Piece Therapy

Sometimes there are times in your life when you have to try to figure out how best to put the pieces together to make something orderly of it.  I am working on a part of my life right now where I am trying to make an important decision. I have looked at all the angles and  tried to put them together just right so that all the points and corners meet up (or at least come close).  I am finding that working on a quilt block helps.  Oh, I don’t know what that block may become or if it will join others in a basket in the closet of misc. blocks with no particular purpose, but for today it served a purpose in my life.  It makes me wonder how many other people find that kind of therapy in crafting or gardening or baking or other hobbies that require concentration and mindfulness.  I think that is what hobbies are all about, sort of a therapy or a focus exercise.  I spent a few hours yesterday baking 2 loaves of bread and thinking about how mixing ingredients and watching yeast work to create something that is tasty and good for my body is also good for my mind, and I shared that with someone special to me which also made me feel good.  These were both great things to do on a rainy day deep in thought.  The only decision that I have made about the situation I am thinking about is that it won’t hurt to try and decisions can be changed and adjustments made, in the end I must take care of myself and be content with the life I create for myself.

  My block that I created comes from a new book out by Eleanor Burns that I preordered called “Quilt Blocks on American Barns”.  I got a signed copy and I love it.  It reminds me so much of my Grandmother and summers spent in Iowa.  The block I chose is called Quatrefoil and it represents a 4 leaf clover.  She says that a common saying is “to be in clover” which means to be living a carefree life of ease, comfort or prosperity.  I’m not sure that I am living that life yet, but I am getting closer and maybe a few more blocks put together will help to get me there!

Enjoy your craft therapy whatever it may be!

Ferne

Some Quilting Getting Done

Due to the bad weather I have actually been able to have some unexpected sewing time and have finished a few projects and started some new ones.  One that was so exciting to have finished was the runner that Karen from Sew Many Ways so generously shared with me last year.  It took me a year to get the nerve to quilt this beautifully pieced quilt.  I took a free motion class last month and practiced on a few  pieces before I gave this one a try.  I am pretty happy with  the results.  I do need some tips though on how to get the ceramic pencil marks from my Sew Line pencil out.  I think they will come out after a few washings, but does anyone have any tips to share on this?

After quilting this my confidence level was up so I quilted my Schnibbles Picnic quilt.  I had seen this quilt popping up all over on other quilters blogs and just had to have one for myself.  I posted on the progress earlier and now I am proud to say it is finished and hanging on my wall.  I hung it with a quilt hanging frame that was handmade by a local craftsman and sold at my favorite quilt shop, JJ’s Log Cabin.  JJ supports local crafters by displaying and selling their products in her shop on consignment and she does have quite a crafty group that supplies her with their handiwork.

We have been enjoying visiting the thrift shops and antique stores in our area and finding lots of treasures.  Recently we found this cute little dresser that only needed to have it’s mirror replaced.  We didn’t get a beveled mirror, just left it plain, but it looks cute and is functional in our guest room.  So far after 2 weeks in place the drawers are still empty, but I’m sure it will get put to good use in the very near future.  Empty drawers are hidden treasures for me!  I pieced a runner that just happened to fit and look great with this dresser so now I have to get it quilted…always a project in progress (or two or more:). 

Next I am going to attempt to make myself a summer dress and skirt before the weather finally warms up.  I have everything I need except the time, so I will just have to squeeze it in.  I got the Juliet tunic by Serendipity Studio and I am planning to making it in dress version, more on that as I make some progress.

Sewing in the rain!

Ferne