Compromise

I don't like the concept of compromise too much .  I'm usually the one that gives up the most for one reason or another.  When I do compromise, I'm rarely happy about it....and it always shows....eventually.  I like to get my way.  I like to win....at all costs.  It's the truth of the matter.  One more reason for me to be deemed a  bad person or unlikeable.  I'm like a 40-year old in a 2-year old's body!

We're not out of the woods yet as far as M's job is concerned.  It seems that his previous employer has taken great offense--to the point of wanting to take legal action--that he dare work for a new start-up company in the same industry in the same town.....with some of "their" clients going with.  He is strictly an employee of this new company, but his previous boss did leave and started the new company that he is working for as of tomorrow.  He was "terminated" early from his old company last Thursday after giving notice almost a month ago.  He and his boss received one of those scare the pants off of you letters full of legal mumbo jumbo on Friday.  He says he's not worried......

He bought his truck yesterday.  Used....a great steal of a deal he just couldn't pass up...  I guess I should be happy that he traded in the Beast (the Suburban) in the deal which I had asked about his intentions previously.  It's one of those situations where I knew he was going to do it.  It's his money.  I said my piece, but he was going to do what he wanted to do.  He wanted it and there was not talking him out of it with any of MY sense of reason.  I thought we should wait, but I knew that wasn't going to happen.

On a personal note, I'm trying to focus.  I feel like I'm a little manic right now.  My job is pretty crazy right now.  The kids are SO busy--C is doing school volleyball and Rec soccer; Z signed up for school cross country, the school play, and he's doing Rec soccer; S is doing Rec soccer and school choir; A is doing Rec soccer and Scouts--if the league can find a coach.  No one can do their homework on their own.  I'm struggling with dinner options every night--we had pizza last night and the kids ended up fighting over the Cinnastix.  (I screamed out that we're never ordering them again even if they're FREE...)  I'm once again asking how people MOMS do it?!

I compromised as far as the quilting books is concerned.  I've decided I can leave one tote of books upstairs.  I rescued a couple of totes that weren't suitable to store fabric because they weren't able to be sealed properly since the lids no longer fit well or the tote itself was compromised.  I've still got to go through the ripped up magazines and get them back together--separating all the Twilight stuff out.  I'm so far behind as far as that project is concerned.  I'm trying to feel the love again.  Z really has been on me to finish it, even talking about it last night.  Ho hum....  I got the rest of S's strips ironed and cut so she can continue with her project.  She wanted to sew last night, but I was too wiped out.

I desperately need a ME day where it's just me.  I'd go to the movies and/or lunch.  Shopping.  I don't know!  Something....

Quilting is About Solutions

I'm stumped.

I'm finishing up my cleaning, reorganization, or whatever you want to call it.  Almost everything has found its place again.  I gave away a tiny bit of fabric and some of my books to Goodwill.  I washed fabric that had escaped from totes because I didn't want to put it into a new tote dusty or infested with who knows what....  I went through UFOs and projects I had set aside to refamiliarize myself with them all.

Quilting has always been partly about solutions for me.  I feel like I'm problem solving at many points when I'm doing it.

My books are a problem.  I want them out, but I can't.  I don't have anywhere to put them.  I sew in the living room.  I've taken as much as I can back downstairs only leaving three totes of Twilight stuff upstairs because that is the project I'm working on right now.  I guess I'm going to have to store them again in totes downstairs.  I wish I could have them upstairs on a bookshelf or something.  I hate it when the living room becomes cluttered with totes.

I wanted to finish everything up and I'm very close.  I've got books and ripped up magazine pages all over the living room right now.  I finished the rest of the fabric this morning.  I'm at the point where I'm shuffling stuff around.  I can't buy anything else until Tuesday.

I sewed with S today.  I brought up the spare sewing machine and we got it going.  She needs a guide to line up her seam and this sewing machine isn't as forgiving as mine.  We used a straw on mine the last time, but we used an acrylic ruler on this one.  I'll have to think about it some more to see if I can come up with something better.  The needle on this machine doesn't move which is a problem.  She's made 20 blocks so far.  I had her separate the remaining fabrics into sets for the Rail Fence blocks so I can cut them into the strips and get them ready for her.

