Oh no, I'm not!

I've been having a rough go in the studio. Nothing is really happening. That top on the design wall is driving me insane. I've tried almost everything: adding to it, changing that, adding some more, an aha! moment that has gone nowhere, adding some more. I've about had it. 

Now, let me tell you that I wasn't so disappointed with it last week. I felt that something was happening. Not anything terribly bad, I mean. Then Richard walked in.

Richard: That's a busy quilt. (He was not being nice with that too matter-of-fact tone.)

Me: Well, I'm starting to like it a little. I think if I keep going it's going to become something. 

Richard: Yeah, it's real busy.

Me: Get out. Something's happening. (I think he crossed his eyes. Maybe not.)

The very next day, he walked through again. By this time his words had inched their way into my thought process. I was struggling.

Me: I think I'll turn this into a puppy bed. It's a good size for...

Richard: Oh, you wouldn't do that to the puppies, would you? 

Me: What do you mean? It's not that bad.

Richard: Well, they would go crazy. That's too busy.

Me: Tell me you're joking and you're sorry. 

Richard: Of course, maybe Cotton would be able to find his bed. (Cotton, at 17, is blind.)

Now that, friends, did get in my head. What the heck? Why? How come? (That's a Southern question.) So, just like that, I'm doubting the piece and, worse, am thinking of ditching it. Well, I'm thinking of cutting it into a different improv piece. Maybe not. I've decided to leave it alone until I get back from quilt retreat in Baton Rouge with the MQG there. 

Yeah, that's what I said. Quilt retreat! 

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: Kiddos

I really started out thinking about the sewing camp that I had last week, but honestly, it's almost impossible to find quilts that children have made. Maybe I'm using the wrong search terms. Anyway, I did find more, yes more!, quilts specifically made for little ones. So let's go with that, okay?

Just for fun and because I generally begin with pictures of my inspiration idea, these are my own grandies. Well, the younger ones anyway.

Don't they inspire? Okay, then let's look at a few quilts for kids...

And lastly, quirky monsters seem to be all the rage, so here are a few.

Design Wall Dilemma

Why would I call this a dilemma? Because I haven't known what I wanted from the very beginning. It all started with a Sherry Lynn Wood workshop back in November. I created two pieces, one I've turned into a finished quilt, which I like very much, now that it's in the quilt chest.

But then I had this second piece. It nagged at me because I just couldn't see what it wanted. I put it on the design wall; pronounced it ugly and wrote that it is hideous. It took up space. Lots of space. On the design wall. In my head. In the galaxy. Probably in your head. Look in there, would ya? Do you see it? What's it telling you? 

We went to Galveston. We returned. It stayed behind and found a way to make itself more monstrous than ever. I held a sewing camp. Five days, three kids, four projects, safety, safety, safety. One injury. We survived. The hideous quilt did, too.

All those things just got in the way of the percolating process. Talk about improv! Put, play, move, make more, chop! Everything was happening. Yet nothing was happening. At the same time. I had an aha! moment that lasted a 1/100th of a moment and then...nothing. Again. Maybe it's going somewhere now. I'm still not sure, but I'm dutifully sewing pieces together anyway. Besides, it may be growing on me. 

That's because for a day or so it had me thinking of a Nautilus shell. I think I'll keep going with that idea and see where it takes me. What do you think? Is there a Nautilus shell in there? 

Other articles about my experiences with Sherry Lynn Wood:

• SLW in New Orleans November 2019
• Workshop photos December 2019
• A finished quilt top March 2020

Pin It Weekly #321

My "heart, quilts" board is knocking on 13,000 pins--yes! 13 thousand--pins. And you know what is the crazy part? Very few are duplicates. No wonder that board alone has well over 8,000 followers. Plus, there are more quilts out there! It's too much to wrap my brain around. I'd rather just introduce a few of those followers.

Hello to Diane Tryan, who has a "Sweet Recipes" board that makes me drool. Here's why:

Cindy Conner is our newest follower. She has a "crafty ideas" board that is definitely worth your time. It has a little of everything from easy (in an hour) projects to difficult (get the power tools, projects). 

Sandie Graf has an interesting board that shows a variety of ways to use "Stones 'n Sticks" in a variety of ways.

Sewing Camp Wrap-up

Last week I held Let's Sew Together day camp for little girls from our parish. It was such fun! 

The girls, ages 7 to 10, are sweet and listened well. I emphasized safety every day. In fact, we started the morning with a review of safety and a little "warm-up" session of sewing on paper and scrap fabric. Then we got right to work. 

I ended up changing a few things that I'd planned. Because it was my first time teaching sewing, I wasn't sure how much we could cover in a day. It turns out that I was fairly close. Of course, I have enough experience teaching that I know how to speed things along or slow them down to fit my schedule.  

One of the best parts for me is that I could have fun. There's no curriculum with a state test required to pass. Just be safe and have fun sewing.

In the end, each student made several small projects: a drawstring bag, a hair band (I sewed the elastic), a small felt "purse" with clear plastic window, and a large pillowcase. At the very end there was just enough time to make a little pillow for a favorite doll or pet. 

We started the week with a little welcome bag, which included a pincushion that I'd made and they took on on Friday. I learned that a welcome bag is not that important when there's fun to be had. 

One of the grandmothers told me at mass this morning how much fun her little one had and, since both girls asked to be invited should I have another camp, I'll call it a success. What do you think? Maybe another camp later this summer?

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: Beach Houses

Last week I posted about how beaches can inspire our quilts. That was because we had just enjoyed a trip to Galveston Island for a long weekend with our children and grandchildren. Along the way and also in Galveston, we admired the many beautiful beach houses. I began wondering whether there were many quilts on Pinterest that are designed around the theme. Guess what? I found a few! 

Almost all houses along the Gulf Coast are now built on stilts or pilings. That's because the water surge during hurricanes can destroy, flood, even move the homes. 

Built to resist hurricane force wind and above surge stage, they have a better chance of making it through a storm. I still wouldn't want to be in one during even a mild hurricane. 

Before we start looking at beach houses, let's not forget those adorable cabanas. I suppose they are not technically houses, but well, you get it, right?