Looking Forward

There's an old saying that if

you fall off a horse

you need to get right back on that horse.

The reason being that if you don't,

it will be very hard to get back on that horse

the longer that you wait.
 I'm guessing that you could apply 

that philosophy to many situations.

I applied it to my quilting life.

After feeling somewhat defeated or

down about my overwhelming stash,

I knew it meant no more whining.

Time to get my favorite fabrics back out,

take the rotary cutter back in my hands,

thread up the machine

and get sewing.

That's exactly what I did.

I did some spot organizing,

looked through some of my favorite books,

and found a center medallion 

that spoke to me

from Susan Smith's book

Quilts, Somewhat in the Middle.

Refreshed-Rejuvenated

32" x 32"

It took me a week 

from start to finish.

I needed to get back

to feeling the excitement 

and creativity of playing.

I drew on the colors 

from many of Di Ford's fabulous fabrics.

Appliqueing the center

was like enjoying a delicious dessert.

Add a little fussy cutting

and I was definitely feeling rejuvenated.

It really didn't take much

to feel good again.

The inner border was fun with the melon shapes.

And who doesn't love adding circles.

I loved the simple idea of making

the sashing between them piece.

The more fabrics, the better!

And oh,

it gets better.

I bought a new

Laundry Basket fabric for the backing.

I kept the quilting to a minimum,

just because that's what I felt like doing.

Needless to say,

it was a great week of creating, stitching

and rekindling the positive. 

I hope, if you find yourself in a situation

where you've "fallen off your horse",

you can dust yourself off 

and get back in the saddle

and shout, Giddy-up!

Until Next Time-

Kyle

September Mini quilts

First, of all,  I want to thank everyone

for the encouraging words that many of you shared with me.

No, I'm not hanging up my quilting needles 

and tossing out all of my fabric.

I was feeling "stash obligations" and not feeling 

the love or the creative challenge

that it brought.

It really did me in!

So, since I last wrote,

I have bundled up lots of fabric, 

approx. 150 yards,

and sent it off to a wonderful local charitable group.

I have started some new projects,

and have continued to work on the things

that I love and bring me joy.

My latest X-stitch finish.

"Be Ye Thankful"

a design by Brenda Gervais

I am thankful for everyone's positive thoughts.

*****

The end of September

means it's time to share a monthly mini quilt.

Vintage Baskets #2

24" x 24"

This little quilt began it's life as a full size 

quilt from the 1930's.

When I received it from a friend, 

it was just a top and 

the 10" blocks were well loved and 

very thin and frail. 

I took some of the blocks apart and resized them

which made them very cute.

After sewing the top together I decided

to add embroidered flowers to each basket.

That was the "FUN" part.

When I was given this quilt top,

the original Nile Green binding was included.

It wasn't in the best shape, but I made do.

I "love" how it finished.

Vintage Baskets #2

Time for my barbed-wire fence parade.

There was a very fog morning this week.

A perfectly quiet, uncluttered background for a photo shoot.

Baskets

If you get the chance, check out Wendy's blog

the Constant Quilter to get the list of other

bloggers working on and sharing their monthly minis.

Until Next Time-

Kyle

Pigs with Lipstick

 The other day I meet with my Quilty Buddies 

And I made a confession.

I was really feeling like it was time to stop quilting!

I had lost the joy.  

I didn't feel like I had any creativity left.

I thought I was truly done.

They were shocked.

What was going on?

I shared how I had sorted through my stash

 and had lots of fabric I needed to part with.

But I felt guilty because of the money

 I had spent over the years,

 the amount of fabric I had collected....

  To justify these feelings, 

I felt like I needed to sew up some of these piles into quilts.

I had picked a pattern, cut and sewed. 

 I thought my plan would be to create

 something wonderful for someone.  

To pass on many quilts.

But I felt myself losing the excitement

 and joy I usually felt as I work on a project. 

 It was like walking through deep sticky mud.

 Agggh!  

 I was quickly sinking. 

 Maybe I was done.

  I mean,  really done. 

 That's how I was feeling.

After lots of questions, my one friend said,

Lipstick on a pig, is still a pig.

She went on to say,

if I was using fabric I didn't love anymore,

 why would the quilt I was making 

be something I loved, 

no matter what I did with it.

Was it as simple as that?

I think my friends were right in this case.  

My heart wasn't in it.

It really had made me depressed. 

Since then,

I have stopped that project,

 bundled up all the piles 

and made arrangements for a local sewing group

 to take it and do their good works with it.

*****

Let it go, let it go

Some of my fabric is tired and old.

Try as I will 

There just isn't a thrill.

Can't hold it back anymore

I need to pass it through another door. 

I don't care what others may say

I don't want to sew with it another day.

I have felt guilty long enough. 

It really is still good stuff.

Maybe someone else will find a joy.

So, the fabric is theirs to enjoy.

Let it go, let it go.

The decision has made me feel lighter

Sewing even seems brighter.

It's time to do what I love.

To dispose of, get rid of

The pieces from my overabundant stash.

That made me feel depressed and dashed.

I started a project, I really did try,

But then I started questioning why

I was unhappy and restless

I was not doing my bestess.

As time seems to be growing shorter

It was also time to stop being a hoarder.

I simply will never be able to use it all

But there are others who will be having a ball.

So, Let it go, let it go.

*****

And I have.

Until Next Time 

Kyle