I'm eager to get back to sewing myself.  I take advantage of football Sundays to sew without guilt.  I did practice free motion some more on Sarah's machine.  I think I like it better than mine.  I've found the most amazing free motion quilting site and it's been so helpful.  I already had the Magic Slider and so I knew how helpful it could be.  I'm eager to get a quilt done so I can practice some more on something real.

If truth be known, there is a lot of reasons why I don't quilt my own quilts.  I've talked about it.  Perfectionism.  Lack of Confidence.  Not having the right tools.  Laziness!!!!!  How can I spend so much time on making a quilt and not quilt it to the best of my ability?  I can say that I've not ever taken the TIME to quilt something because at this point I just want to get it done.....  This has been a big mistake. 

I've really taken in ALL the tips, tools, and methods at this site.  For the first time, things are making sense.  I am realizing that I will have to take the time to properly prepare my machine and the quilt for quilting.  My success depends on it.

Check it out!  365 Days of Free Motion Quilting Filler Designs

Magazines

I love quilt magazines.  I don't treat them very well.

I get too distracted to actually read them cover to cover, but I like to thumb through them and look at the quilts for a bunch of reasons.  I also hate instructions.....actually, I'm one of those right-brained people when it comes to instructions.  They frustrate me and I get lost in them.  It's a good thing I can look at a picture to break down the blocks and make the quilt that way.

I still love to buy magazines.  There's usually at least one quilt in a magazine that justifies me buying a magazine.  I have my favorites that I almost always buy regardless of the projects.  I like Quiltmaker and BHG's American Patchwork and Quilting in particular.  I've also taken to buying BHG's Quilts and More.

This is what ends up happening to my magazines, though.

I buy them, look at them, dream a little, and sometimes immediately go out and get fabric to make a quilt that really strikes my fancy.  (Sometimes I start the quilt right away, but usually it all get put together and stashed.)

The magazines sit around for awhile before I get weird about worrying that I'm having issues like my mom.  I look through them one more time.  If I decide I would really never make a quilt out of the magazine, I put it in the give away bag.  I usually can find at least one project so I rip it out of the magazine and that goes into a pile for awhile.  After the pile gets big enough or messy enough, I might put in in a binder for safe keeping or away somewhere.

After a very long time....usually years....I go through my quilting stuff to decide what I really want think I'm going to use, etc.

I've been writing about cleaning up my quilting stuff in the past couple of posts.  I brought up my books and all these binders.  I've given a bunch of books away.  I went through my binders the other night.  I pulled out the projects that still struck my fancy and I'm throwing the rest of the ripped pages away.

Yes, all this is very strange and weird even to me!

If I really had the patience, I should try to save it all.  I've considered scanning things and saving on a thumb drive or something.  I actually should do this from now on with any of the magazines I buy.

I shouldn't buy a magazine unless I'm going to make a quilt right away in all reality.  I'd save myself a lot of trouble and money.

Promise Not to Laugh

I haven't made an Eclipse Quilt block in awhile and I know I need to get busy.  I some how got fixated on doing the blocks in order (a mental thing for me.....) so I've been stumped about the Newborn Army block.  I got it in my head that I needed to make it with an "army" theme and that I should incorporate camouflage fabric, nevermind that I don't even have any of the other elements figured out yet....  It's probably going to be another whimsical type of block that everyone goes, "Huh?!" and I have to explain like the boxing glove block for Punch a Werewolf in the Face.  I have reasons for doing this--people are hard for me to make in these sized blocks, I don't want to do any more silhouettes because of overkill, I need some funny in my life, and I'm stumped creatively to come up with anything else.  (No one has given me any other ideas except for Z--an overturned car and newborns--hint, hint, hint)

The irony of my situation is that with all the fabric I have (and I've been discussing), I don't have any camo fabric.

Yeah, but you promised NOT to laugh.

I went to two quilt shops--really just to visit--and the new JoAnns and couldn't find any.....

One of the quilt shops I visited was Great American Quilt Factory.....  For you shop hoppers, you know who you are, feel free to comment.  I was disturbed by how depleted their fabric stock looked.  There were only like 10 purples to choose from.  Their batik wall looked anemic.  The shelves just looked empty......  Have you heard anything about this store?!  I would have liked to buy some of the glow in the dark fabric, but with fabric at $10.29/yd I couldn't justify another stash fabric.  Any ideas on how to use glow in the dark fabric in the Eclipse Quilt?

