ghrn – weeknight quilting

Summer Rules

I am nearing the first full year of living in my house. I have experienced one of every day here. A birthday, anniversary, Christmas, Thanksgiving, leaves falling, leaves budding. Each day is new. And each day here still feels like a miracle. But many days are scary. The reality of a real, grown up mortgageContinue reading “Summer Rules”

Breathe out

I bought my house in 2003. The house I close on in 10 days. When I bought it, I wanted space to create and entertain and a big yard for my dog. The house was built in 1906. My 18 years there was just a small part of its life. But it was such aContinue reading “Breathe out”

22 years later…

A week ago I did something I have never done before. I changed jobs. Ok, well not quite. I changed jobs and the company I worked for. I started with my last employer when I was 24. I am now almost 47. The move has been surreal and wonderful and scary. There is no wayContinue reading “22 years later…”

Week 1

The first week of a new year is a hopeful thing. Especially this year. Hope of emerging from a pandemic after a year of collective isolation, grief, fear. The ticking over of the calendar doesn’t solve the problems, but it does punctuate that we might be on the downhill of this sustained total suckiness mountainContinue reading “Week 1”

new year, same me

I am sitting in my home office / studio where I do all the things except cook and sleep. I take endless online calls here during the work week. One stacking on top of another – each with fear pockets – the pocket when I try to recall whether the person I am meeting withContinue reading “new year, same me”

Starting…

This week I was stopped in my tracks. I sat in front of my dinner crying the tears of the defeated. Silent, head bent, no relief. Crying when there is nothing left to do. Work is unrelenting. Every day is the same misery. I never thought I would get sick of being at home. IContinue reading “Starting…”

monoprints!

One of the first times I was happy with my painting output is when I made mono prints. I learned from a class on the amazing Creativebug. Sharing my slimmed-down version in step-by-step instructions here. There also are different techniques on Youtube. Let’s get started… Gather your materials… Strathmore printing paper – I have aContinue reading “monoprints!”

Never say never: my adventure with a rag quilt

I love making. I love pulling stuff out of my brain and onto paper or fabric. I struggle with requests for specific colors or patterns. But because I am baby-quilt woman and every new mom wants “something and grey – very muted” for their babies – I try to find the challenge in the restraintContinue reading “Never say never: my adventure with a rag quilt”

6 weeks

The company I work for has an amazing benefit – every few years we get an extended amount of time to focus on balancing our work and our life, while doing some professional development or volunteering. This is my third sabbatical – after 19 years. I chose volunteering as my activity and got to makeContinue reading “6 weeks”

the beauty of vintage

My husband and I had dinner with some dear friends last week. And when the conversation started in earnest, one of them turned to me and asked, essentially, why are you selling jewelry? It is a good question. My life was and is full. I make quilts, play MarioKart with myContinue reading “the beauty of vintage”