Monday, September 9, 2013
Stress - Does it affect your quilting? or not?
I am just pondering how many of you feel or believe that stress in your life (job, family, health, financial, etc.) affects your ability to quilt or not?
For me, I have found that the more stress I am under lends itself for me to quilt more! I guess quilting is my escape from the things that cause the stress and the actual physical movements and concentration on the art of quilting allows me to put those situations out of my mind and body while I am quilting. Many of us think of quilting as our therapy. Taking needle and thread to cloth, albeit an electronic needle, seems to melt away the strife in my life. The time passes very quickly and I find that when I am quilting, I eat less. I know that I am also a stress eater, and quilting allows me to stop that unwanted behavior.
I often find that some of the most beautiful quilts I have created were done during some of the toughest spots in my life. I really began serious quilting many years ago when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time I was working two jobs, going to college full time and helping to take care of her while she battled and recovered. I am lucky to be able to say that she is still with us over 30+ years later and I am still quilting. Perhaps that is one reason I quilt, it started then and I realized how much I enjoyed it, all of it. Back then I was not a good quilter. I learned via the lap quilting method by Georgia Bonesteel. I checked a book out of the library and found a way to take the quilting with me. I worked on it everywhere I went because it was portable. I was really proud of that first big quilt, slept under it for years in fact. It has seen its better days by now, but as a sampler that was hand quilted, I learned alot and haven't looked back.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Hot Hot Hot!
The weather so far in July has been incredibly hot. We are at the end (I hope) of a 7+ day heatwave, meaning the daily temperatures have been well over 90 degrees Fahrenheit here in Northern NJ. The intense rains from June are all but forgotten and the dryness and heat have taken their toll on the yard, flowers and plants outside. I'm lucky to have an irrigation system that keeps mine watered gently in the middle of the night, but I can see the dust everywhere where the landscape has cracked and dried up where there has been no water.
The heat has made alot of people sick and keeps us and the pets inside when we are home. Even my pups don't want to take long walks, they do their thing and come back into the air conditioning and sleep, alot. I have tried cooking using the stove top and microwave, so as not to heat up the house with the oven or have to stand outside to grill in the heat. I should be in the basement quilting alot while its hot outside, but I haven't been in the mood to sit and sew.
Today, I finished 7 new fabric wrapped clothes line baskets. I had already completed the wrapping and just sat and shaped and sewed the baskets. I endulged in finding some very cool jewelry items recently to replace those that were stolen a few weeks back and used those to embellish the baskets. I am quite pleased with the results. Some new shapes, colors and designs were finished and I expanded my technique to include a basket with a lid, which I had never done before. Its pretty cool. I will have to post some photos of the new ones soon.
Stay cool. If you have a pool, use it and think of me. I have a new bathing suit, I just don't have a pool to wear it in yet!
d
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Memorial Day
As I sit here on Sunday evening I thought it might be nice to pay tribute to our armed forces on this Memorial Day weekend. Although my family was not a military one growing up, we lived in the Washington DC area and many of my friends growing up had parents that were in the military. Those families would come and go as the dad got stationed in our area and then again somewhere else 3 or 4 years later.
One of my closest friends growing up had a dad that was in the Air Force and he was MIA during the Vietnam war. Her mom raised her and her little brother as a single parent and I really didn't understand why she didn't have a dad until I got to high school. He made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could be safe and secure at home. I remember years later running into someone that had a metal MIA bracelet with his name on it. Small world. I know what they all wished for when they prayed at night was that their Dad would come home again.
I also know a family here in Nj that lost their oldest son in Afghanistan in July 2012. It was very difficult for them and still is to think he was killed doing his job. I know they are proud of him, but I can only bet that they would give anything to have just one more day with him and to tell him they love him and how proud they are of the man he proved to be as a soldier.
I know there are many veterans that came home from their overseas positions and found it difficult to get into the civilian life after serving in the military. I am disappointed in how little we do for them when they get out. We should do more. I personally make sure that my company does at least 1 charitable event every year for our active military? We want them to know that we know they are there, we are glad and grateful they are serving overseas for us and that we appreciate the hardships they face every day so that we can live in the Land of the Free. I always thank active duty personnel when I encounter them at the airport, shake their hand and tell them how much seeing them in uniform makes me proud to be an American.