Anywho....it looks like I'm going to have to order some camo fabric online.

It Sounded Like a Good Idea at the Time

I'm over my grand scheme to get my quilitng life back in order.  That doesn't mean I'm done, it just means that I'm "over it".

I'm tired of washing fabric and putting it away--I gave up ironing it about 10 batches ago.  (M is going to have a fit over the water bill.)  I'm tired of trying to come up with the most logical way to organize UFOs and future projects so that I can find things when I'm actually able to get back to actual sewing.  (Now I'm just putting fabric away by color and theme instead of trying to keep project fabrics together.)  I'm actually at the point where I'm asking myself do I really like quilting, what possessed me to pick up the hobby to begin with, and maybe I just want to round it all up and give it away to charity?

Kidding...sort of.

I read features in magazines about sewing spaces and I see pictures of quilt studios and I want to cry.

Think of what an amazing quilter I could be if I had a quilt studio with all of my fabric organized on shelves where I could actually easily get to it and didn't have to go down to the dungeon basement with the spiders and junk to heft 30lb totes around.  I think of having a dedicated sewing space where I didn't have family chaos playing out in front of me and on top of me.  I think about a lot of things.

As many issues as I have, I don't spend a lot of time bemoaning my sewing/quilting situation.  Hey, a girl can dream.....

I do see the end in sight.  I know I will be better off for getting all this done.

As I go through stuff, I have felt little pokes of returning enthusiasm overcoming my general state of being overwhelmed by all the fabric I have and my quilting despair the past year.  I've taken some trips down my quilting memory lane as I look through books that I purchased when I was first starting out that I kept for nostalgia sake despite getting rid of so many over the past years.

I hope to get back at it tonight.

Did I Say I Had a Problem?!

I did what I could in the basement today.  I need to buy more totes to replace those that were broken, etc. but that will have to wait until next payday.  I knew I had a ton of fabric, but man!

I use the 58qt size.

I've got:

x2 red
x2 black
x2 blue
x2 pink
x2 green (need to replace one)
x2 neutrals (need to replace)
x1 purple
x1 orange
x1 yellow
x1 brown
x1 tourquoise/aqua
x1 white


x2 novelty/I Spy pieces, squares, FQs (I need one more)
x1 baby fabric
x1 holiday
x1 Christmas
x1 Halloween
x1 fantasy and under the sea
x1 animal
x1 transportation
x1 space
x1 farm (need to replace)
x1 circus
x1 bears (need to replace)
x1 cowboy (need to replace)
x1 frogs/bugs
x1 Sports

All of the these are at least half full, but most are packed to the gills.

This doesn't count all the ones I have with UFOs or project kits I've put together which I didn't count because I need to go through these or the six upstairs with Christmas projects, other recent projects, and Twilight fabrics and patterns I've been using.

I'm absolutely NOT bragging.... 

Yeah, I have a problem.

I should have everything organized and back into shape in the next couple of weeks.

Stashbusting Boobs

Did I get your attention?  I'm sure I will be even more unpopular with my take on stashbusting and all the cootchie coo feeling out there about it.

I'm having a hard time figuring out what all this stashbusting fuss is all about.  I know I've talked about my stash.  I've even discussed what I'd like to do about it.  I wondered if I should get in on the craze.

I have a huge stash.  I don't particular like it because I'm not proud of what it represents.  The yardage I have accumulated to make quilts was very secondary to the reason I made purchases to begin with.  I like fabric.  I like the way it feels.  I like the designs and the colors.   I like shopping at quilt stores for the recognition I get walking in the door and the rush I get buying something.  I collected and collect fabric.

Instead of going to the bar, I bought fabric.  Instead of buying something to eat, I bought fabric.  Let's not forget the times I thought I was going to be this amazing quilter who managed to make quilts and sold them, gave them away, or covered every bed and wall in the house.

The "in" thing to do is to be a Stashbuster.  "Oh, woe is me....I have so much fabric.  What in the world should I do?!  Let's come up with ways to bust through our stash gals....." by making stashbusting types of quilts, pillowcases, aprons, wallpapering our walls or whatever.  Don't get me started about U.F.O.s or P.H.D.s.  (The projects I have abandoned will probably never get finished.  I abandoned them for a reason--most of the time because I was sick of making the quilt or it wasn't turning out like I planned or the reason for making it was well past.)

