Becoming an Expeditor

An expeditor is someone who moves things along quickly and efficiently, to get the job done on time. In some settings the expeditor is responsible for the quality of their products and ensuring customer satisfaction. Its definitely a vital skill to have for a quilter so that she doesn't end up with a lot of UFO's.

Again for me, a WIP (work in progress) is not the same as a UFO (unfinished object) simply because I plan to finish one and not the other. Someone looking at my bins might think differently. Usually I flit from one project to another, yet with this quilt, its been pretty steady hand quilting to meet its deadline.

The last two spins to the Kaleidoscope quilt are on the frame.  There are 8 days left in the month for me to finish before it needs to be shipped off. My younger Son is on a cruise in the Bahamas with his lady for the rest of the week and its so much warmer in the 70's there than it is in Minnesota where it is below freezing in the single digits. He will welcome the additional warmth of this quilt when it arrives for his birthday. Here, in my house, still no furnace heat and just at freezing outside. It keeps me warm too, as I work on it.

My personal nature struggles to finish things, any thing. I am a much better visionary and starter, so it takes more commitment from me to work on projects that are near-to-done. What is left to the center for this quilt is an easy job for today and tonight, and then it will lay across my bed so I can decide how the borders will be finished. I know that it will take me two nights to do hand sewing for the binding once the quilt is trimmed and the binding added by machine. Suddenly, a time crunch is looming ahead, and that always gets me going. Whatever is planned for the borders has to move along in a three-day/night time slot.

2nd Post For Monday

Something happened to me while I was doing what I thought was boring work. I became enchanted by cutting my scraps and sorting them into clear shoe-box size containers. It is brainless work, for the most part. Yet, being organized and finding ways to reduce the bulk of scrap fabrics is such a joy for me. I appreciate everything that has been given to me, and my goal this week is to do the work of a cutter.

There are three more larger containers for me to go through and do this organized cutting. Hours and hours and hours of work. The rotary blade needs changing next, and each clear box needs its label or name: 2", 3", 4", 5", 6", 8", 10" and 2.5" strips. Nothing is colorized but sits in its like-sized box quite randomly. Each box holds the potential to become one of those scrappy quilts that so many folks seem to enjoy.

I got to thinking about making random quilts with these squares and started to see how making one without planning it would be like releasing someone I love to find their own way in the world. I don't have to say the right words in the right way any more than I have to match one square to another or ensure that the colors get spread out. 

This one was made in Pinks for Grandgrrrl #4 last year. It was more focused than what is going to happen with the scrappy version, but is really an easy make. The unifying factor seems to be the border(s), and with all the scrappy 2.5" strips, they will become binding in another random way.

Even with our best efforts, we don't have the power to change another person. And what happens is going to be ok. In fact, if its like one of these quilts, something happens to make it valued. Choices, mistakes, different paths. Who is to say those things are right or wrong if in the end, the person has found their identity, found their value, and learned their life lessons? 

I am going to fill up these shoe-box containers with like sized squares and then start piecing. Randomly piecing and trusting that everything will work out in the end.

Labels

"Compassion hurts. When you feel connected to everything, you also feel responsible for everything. And you cannot turn away. Your destiny is bound with the destinies of others. You must either learn to carry the Universe or be crushed by it. You must grow strong enough to love the world, yet empty enough to sit down at the same table with its worst horrors." - Andrew Boyd

I never heard of this man before seeing a quote of his the other day. A little research showed that he calls himself an author and a prankster. I think he also has been called a philosopher and that strikes me as true. It made me wonder what I call myself these days. Over the years, I have worn several different hats depending upon what I was doing in the moment. The world seems to need our labels and we work to make it happen. Anyway, I like what he said about compassion hurting, not turning away and all else right up to sitting down at the same table with what we love and what we find horrifying. 

My cutting project proved productive. I actually cut 40 charm squares for the swap, pressed them, then colorized them & bagged them for shipping. Only 20 were requested, and I have so much fabric, that a little generosity only pays back what I have received from others. Sometimes the only way to express that gratitude comes in sharing in ways that work for me.

The full task of cutting also did a couple of things, with all these smaller squares starting with the 2.5" size up to the 10" squares. I am not colorizing any of them and just putting them away in the smaller bins. 

Also, the scraps and selvages were cut and tossed into a basket. It was surprising how much they overflowed with one day's work. I didn't think I would have enough to fill one of those pet pillows in a year, but it might not take as long as was expected.

