Week 6 Reveal

This is the day I do a reveal on finished projects as I link up with Janine at

Rainbow Hare Quilts: MAKING CHRISTMAS, 2013. Week 6.

 
Its so funny how I keep adding things to make. I am working on the aprons a little at a time and will get them finished quite soon.  Here are some pictures of what I finished. 

These are holiday mini quilts made with the Disappearing 9-patch. Its such an easy pattern to make these mini quilts. Folks who are getting them say they will be used on their table with either flowers or some sort of centerpiece.

Beige and cream with a green/red on cream.This one is on its way to my friend Staci in IA.

More traditional reds and greens for Dale and Carol in WI.

And one for the boys in the Infant Nursery here in town. I hear from the Instructor that they have a lot of pinks for girlie-grrls and very few boy-themed toys. I have one more to make and then will be finished with this pattern and be moving on to the new Doll Quilt.

I finished the table mat for two and hemmed the table cloth fabric. So happy with how easy it was to make my own holiday decor. AND its one of the rare times I have spent making something for myself.

The list has helped keep my perspective. I have felt a sense of reduced stress over the holiday gifting and a lot of serenity surround me.

Perfectionism places a lot of incredible demand on me to do everything right. One of my therapists asked me if there was a right way to do things, is there also a wrong way to do them. I have learned its a matter of choice. I've used the same pattern to work on these practice pieces and have selected different fabric choices.

Each one of them turned out different from the others and even if they were laid out side by side, I can see the differences as well as the similarities.

From the table mat I learned more about my fabric preferences and how to use them differently. All these small projects are meant to teach me bigger steps. I think I like working with this size because of these lessons. Yes, its less risky. And its less threatening, and more encouraging.

And I am saving the pics for my Swap partner to see first, I did finish her Doll Quilt and the Angel Kitty who went along. I'll have that to post next week after she receives it. 

Remembering to Gift Self

Many times I do not believe in my self. I teach various classes and when students give me positive and glowing feedback, I tend to say that I have only opened a door for them. However, when someone hasn't done their work, what is amazing is that they will either have excuses or reasons why they couldn't meet their obligations, or ...horrors...say it is because of something I did.  Like many others who teach or speak or somehow serve the public, I take those negative comments in and let them swirl around.

Well not today.

Today I am making something for myself to use on my table over the holidays. It is taken from a full length table runner and cut back to fit across my own smaller table. It will be a dual placement for two plates of persons sitting across from each other.

Again using scraps. Both sides are cut the same-just the photo that seems to make it narrow on one end; I measured again to be certain. It needs a thin border on the bottoms of the tree bases and wider borders to the sides, and of course binding. The backside will have a one-piece fabric to make it reversible during the holidays for different looks. Perfect for my small table. The table cloth itself is hemmed and set aside for now. 

Because my family lives back in the midwest, I have learned that I am responsible for my happiness and that special holidays are what one makes them in the moment. 

Yes, memories are great. However, reality often says that those holidays might have been filled with more stress than joy. Like those comments from participants in my classes or speaking engagements, some are good and some are challenging. 

I chose peace, peace of mind, peace of heart. Even when it seems that I am isolated and miss my family like crazy. 

Making this placement and tablecloth for myself is like those choices. These are for me. And they will be appreciated.

Things look better in the morning

I trust the day more with my life than I do the nighttime hours. My vision is becoming shrouded with 'floaters' which, I hear are a natural part of aging. Because I am an early riser, as the day fades, so does my energy and good judgement. Those three things combine to make quilting and even reading a challenge.

I finished one of the holiday mini quilts, and while the reveal comes on Saturday for photos, this one taught me a lot of lessons.  Once again, I tried my hand at free motion quilting on it. Many people tell me how easy it is, yet, my lesson learned again is that I need a class. Or maybe it was just being tired last night. I am not sure why I couldn't stop and let it go for the morning. It was such a mess.

This is a teaser for the back. The Disappearing 9-Patch front makes a sweet mini quilt, and is created using creams and a sea foam green (binding is showing here). Its going to my friend Staci in Des Moines. I ripped out the really bad-looking free motion stitches I put in last night, and came back to it using a diagonal grid, which does look nice.

Then of course, it got wrapped up for shipping in one of these 'once-you-seal-it-you-will-never-get-it-open bags and I had forgotten to take a picture. As I cut it open, I realized that the insides were too close to the edge and someone not knowing this could cut into the quilt. I refolded it to a smaller piece.

I would like to think I could resolve any problem during the nighttime darkness as easily as I can during the full light of day. If my clear biological vision is becoming a thing of the past, perhaps I need to enhance what is called 'clairvoyance' and start seeing things more instinctively and with an awakened intuition about my fabric art.

There is something lovely about those nighttime shadows, and when I am doing things in the night that sort of belong to it, then it feels good.

Look Around!

There is so much to do right now between outside work in the gardens to get them ready for winter, and transferring the Hallows decor to Thanksgiving and planning for meals during that weekend. 

I got quite the scare about the two quilts shipped out. My Brother in Law is out of town, and I contacted FedX to hold his delivery and let him pick it up there when he returns. That took so much time it was silly. The other quilt going to my younger Son gave me a strong lesson.

Most quilts are lost in transport either through general mail or other shippers. Even if you ask for signatures, and the package is signed for, they don't have to tell you who accepted it.

