A UFO in the Making

Any quilter who tells you they have never met a quilt they didn't like is simply not being truthful. And so unfolds the story of a top that DH dubbed "Mayan Madness" (shown above).

I am a 'victim' of quilting photography as a marketing ploy (as a former marketing executive, I can't believe I am writing this). I saw a picture of this quilt in a magazine and loved the colors. I even consulted with DH, who agreed that the fabric was indeed colorful and that he liked it. "Eureka!" I exclaimed, immediately purchasing it online. 

I am not now - nor have I ever been - a Laurel Busch fan. (Sidebar, I am a huge Laura Bush fan!). I think all her designs pretty much look the same. So why or why would I buy a "same dog, different fleas" Laurel Busch quilt kit? Clearly, I was under the influence of Big Quilting (as in Big Pharma, Big Government, Big Whatever). I could probably find some law firm who is scouring the country looking for victims of Big Quilting who want to be part of a class action law suit. Hummmm, I've been married to a lawyer far too long, but I digress.

Kit arrived. I liked the fabric. Correction. I liked the colors. I didn't like the rather strange looking Mayan Sun God/Goddess, but thought I could look beyond that. I set to work on the top, frequently looking at that the sun/moon/star images and getting a little freaked out by them. Not really, but it adds to the story :)

This morning I added one side border (the checkerboard part on the far right) to see if it would deflect from the rest of the top. Ah, no. In fact, it only makes things worse. By this time, DH had wandered downstairs, entering my quilting lair. "What are you doing?" he inquired. I explained, he left seeking a caffeine jolt, and I continued, all the while thinking, "What to do, what to do?" 

Here were my options:

1. Finish the dang thing. 
2. Fold it up and banish it to the back of my quilting closet.
3. Threw it in the trash and pour coffee grounds on it so it can't be retrieved.
4. Give it to a quilter who might like it and actually finish it.
5. Stop obsessing about it for today.

I choose an Options 2 & 5 combo, with a strong likelihood toward Option 3. But, I'm a big believer in "Time between the stimulus and response," so taking any drastic action, such as this option requires, would be out of character for me. I folded the top, put it in the nice big purple project bag that my long-arm quilter, Jenine Brothers, gives to her customers and stowed it away in the closet. I may look at it again in the near future, but right now, I can't even think about it. 

Fortunately, I have some gorgeous fabric soon to arrive from Hancock's of Paducah that I love - truly love. It is perfect for our home. I can also work on a BOM from Country Sewing Center in Elk Grove, CA and I have my art gallery applique to pursue, so is certainly no lack of projects for me.


As for DH, he is busy putting my new cutting table together, bless his heart. What a sweet, wonderful guy he is. BTW, he didn't like the top either!

Onward we go in quilt land, without Mayan Sun/Moon/Star Gods/Goddess along for the ride (thank goodness!). 


Disclaimer: While some of this story is serious - like not liking this top and ceasing to invest any more time in it - most of it is posted in jest. I don't really believe there is a Big Quilting (Big Pharma, yes; Big Quilting, no) nor do I feel victimized by quilting magazine photography. But what would the story be without some histrionics added for flair? 

One Thing Different

For years, I've lived with this "What if it isn't perfect?" approach to things in life. As I've posted before, "Perfection is the enemy of the good" particularly when perfection stops you from exploring aspects of something you'd like to do. And so it is with applique. 


I've made one quilt with four hand-appliqued blocks. It was a nice top, nothing terrifically special, but I soldiered through and finished it. I presented it to a friend for Christmas who was over-the-moon about it. Funny how we see things through such different lenses. 


I've spent considerable time in the last week scouring the Web for art work to build my own applique design. My dear friend, Lori, suggested that I use these little Renoir reproductions (printed on fabric) to make an art gallery scene. Love the idea, but this is APPLIQUE! "Run away, run away!" that little voice in my head screams. 


Deciding that the "one thing different" principle has a nice resting place with this situation, I took the first step: I made the pattern! Won't go into details of exactly how I did this (does tracing from royalty-free artwork sound familiar?). The pattern looks silly right now, but I have sworn to myself I will try this, even if it takes me a year to finish it.


This morning over coffee and staring at my pattern, I decided - on my own, BTW - that I would need to use the cutaway method for the larger pieces. How did I know to do that? Read it somewhere in the past and it stuck, I guess. Funny how the brain stores this information for the future and then delivers it in your lap when you need it. I like that, Ms. Brain. Thanks much!


I laughed at my crude attempt, but this is the creative process in action. I know the lettering on the awning is way too large, but that's a minor point. What matters is that I did "one thing different" and didn't let perfection stand in the way of creativity. That's huge!