It would be nice to go through the two bins I have in my bedroom closet cutting those scraps into usable squares. Thing is, cutting scraps, while it is meaningful work for quilting, is not all that much fun. I need to get back to hand quilting and start up on the paper piecing project.

There are no plans for the newly cut squares. With 13 quilts already scheduled for 2015, I just want to get through what is started before taking on a new one.Several of my projects are close to done and it will not take but a few days to finish those up. With these newly cut squares, if a new project comes calling, a lot of the work is already done to get it going. It would be simply a matter of selecting the size of the square and then seeing if the coordinating colors are there. 

I love quilting. 

Guess for this part of my life, it is exactly right for me to own the label of quilter. 

Its really a deceptively simple identity. 

My super power. 

Rainy Day

It's raining outside. A welcome rain. I've fed the birds twice already this morning and of course, they eat everything they can find.

The Kaleidoscope quilt is getting there. The last two spins are on the quilting frame. However, other things are happening today that make me want to be up and down a little more than usual. 

I am pretty kinesthetic, which simply means I am in almost constant motion. In another era, the powers that be might have labeled me hyperactive, impulsive and even inattentive, which are kind words for ADHD. I would like to say I've learned how to cope with these issues, but in truth, they are masked by simple mental force learned over half a century of self-discovery, goal-setting, list-making and self-isolating. Stress ignites being less in control. Certainly its a borderline condition but mine, non-the-less.

I think this is why I have so many projects going at one time. I can move from one to another, and also have learned to record everything about the project in the project container. This morning found me flitting from room to room, trying to do everything at once. I had not made a list and got caught in a whirlwind. I reached for my Bach's Rescue Remedy and sat and watched birds at the feeder for awhile. You see, its not as critical with me as it is for a lot of other folks I know.

After cutting the pieces for my older Son's Constellation quilt, I just tossed the remainders in a plastic bag and set it behind a chair. Here is the result of sorting and folding. What happens next is that I want to start cutting them into the largest pieces the fabric allows, and putting them into the appropriate containers, such as 10", 8", 6", 5", 4", 3", 2.5" and 2.5" strips. They need a good pressing too, so it will be a full day's work.

One of my swaps that goes in the mail on Monday is for (20) charm or 5"squares. The word charm is used when there is only one of each in the project. This is one project that can be completed while I manage the remainders.

Another swap that was just assigned is for the 6.5" blocks. My partner requested any star block and in any color combination. Once again, if something goes amiss, the block can go into my wonky box. I've found 3 patterns I would like to work on, and will see if any color combinations from the remainders can work. The blocks ask for either 2 or 3 different fabrics and most pieces are smaller.

The stress? My Daughter-in-Law called early to say her Mother is at the end stage of life after a long battle with breast cancer. Her Father passed this summer from heart disease. Then my Son called. Here I am, wanting to hold them, to comfort them as my dear friend of more than 20 years transitions to another plane. 

Rocking, its called rocking

I thought I was rolling my needle through the fabric, however, its called rocking the stitch. And when I think of it, that makes more sense. Funny how words matter. In our relationships we can make unbelievable defenses with each other just on how we interpret a single word or a sentence. And does it really matter, I wonder?

There is a saying, 'her house, her rules' that we learned as children playing with dolls. We could have the best dressed dolly and all her accessories, but when we went to a friend's home for her tea party, she was the boss of us all.  Here are a few of my dolls, and they don't get a lot of attention. In fact, I realize there are some missing who are scattered around my house that might have a better view of my work if they sat on this shelf. I might need to take time out and gather them together. 

I grew up as a solitary child; I understood "the rule" for adults in my life, and have always kept it with respect for my peers. It might not be one that is understood by younger generations with the changes we've made for our young females to be competitive team players, corporate execs and community leaders. Power is a shifting value just like rocking a needle through fabric to make a quilt sandwich. I think most younger women are still trying to figure out their personal power.

I've seen photos of groups of women sewing together in sweat shops and their own homes, and yet know its not something I want to do, even with the advantages of finishing a quilt faster and building community. This pic, in particular shows the standard hard chairs they endured sitting upon, and sometimes when I am elsewhere, this is how it feels. I rather like quilting alone in the comfort of my home.

My house, my rules, so it seems. My dolls form my in-house intentional community. I remember sitting up or away and watching the adults in my life the way I have them do.