His package was left on his front steps, and when my older Son went to pick it up for him, it was no where to be seen. I got a text this morning saying that a neighbor who has the key to his house, saw the delivery and put it inside on the porch. Whew...however, the anxiety I felt last night thinking it was taken was pretty intense. Sure its insured for $100, but it was my choice to have them just leave it. 

From now on, all quilts will have to be picked up at the FedX offices and signed for by the person on the address listing.

Then, I worked all yesterday taking quilting steps on various projects. I finished the top for the Comfort Quilt.

It goes back with me to the group next Monday so I can pick up the batting for it and complete it. It really turned out nice. This is a close-up of the center blocks and what I started with as I selected fabrics. Some guy is going to love this quilt. 

In all, the delivery lesson will most likely continue to unfold.

Lookin at Angel Wings

Yes, its true. The Angel Kitty resurrected and while this is the backside because it IS part of a Swap that hasn't been revealed yet, doing the blanket stitch around it worked. I wish I knew if she were going to a home with young kids. Its not really child-safe, and if I make it again for the January Swap, I hope my partner lets me know if her home has youngin's. 

These swaps are helping me grow in many ways. What I make goes to a stranger on the list. This is different than making a quilt that will go to someone in a hospital as a source of comfort. These are swaps. I send to someone who sends to me. Guidelines to the swaps say that you can be at any skill level, so what is exchanged is going to be different. 

This November Doll Quilt was my first in the swap, as is the Angel Kitty as its companion. We don't have another one until January.

Today was a shopping day. I live an hour drive either north or south to a larger town with shopping centers and stores that have sales, and carry merchandise beyond what the local KMart and Home Depot sell. 

Its been years now that I got into the habit of buying what I want and need, and then wrapping it up to open on Solstice. They look plain now, but in a few weeks, I'll add some bows and spruce them up a bit.

World Market imports some of the dolci (Italian for sweets) that I love, but I have to go in now when they first stock it or its gone.  By Winter Solstice, I will have forgotten what is in side the little wrapped treasures and be ever-so-surprised with receiving just what I love and wanted.

Little Bambi in this picture above came from that store too, and is standing on a piece of gift wrap. The bird house--75% off because they say its a fall arrangement-- and red bird (yes, I know its NOT a Cardinal) came from JoAnn's. If you drive an hour to get to the big city, you should go shopping! They will charm my living room for the holidays rather than being wrapped. 

Fabric designers Patty Reed, and Susan Winget are featured in what I bought. Again, the store is fully stocked with choices, and when you need 5-6 yards to back a quilt, you go for sales. Three of the fabrics will go onto some 2014 quilt finishes, so I am excited to have them in my collection.  The white with gold dots represents a new addition to my list on this blog of things to make. Its going to be a table cloth and actually I want it for my Thanksgiving weekend.

Out of the Trash, and into the....

My friend Rexie at Crow Calling Woman is making felt ornaments for holiday gifts for her friends this season. Remember, I said she is so very creative.

After seeing this, I pulled my Angel Kitty out of the trash basket to give myself another chance. I have not mailed the Doll Quilt for the November Swap and will give it one more try, using Rexie's technique for blanket stitches.

With the November Doll Quilt completed, I started browsing patterns for something to work for the January Swap's theme: "Try Something New".

New to me means pushing my comfort zone. I worked all day with this pattern, cutting pieces, piecing and cutting some more. I was devastated with my results after more than four hours work. 

The pattern isn't really 'wonky' and yet it asks of the quiltmaker to assemble the pieces in a very random way. And it takes thought, a lot of mindfulness to be random, wonky and careless in order to get to the place of feeling free. 

I couldn't do it. 

I couldn't create chaos. I couldn't let it happen. This quilt project is going to push me to the edge of my comfort and probably ask me to jump into a quilting abyss.  I don't have photos to share, though they would be easy to take. I have to find more comfort in what I am doing first. Maybe tomorrow. 

Like Scarlett said in Gone With The Wind: "I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I will think about it tomorrow."

Week # 5 Reveal

Today is the day for posting pictures of the projects I finished this week. For the link up to the source for this check out:  making-christmas-2013-week-5.

This is Angie's birthday gift for 12/13, sent early enough for her to use through the entire month.  She already got it today!

This one is Jacob's mug rug. I think I forgot a note in it, but did put a return address on it.

Sami got her package on Friday too, with the comment that everything was sparkly. Back flipped over. The white border is shiny too so doesn't like being photographed. 

The disappearing 9-patch pattern easily uses scraps and takes me about a day to create. As a result, I admit to making more of them to send out. Each one is very different, making them one of a kind, and none of the folks who receive them are going to see the other gifts.

I have two more on my table right now! As I create the mini quilt for someone, I have them in my head and heart. Its a mindful activity so while they might use the same pattern, the outcome is vastly different. And isn't that how we are? We are simple humans, with similar needs and wants that get expressed in endless combinations. 

We are made from ingredients that shift in measurements and  textures in this same way I work with my fabric art. I get pleased with the outcomes of most things I do, however, every once in awhile, some combination doesn't work for me.

I made a trip to the thrift store this morning with a sackful of items I hope someone else can use better than I can. I believe in re-purposing, re-using and re-cycling and believe that our human beingness does too. We gotta stay in the flow of things, by cutting our losses, seeing our resources and using our talents to serve our greater good.