Now for clogging news. I've been invited - or recruited - to join a clogging team. Check out www.traveling-shoes.com to see these women in action. I'm so excited about joining them. I had to miss my first practice :( with them as I needed an "emergency" root canal, which is now 50% complete. Still more to go in two weeks. I was very disappointed to miss dancing with them. They are wonderful cloggers. I will have to step up my garage practice to learn new steps. 


I'm off to clogging today! Yay! 

As for skating, my new Klingbeil boots (yes, this is a second pair, after my SP-Teri's didn't work out for me) are heavenly. Best pair I have had as long as I've been skating. Wore them two hours the first day I put them on. That's amazing! 


Focusing on my Free Dance 6 program with Coach Chris. Yesterday, we were doing back three's - with my leg wrapped around one of his - in waltz position. First time, I told him, "No way can I do this!" One of the things I love about Coach C is he doesn't let me off the hook. By the third try, I was getting the hang of it. This is a very tango like element, which it needs to be as the program is to tango music. The program is definitely forcing me to get out of my skating comfort zone. It is difficult and well beyond where I have been skating. I figure it's a year in the making, but as my dearest skating buddy/friend, Janet, says "There's no rush." Only Father Time tapping me on the shoulder, leering and noting, "Hello, Missy. Coming up on another birthday next month!" I have set a goal to have this program tested by December 2011. That's reasonable. 


Clog, skate and quilt on! 

Winter Quilt

At the rink with my latest quilt top

I screwed up my courage and tackled an "Advanced" pattern, a top entitled White Birches.


Things were going pretty well until I got to the flange (not shown here, it is a small border between larger borders, which is only attached on one side). 


Managed to attach the top and bottom pieces with no trouble whatsoever. I was on a roll - or so I thought. Ran into some major problems putting on the side borders. I spent hours trying to solve the problem. My rule of thumb: When one is crying over a quilt, it's time to stop! And so I did.


Off I went to my long-arm quilter and friend, Jenine Brothers, owner of The Meandering Needle. Jenine is a Master Quilter so I was embarrassed to ask her for help. Of course she was just as kind and helpful as always. We mused over the pattern instructions and decided to attach the flange differently than the instructions indicated. Problem solved! Brilliant Jenine to the rescue - again! 

This top would never have been finished were it not for the skill and talent of one of my skating friends, Karen, who is in the picture above on the far left (I'm the one in the blue jacket, BTW). Karen was kind enough to fuse and machine applique the three red cardinals. I know how to hand applique which produces a "folk art" look. I didn't want that for this top, so I asked Karen if she would help. She graciously agreed. Here is a close-up of her lovely handiwork. Isn't he adorable?


The challenging part of making this top was getting the tree trunks and branches properly aligned. The process for this wasn't easy, but I'm pleased with the outcome. White Birches is at Jenine's waiting to be quilted with a leaf pattern using white thread.


I am on to the next shiny quilting object, a Laurel Burch top, Celestial Dreams. Very different style for me, but I love the bright colors and high contrast. Also working on an online BOM from Delaware Quilts. I'm using red, black and white Asian fabrics, which are really striking. Just downloaded the February block on Friday and worked on it yesterday.


Finally - and not about quilting - I've decided to join a clogging team, provided they will have me. It's based in Sacramento, CA. I'm excited about practicing with them in March. I know their skill level is well beyond mine, but I want to push myself to learn more difficult dances. Clogging is definitely a team form of dance; part of the joy is hearing the sound of multiple shoes hitting the floor. The more shoes, the better! Also going to a clogging convention next weekend in Modesto, CA. There are workshops offered, which I am planning on attending. I will only go for one day (Saturday), but know I am going to learn tons and meet great cloggers!


Quilt and clog on!

Tip for An Amazing Read

I am taking a side-trip from my usual blog fare to include a review of Shantaram, a book that my Dear Readers may be interested in delving into. It's now on my Top Ten list. So, here is my review as posted on Goodreads:

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a big, magnificent, astounding book. I wonder why many people have not heard of it. Roberts paints a picture of India and the region that leaves the reader virtually breathless by its description. This story would make a great movie, but this is one of a handful of books I've read that could not be translated adequately to the screen. One must read it to appreciate the wonder and beauty of it all. I wait for the sequel with huge anticipation.

If you are looking for a book to consume you, Shantaram is it. Warning: This book is not an "easy" read; there is a lot of violence and Roberts' description of Indian prisons is quite graphic. That noted, this is a book about redemption, salvation and ultimately about love. I gritted my teeth and plowed through the unpleasant parts, knowing they are an important part of this autobiographical novel.