Memorial Day isn't about picnics, shopping for bargain sales or having the day off. Our military never take the day off. Fly your flag, pray for their safe return and be thankful to those that wear uniforms, face combat, train regularly and leave the comforts of their homes and the loving sums of their families so that we can LIVE FREE and enjoy the USA. Hire a vet if you can. Go visit them or the place where they came to rest if they are no longer with us.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Sharing the Love for Quilting with Others
Last Friday evening I had the opportunity to 'teach' a workshop at a local girl scout troop meeting. There were 12 girls signed up and I had spent all day Saturday cutting out 12 kits to make a little Mother's Day Bouquet Wallhanging. It had to be colorful, easy, and pretty enough to keep the girls busy for a couple of hours.
I am lucky to have a wonderful colleague named Joyce that volunteered to help me on Friday to get the girls sewing. I am so glad that she did! I couldn't have done it without her.
It turned out that only 8 girls showed up. We had 4 sewing machines, 1 iron and 3 moms that didn't sew to help. With all of the pre-cut kits in zipper lock baggies, we started by showing them what they were going to make that evening before we dove into the creation process. See below.
We laid the different pieces out on the table and allowed them to select the flowers, stems, leaves, flower pot, background, backing and borders from what I had cut out already. They really enjoyed that part, looking carefully at each one to determine if they liked each piece and wanted to use it.
In hindsight, I should have had them add the borders to their background first, before putting all the smaller fused pieces out so they didn't end up on the floor. Then we taught each girl how to machine piece the seams to add the borders to their quilt tops. We did the sides first, got them pressed and then added the top and bottom borders. None of the girls had ever sewn before and it was fun teaching them how to run a machine and keep the pieces straight. My old 'MOLEFOAM' trick helped them to line up the pieces nicely with a little help from the adults.
Once the tops were pieced and pressed, we then took the pre-fused flowers, stems, leaves and flower pots and laid out each quilt. Each girl was allowed and expected to decide what her flower bouquet would look like. Once they had it laid out to their liking, they then peeled the paper backing off the pieces and pressed them down on the top to finish the 'applique'. Fusible applique is a great starter project for girls in the 6-8 year old range. They can pick up the pieces and move them around until they are ironed down to the top. One by one they took their tops over to the ironing station where the flowers were pressed into place. We then took the quilt tops and sandwiched them 'pillow case' style with batting and backing.
We were running a bit short on time, so the adults cut, pinned and sewed the quilts to get them finished. Joyce pinned, I sewed, another mom unpinned, trimmed and turned the quilts right side out, Janet ironed and then I closed the hole and finally Amy took their pictures with their finished quilts before they left the meeting.
It was fun, it was creative and I believe the girl scouts had a great time making something beautiful that they could take home. I suspect we even have a few future sewers and maybe a quilter or two in the group. The troop leaders have already asked if we would have a mommy how to sewing class sometime over the summer.
Note: If you look at the pictures closely, you will notice as I did after the fact that most of the girls selected border fabrics that matched the tops they were wearing, green, pink, stripes, flowers, etc. That was really cool!
I am lucky to have a wonderful colleague named Joyce that volunteered to help me on Friday to get the girls sewing. I am so glad that she did! I couldn't have done it without her.
It turned out that only 8 girls showed up. We had 4 sewing machines, 1 iron and 3 moms that didn't sew to help. With all of the pre-cut kits in zipper lock baggies, we started by showing them what they were going to make that evening before we dove into the creation process. See below.
We laid the different pieces out on the table and allowed them to select the flowers, stems, leaves, flower pot, background, backing and borders from what I had cut out already. They really enjoyed that part, looking carefully at each one to determine if they liked each piece and wanted to use it.
In hindsight, I should have had them add the borders to their background first, before putting all the smaller fused pieces out so they didn't end up on the floor. Then we taught each girl how to machine piece the seams to add the borders to their quilt tops. We did the sides first, got them pressed and then added the top and bottom borders. None of the girls had ever sewn before and it was fun teaching them how to run a machine and keep the pieces straight. My old 'MOLEFOAM' trick helped them to line up the pieces nicely with a little help from the adults.