No, I'm not proud of my stash.  I can't bear to part with it, though, no matter how much I try to talk myself into giving it away or using it up.  I don't buy any of what I used to because I simply can't afford it.  That doesn't mean that when I want to make a new quilt that I don't go shopping first instead of shopping my stash.

I recognize my stash for what it is:  a product or symptom of my psychosis.

I wonder how many people are really being honest with themselves?  I guess it's really none of my business.

What am I up to today?

I am down in the dungeon basement going through my stash.  I thinned it out about 3-4 years ago of all the fabric I bought before I knew what quilting fabric really was and most of the kits and FQ sets of any value when I was unemployed.  I had everything organized into totes by color and theme.  Over the years it's become a big mess.  Some totes are broken because they got knocked over.  I was lazy and didn't put things away the right way.  I just got through washing  two loads of homespuns and I'm ironing between doing other jobs around the house.  I don't know if I'll keep them, but I couldn't even give them away in the state they were in.  I'm also bringing up all my books and magazines.

I'm considering a yard sale, but who knows what I'll do?!  You'll be the first to know....

Slam

Even with this I'm blogging!  I can still type with both hands.

I'm one who occasionally slams a door to get her point across.  M hates it....  Tonight someone slammed the door on my finger.  I was exiting the bathroom and A was rushing in.  For some reason I had my hand too close to the door on the hinge side.  He slammed the door shut, but my pinky was in the way.

A heard all kinds of swear words.  I think I scared the crap out of him.  Thankfully he opened the door very fast.

It's not broken, but it's black and blue on both sides.  My acrylic nail survived.  I'm glad it was my left hand.

Sinking Realization

What to do with the sinking realization that what you did WAS REALLY WRONG.

I Think My Block Was Jacked!

Those that have been with me awhile know of all the drama with the Twilight Quilters Coven and the New Moon Quilt last fall.

We had a major falling out.  I was sent a letter at Twilight Moms after Angie, a member of the group and the longarm quilter, had received the quilt.  It listed all my transgressions.  I hurt a lot of people's feelings.  The least of what I did was to remake a couple of the member's blocks because I didn't think they were good enough for one reason or another.  Everything blew up from there......  This is the letter I was sent:

Shannon,


You haven’t been kicked off the island…..

We admire you for your creative input, your exacting skills, your enthusiasm and drive.

However, to say that many of us were hurt by your recent actions is an understatement: the lack of communication ahead of time; the changing of blocks; the addition of undiscussed blocks; and most importantly the insult to people who invested their time, money, and care into participating.

mama2cjmj wrote: (Iris)


In Utah I was so excited with her ideas for the quilt I offered to play with the layout, and she agreed. Then I worked on it, although I quickly wanted to give up, flaker that I am, and called her a couple of times to see if it was coming out acceptably. Not one hour after getting her final approval, I posted it then she hurriedly contradicted me publicly on our thread. I was SO embarrassed!

A little tweak here and there, fine. But I was astounded that she totally replaced Joyce's meadow without consulting! When I saw it my first thought was "tell me you asked first!" I thought she'd learned from the first tweak, Wanda's gifts! That was just insulting!

Meredemer wrote:


I have been thinking for a few weeks now that the quilt was turning into Shannon's quilt and I have been one that got feelings hurt. I am sorely disappointed in that the group trust was broken and there was a total disregard for the rest of us as Shannon feverishly worked to make it more hers than ours.

jewah1976 wrote:


Anyway, I think that this was handled very wrong, a 'group project' is done by a 'group' and if you don't want it to be a group project, don't offer to head it up. The fact that she truly altered some people's blocks so much and without even consulting us about it first is inexcusable!

LizzieBug wrote: (ELIZABETH)


I was looking at it and the wolf paws, which are 2" x 2 1/2" don't look like they'll fit in the sashing -- which is very disappointing. I designed them to go in the sashing.

livethedream wrote:


I have to tell you, when I saw the new 'dangerous meadow' block, I cried and blamed myself for not making the block 'good enough'.

