Design: Wall and Mind

The current political landscape is so unsettling (i.e., Trump has been the minority-elect president for 11 days).  The news of the hour is that Betsy DeVos is our new education leader.  I don't want to be a self-fulfilling prophecy, but I don't see this going well for public education at all.  I hope I hope I hope she proves me wrong.  When I am unsettled with quilting projects, I make lists and plow through them.  Political projects?  Daily calls and emails.  Scheduling marches.  February 20 for "Not My President's Day."  April 15 to continue the call for Trump to release his taxes and divest himself of financial gain during his reign - er, presidency.  March is open.  Hmm, which of the protests - so many to choose from.  I'm in an odd frame of mind:  I can't watch or listen to news without my heart pounding or blood pressure rising.  So, I sew.  At nights I'm working on the above.  I try to keep my tension light - you can see I'm not doing the best job of that. 

This is one of the projects I'm working on during the day.  No more NPR for me - just listening to books and podcasts.  What's on the Design Wall is my 8 1/2" x 11" quilt.  That's the size of each block that then has the shadow sewn around it.  These fabrics all have something to do with school, notebooks, or paper.  While this is still evolving, I like how this is coming along.  It will be mostly black and white, and I already have ideas of how I want to quilt this. 

Chris and Andi's quilt is still on the design "floor" - it's in 12 pieces.  As long as I'm waiting for the batting to arrive and still figuring out what I want to back the quilt with, I am in no hurry to finish this.

And this quilt?  The top is complete.  I'm just using up various scraps and bits for the backing.  This is another quilt that I want to quilt myself. 

Meanwhile, I try to keep myself calm.  It's hard.

Keeping Busy

This doesn't look like much, does it.  But this 18" x 20"  sampler is what I produced in a one-day improvisational hand quilting class.  I do hand quilting, but not with thread - I use No. 8 Perle cotton.  But it turns out these sashiko techniques I use work nicely with regular quilting.  Chawne Kimber of Cauchy Complete taught this Saturday class and was our lecturer the next day at our guild meeting.  Chawne is a math professor and one of the most thoughtful and provocative quilters I know.  This is my third time to meet her and spend time with her, and my admiration grows.  Chawne and hand-quilting aside, it was a lovely workshop.  Not using machines for a day was a great change of pace.

Here's the wedding quilt I started last week.  Each little block is 5" x 5".  16 rows by 19 columns.  The gap in the middle?  I just haven't pieced those blocks yet.  This has been a lot of work but very simple and satisfying.  And I do like how this is turning out.  It's been the perfect project for these pre-inauguration days.  I'm torn between refusing to watch any news and yet wanting to stay informed. So simple tasks and focusing on the Women's March in Chicago the day after the inauguration have been my coping mechanisms.    Thinking about Chris and Andi and their life together is a nice bright thought, too!

Late afternoon/early evenings I love settling down with this glam clam quilt. Months ago I began hearing about the slow stitching movement. And this winter, more than any other time, I get it. The simple joy of quiet stitching, creating something that will be both utilitarian and beautiful, is what I treasure. I'm maybe a little over one-third finished - these little 2 and 3 hour sessions eventually add up. I love how the stitching looks on the back, too.  I'm stitching in the color of the individual clams so there is a beautiful texture happening.

Last and pretty important, this year is my 10th year blogaversary.  I've been blogging since January 2007 and have printed out each year's blog entries into book form.  So this is the 10th volume of my blog books.  Hardly scintilatting reading but a wonderful record of projects and life events.  Although I have worked on a lot of projects in 2016, this Sloan Bag, pattern by Sew Sweetness, is among my favorites.  I have used this bag for travel and love the size and practicality.  For the back of this book, I chose a picture from the International Quilt Festival.  Here's my fabulous "My Answer is Yes" hanging next to Bill Stearman's "My World".  We both had Drunkard's Paths quilts in this festival, too.  See this blog entry from last April for details.  It's been the start of a nice friendship. 

Peaceful January Monday

I spent the weekend sewing and accomplished all that I intended.  That alone is a great feeling!  After kitting six SewPowerful purses, these went together pretty nicely.  The rainbow fabric is left over from one of the charity quilts my guild did for the Orlando Pulse project.  And I love how it works in these purses!  These six will join the 7 completed in December.  There were over 3000 purses sent in for the fall deadline!
 

Our December guild "basket" swap didn't happen because of weather. I just made the one larger basket.  But with the extra time, I was able to complete two more of these little tray-like nesting boxes.

I like this little tray so much that I made myself one from a Janet Clare "Flight" charm pack.  

I'm very eager to work with this new line of Zen Chic's "Luster" line.  Jelly roll, charm packet,  mini-charms, and the perfect background.  But before I touch these, here's what I'm starting on today:

My nephew Chris married last spring.  Over Thanksgiving I had a chance to get to know his wife Andi.  With help from a shared Pinterest board and my trusty Kona card, Andi and I designed their wedding quilt.  I have all the fabrics, and today's the day.  It's great fun to clear the design wall and begin this work of love. 