Once the tops were pieced and pressed, we then took the pre-fused flowers, stems, leaves and flower pots and laid out each quilt. Each girl was allowed and expected to decide what her flower bouquet would look like. Once they had it laid out to their liking, they then peeled the paper backing off the pieces and pressed them down on the top to finish the 'applique'. Fusible applique is a great starter project for girls in the 6-8 year old range. They can pick up the pieces and move them around until they are ironed down to the top. One by one they took their tops over to the ironing station where the flowers were pressed into place. We then took the quilt tops and sandwiched them 'pillow case' style with batting and backing.
We were running a bit short on time, so the adults cut, pinned and sewed the quilts to get them finished. Joyce pinned, I sewed, another mom unpinned, trimmed and turned the quilts right side out, Janet ironed and then I closed the hole and finally Amy took their pictures with their finished quilts before they left the meeting.
It was fun, it was creative and I believe the girl scouts had a great time making something beautiful that they could take home. I suspect we even have a few future sewers and maybe a quilter or two in the group. The troop leaders have already asked if we would have a mommy how to sewing class sometime over the summer.
Note: If you look at the pictures closely, you will notice as I did after the fact that most of the girls selected border fabrics that matched the tops they were wearing, green, pink, stripes, flowers, etc. That was really cool!
Monday, April 29, 2013
Laundry Mishaps, the Tissue Issue and Clothing Hitchhikers
I am sure that most of you have experienced and can relate to what I am about to describe in this post. Pulling your wet laundry out of the washer only to find that someone (me) left a tissue in a pocket and it is now in a million tiny pieces all over your freshly washed clothes!
Having suffered with allergies most recently, it was bound to happen in my rush to get the laundry done, I had not carefully checked all the pockets to avoid it. It amazes me how much of a mess one little tissue can make and how difficult it is to get the particles off your wet and or dry clothing articles. I keep finding these little white 'tufts' everywhere.
I thought that when I dried them in the dryer, the majority of them would be caught in the lint trap.
Well, yes, some did, but still a good number of them were not caught and were still clinging to the clothes. I shook a lot of them off where they ended up on the rug and could be easily vacuumed up later. However, a lot of my clothes, I hang up to dry, to prevent shrinkage and misshaping that happens with certain fabrics in the dryer. I clip them to hangers and then place the hangers from the rafters in the basement near the furnace so they will dry naturally. Its economical, it saves energy, my clothes last longer, and likely don't require ironing as much. However, the Kleenex tidbits ended up sticking to these clothes and was not easy to remove. I tossed them in the dryer with no heat for a few minutes to try and rid my self of these nasty self inflicted lint bugs.
Another laundry disaster is one that my BFF reminded me of just this morning with a story she shared via email. How many of you have been at work, only to discover that your dryer sheet or other article of a delicate nature is secretly hiding inside your pants leg? You feel something moving around in there as you are walking or sitting in a meeting with the new vice president, only to realize that the dryer sheet, errant sock or 'seat cover' has hitched a ride and now decides to show themselves. While a dryer sheet isn't so embarrassing, other smaller pieces of hitchhiked clothing can prove to reveal themselves at the utmost inappropriate times. Let's just hope if its of the pantie variety that it happens to be a new, nice pair and not your old holey ones that your mother always told you not to wear in case you got into an accident!
Happy Rainy Monday!
Having suffered with allergies most recently, it was bound to happen in my rush to get the laundry done, I had not carefully checked all the pockets to avoid it. It amazes me how much of a mess one little tissue can make and how difficult it is to get the particles off your wet and or dry clothing articles. I keep finding these little white 'tufts' everywhere.
I thought that when I dried them in the dryer, the majority of them would be caught in the lint trap.
Well, yes, some did, but still a good number of them were not caught and were still clinging to the clothes. I shook a lot of them off where they ended up on the rug and could be easily vacuumed up later. However, a lot of my clothes, I hang up to dry, to prevent shrinkage and misshaping that happens with certain fabrics in the dryer. I clip them to hangers and then place the hangers from the rafters in the basement near the furnace so they will dry naturally. Its economical, it saves energy, my clothes last longer, and likely don't require ironing as much. However, the Kleenex tidbits ended up sticking to these clothes and was not easy to remove. I tossed them in the dryer with no heat for a few minutes to try and rid my self of these nasty self inflicted lint bugs.
