I watched the finale to 'Downtown Abbey' and thought about it quite a bit. First of all, I've been saying for some time that we don't know how to say good-bye. Me. Saying good-bye to something familiar and somewhat educational. Them, going on however they can.
The characters in this British period drama adapted to their political, social and economic events. I think there was a lot of chatter about letting go of the past by both classes and being willing to adapt. It was sort of a soap opera, but I loved the costumes, and the traditions and kept watching for 6 seasons as characters in the plot experienced what all of us do: Weddings, births, relationship stress, financial concerns, death.
Just before I started to ink up the borders on the graduation quilt, I changed my mind about it. I haven't asked anyone for their opinion, and honestly would not care. That is who I am. In this way, I am still the same stubborn first-born child who always makes her way in the world by trial and error. An early Baby Boomer.
I decided to channel quilt the border on my machine. It took me half an hour to go around once. It has a total of 6 rounds, which meant 3 hours on the machine instead of spending 48 sessions hand quilting (possibly 148+ hours). It has been squared up, with binding on for the next session. At this point, I am not sure if I will return to the center and add more hand quilting. I rather like the channel stitching and would do this as a quilting option for future projects. I really love the colors front and back. It was a quilt made of reds, and yet with a little orange, a new depth of color appeared.
Changing one's mind is an interesting process.
The truth shall set you free, but first it will make you miserable.
The quilt will take 4 corner template tracings, and because it is a square quilt, 11 of the cable template tracings for each side. Forty-eight tracings. I do like knowing what I am setting myself up for.
If I am able to do one tracing per night/day and be able to work 7 days a week, it would take me 48 nights/days to do this part. Then comes at least 3 sessions with hand stitching the binding. I am looking at at least 2 months more on this project. If there is enough time before I leave for MN, I want to return to the center of the quilt and add more to it.
Sigh. I doubt that few people get how much work is involved in one of these quilts.
It may be the last one I hand quilt. Reality creates the atmosphere for making good choices and while I may never know what happens to the quilts I make, it still bothers me when I learn that someone bought a hand made quilt from a thrift store for under $10.
Who knows how it arrived at the thrift store? Clerks selling them for pennies have no idea what their authentic value is, and the person buying it only knows they got a good deal.
And I say, 'oh well' to it and go about doing what I do because I love it and love the people I send them to. What happens to them once they leave me is not my responsibility.
When I woke today, I thought it was Monday. My shopping spree presented an alternative time zone, I guess. I took the grad quilt off my big quilting loom, laid it on my bed to see how the borders would be hand quilted. Four corners for one template, and 11 times down each side in between.
I've made these fleece tie throws several times over the years. They are great for kids who can drag them over the floor, invite their animal friends to play with them, and spill food or beverages. They wash easily and while they provide a different kind of warmth, they provide warmth.
This one goes to a 7-year-old who is my Granddaughter's step-child. The little grrrlie-grrl gets such a kick out of getting mail from her 'Great-Grandmother' in Cali.
Relationships are so very different right now. People form their families by choice and often do not take legal or religious steps to confirm their choices. Kids of these adults still experience families by chance and can be accepted or rejected for reasons having little or nothing to do with them.
I chose the children, whether by blood, marriage or as an outlaw.
I finished another block while I was gone from home. The trip to the big city was pleasant, and staying at the hotel with a jacuzzi was sweet.
My trip to Joann's was simple enough. Just some muslin and a package of batting. the 12 blocks will have to do because the white I bought is bright compared to the white I am using. I think I started second-guessing myself about the use of some Hallows symbols and how some folks might react to them. One Granddaughter has a strong aversion to spiders and while this is the only block with one on it, it made me wonder. Then another block seemed to be wrong for another potential recipient.
I thought that I could re-think the blocks if the whites matched. They don't. So it will be what it will be. Its Hallows for crying out loud, not some political or religious statement, nor something meant to send a person running to their therapist. I don't know why I do that to myself.
As I got closer to the last lines of quilting around the last block frame, I was surprised at my excitement and joy. Usually I feel this thrill at the beginning of a project. Yet, this is only the first of what I imagine is three steps.
I pulled it off the loom, took it to lay over my queen size bed to examine the back. No wrinkles in quilting and all blocks done. Yes, the 'lump' on the edge near the window is my Cat, Rico. He likes the sunshine there and enjoys mid-day naps.
My next step for hand quilting is to do the floral border. I bought the invisible ink pen and own an 11" cable quilting template that will work perfectly. I think, and have no memory of how it worked before, that 11" is about the most I want to quilt in a sitting.
Tomorrow is a big-city-day. Plans include lunch at a Cambodian restaurant, shopping at Joann's for muslin and batting, and then an over-night stay at a local hotel with an indoor pool. After another swim, & breakfast, then shopping at Trader Joe's.
Some time ago, a friend gave me a large shopping bag full of black scraps. I've used them from time to time, but like many things that are just in a pile, it takes more work to sort through everything. I found that true when I made the Fox Mug Rug. It is unfair to penalize one's self when we experience something out of our control. I learned long ago that there is a pay-off for everything we do, whether it has good results or is challenging.
THEREFORE, cutting and organizing scraps is something within my control. The pay-off for not doing it is wasting time, or being distracted. I asked myself if I wanted to be distracted and my answer is no. And then therefore, I took a few hours to cut and organize. Some that I cannot use will go on to a person who says she wants all scraps so she can use them in appliques. And these are pre-sorted by the color black.
I put some of the really small pieces in the 'pet bed' box, longer strips in the 'Gypsy Orphan' box, and strips for the blocks going into the 'rail fence' back, and then smaller squares into their respective boxes.
The bag still has some larger pieces in it that will work for a Winter Bed Runner I am making. Its not a project I want to deal with right now, so the bag goes back in my closet, a little emptier, but available.
There is great wisdom and power in growing to the point where silence becomes our friend. All the best secrets can only be learned in silence. We cannot really run from ourselves and the truth that exists within us. If we really listen, we learn that we are good individuals. There is much within us that is noble and lovely to behold.
I not only am unable to run, and as long as I am healing and sitting still, all that is left to me is to listen to my own soul. While Fox is not a Spirit Guide I usually work with, I am happy to have had this experience.
I finished the Fox mini mat. It will come with all sorts of research that I did, some teas and even a Labyrinth mug. This took me several days and nights to embroider. Sometimes I felt like Arya Stark, ever so clumsy with my needle work. I pulled out the bag of black print scraps and found this lovely print to complement it front and back, and made the binding of it too.
Additionally, I made her some business cards to use in Swap-bot that have a Fox glyph with her contact information. I love the package and hope she will too.
One of the things included in the package is THE FOX PRAYER.
I call on Fox
Shapeshifter and Trickster
Edge-walker and Messenger
Help me blend with my surroundings
And adapt to changing landscapes
Show me the hidden paths between the worlds
Teach me the ways of invisibility and camouflage
Give me your keen senses
That I might see more of what is around me
And use it to accomplish my goals.
I call on you Fox
To bring magick and discernment into my life
Lead me at your steady gait to those places
Where I might to the greatest good
Let us walk the borders between day and night
And follow the scent of Divine mischief
Fox, I call on you.