Even though I was finally really happy with how it turned out (I think the final count was 8 incarnations which is what took me so long), I think we can all relate to knowing what imperfections exist and hoping no one else notices. Looking at the final layout of the quilt, with the paws in the meadow, the block I sent would have been too busy, so she did need to have a new one. (I have asked her to send mine back. I worked really hard on it and will use it on something else.)

Of course, she truly should have consulted the group immediately with big changes such as new blocks. It really doesn't take much time to post and get a response from this group. And, honestly, to totally remake someone's block, not use what they made, and not tell them is inexcusable. It shows a total lack of respect.

 hardhatcat wrote:

I was a bit put out by the extended silence from Shannon and then all of a sudden a lot of changes. I think she should have consulted the group before making any major changes and i was a little annoyed at the beginning with the confusion over the dimensions.

Melly wrote:


a group project should remain a group project. Someone who has such a huge responsibility as putting together the quilt should do it with a group opinion in mind. Of course, not everyone can get their way. Which is why I feel kinda sad, because it seems now that only one person got her way. we all invested time and money in this project.

This is an equal opportunity quilting coven. As long as someone has been welcome into our group, and is willing to go along with rules we set, then we need to respect that person’s artistic creativity, their personal skills, and themselves as a person.


All group projects need a majority consensus. When a coordinator is chosen and a layout is planned, everyone has a say in the final product. Any major changes have to be given over for input, discussion, and if needed voting.

Regardless of personal preferences, when a piece of work is turned in by an individual, it MUST be respected. Except perhaps for squaring off a block, if a minor change is needed, for example dealing with a sizing issue, that needs to be mentioned ahead of time to the individual out of respect and for input. If a major change is needed/desired, such as adding to the block, cutting off more than just for squaring, or replacing the block, the person who made the block MUST be contacted first. She deserves to be given the choice to a) give a go ahead, b) choose to remake it herself, or c) insist that it be included as is.

When we do group projects we need to be able to trust each other. And it is inexcusable to insult someone by changing their work without their consent! To be put in that situation, learning that your work was disregarded, after so much work and care went into it, is not how anyone would want to be treated.

We have come together to share our love of quilting and Twilight, to grow as quilters and as friends. Unanimously we agreed that we would like you to continue to be part of our little group. We would like to continue learning from you, as you learn from us, and have you share your work, both in group projects and in your own personal projects. Your quilting skills are amazing, your work is beautiful and having you choose to leave our group would be a big loss. We hope that you can get past your feelings enough to see that we really do value you.

But apologies are in order.

And we decided that in the interests of time Angie is going to finish the quilt and send it directly to Elizabeth.

It's been a horrible year for me.  I'm sure it was not picnic for them either as I was reminded by Elizabeth and Iris in the beginning of the blow-up and the ensuing months after.

Why am I bringing this up for what seems like the millionth time?

Well!!!!  As I was looking at Stephenie's quilt and the work I did, I noticed some things.  I'm pretty sure that my Twilight Hands block was fixed without me realizing it until now----------------no, no one told me or asked my permission.  See a little bit of hypocrisy?!!!

The block I made

My block that must have been seam ripped and "fixed"

How they must all be laughing at me, especially Elizabeth who must have "fixed" my block.  I'm actually glad I noticed this.  It shows me what a hypocritical bitch she was this whole time.  I always knew we were two peas in a pod, including being "perfectionists"  They made feel like shit and like I was the devil incarnate.

 If I have to be totally honest, I was always more hurt and angry because I felt ganged up on by Elizabeth and Iris who didn't stick up for me and the decisions I made than for what I actually did.  (I know, I know...we could have a huge debate about that!)  It turns out Elizabeth did the same thing to me, but I was too stupid to even realize it until now.

Am I mad if it turns out to be true?  I PMed both at TMs to ask if it's true.  I doubt either of them will answer me.  Yeah, I would have been ticked.  I like the fixes and think the block looks better ultimately.  The funny thing is that I've made the block since and I've figured it out so that it looks like the fixed block.  Who knows how I would have reacted at the time?  I probably would feel like the people felt whose blocks I fixed or remade.

I take a certain sense of satisfaction out of the whole thing, though.  I'm not the only one who does these things.  LMAO

Should I demand an apology like that was demanded of me?

Should I demand reparations be paid to me as were demanded of me to be paid to the two people whose blocks I remade?

Love and Hate

Bear with me.....

