I can’t believe this one is done. I made it late last February just as a means of using up strip sets and playing around with another neutral color-the tans and khakis. The process of finishing it with all the machine issues just about made me give up on it. But I left in the areas of stitching that were less than average and a bit wavy. I had fought with it in areas that left it even more wavy when finished. Or it ended up that way because I densely quilted it ( six spools of thread later ) or strip sets just stretch. But it the end , it is done.

Well, I admit that actually telling you that I would resolve a piece made me anxious. I felt a responsibility to all three of you out there who might be reading this. Call it an accountability to finish it . I really wanted to throw this piece in the trash about halfway through my day. Tues is one day I try to set aside to work in my studio. And yesterday , 10 hours later, I still wanted to throw this piece in the trash. So, I backed up and tried to think of the very basic goals I had for this: 1. to use this piece within a quilt 2. to make it acceptable to me 3. to tone it down so it wasn’t so chaotic. After a night’s sleep, I kept at it. I did piece the top. I don’t like it but I did achieve my three goals- it is acceptable but I don’t like it. And , that’s ok. So here is Connections # 8 which is 36×47.

     I have had a group of fabrics on my design wall for way too long. Just can’t seem to move forward with it no matter which way I position the pieces. Now, it started out as one of those lovely compositions that you make at the end of week with Nancy Crow in Strip Piecing and Re-structuring.  I couldn’t make the design work, didn’t like the colors and was disappointed that I couldn’t make it work.  But I feel obligated to do something with it. One thing I gained from that class is a boldness to try new things. So I cut it up once and tried this….

I sat back to admire my work and none of it was working. Who thought that  triangle was supposed to work? So, what’s a girl supposed to do? I guess I keep boldly cutting up and re-arranging my leftovers. Happy sewing today.

 I finished a quilt top this week and while I was cleaning up I was still thinking about what I didn’t accomplish: simplicity. So, as I was ready to sweep away the mess, I stopped to admire the “leftovers”. The fabrics were just too beautiful to put away. They didn’t deserve to go in the scrap basket, never to be found again. The fabric pack was from Robin of simplyrobin. She’s lucky enough to be able to dye fabric yet in a much warmer place. My fabric dyeing days seem to be over.

So, with what I had left, became Quiltlet # 1 – A Little Bit of Autumn . This little gem is 10×14 and machine-quilted. I have only machine quilted about a dozen quilts and look forward to improving with this aspect of my quilting. Enjoy a little bit of autumn from Michigan.

 Enjoy your weekend!                                                      

     A friend recently asked me what my inspiration was for a new quilt. I pondered that question for a long time before I responded to her question. It wasn’t one thing but a long list of of things: magazines, books, workshops, quilt shows, nature, architecture, a special teacher, or just daily observation which I try to jot down in my journal.

But on a daily basis, I enjoy catching up on blogs where photos are posted regularly and words treasured. Many share informative tutorials that I learn from tweaking information to make it work for me. So many wonderful friends post on a regular basis that I feel connected – as if we are having a cup of coffee together-even though we are miles apart.
  

     So, my friends from near and far, I begin my own blog. To journal my progress, to challenge myself, to share with you and perhaps, someday to inspire another! Over the next few weeks, I will share what I have worked on this past year. Welcome and let me know what inspires you.