Friday, October 14, 2016

Quilt Therapy

Have you ever said or done something that created such a maelstrom of controversy that you just wish you had shut up!  Yes, I have and did.  I have made 15 Comfort quilts, finished a Judy Neimeyer I have worked on for 3 years, cried, stitched some more, had more conversations that were ore negative side and can't believe it is on me and it  needs to be fixed, somehow?  Maybe?  I wish it were a complicated quilt but it isn't.  It is family and that is the hardest audience!

So I am going to quilt shows, quilt Shop Hops. enjoying fall soccer games and foliage, not cleaning and looking forward to where life goes.

Going on a Shop Hop to  some stores I have never been too, why not, speaking to a guild in Bridgton, Me next week on my 43rd Anniversary, going on a quilt getaway to York, Me planned by a great friend and I do mean friend.  Been allowed by another great friend to use her Sweet Sixteen Handiquilter sit down mid arm machine and whipping through those Comfort Quilt!  She is also coming to the getaway that no one will no us!  Imagine, if you are a seasoned quilter, usually the resident here to all, and knowing not one soul and they have no idea you could hep them!  I may finally get something or not, done!  I may be my own demon.

See where this is going?  Friends and quilting can help us get through life's biggest moments, can soothe and wounded soul and help give solace to others.  Our emotions get channeled into positive results for others and may help us move forward and accept that life be assorted skipped stitches, broken needles, inaccurate measuring, and sometimes turns out better than expected.

I will post the last three comfort quilts, T-shirt quilt I made for a friend and the Judy Neimeyer when they are done.  Can't wait to move on to a new project!!

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Reconnecting from disconnecting👏🏻

All of us lead busy lives with some very organized and some just disconnected and needing  to reconnect.  Sometimes  our choices put us on an unfamiliar path.  I need to find my way down the yellow brick road to a path that says "I want to go home".  Our family is passionate and sometimes it is hard to say I am sorry for going too far.  It is called "Foot in Mouth" disease!
So following this notion that we can find  our way back home I will try to be better in communicating as that is how paths get disconnected!
To help on this journey I decided my summer of reconnecting to what is important to me was to quilt for my community, because if we don't all decide to forgive and move forward how can anyone take another step?
My guild had a comfort workshop to put together kits from hundreds of yards and blocks of donated fabric this summer in anticipation of the next guild year.  We made over 125 kits to give our 125 members.  I took home orphan blocks made by numerous people that were donated.  These members passed them forward like I do when I buy the persons behind me. I have said this before, I always get the people buying for the office but imagine someones surprise when this gift is given to them!  I had someone do this nice thing for me and I still feel the glow of this generosity.  Try it and see how you feel!
So to repent for past deeds that I need to reconnect from I created 11 comfort quilts to give to those who may be facing similar issues.  Having my son work at the camp and building staging was a perfect quilt rack!  Also loons on my lake seem to love my music from "Pink"!  And quilts!







I also created a baby quilt and "Minkie" blanket for the curator of the museum  where I am a Docent.
  I promised to make some bags from African fabric for the museum store but need more time to fit that in as I Need to finish a quilt I started 4 years ago for my son and family!   Family should come first.  It is a Judy Niemeyer paperpieced queen size quilt that I have started, very simple blocks that are all the same and I need to replicate more, while reconnecting and disconnect from other issues!
Life is like concentric circles!
I will write again!  After I Leave the deserted beach where I have reenergized!
Jessica

Friday, January 15, 2016

Reorganization after years unfinished ongoing projects

Ok
Again I write I am a terrible Blogger.  There is so much to say that I can't remember what it was!  All I know is that last month, 2 year renovation of new roof, ongoing siding, larger 1/2 bath and closet and major meltdown on Christmas night, about said closet and living like a hoarder, as our closet and laundry room were stacked behind a couch, off and on, for years!  Tired and sick of wearing the same 5 outfits, all black, black!  from a very colorful quilter?  My wonderful husband almost finished the entire inside work but had to fly off for a business trip!
I now have the most awesome closet ever!  I appreciate the fact that he worked 12 hour days, hanging sheetrock, rearranging wiring, plastering, painting and putting together 4 Ikea closet systems, a major accomplishment!
Shoe drawers in downstairs bathroom

His and her clothing and show tower, all labeled with picture in plastic container in the corner that you can't see!

Clothes to Salvation Army for donation

What tile for backsplash, o thing not competed and plumbing too

Organized all quilts in empty Armoir as all the clothes are in the drawers in the bathroom

Ikea bathroom, just right fit!

Extra 3" space filled with the larger quilts, rolled on narrow PVC pipe

Awesome twister track light that really was unnecessary but so boudoir looking!
Summer clothes. labeled

Me and my MaGuyver!
So, while the husband worked, I stayed home and quilted, brought 3, 2 sided quilts, for nieces and nephews, trying to purge myself of juvenile fabric, and only one more, sports this time, after a princess quilt, a superheroes quilt and and train one, to make.  I did pick up a Skelton/day of the Dead quilt I made and will post all pictures when they are completed.  I gave a completed one to a friend who always admired my work.


I dressed in Americana wear for our annual Christmas party because who doesn't dress up for that.  Last year I came as the Grinch, but this was right after the Paris bombing, and I feel we should all shout for our countries wherever they are.
Wrong side, Autumn looking, as I gave it to her after Holloween, of the Day of the Dead quilt
Right side of the quilt for a friend who owns the local Bed and Breakfast, Mainfare!

A strange picture that another friend bought at a vintage auction and gave me to finish.  The face is painted and the background was stitched before it was framed.  He gave it to me to "does her up"  and I did as she looked like a Gibson Girl!  Very hard to stitch on stretched canvas and rouse at the same time!
Closeup of painted face!

I made this 4" snowman 15 years ago for  the same local Bed and Breakfast  and they still have it outside at the holidays!





Even with all these quilts and one more sports theme I have to make tomorrow, no dent in my stash.  Maybe a spare inch on some shelves.  I think it is growing in there even though I have tried not buy whim buy fabrics.
The new fabrics, today, are so modern and upbeat it is hard to walk away.

Why do we quilt?

because we need to!
Jessica

more to do..................