Blog
I think I’m in a quilting slump, kinda like a batting slump in baseball. crawfishboxes.com I am working hard, but moving forward at glacial speed. I’m frustrated but not discouraged, and I still have my joy. This summer has allowed me the luxury of being at home, creating and sewing. I don’t think I’ve had this big of a chunk of time in years. So I’m happy just to be home, sewing and creating. It’s been a Red Letter week, despite the challenges. I finished two pieces on Monday, both part of my black and white series. One has been…
Given all the problems I’d had lately with my work, I thought it would be a good idea to back off and do a little romp of a project. I spied this pattern in my local quilt shop and thought it was the perfect project. I can always use another tote bag for teaching, traveling, etc. Ah, but this was no romp! The pattern was indeed simple, but it was not easy! Isn’t this adorable? It’s huge, stands up on its own and had a simple but interesting design. Before I tell my tale of woe, I must make this…
I continue to have problems with the two pieces I’m working on but I’m not surprised. I decided to work out some of my problems “off-line” by preparing a sample piece that is exactly like my quilts. This was no small task. But I did not want to work out any more problems on the actual quilt, so the sample was worth my time. I still had problems with the bobbin thread coming to the top and showing. Even with perfect tension, if you quilt atop a previous layer of stitches, your tension will go bonkers. This problem is inevitable with this…
Well I’m rocking along and I’ve gotten to the quilting stage on these two pieces I’m working on. Both are of the same series so I can work on them simultaneously, something I have never done before. I love it when I have A Real Plan and I get to the quilting stage-it’s that “yippeeeee” moment! But, of course, problems will come. Problems are absolutely predictable. You may remember this description of The Creative Process from a previous post: 1. This is cool! 2. This is gonna be hard. 3. This sucks. 4. I suck. 5. There is hope. 6. This…
I’m currently working on two pieces simultaneously, something I have ever done before. And another “first” for me: I am making both pieces for a specific event. I don’t normally like to do that. I like to work in the size, format and genre that I want. I don’t like being restricted to a certain size, theme or type of quilt. But in this case I had two separate ideas that had been rolling around in my little head for a long time. And each fits into the requirements for an exhibit-lucky me! Both are part of my black and…
Sometimes the inexplicable happens. Like when I’m working on a piece that has a looming deadline and all of a sudden this happens: Now this has happened before-in fact this is a photo from a previous post, appropriately entitled “My Torturous Trek to Terrific Thread Tension”. My tension was actually good, except in the loopy parts. And I gotta tell you, tension problems usually are torturous-you try this, you try that, you have some chocolate, drink some wine, try something else. That post is still a good lesson in solving tension issues and is worth a read if you didn’t…
The Give-Away closed last night and Kathy Moran is the winner! I’ll be sending the book out today for your enjoyment Kathy. I used the Random Number Generator to choose the comment number for me-pretty nifty little tool. I want you to know that I did read each of your comments and enjoyed them immensely! It’s fun to hear your opinions about Chicago vs Alaska and there were some interesting reasons for the preference. And thank you for writing about your most unusual quilting tool too. I did not respond to the comments because that would have muddied the waters…
Note: I’ll have a separate post on Friday about the Give-Away, so be sure to check back! This has not been a week that tidily fits into a focused blog post. I’m working on several projects that are longer term, so there may not be a lot to show from week-to-week. I am soooo excited about my upcoming new studio! It’s probably going to end up somewhere between this…. And this…oh wait, that’s my current “studio”! I need to do some planning and dreaming for this new studio: I’ve inventoried my current spaces and their dimensions. I’ve created a wish list…
It’s been a week full of wildly different activities, from choosing a contractor for a whole house remodel (WHOOP!), to caring for a very ailing Basset Boy, starting on a new quilt and getting some excellent images of one of my “old” quilts. Life happens like that-big ups and downs at the same time. Basset Boy has been ailing. Apparently he’s received a “serious insult” to his liver. After a 2-day stay in Doggie ICU (don’t even ask how much that was) we are all delighted that he is home. He will not eat. We’re stuffing countless pills through his…
As promised, I’ve got a hot new book to give away: The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters: A Guide to Creating, Quilting, and Living Courageously by Sherri L. Wood. I was so excited about her upcoming book that I pre-ordered….twice! So I just have to give away my extra to one of my readers. I have not yet been able to read the whole thing and I’m dying to play with one of her “scores”. The book is a lot about process and practice and what’s in your head. The photography is fabulous. Although it is definitely a book for…