silent saturday

(because i need to post something new, but i'm feeling very quiet lately)

Help!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas day yesterday. We had a very quiet and simple Christmas this year, and it was nice. I think this was our "smallest" Christmas as far as amount of presents go. And the kids both exclaimed "this is the best Christmas ever!" We usually don't go overboard, and this year we were very thoughtful in what was given.

Now to take everything down for my son's birthday on Monday. 12 years old. 12!!!! I can't believe my baby is so big.

So I'm thinking about next year already. Are you? Any thoughts, goals or resolutions? Last year was "the year of the placemat" for me. I made 27!




12 were gifts
3 were for swaps
2 were for blog giveaways
6 for Christmas
and the rest (4) for everyday use

Next year, I'm declaring it "the year of the scrapbox!" I'm going to try to use as many scraps as I can.

Another goal for myself is to use my food processor. I have this one. I'm embarrassed to admit that I've had it for over a year, and I have used it once. I know lots of people love theirs but I'm still in the intimidated phase. Help me! If you have a processor would you please tell me what you use yours for the most?

Peaceful weekend wishes to you!

Merry Christmas to you!

Good health and much happiness to you and yours in the new year!

Did you know that extreme makeover home edition is being filmed a few blocks from our house? We saw the florida gator mascots there today.

citrus stars

Several year ago, a good friend of mine (craftyturtle) got married. When I heard about her engagement, I picked out a quilt pattern. A pattern that takes a lot of concentration. Well, that plan didn't mix well with young children, homeschooling, my quilting abilities and life in general. (Can you tell where this is going?) I never did finish that quilt. So this year I planned to make a more reasonable quilt for her anniversary in March. (Yes, I know it's not March) I finished the blocks in spring, sewed the top together and basted it at the end of summer, and quilted and bound it last week. Just in time for her birthday.





Craftyturtle and I have been friends since high school - over 20 years now - gasp! We were camp counselors for many summers and many weekend getaways. We have similar college degrees from rival colleges. Go Gators! And we are both teachers. (I taught in a private school for a couple of years before staying home to raise our children and homeschool) Our friendship just picks up where we left off when we are together. Which isn't often enough since she lives several states away.




We also have another "tradition". We almost never manage to give presents on time, so we send random packages to each other with a little note of "this was for Christmas, Birthday etc". The package is usually to cover all the holidays since the last package. And how fun is it to get a package out of the blue? So even though this package arrived on her birthday, it is actually several years and months late. hee hee

The colors were her wedding colors. She's from Florida too. And she picked citrus colors. Aren't they fun?!



48" x 72"
machine pieced and quilted
hand bound




These two hearts hidden in all the loopies represent the two of them and their marriage.

perfection

random thoughts about perfection
list style

i've had two quilts pinned and ready to quilt for a couple of months
well, i quilted and bound one last week and got it in the mail
i'm quilting the second one now
as i was quilting the first one i was thinking about perfection
and how we strive for that in quilting
perfect 1/4" seams
perfect corners and points
beautiful quilting
even stitches
perfect binding and lets not forget those corners
and if we don't achieve all of the above?
do you feel bad?
like you let someone down?
did you let yourself down?
does it ruin the process for you?
does it negate all the good in the quilt?
so back to the first quilt i was quilting...
a few seams don't line up
there are a few jerky starts and stops in the quilting
there are a few jumbo quilting stitches
there are lots of teeny tiny quilting stitches
there are a few tucks on the back (gasp!)
and i was beginning to feel like a quilting failure
should i rip out the stitches?
should i not send it?
have you had these thoughts?
i consider myself a wonky/liberated quilter
should i obsess over these things?
is my quilting wonky or liberated?
or is it just sloppy and lazy?
have i done my best?
if i'm doing my best, should i rip out all the "bad" parts?
when is it enough?
why am i making this quilt?
is it to be judged in a quilt show?
is it going to be published?
is it going on tour?
NO!
it is for a friend and her husband
i love this friend
the quilt is to share that love with her
it's filled with her favorite colors
has plenty (not all) perfect points and corners
has plenty of nice looking quilting stitches
the binding is good
the "tucks" kind of disappear once it's been washed
as i'm listing the good points, it brings me back to "am i being judged?"
why do we do this to ourselves?
is the "quilting police" knocking on our door?

i quilt because i enjoy it
(gee, does it sound like it?)
i share my quilts to share my love
to share beauty and kindness
i'll do my best
i'll (try to) not obsess
and i'll remember why i'm quilting in the first place

the quilt will live on a couch
not hanging on a wall to be scrutinized

the quilt was mailed
and i feel good about it

do you obsess?





my new motto:
i'll do my best.
i'll not obsess.

on my mind

Freddy and Gwen Collaborate Again

p. 161