I had a day which was completely empty. Including having leftovers for dinner-good leftovers so I knew there would be no complaining. I just started opening up drawers and my favorite little treasure box.

     Sparkly things which just need to be tried on. As part of my quilt.
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A little light I think…

A little better but just not right yet…

So easily distracted. Thank you Natasha-all I needed was an “s” for my Etsy link-ok at least -I told you even though I am embarassed. Must go to put some binding on,

Happy Sewing, my friends.

     I never blog on the weekend but wanted to come and enjoy the fire down by my family. And I knew I couldn’t sew any more tonight! I know you were wondering where I was on Friday. I was in the process of being rescued by my good friend Lynne. From what- you ask?
     I was pleasantly working on my barn quilt with my sewing machine facing my design wall. And as I was making great progress,  I had a sick feeling in my stomach. The sinking feeling when you know it’s not right, but you just don’t want to face it. Now, I could have taken the hint. No comments were left on the day when I posted it. And then, another not so subtle hint from my family-it’s ok.- glad you are almost done- was the sentiment. I had to face the truth-the jeans quilt was really bad. The color of the print I used for the feet background didn’t look right. And the feet were going nowhere. The dimensions weren’t working for me either.
     Now, I felt absolutely sick after sleeping on this decision. The feet were sewn on after I ironed them on with wonder under. I was stuck with that. After talking to Lynne, she suggested a few things and I took her up on adding a sun above the feet. Of course, that meant piecing together a whole new section for the sun to lay on. And three different trips to get the right color yellow. And then sewing the wrong color on. And then sewing the rays way too big. And needing to peel them back,

scrape the wonder under off(thank goodness that worked because I would resign as a quilter and become a knitter if I had to start this sucker over). And then holding the piece up and my family each having negative comments….They were all right. So, I modified the sun, added some more pieces and finally got it right. Not right, but just improved from the bad spot I was in. I breathed a little tonight but know I have yet to start the quilting. And I wasn’t a bit relieved when the next comment was-this is the biggest thing you have worked on in a long time.

     Clearly, I needed an intervention at some point this weekend. Or maybe my family needed an intervention from me and my auction quilt. It’s a bit like a bad dream …My goal is to have it done by next weekend. It’s taking way too long for something that is going to be,at it’s best, not so great.

     I am going to sit by the fire and work on stars in the sky. I love this little hand project. It calms me.

    And to reward you for listening to me complain , I want to share with you a link to a giveaway for a beautiful  leather bound journal. (Thank you Paula for sharing!)   Check out Teo . You need to register by Jan 27th.

Also, if you want to take a look at an artist who puts a verb to her art quilts, check out Lauren Camp.

Happy Sewing, my friends!

      Yes, I am lacking on content this week. And driven by a few items that need to be wrapped up. I did see some new things that might help my design of the barn.

I see the barn -love this hand dyed-good thing I made a few yards of this color:

I see sunshine through the trees and over the barn:

And I see trees covered with snow….

Now I must make it all come together.  It’s turning out not at all like I planned but sometimes spontaneous is good. My husband says I cook the same way so why should I make a quilt any other way? A little of this and a little of that…

Happy Sewing, my friends!

     Always wanted to do a quilt representing a barn-the architecture is so neat-I see lines in the each of the boards-the windows-the doors-the roofline. I started to work on this late morning and didn’t make it too far. But I now have a little bit more of a vision of what needs to be done. I did, as promised to myself, start with a drawing. I just ended up re-drawing the photo. That was no help. Then, I saw those things I love- the lines. And lines are strip sets to me. As much as I don’t want it to look like a barn , this first in my series might indeed look like a barn.

 I spent the morning taking pictures of all my quilts for my records and also to be able to list a few of them on Etsy. Only to find that my image size was too large. So….I took them again….I really should just stop when I can’t make something that is computer or camera related work. But I much prefer to bang my head into a wall and try it 30-40 times only to realize, it doesn’t work:).Sometimes being determined is a real detriment to one’s health.

Happy Sewing, my friends!

  
  A first finish for 2010. Just a simple quilt 40x 40 intended for a little one. No name yet.

 Just praying for little ones lost this week in Haiti or little ones who have lost their moms.  Doesn’t seem to be much more to say, does there?

    Lest you think I have not been working very hard… I do have more than a few works in progress. Just not ready to show you some of them-need to think about them. I did make some progress yesterday piecing the background of my recycled jeans quilt. The background is about 5 x 6 and has gone easily.

 I did cut out two feet  to see what it will look like-they will be blanket-stitched on. The sewing on of the feet will be tedious and kind of boring for you. More boring for me…Even thought the auction isn’t until March, I feel like this is hanging over my head. I’ll update you on this as I make some progress.

   Project JOY: I was a drawing winner of some fat quarters and a tin. Fun.

     New books: I treated myself with some new books with my gift card. I love them all.

     Melanie Testa’s book has some great exercises to work through. The newer magazine Art Studio- I have looked at it several times already. Great challenges in it. I have been reading Jude hill’s blog spiritcloth and love the quiet intentional handwork. Check it out . The heart piece featured in the magazine is dwelling in the back of my mind. I want to being doing that instead of feet!

  Snow dyeing tomorrow if we get the snow that’s predicted. Happy sewing, my friends.