Thursday, July 3, 2014

Reasons and Seasons

What a weird last few weeks it's been. I had no idea when writing my last blog entry that it would be so long before the next one.

Skipping over the dog that nearly died, the cat that was hit by a car (he's better now) and the very dear friend who's been diagnosed with kidney cancer (operable) as well as a spot on her lungs, I'll move on to the thing that keeps me--and probably many of you--sane and balanced (sort of). That being quilting. Except, my quilting life doesn't seem very balanced just now. Reasons being:

1.  A Michael Miller panel that's been all but butchered, in an effort to use two repeats in one landscape without anyone noticing:


Yeah, right.

Actually it's probably do-able, if only by using other landscape pieces to cover the obvious duplicate areas, but I'm losing interest after all the hours of debating, cutting, re-joining and re-cutting. Not to mention the nagging awareness that this can hardly be called an original design, even if it is sliced and spliced and separated by marble columns. 




2.  Twenty-four 12" quilt-as-you-go squares, for which I suddenly realized there is no fabric in my stash for joining-strips or binding








3.  The label I forgot to sew onto the lighthouse quilt before so neatly rolling and wrapping and storing the quilt away











4.  This project, which has gone almost nowhere  









5.  A week (so far) spent sorting and cutting fabric and peeling the paper backing from 142 (yes, one-hundred and forty-two) sample books filled with drapery and upholstery material. These and eleven bags of assorted fabric came free from a lady who was clearing her house for a move. My washer and dryer have been going almost non-stop for a week and my living- and dining rooms look like a hoarder's paradise. Although small, these fabric pieces have already filled five 29-qt. storage containers and will make some nice quilts for our local shelter for families in crisis.






6.  Registration of Rock of Ages for the 2014 Kentucky State Fair competition








7.  The e-mail I received saying "The Visit" has been juried in to the AQS show in Chattanooga, TN this coming September ...yay!!! Now I get to use that pool noodle I bought on impulse for $2 at Walmart for a lightweight shipping core. Maybe that's what did it...positive thinking ahead! Anyway, this now means paperwork, extra labeling, painstaking packing and shipping, and hotel reservations for Chattanooga. No complaints, mind you!--but definitely a bit of distraction to add to my current disorganization. 

Yesterday it occurred to me that, after 6 months of being so intently focused on one quilt (The Visit), quickly followed by the lighthouse quilt, this period of disarray and discombobulation could be simply natural. And maybe even necessary. A sort of forced reconnoitering and regrouping. "To everything, there is a season..."

I feel saner already.  :)

Hooking up here with Muv at Free Motion Mavericks Linkup. Have missed her and Leah Day and Sarah Craig and all their reader hookups these last few weeks. Sarah is getting ready to raffle off her Nathanael's Ladder quilt! Go to her Whoop Whoop Friday post for details on the quilt and how to enter.

Everyone have a wonderful weekend and, if you're in the U.S., a great 4th of July holiday!

Linda

8 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry about your friend and the pets! Bad things come in threes so now it's time for some good things such as the acceptance into the AQS show. Congratulations! Your work is soooooo good. Wish I could see it in person.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Carol! I agree that it's usually 3x and done. Yes, I need to focus on the positive while helping my friend out these next few weeks after her upcoming surgery, and that will help her be more positive, too. Oh, and I have family in the Chattanooga area, so that is a bonus!

      Delete
  2. Congratulations on the Chattanooga AQS show! I'll be there with a bunch of folks from our church on Saturday - hopefully we can get to meet face to face then! And thank you so much for your support for #bringNathanaelhome - I really appreciate it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sarah, you're more than welcome, and thank you! It would be fantastic to see you in Chattanooga!! Crossing my fingers we'll run into one another.

      Delete
  3. HI!!!! Your quilts are amazing!!!!! I might get to make it to the Ky State Fair!!!!! I would love to see The Visit too!!!! Best wishes things keep getting visit and great that you are there for your friend!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carla, thank you! I hope you do get to the fair. Lots of inspiring quilts there, as you probably know. Seems like there are more every year.

      Delete
  4. Hello Linda,

    Thank you for linking up to Free Motion Mavericks!

    I'm so sorry to hear about your friend - such an ordeal for her and so worrying for her family and friends.

    Well if it's any consolation I have been seriously at sixes and sevens for a while too. I'll just blame the bad shoulder and the fact that I am catching up on a serious backlog of work at my allotment and have been pulling up six foot tall nettles.

    Brilliant news about the show. I bet that made you enjoy 4th July even more. The Visit already has its own fan club, and it is bound to cause a bit of a stir.

    Love, Muv


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Muv,

      I am sending positive thoughts and energy your way, and visualizing you as healthy and whole. My shoulder and arm are now back in commission after months of having limited range of motion. It was downright painful and I'm much more aware of my posture and movement now, using deliberate stretches and many more breaks from the sewing machine. I hope you've found things that will help you, as well. Yeah, pulling up nettles sounds like something I'd do. The things we put our bodies through!

      Thank you for your thoughts about my friend. She's the quilting buddy I've mentioned in a couple of posts, Kathy. The doctors think everything is contained in that one kidney and that she won't need any chemotherapy. Crossing our fingers that this is so. A spot on her lung is a little worrisome, but hopefully nothing.

      And thank you for your comments on and support of The Visit. It hadn't occurred to me, but I guess there might be some people there who recognize it. Cool!!

      All the best for your healing.

      Love, Linda



      Delete

Comment moderation has been enabled merely to prevent spam. Your comment should show up within a day or two. Thank you for your patience.