STAY WOKE!

Do you know how important Chance the Rapper is? In November he gave a concert at Grand Park (and he is HOT right now) that ended with a parade to the election polls. Last winter he led a charity effort to get winter coats to those in Chicago in need. Here's a link to some backbround bio about him.  And his music?  So good to listen to.  He's a clever and articulate rapper/musician.  Chance has the final cut on the Hamilton mixtape, and it makes me weep.  His fusion of rap and gospel is fabulous.

I can't bear to read one more article about the presidential outcome and what happened.  Here's what I do know.  Our civic responsibility is to work as hard as we can and get out the vote in the 2018 and especially 2020 elections.  My voice can't do that.  But Chance the Rapper can.  We need to support and lift up Chance and those like him who can lead our young people to the polls.

This picture was from yesterday's Chicago Tribune as one of the 10 best pictures of the year.  And what he said?  "I'm here to make sure you all stay woke and vote." 

A Constellation of Riches

The sun is low in the sky, and morning lights my living room in such a beautiful way.  This is my view as I drink coffee and read.  I am purposely not taking a picture of the massive construction project across the street and am so glad you cannot hear the beeping of the construction vehicles.  This is a time to focus on blessings, not annoyances.

Health, wealth, loving husband,personal happiness, wonderful friends, a ticket to Hamilton.  What more can one ask for?

Christmas Day John and I volunteered for Christmas Cheer - there were 500 who delivered meals to 20,000 people.  So many highlights but one especially was running into a fellow LT 67' grad - Jeff Stewart, whom I vaguely remembered.  We had been with the Moscinskis the night before, and the Whites got together on the 26th.  Our house was a hive of activity - and calories.

Sam, Nikki, Grandpa John, Natalie, Ben, (standing) Ryan, Jack, Brandon

Julie, John, me, Jennifer, Mark

Mors bags for my brothers and nieces/nephews

Little gift bags for a dinner party tonight - with thanks to quilty Melissa!

The most "holiday" thing we did in December was to go on the Illumination Walk at the Morton Arboretum.  Friends Dorothy and Greg bought the tickets.  The walk was about a mile and included various warming tents.  We had to bundle up but enjoyed being out in the dark and seeing all the clever light displays.  They then treated us to a crock pop chicken dinner which was ready when we came back to their house.  What a great winter activity!

My brother had his 4 granddaughters with him on the 26th. These little girls were terrific, considering they were in a house with very little for their entertainment. The two younger ones spent a lot of time in the studio, running around and making little tiny adjustments. This cup hook is one that I keep a pair of scissors on, but Olive, Elle, and Isla decided it works better as a place to hang spools and bobbins. They might be right.

While I was busy thinking about the 10 year anniversary of Dodie's death, I completely missed marking the second year of my mom's death.  I felt a bit stupid for a while until I realized how absolutely at peace I am about my mom's death - she was spiritually safe and lived a long and full life.  Her death was part of the natural order of things.  

My Canadian buddy Bill Stearman at least weekly says, "Life is good."  And he's right.

It's Been Ten Years

My ever-growing pile of black and whites, perhaps for a log cabin.

My college roommate Dodie died 10 years ago.  Just as I was retiring and planning a party in August 2005, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer.  Her doctor said with treatment she might live another 18 months to 2 years.  And she died December 17, 2006.  I was the eulogist at her memorial service.  As I prepared I felt like I was writing the paper of my life.  And the delivery was incredibly difficult.  Over the years I have wondered - as death inevitably makes us do - why she died at 57 and why I am still alive at 67.

A stack of Wordsmith fabrics, with a few other fabrics mingled in.

There's a line in "Hamilton" about Hamilton writing as if he was running out of time.  And lately, that's how I feel about my quilting.  My projects are stacking up in the happiest of ways.  I rejoice in each day and am keenly aware that these past 10 years have been a gracious gift - a gift of 3,650 days that Dodie didn't have.  And so I plan projects and give quilts away.  I make purses and contribute them.  I look for charitable sewing opportunities for family and friends.

Fabrics from "Paper Obsessed".  All I know is that blocks will be 8.5" x 11".

These fabrics I've worked with before, and I want to work with again.  

Is that enough?  I wrestle with this.  And of course I have decided over the past 10 years that yes, this is enough.  This is what I do: Sharing my work and my skills.. Even when Dodie was at her sickest, she always asked how I was and what I was working on.  And this still amazes me.  As she was facing imminent death, she still looked outward.  In these melancholy days, I need to take a tip from her book of life and look outward and to others.

Fabrics for my nephew's wedding quilt.

My hand-quilting project.  Work has begun on two of the clams.

