workroom. That is such a HUGE project that thinking about it when I am not anywhere near home is the only way I can deal with it.
On to Day 2!
I should have started a new project sooner then I wouldn’t have felt so bad. I started on the next block and I really like it.
I’m still sticking to dots in the outer section of the block. I haven’t decided if I will try the stripes. The thought of matching stripes makes me a bit crazy.
I worked on this block at the retreat, too, and made good progress. Having a nice piecing project to work on is awesome.
I did finish the block yesterday and am pleased with the way it came out.
I took this photo in Tahoe. I really like those Windspinners.I can’t buy one, because DH gets sick.
There are a lot of colors, if a person is careful with the little Palette Builder circles. I had fun looking for them.
Despite my efforts, the default palette is still a bunch of neutrals. It is really dark, but somehow strangely appealing. The Kona Earth is a nice brown.
ACK! I can’t believe I said that about brown.
I went for totally bright and cheerful in the first palette. The green in this palette is really a good addition. I like the Grasshopper with the Papaya even though I am not much of a green person.
I went for a cool colors palette. Isn’t it fun? I kept the Grasshopper. It is a nice dark with the other colors.
Palette number 3 is the monochromatic palette that weighs heavily towards turquoise. 😉 I did add in the darks to make it a little different. The Kona Carribean and Breakers are two great darks.
I had to get out of my favorite cool colors, so I went with warms. This is a nice combinations of pinks and golds, I think.
I couldn’t get away from the cools, even though I tried. I added some lavender and those greens – more mossy and sagey – add something, especially with the Breakers.
I dragged myself away from the cools again and went back to warms, though I couldn’t stay completely away and that Jade Green combined with the Kona Cotton Red and the Pomegranate is awesome.
I did a backwards version of n.6 in that I used mostly cools with a warm.
What will you make?
I finished the block and it was very satisfying. I really needed a piecing project.
I also like how cheerful this block is. Those giant dots are great.
I used some Philip Jacobs fabric in the centers of the corners because why not?
One excellent thing about this pattern is that the directions say to trim certain parts. This means that the sections go together really well!
I already started working on the next block!
I wondered about whether I would enjoy making this block after finding the ruler and the pattern the other day.
It has a lot of curves, which can be problematic in general. I also had to use a special ruler. Sometime special rulers create great effects and sometimes they are a disaster.
I started out easy with 4 blocks that create the center. All of the center blocks will be dots and stripes. Sewing four squares together was easy.
I dove in and started cutting curves. I had some issues but it was mostly operator error. Cutting the first block took me a long time as I attempted to navigate the pattern and fabric choices.
I am planning on using dots on the outer part of the block, but I don’t know if I will have enough dots to differentiate the blocks enough. I am scared of trying to line up the stripes, but I might try one block with stripes to see how it looks.
I did realize that the pattern is called MetroSCOPE not MetroScape. Well, I am going with MetroScape regardless. I don’t have a better name and it kind of reminds me of landscape.
I made a couple of donation blocks over the weekend. Just a couple. I can’t seem to get away from the turquoise, though green is definitely forcing its way into the mix.
I found a whole bunch of Bonnie and Camille 2.5 inch squares leftover from the Stepping Stones n.2 quilt. That means more turquoise, though some red and pink as well.