I spent almost 4 hours on Jer's quilt and from the last photo, it seems a slow go. I have decided to pre-wash it and check for popped threads and any other issue that comes up.

Quiltin', Quiltin', Quiltin'

And I am remembering to roll my needle through the quilting stitches. Its surprising for me to make as much progress hand quilting as I am.

There are only two more Kaleidoscopes off the edge of the frame to the right of this pic. What is draped onto the floor is already hand quilted. 

This is a monotonous work and so, what happens to me, is that my mind wanders. Each time I thread the needle, I think of my maternal Grandmother telling me that the hardest thing of growing old for her was that she could no longer thread them. Her eyesight blurred.

At the time, I thought I was helping when I bought her a standard needle threader. I have never used this kind so don't even know IF it works, and of course, she has passed long ago, and I do not know if she was able to use it or how she felt about it as a gift from me. My current machine has a self-threading function, and now there are many automatic threaders on the market that make it easy-breezy.

These very small needles don't make threading easy. And the other thing this story reminded me of was to change the needle. Like any blade, pins and needles loose their edge and get dull going through fabric after awhile. Its not something you notice so much until you start using a new one. They will bend or snap at the far end of use, however, I do try to change them before that happens. Most quilters change needles on their machines with every new project. And I have heard that it is wise to change hand sewing needles after about 4-6 hours of use to keep a better stitch.

And then the pins. I thought a pin was a pin, and bought whatever I could that was on sale. HOWEVER, like any tool, the needles and pins can be vastly different and are worth testing and tossing when they do not work. 

I have been slowly shifting my supply to flat heads, which seem to be thinner and work better under the machine needle. Longer glass heads often means thicker pin blades. Thicker means more breakage as I sew. And of course, it costs twice as much to buy the longer, thinner glass head pins. The larger the number usually means a smaller needle or pin, and the difference is noted on the package. Here, a quilter or sewer needs to read the package and compare products to get her needs met. Luckily, places like JoAnn's always have a coupon or sale.

I've learned to take three stitches when I quilt, rolling the fabric so the needle goes through, and single knotting on both ends. The whole purpose of quilting is to form the fabric sandwich, and then to give a decoration to the pattern. Also important is not to use too long a thread in case it does break or pop free on the ends with hard use. Hand quilting thread is a bit heavier than what is put through the machine for both piecing and then machine quilting. Lot to know about these simple tools.

Claudia (5 Heart fabric store owner in town) suggested that I echo quilt around the spins...inside on each blade, and then outside around the entire spin. What happened next is that I started following the background pieces and echoed those lines on both sides.

I haven't usually washed the quilts before giving them, and have included washing/drying instructions, a page on how to store it and fold it so it doesn't get creased over time, and then a couple of Color Catcher sheets. However, part of the thoughts I've been having while quilting it, include whether or not to wash it before giving it to Jer.

There is so much more quilting left to the project. Once the center is done, the borders need quilting either by hand or on the machine, and that is yet to be determined. Then it will be squared up on all four sides and binding added. Not there yet.

Just Want to Crank up the Heat!

That makes me laugh remembering the reality of a shut-down furnace.  Someone said that life is a deadly serious game as well as one that demands laughter, relaxation and the ability to play. Our lives can be quite touching and subject to heroism if we are open to see those moments, even in ourselves. Always, there is the beautiful and the horrible. The task seems to be present and then to be authentic with our responses. This is how we find meaning, value and worth.

With temps eeking over the high 50's into the 60's, the days here are not so bad. I signed up to make another prayer flag and might make two again, so I can hang one in my back yard with the first one. It would be nice to have my own string of them, blowing in the fierce winds here. This one is an example I found online and something I might make for myself. Its really important for these to be made with the swap partner's profile in mind. Prayer can be a universal concept, however, I would not want to send something outside their beliefs to a person and have them be unable to use it. It means reading their profile carefully and perhaps communicating with them in advance to be sure. If they have written an authentic profile, that becomes easier to interpret. My work is more abstract with them than this example is anyway.

Like I said earlier, the hand quilting on Jer's quilt is moving right along, but the visual progress seems slight. I'll take another pic after today's work for the next post. I know that I will not be hand quilting a lot of my work this year and plan to do the others by machine. This table frame is amazing to hold both the weight of the project and help keep the place that I am at with it. There is no folding away and taking out.