I'm melancholy today.  It probably didn't help that I watched a couple of sad movies today.  While I was watching the movies, I also sat and stared at my design wall with the Eclipse Quilt.

It represents everything that I love and hate about my life and MYSELF right now.  Would someone like to finish it or give me some advice.  Perhaps someone would like to put me out of my misery.  It could easily become one of my infamous U.F.O.s

M's got the kids out shopping for the last of the school supplies and gearing Z up for soccer.  He's never played so he needs everything, including two jerseys.  He's going to use C's shin guards, but we'll have to buy her new because she's outgrown these.

Did I mention she wants to be a cheerleader?!  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

If M says it's only money one more time, I will SLAP him!

Hooooooray for the Weekend

I couldn't wait for the weekend to get here.  Now that it's here I'm like, "What now?"  I won't have any serious money until Sunday so there goes my fun.  Laundry is calling my name as usual.  I plan on ignoring everything else because why should I be different than my wonderful family.

I need to come up with the next block.  I was actually looking forward to doing something simple for the Newborn Army, but Z told me my idea was boring.  I've upped the ante too much it would seem.  I was going to do a newspaper with some of the article from the book printed on some fabric and pieced to look like a newspaper.  He wants me to do an actual army in the block.  @#*%    He told me I should do an overturned car like in the movie with people around it.  I don't really want to do another silhouette block since I have two already.  Ugh....

He did get me thinking, though so I started Googling.  I found some cool ideas at Cafe Press.  I'm stumped.  I do think it might be cool to run with the "army" idea and use some camoflauge fabric.  Too out there?!

Help....my two co-members have been no help so I'm sending out an S.O.S.

Couldn't Wait

I think I need to fix the right eyebrow?

C started high school today with the first two days being more of an Orientation.  Freshman.  I have mixed emotions about it.  I'm very happy for her.  I'm nervous as hell.  I trust her....implicitly...okay, mostly....  (I try not to think about the girl she knows that is her class that is pregnant.  Then again, the rumor is, that this girl has little supervision and that her boyfriend has sleepovers....)  She wants to be a cheerleader..... gah!  I really believe that she will continue to be a good student, a good citizen, and treasure to us.  I am wondering about her goals for continuing her education and her future--she hasn't been too forthcoming. 

Yes, it's just me worrying about everything again.

We haven't been up to much else than finishing out our summer with a wimper.
I've been working on a couple of things for the Coven.  I know it's all in futulity, but I'm having "fun" fooling myself.

I'm looking for opinions on this block.  It's for "Legends" from Eclipse.  Bella learns of the Quileute legends in Eclipse.  The wolves, 3rd wife, Cold Ones, etc.  I got fixated on a wolf in flames and a knife.  I think my interpretation is my least favorite so far, but I think it's at least better than....well, you know....

I drafted a pattern in EQ5 for the knife from an actual Native American knife photo I found online.  The wolf in flames is from another graphic image I found.  I printed the image on wash-away foundtion paper and did used the Upside Applique method again--I actually sewed on the lines of the image on the back of the block and then cut the fabric away close to the stitched line on the front.

Please give me your honest opinions even if you think it's crap.  I promise to behave....  Specifically, should I include the "vampire" eyes in fabric using the same method as the wolf in the lower left corner?  Think red eyes.  Or, does anyone have any other suggestions?  Also, what about the wolf eyes.....too WHITE?  Should I make them grey, too, or another color like red?

The Twilight Quilt: In Stephenie Meyer's Own WORDS

I'm only a little bit sorry for cross-posting....

I was at Twilight Lexicon today and they had posted an excerpt of one of TwiFans' entries of a Stephenie Meyer interview they participated in.

I am so thrilled about this!  Stephenie Meyer mentions the Twilight Quilt we made her during her fan junket interview in support of Eclipse.  She was asked by one of the Letters to Twilight representatives if she had been given anything interesting:

Twifans.com: (LTT & Twifans) ask Stephenie Meyer TwiMerch & TwiRoom by twifans

LTT: So what have you been given where you’re, like, “Oh! Okay…that’s interesting…”

SM: What’s the weirdest thing I’ve been given? I been given some really amazing stuff, because someone gave me a quilt that…….I mean, I don’t have words. It’s amazing. Each square was made by someone different. And they depict scenes from different scenes from the book. And it’s lovely.