                                                     

I miss Dodie. But life has gone on. As Dodie was dying, my friendship with Cecilia, the grief counselor, developed. It was she who made me say the words for the Eulogy out loud. She knew I needed to do this in order to make it through Dodie's memorial service.  We have now been close friends for over 10 years.   I later joined the new Chicago Modern Quilt Guild and made some terrific and invaluable friends - some women whom I love dearly and am so thankful for.  I have been the luckiest of women for these past 10 years.

Gifts from quilty friend. 

Upstairs, Downstairs - Part 2

The Glam Clam quilt top from peppered shot cottons - the one I started piecing by hand in September  - is ready for basting and hand sashiko quilting.  I just finished piecing this last night, and I hope to be able to start quilting it tonight.  Perfect quilting weather - lowest temps of the season.  I love our 1908 stucco bungalow, but it is cold cold cold in this house.  My studio has is own mechanicals, but that doesn't do much good in the evenings.  Quilting by hand?  Ah, that's the trick.

Below is the wool batting and the backing.  As soon as I get it measured, I am going to wash it.  These peppered cottons are so soft, and this Studio E wide backing will match in texture nicely.

Meanwhile, I have finished piecing this top. During the process I fell out of love with fabrics. Maybe as I quilt this, I will redevelop a fondness for them again. I thought putting these 5" charms on a navy background would calm these modern prints down.  For the December Chicago Modern Quilt Guild holiday swap I made a basket out of 2.5" charms and liked it much more than I thought I would.  See below.  Purses?  Soon.  My goal is to do at least 12 by the February 1 SewPowerful.Org deadline, but I have a feeling it will be more since I already have 7 of them completed. 

I'm using up the various leftovers, including anything remotely navy blue from my stash, on the back.

My biggest quilt ever!

 It's 120" x 120".  And it's beautiful.  It is waiting for its ride to Perth, Australia with Kimmie Dieball Newman and her husband Keith.  This is their wedding quilt - they were married in Chicago in the fall of 2015.  Kim's dad and I were at Farragut together in the 70's and then were both transferred to Englewood High School in 1981.  Ed eventually went to King HS and Dyett Upper Grade School/High School.  I then went to Hyde Park HS and ultimately to Kennedy HS.  At this time Ed and his wife Marge had babies - Patricia (she of the Hungry Caterpillar quilt), Kimberly, and Thomas.  I have known these three since they were babies.  And now?  They are all starting their own families! 

 Kimmie has a degree in Art History.  The colors of this quilt appealed to her, and so I finished it for her to accommodate her big husband and their big California king bed.  More than ever, I am indebted to my long armers, Frank and Terri Karls of T and F Quilting.  Wrangling a quilt of this size requires special skill!  The color bars are from Jinny Beyer's Spectrum quilt kit. 

 I asked Terri and Frank for an open quilting design to keep this quilt as light and airy as possible.  And I like this "basket weave" effect.  I imagine this quilt will last a long, long time.

The back is snow white, just like the borders of the front.

Meanwhile, I did some organizing and sorting in the studio.  This is the neatest these shelves have been in several years.  There is one completed quilt in there - it's waiting for its owner. 

This trio of Mors bags went to John and Juanita Tilgner as a hostess gift. 

These two?  I was at the dentist today, and I will admit that I love him - what a nice young man.  He's always appreciative of little gifts and was happy to receive these.  Time to make some more!

Big quilts.  Small bags.  All are important!

Piece Peace

I wish I could take credit for "Peace Piece", but it's actually the name of a Bill Evans piece.  I am at peace with this quilt.  My college roommate has been on my mind - Dodie died almost 10 years ago.  I know I am making a quilt for her daughter.  It might be this one - or the next one.  The gentleness of these fabrics touch me.  And this quilt is another incredibly soft one. I used a layer cake and a jelly roll from the Janet Clare Wordsmith line.  There were some leftovers, and I used them for the quilt backing, along with various little bits from my stash.  The quilting is simple and is in keeping with the softness of the quilt.

There a lot of rolling and re-rolling to get the quilting done.

Lots of safety pins and quilt wrestling.  But oh such satisfying results!

Guaranteeing a Successful Studio Adventure

Have a quilt top you like a lot ready for quillting.  These fabrics are from Janet Clare's Wordsmith line.  I used a layer cake and a jelly roll for the front, and leftovers are in the backing.

Make sure you have the right batting.  For this particular quilt, I am using a poly bat because I want this quilt to be light and airy feeling.

Have a backing that is bigger than your quilt top.  A great opportunity to use up scraps from the front and other bits in your stash. 

Have another project or two ready to go.  These are two SewPowerful purses cut out, interfaced, and ready to assemble

Have other piles of fabric just sitting out in plain view so that planning can begin.

Seriously, my one big rule for the studio?  I try very hard to always leave a project at a point where I know I want to come back to it.  If there's a hard part, I'll do it before I end for the day.  Kind of a good rule for life, too.