Why I quilt

It has been over a year since I have visited this place.
I haven't necessarily missed it.
I always said this wasn't my job. My blog was mine and I'd write when I felt like it.
Well today I do. Feel like it, I mean.

I read a blog post this morning that challenged me to look at my hobby and the why's and where's and how's that I go about it.

You see, I really miss my dad.
He was my cheering section. My constant.
I began quilting out of necessity for him to keep him warm and then continued out of necessity to keep me sane :)

I have moved to a new place and a new life.
I'm slowly readjusting to life as it is instead of life as it was.
And I'm *mostly* okay with that.

In our home, I have a sewing studio.
Really it's just a room in the basement and it's not even really that big but it's MINE.
And I like that.
I can escape and be completely entrenched in a quilt and I love it.
It is therapeutic.

I quilt for me. For my family.
Recently I quilted for others. Not for gifts but for profit.

I ventured into making quilts to sell at vendor fairs as well as custom work. I quilted so much in such a short time I needed a massage to get the kinks out!
It felt good and fun. -- not the massage but the quilting-- althougth the massage was AWESOME!

And then summer came and it felt. like. work.

And then I finished them and got paid :)
and then I went shopping... and that felt like fun!

Haha! So why do I quilt????????
For the joy.
For the therapy.
For the fun.
And sometimes... for others because they appreciate the true value of a quilt.
And I know it is being used and loved. and it is going to love its new home!


Wanna' see??

 This quilt is a disappearing 9 patch made in Sweetwater's Make Life fabric line. I backed it in a mid-tone gray and then bound it in a dark textured grey to make it pop on the back.
I was up until 3 am quilting this one because I was determined to see it through to the end in one sitting but everytime I looked at it I just felt it needed more so I kept going... until about 2:38 am when I was finally satisfied... silly, I know.

This quilt was a long overdue gift to my mom.
It felt so beachy and fun I worked hard to finish it just in time for our Myrtle Beach trip in August so I could work on the binding at leisure and take great photos by the ocean... So happy how it turned out....it was my first foray into batiks.


So these are some of what I accomplished quilt-wise this summer....soon I'll show you some of the other things I've been up to.

Blonde Joke

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My Dad loved Blonde Jokes so I thought I'd feature a funny one today... especially considering it is *finally* spring here in Canada!

A BLONDE ON A HOLIDAY IN CANADA

As a trucker stops for a red light, a blonde catches up. She jumps out of
her car, runs up to his truck, and knocks on the door. The trucker lowers
the window, and she says "Hi, my name is Heather and you are losing some of
your load."

The trucker ignores her and proceeds down the street. When the truck stops
for another red light, the girl catches up again. S...he jumps out of her car,
runs up and knocks on the door. Again, the trucker lowers the window. As if
they've never spoken, the blonde says brightly, "Hi my name is Heather, and
you are losing some of your load!"

When the light turns green the trucker revs up and races to the next light.
When he stops this time, he hurriedly gets out of the truck, and runs back
to the blonde. He knocks on her window, and as she lowers it, he says, "Hi,
my name is Kevin, it's winter in Canada and I'm driving the SALT TRUCK!!!!"

 

 

Have a happy day!

Best of intentions and letting it "Bee"

 

 

It's true.
I have the best of intentions.

I never mean to not follow through. It just kind of happens...
That being said, 2012 was full of big changes for me that kind of got in my way of finishing some things I started.

Like quilt bees.

I was behind in my bees before we got the news we were moving and then I had intended to work hard to get caught up before the moving truck came... but one night my sewing room just magically got packed and I wasn't done.

I had the best of intentions to get right down to it after the move and then some stuff happened with my pregnancy.

Post baby I just kept putting my crafting life off.

It's been up and down.
My sis in law wanted to learn to quilt.
I taught her.
She noticed alot of unfinished "stuff" and wisely pointed out that I was in way over my head.

All this to say that the year of 2013 is going to be the year of crafting for me.
No bees.
No time restraints.

No guilt.

I'm not leaving bees forever. Just for now.
I'm going to let it "bee".

But it was fun while it lasted!

calm

I know it's been a long time since I've posted.
This absence I've had here is due to life.
My absence here, means I've been living life. Elsewhere.
not on the computer :)

We've moved our family 2.5 hours away from the home I've known for the last 10 years.
Our married home. Our whole married life.

