Month: May 2018

Bettering, Not About Quilting or Sewing

Editing

ghrn

“A lot can change in the editing room.” Diane Lane

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This post could have gone two major ways – been a recap of one of the most demoralizing and difficult days in recent memory.  Bad news at work. Many steps backwards in trying to correct my health issues.  And I saw a raccoon.  That is a pretty bad day for me.

After dinner I was feeling the pain associated with one of my “chronic” conditions.  I have had several friends send me pick-me-up messages after I shared that I needed them… probably clue 1 that I needed to edit today.  Despite the inflow of support, I was feeling very low.  I took two Advil PMs, crawled into bed and was going to cry myself to sleep.  Suddenly I decided I could give in or I could get up.

So I got up.  And my husband and I took a walk.  Just 1/2 an hour – but it did the trick.  I stopped crying.  My pain left.  And I found the energy to sew a bit and write this.

I am trying to do 7 specific things every day for 44 days.

  1. Wake up at 5 am
  2. Eat a salad for a meal
  3. Exercise at least 30 minutes
  4. Post a blog
  5. Take care of my skin before I go to bed
  6. Drink 100 oz of water
  7. Sew for 30 minutes

Today is day 20 for eating a salad.  For the rest it is day 4.   Well, for waking up by 5 am it is day zero.  I have yet to do it.  BUT I am waking up earlier,

If I were to give into the despair, my steak for exercising, sewing, taking care of my skin, and drinking water would have ended.  My will to not have it end was stronger than my will to give up.  Barely stronger, but stronger.

So today could be edited as strength over retreat.  Will over despair.

I still saw a raccoon though.  I really hate raccoons.  They are my spiders, my snakes, my high places.  I’ll take all of those a million times over before encountering a raccoon.  So I will need to edit out the raccoon to make today a winner.

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In Progress, Project Linus, Ta Da Done

WIP update

ghrn

I had lots of goals in April and got taken away by some new projects.  I only got 3 things done, but I did reduce my backlog to 22 (from 23 at the end of March).

Here is what I got done:

Blue and purple project Linus quilt completed.  I am not completely in love with this one, but it is done.

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And I completed this embroidery project.  Probably the toughest one I have done to date. I am absolutely in love with it.  Pattern is by Namaste Embroidery.

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And I also finished this embroidery project.  The wreath pattern also is by Namaste Embroidery.  I took the phrase from The Secret Garden.  This one was fast and fun, compared to the succulent embroidery project.  I love all of the vines in all of the different greens.  I used some silk floss in this project – what a dream to work with.  I think it could be very addicting.

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This one really is a message I need right now.  I need to make myself stronger in so many ways.  Work and perseverance and my own two feet.

I started one new project in April… that I should have gotten done in April.  Oh well.  May needs to be the month of baby quilts – 2 for friends and 2 for Project Linus.  I just need to not completely get sucked into my Long Time Gone quilt.

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embroidery

I’m 44!

ghrn

A month ago I turned 44.  Never in my life have been worse off in regards to my health or my finances.  It’s bad, ya’ll.

But I am happy.  I love my job.  I have a great family.  And I love all of the crafty possibilities.

And I had a great birthday!

I got lots of flowers and treats.  And I worked on an embroidery project using the most luscious silk thread from my friend Marsha.  All in all it was good.  And my finances and health can only get better.

arting, Color Crush

Blue and white

ghrn

My husband and I took a quick trip to Lincoln, NE a week ago.  It was the penultimate weekend before Ken Burns’ quilts were leaving the International Quilt Study Center and Museum.

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I am so sorry we waited so long to go, because I am going to gush about this exhibition and now it is too late.  BUT!  Here is a video of the exhibition that you can watch.  It was really moving for me.

Many women in my family have quilted.  My great-grandmother, my great aunt, and my grandmother all quilted.  I am lucky to own a quilt my great aunt pieced and my great grandmother quilted.  All by hand.  And for my college graduation, my grandmother made me a gorgeous wall hanging representing the beginning of life.

IMG_4826After college, when I was flailing and sad, my mom taught me to quilt.  It was an oasis in chaos – and started me on 20+ of creating as an escape.  I went through many different phases, but being back to quilting the last 4 years has been my oasis again.

I love the exhibit – loved seeing the craft I love elevated and lauded.

When I came back home, I craved a project that would echo the work and style of what I saw.  Because blue and white are his favorite colors in a quilt, I decided to pull out my blue and cream and white stash and work through it for a sampler quilt.

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I am making Long Time Gone by Jen Kingwell.  It will look gorgeous in the blues and creams – and the name is absolutely perfect – evoking the quilts and women who came before me and their gifts to me.