Done (well, almost)

All the stitching is done on the birch/aspen quilt now. And I have judged it finished. Except for the binding, of course, which I need to address soon. It’s really hard to show what this thing actually looks like in pictures. It never looks like it does in real life.

So in the final analysis, the way I made it is supposed to divide the piece’s aspects in two.  The applique and piecing depicts the objects within the scene (hills, the patches of flowers, sky, lake, 2 kinds of trees) and the embroidery depicts the movement of the scene – the breeze, the leaves twirling down, the motion of waves on the shore.

The problem with the last part, the binding, is that I don’t know what fabric to use. The front and back pieces were sample pieces, I don’t have any more. I’m pretty sure that using fabric from the trees is a bad idea, and even the other solid cottons probably won’t work well because the backing fabric is a looser and thicker weave than the cotton. I think it would come out all wrong.  This is one of those times where I wonder where my forethought was, but that’s kind of the problem with this work.  It’s intended to be spontaneous, to foster that sort of creativity, and indeed if it weren’t I wouldn’t bother.  But then I run into a problem like this binding thing.

That’s the sky embroidery, it’s supposed to be a lazy breeze.

Anyway, if any of you have ideas about what will look appropriate, tell me!  I’m up for all sorts of suggestions.  I will make some sort of decision within the week. All that’s left really is to iron it, and bind it off, and add a hanging strip. And that will be that!  Seems funny the end is so near, after working on it off an on over these last months.

The final look of the waves on the shore of the lake. You did know that was a lake below the hill of trees?

I have two more quilting projects in the works when this is done. One is a jacket and the other one is based on a fairy tale.  The former is pretty planned out, the second is in its initial sketch details.  Meanwhile, I’ll leave you with a couple of photos of the crochet jewelry piece I’m experimenting on. It’s made of three colors of thread and the base is sport-weight yarn. It makes nifty shapes. It also takes forever to do this and is fairly hard on the fingers.  But no matter.  It’s definitely interesting.

The Dog Sweater

While Audrey was seriously ailing, I just could not stop thinking about a sweater I was making for her.

When I’m upset about a given situation, I usually fixate on some object, and can be found weeping brokenheartedly over whatever it is as if the world is ending.  It’s usually not the object itself that’s upsetting, it’s that I’ve picked an object that symbolizes what it is about the situation that’s really bothering me.

Audrey's Unfinished Sweater

In this case, I found myself crying over an unfinished sweater, one I started about a year and a half ago, and have not made much headway on since then. I’d been figuring I could put it off, that I had plenty of time to finish it, because Audrey is just 8.5 years old, and what’s another winter or two when I have so much to do all the time?  And then to find that maybe she’d be gone before I could finish it … So I cried over it and well, I guess it was just my turn to get smacked upside the head by the realization that I don’t actually have all the time in the world.

There I was with this sweater, and I’m thinking that my priorities in life are out of alignment.  If I do not have all the time in the world, it stands to reason that I ought to do what’s important first, and get rid of what I don’t care about. And what’s important to me is the people/animals I care about, my ongoing need to make/create things, and particularly to create things for others, learning and experiencing new things, and my strong sense of personal philosophy and ethics.  These things are really crucial to my well being and happiness.

While I think my life generally reflects those things, I still think I make too many compromises.  I know perfectly well what I think I ought to be doing and why, and since I’m not exactly the type that’s comfortable with compromising, just what do I think am I doing?  It’s not as though I’m going to get this time back that I spend on things that are not near and dear to me, or that aren’t in line with things I believe in.

So I am back working on that sweater, by the way, which will be finished this week, although it’s been a balmy 70 degrees here. It will be ready if it gets cold, and I will feel better knowing I put the time in now, and I made an effort to take care of my pup, because I noticed what she did and didn’t like about sweaters and did something about it.  It might be a small step, but in the right direction at least.  I’m also back working on my birches quilt also, which is why I’ve pulled out pictures of branches here with this post.  Inspiration from nature is always helpful.

Now if I could just get past the fact that I decided to make the sweater with part wool, even though I know perfectly well I’m allergic to it …

Project accountability

I don’t remember much of today. At 8 this morning I was headed to the oral surgeon’s office. I’m not too good with dentists, but they gave me Valium.  Really, I don’t remember all but 5 minutes of actually being there. I’ve spent the rest of the day either slowly waking from anaesthetic or feeling kind of hazy from medicine. This is fine with me, but if I say something weird or nonsensical, it’s not really my fault. My recommendation: please avoid cracking your teeth on things, so no one will have to fix them.

I’ve been kind of scarce around my blog, and I do have a reason … I realized whilst stuck here on this couch that I am working on eight projects at the same time. Eight crafting projects, that is, in addition to my hiking, my frequent arguments with the graphics programs I’m trying to learn and my quest to rebuild the Index of Indie. I want to make the Index into a website of its own, but I’m not quite ready to show it to anyone yet. Oh, and there’s that pesky full-time job, too.  These things all take time.  I do believe that what with my blog reading and writing people believe I spend all my time here at the computer on the internet, but usually it’s more like stealing odd moments of time with the interwebs.

Kitty Memorial: I finally started work on my kitty memorial. It took me a while to be able to sort through my pictures to decide which ones to use. Now I’ve got everything finished, but I’m waiting on the actual pictures to be printed and delivered. [update: just delivered!]

Butterfly Exhibit: This is a project that’s been living in my head for a while, probably 6 months. It’s taken several different forms as I’ve worked through it in my head, and some time to figure out exactly how I wanted to go about it. I’m really hoping it’s going to turn out as cool as I want it to. It’s an experiment in shape and medium.

A Piacere: This is a piece that’s just sort of fun.  I gathered things from around my house that I’ve collected from places I’ve been or things I’ve done. I always have lots of things like postcards or souvenirs I don’t know quite what to do with but I can’t possibly throw away.  So I put some of them together in a way that’s intended to describe the manner in which I like to live my life … a piacere is an Italian musical term I find appropriate.

Austin Picture: I have a collection of prints I’ve gotten from some of my favorite places I’ve lived and visited in my living room. Or rather, I’m working on that. I have DC, Moscow and New York represented so far, and I’m planning on getting Austin, Boulder and perhaps Alaska finished soon. I’m trying to find items that are actually from the times I lived in/visited the places.

Jacket and Kimono fabrics: I’m using some of my kimono fabrics as a trim for an otherwise very boring black jacket. I’ve got them laid out, everything’s prepared, but I find that I’m reluctant to cut up my pieces of fabric. I know they’re there to use and there’s more where they came from, but they’re so pretty, and I’m a bit afraid of ruining the pieces.  I’d actually like to figure out ways to put trim on more stuff I own, not cheesy trim, but just stuff to make things more interesting and unique.  In addition to cloth, I’m a fan of making crochet lace, and I thought I’d try adding that to a few things too.

Halloween Swap: This is recent, but I am excited and have started getting things together. I have it all sketched out on miscellaneous pieces of paper. I’m going to do two of everything because I like what I came up with.  I’ve decided that the one type of store that I can forgive for putting out holiday items way too early is craft stores.  Because to realistically be done with projects in time to use them for the holiday, Halloween really has to start in August.

Tables: I can’t seem to get my decoupage tables done that I began in June. This is irritating.  Out of sight, out of mind, I guess. It’s pathetic. They’re done except for about 5 coats of varnish. It would take almost no time to finish, yet there they sit …

Projects 7 and 8: These are surprises/gifts for people.  I will show them when they are done