Another laundry disaster is one that my BFF reminded me of just this morning with a story she shared via email. How many of you have been at work, only to discover that your dryer sheet or other article of a delicate nature is secretly hiding inside your pants leg? You feel something moving around in there as you are walking or sitting in a meeting with the new vice president, only to realize that the dryer sheet, errant sock or 'seat cover' has hitched a ride and now decides to show themselves. While a dryer sheet isn't so embarrassing, other smaller pieces of hitchhiked clothing can prove to reveal themselves at the utmost inappropriate times. Let's just hope if its of the pantie variety that it happens to be a new, nice pair and not your old holey ones that your mother always told you not to wear in case you got into an accident!
Happy Rainy Monday!
Friday, April 26, 2013
Do you belong to a quilt guild?
I am a believer that Quilting guilds can be a very positive experience. I believe that Quilt guilds can inspire and reward those that belong. I love that I can go to a quilt guild meeting and see wonderful things created by other quilters that may or may not be finished. I love to listen to the creator talk about the piece, why they made it, what inspired them, what they need help with, when it was finished and who is going to end up with their creation. The only part I don't like is when someone openly criticizes their own work in front of others. I wonder why do we do this?
As a teacher, I have to admit that its easier to try and find something wonderful about each and every student's work and much more rewarding and inspiring to share those positive thoughts with them. While sometimes I do not 'love' something, each and every piece of art has some merit and if one looks upon it with good intent, you can find the best in even the simpliest or less than perfect handmade item. I would rather inspire someone by pointing out the good, than to criticize the obvious flaws. I can only hope that we all try and do this to each other when we share quilts and works in progress. The world would certainly be a nicer place if we did, right?
I enjoy it when someone approaches me and asks my advice on how to quilt or finish their quilt. Its easier when you know the person well and have a good idea of their skills set and comfort zone. But I am always willing to try and offer a variety of suggestions to the curious, after all, I received plenty of help from more experienced quilters in my early sewing career and I was always grateful for that experience and their wonderful ideas. It really rocks my boat when I see they have actually executed a suggestion of mine and the idea works out well and enhances their finished item.
Just this week, I received two emails with photos from friends that tried a new binding technique I had shared with them. They were tickled pink with the finished quilt and I have to say I was proud of them for remembering to share their finished quilt with me so that I could see they had found the binding tips useful and workable for them. Sharing the joy, the ideas and pictures of the finished items is a nice way to say Thank you to the source of your inspiration. I think this is probably why I teach. I get alot out of it from each and every student. Being a inspiration to others is a really good feeling.
This is a partial picture of my latest super king size quilt top which I showed at the Modern Guild last night. I call it My Zipper Quilt.
As a teacher, I have to admit that its easier to try and find something wonderful about each and every student's work and much more rewarding and inspiring to share those positive thoughts with them. While sometimes I do not 'love' something, each and every piece of art has some merit and if one looks upon it with good intent, you can find the best in even the simpliest or less than perfect handmade item. I would rather inspire someone by pointing out the good, than to criticize the obvious flaws. I can only hope that we all try and do this to each other when we share quilts and works in progress. The world would certainly be a nicer place if we did, right?
I enjoy it when someone approaches me and asks my advice on how to quilt or finish their quilt. Its easier when you know the person well and have a good idea of their skills set and comfort zone. But I am always willing to try and offer a variety of suggestions to the curious, after all, I received plenty of help from more experienced quilters in my early sewing career and I was always grateful for that experience and their wonderful ideas. It really rocks my boat when I see they have actually executed a suggestion of mine and the idea works out well and enhances their finished item.
Just this week, I received two emails with photos from friends that tried a new binding technique I had shared with them. They were tickled pink with the finished quilt and I have to say I was proud of them for remembering to share their finished quilt with me so that I could see they had found the binding tips useful and workable for them. Sharing the joy, the ideas and pictures of the finished items is a nice way to say Thank you to the source of your inspiration. I think this is probably why I teach. I get alot out of it from each and every student. Being a inspiration to others is a really good feeling.