I'm so thrilled...  Can you really blame me?

I Still Have My Quilting

If nothing else, I still can sew.

Aggravation be damned!  Stop the world, I want to get off.

Okay....

I worked on Bella's little red shirt tonight with pleasing results.  I'm off to get some buttons tomorrow.  The collar is like a real collar and so is the pocket.  The pattern is from Paper Panache.  I wish I could have come up with a better pattern of my own, but I got lazy after trying once.  I'm hoping it will look better with buttons.

More Adventures with Free Motion Quilting

It's a Shannon thing.

I've always known that my success with free motion quilting would be all about my ability to let go.  My ability to experiment and not be too fussy with my results.

My ability to be just good enough in the beginning to want to practice more and my ability to be just good enough for as long as it will be....maybe forever.

To understand that quilting will always be a challenging thing.  Basting a quilt with safety pins or basting spray isn't fun, but it has to be done.  My sewing space isn't very accomodating.  I'm not very artistic and I can't draw worth a darn.  Quilt doodling is still drawing of a sort.

To work with the tools I have.....

The ability to be okay that my quilting will never be like the results I would get from a computerized longarm job.

To love the CHARM of my quilting.

All this is a lot to ask of myself.

I'm not discounting that one needs the right tools to machine quilt or to at least ease the struggle.  Quilting can be done on any old machine and without any of the specialty quilting tools available these days, but those tools make free motion quilting easier.

The Water Soluble Stabilizer Method of Machine Quilting

I favorite everything, but didn't do this one.  I finally found it again.

Stop Proving Me Right

I hate it when my kids prove me right.  S is mad at me because I won't go buy her a Moxie Girl that she saw at the store yesterday, but I declined to buy.  Forget that I took her to the movies yesterday with popcorn and a drink, bought school supplies, a treat at McDonalds and Target, bought bagels this morning and......  It's my own fault because I said I'd think about it yesterday.

It's never enough!  I get so worn down as a mom from this behavior.

Enough of that.

I've been trying to decide once again whether or not to quilt a quilt myself.  Bella's T-shirt Quilt top is finished.  It needs to be quilted.

I've talked about my lack of skill, confidence, and patience when it comes to the actual quilting part of a quilt.

Every time I've tried, I've been unhappy with the results.  My main problem is not producing even stitches--I know I can gett better at that.  The biggest trouble I have is the design part.  I don't doodle in real life so it goes to say that I would have trouble doodling on a quilt top with my machine.

I can't even meander well.

I decided to try a method I found online that I just happened upon.  The quilter drew the design on washaway stabilizer, attached it to the top, and quilted away with pretty good results.

I tried it this afternoon with so-so results.  I need to practice which is another thing I don't much like to do.  I did find that I did better when I wasn't trying to stay on the drawn line, but more "echoed" the line.  I quilted with more confidence having a pattern to follow.

The other thing I tried differently was using silk thread with a 70/10 sharp needle.  I liked the way the quilting looked with that thread.

I need to think some more about what I want to do.

The Day that Will Be

I woke up with a banger of a headache this morning at 4:57.  Ugh....  I got up, slammed some Advil, grabbed my pillows, and headed out to the couch.

The last disc of Season 2 True Blood came yesterday while I was out.  I didn't get to watch it last night because M was watching Pearl Harbor--he loves his war movies, even the questionably acted ones.  I headed to my room to work on drafting some pp patterns.  I tried again and failed at drafting the Twilight book cover hands.

Since I was up, I watched the last two episodes of the the season.  I'll have to wait until next summer to see Season 3 when it's released on DVD.

I was a nice mom and got a bucket of bagels from Einstein Bagels.  This is our favorite place for bagels.

Then, it was off to WalMart again.  I needed wash soap and dryer sheets for all the laundry I'm going to get done today since I was such a slacker yesterday out shopping all day.  I also got more school supplies.  We're still battling A's stool holding problem and I got him some gummy fiber....yes, there is such a thing.  Sometimes I think I should just sign over my check to WalMart as soon as I get it.

I hope to get some work done around the house today.  I'm going down into the dungeon basement and work with my fabric stash.  It's on my list of things to do for my bucket list.

I hope everyone has a nice Sunday!