Why Quilt?

One thing I love about the blog is that it is always here whenever I get back to it. Never looking at me with a judgmental eye or criticizing. I appreciate you for continuing to check in to see what is happening like an old friend who is there for me each time I call.

Well I have been working very hard. Some days I wonder why I am working, why is quilting my passion, and why do I wake up in the morning dying to get back to work on the latest project. I don't know if I ever find answers to the questions I ask but I am still having fun with it.

One thing I know for sure is that quilts are not loved/appreciated by everyone. So many people tell me that it was something their grandmother used to make them do or something they say old people do. I wonder if they ever stop to think about why they did it. Of course the obvious reason was for bed covering so why have people continued it. We no longer NEED quilts to stay warm. That quilt need has been usurped by blankets, comforters and duvets. Yet we still joyfully do it.

I have heard many quilters say that once they tried it, they were hooked. I know exactly what they mean but can I put it into words. From my husbands point of view, I just go out and buy fabric; bring it home and cut it up into little bitty pieces, and then take untold amounts of time sewing them back together. Yes that is what I do but I have to confess that a lot of internal bliss happens between the lines.

There is something exhilarating about creating a thing (quilt) or putting a puzzle together. The internal peace that I can find when I zone out while doing a repetitive motion is so wonderful. Many times I get up and dance around because I love what I doing so much. It is a beautiful thing when your career and your passion come together. :-)

Third Base

I can see home base glaring in the bright summer sun. Just one more hit and I am flying into home base like a super ball player. I went window shopping at all the online fabric stores. Then one fabric stuck in my mind. I went past it and made a mental note. I looked at about 100 more fabrics only to go back to that one that initially turned my head. Somehow I knew it was the one to make the statement I wanted.After a lot of auditioning ideas, I finally settled on the fabric for the background.

The closer I get to the end, the further away it seems. Quilting is next. I have pinned the face onto the background. I need to sew that on by hand before quilting. The task of embellishing will be last. The good news is that I am up to the task. The main problem is that the clock is chasing me around the house and he is winning. I plan to have it together by the deadline, but it looks like it will be tight.  I'll keep you posted.

Home Stretch

I'm finally back to work on this project. It has been sitting on the design board, looking at me, while I work on other projects and meditate on how it will develop. Plus I wanted some focused-time to concentrate on it and nothing else.

I tackled the lips as soon as I had three hours of alone time with this quilt. When I am close to the quilt, it just looks like a lot of little pieces of fabric cut into the craziest shapes. But when I step back from it, I find it worth every little twist and turn on the sewing machine.

Then I was on to that wonderful gray spot in her hair. I know the standard now is to dye it so we can look young as long as possible. If gray hair means aging, then I say flaunt it. Show the world all the years you have to be grateful for living. Let it be an accumulation of knowledge. Let it tell the story of survival, compassion and triumph. So I found a good four or five hours and let the sewing machine have its way. I first layered in some black strands of thread over the white fabric. Then I laid in with the gray and white mix. Back and forth, back and forth. Whooooo Wee......

Finally an almost complete face (no eyelashes yet), but I am still trying to decide on the background. I'm sure it will strike me soon.