New city, new job, new school, new church, new friends, new stores and....oh did I not mention?
New BABY.

yes. 2013 is the year of new.

In many ways I have not been "o.k." with much of it.  (except the baby part--she's lovely!)

It happened too fast, too soon, too unexpected.
But the Lord opened the door and my hubby felt ready to walk right through it and me dragging my feet behind me.

I'm accepting my new life and in many ways I see God moulding me. Changing me.
I've always said that I'm the kind of person who "can't handle too much".
And while this is absolutely true.
With God's leading and my husband to hold my hand, I'm "handling it" in my own way.
oh... and my kids?
They're hopping and skipping and loving life here.

To say I "can't handle too much" doesn't really express what I mean though.
I always thought it made me weak.... until I read this blog post.

She nailed it.
I need margins in my life.
LARGE MARGINS.
The less I do outside of me and my family the better a person I am.

Seems a bit selfish, but in some ways I'm thankful for the move.
Fresh start.
No committments.
Just me. and my family.
It's more of a blessing than I'd ever thought or prepared for.
But hey,
that's God for ya.
He knows what you need, even when you don't.

BEE's

It's been a while since I've updated my crafty pursuits...

 string quilt blocks for Lynn of H2B2-- I liked these because instead of a paper foundation she used a muslin permanent foundation...makes the quilt a bit heftier and is much easier!

 My friend Jodi of H2B2 sent lovely valentine fabric and gave us  free reign to make blocks of a valentine theme.

 she had indicated she liked the "word" blocks so I thought I'd give it a go! I loved it so much now I want a whole quilt of love and x and o's myself!

 May was my month in the H2B2 quilting bee and I sent out this scrumptious pile of fabrics to make some enormous shoo fly blocks.

 These blocks were designed by Alexandra Ledgerwood of Teaginny Designs blog and the pattern was published in the Spring '12 issue of Stitch Magazine

The colours for this quilt were inspired by Sissy's new p.j's and as the quilt is for her and she is my snuggle bug--she of course has asked for bright pink minky as a backing.

I'm waiting on 2 more blocks and then I hope to get this quilt put together soon!

There is more craftiness brewing and I've rejoined the Great White North Bee 3 so I'll update you soon on that too!

I'm trying to take things one project at a time.... or maybe 2?

modern?

I was reading a post by Alison of Cluck, Cluck, Sew blog fame.
(she is by far my favourite pattern designer! such talent!)
anyways, she struck a chord with me today.

I've been asked quite frequently about what kind of a quilter I am.
Modern? Traditional?

and then there are those that don't ask, and just assume that quilting is this old past time using calicos and plain fabrics and it's just not something they would like at all.
 --you know the look... like they kind of turn their nose at you as if to say "ewww. really? you like that?"

Well yes. I like that.
and no. I don't.
....It depends....
On what, you might ask?

I have thought about this alot. I am not modern nor am I traditional.
I am just a quilter. I quilt what I like.

and I happen to be attracted to fabric with a more "modern" flair for the more youthful generation. but I like a many varied way of constructing them...

you know my mom and I were talking about generations and how they have colour schemes. you know, like each generation brings in it's own style and likes.
My mom loved the hunter green, burgundy and rose colour palette.  (and those geese with the hearts?--I know you know what I'm talking about!)
and neutrals.
I prefer brighter fresher looks and so do most of my friends in "my generation"

...so what is modern? youth?
Each generation is more modern than the next. due to influences and technology partly. and just due to the need to be different I think.

(just a few of the items I'm crushing on right now--totally on my "to make" list) 1. Patchworking, 2. A Double Shot!, 3. Urban Amish Garden Party - 1, 4. stacked solids front

But no. I'm not a modern quilter.
I'm just a quilter who likes to quilt :)

Still Here

I am still here.

I didn't fall down.
I didn't run off to a foreign country.
I didn't sell my computer.
Pinterest has not swallowed me up.
I didn't fall in a black hole.
My house didn't get swept up in a tornado.

It's just that....well, there's no place like home :)

I'm a little bit pregnant.
and a litte bit busy...not to mention a whole lot of lazy!

I've been homeschooling, working the hot lunches at Sissy's school.
Eating hummus at all times of night.
not to mention the ham an onion sandwich I ate for breakfast! YUM!

This is our 4th baby.
maybe our last :(
I love being pregnant and am savouring every moment and little kick.
I'll be back soon.
Just going to take a quick nap :)