This is a partial picture of my latest super king size quilt top which I showed at the Modern Guild last night. I call it My Zipper Quilt.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Quilting Retreats
One week from today I will be madly packing my supplies and suitcase to attend our annual Quilting Retreat in Lititz, PA. I am happy to report that there has been a very excited and happy flurry of emails and instant messages between the attendees talking about what to pack, where to go, when to meet up and how busy they are planning their final preparations for this gathering.
We all look forward to the event from the date it is planned up until we all arrive and get settled into the house where we converge to sew, laugh, share, eat, sleep and be merry. The ladies that attend this gathering are all pretty much in their 50's and 60's. All are experienced quilters and each have a different style and favorite aspect to quilting that differ from the others. Some are best friends, sisters, sister-in-laws, most are moms or aunts, grandmas and great aunts. We leave behind the husbands, the kids, the jobs, the pets and the housework and cooking and come together to enjoy time doing what we love best.
We are lucky to have a nice group of 11 ladies that know each other through this event and everyone gets along very well. This year we will make some charity quilts using a jelly roll race format.
And the rest of the time will be spent working on our own projects that we want to finish. Some of us drag everything but the kitchen sink with us (the house has at least 2 of those) and others carefully cut everything ahead of time to expedite the sewing process. Most of us shop while in PA, because there are many shops that offer first quality quilting cottons and supplies at prices that are not available locally to us in our native NJ, CT, MA hometowns. We all try to leave a little space in our suitcases for treasures that we procure along the way.
On Saturday night, we gather together in one spot to do a show and tell. We typically share items that we created and most of the time, ones that we started at the retreat in prior years or finished during the retreat we are attending at the time. Its so much fun to see all of the items everyone else makes. Pictures are taken and stories are swapped. We memorialize the event in pictures that can be shared over the web and via email.
I love all the sharing of ideas and techniques that happen during this time together. Its a special bonding between friends and we are often in awe of each other's accomplishments big and small.
If you've not tried a retreat in the past, I highly recommend it. It is an experience that cannot be beat if the right people are involved. I feel extra lucky to be able to do this every year and to have a wonderful group of ladies with whom to enjoy spending this time of creativity.
Year #3 in April 2012-->
Keep on stitching - anywhere you can!
We all look forward to the event from the date it is planned up until we all arrive and get settled into the house where we converge to sew, laugh, share, eat, sleep and be merry. The ladies that attend this gathering are all pretty much in their 50's and 60's. All are experienced quilters and each have a different style and favorite aspect to quilting that differ from the others. Some are best friends, sisters, sister-in-laws, most are moms or aunts, grandmas and great aunts. We leave behind the husbands, the kids, the jobs, the pets and the housework and cooking and come together to enjoy time doing what we love best.
We are lucky to have a nice group of 11 ladies that know each other through this event and everyone gets along very well. This year we will make some charity quilts using a jelly roll race format.
And the rest of the time will be spent working on our own projects that we want to finish. Some of us drag everything but the kitchen sink with us (the house has at least 2 of those) and others carefully cut everything ahead of time to expedite the sewing process. Most of us shop while in PA, because there are many shops that offer first quality quilting cottons and supplies at prices that are not available locally to us in our native NJ, CT, MA hometowns. We all try to leave a little space in our suitcases for treasures that we procure along the way.
On Saturday night, we gather together in one spot to do a show and tell. We typically share items that we created and most of the time, ones that we started at the retreat in prior years or finished during the retreat we are attending at the time. Its so much fun to see all of the items everyone else makes. Pictures are taken and stories are swapped. We memorialize the event in pictures that can be shared over the web and via email.
I love all the sharing of ideas and techniques that happen during this time together. Its a special bonding between friends and we are often in awe of each other's accomplishments big and small.
If you've not tried a retreat in the past, I highly recommend it. It is an experience that cannot be beat if the right people are involved. I feel extra lucky to be able to do this every year and to have a wonderful group of ladies with whom to enjoy spending this time of creativity.
Year #3 in April 2012-->
and with my baskets on their heads in 2012.
Below - in April 2011 Year 2
Below - in April 2010 - Year 1
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