My Quick Trip

    Finally, I have gotten a picture of my lastest bed size project. It still needs to be quilted, but these days even a finished top is a rarity. I know Eleanor Burns names her Quick Trips after the places that have inspired her or the place where she purchased the fabric. Since I don't stray to far from home I will call this a Home in Maine or Dreaming of a Spring, yes that makes sense, Dreaming of Spring. Since when I made this quilt top it was snowing feet and feet here in Maine and showed no sign of letting up any time soon. You would think that during the snowing of those multiple feet one would get tons of sewing done, but it just ain't true. What you do get done is tons and tons of shoveling, roof raking, and coordinating your plowman to clear the drive so when you finally break free he can be there to deftly swipe away the bulk (Thanks, Darrell you're a peach). Now don't get me wrong I love and I do mean love snow, even when it is up to my eye balls! I love it when I have to use all my weight (which is considerable) to haul the stuff off the roof, I laugh when it pulls me off my feet and lands me squarely in a snow bank on my tucus, I love to watch the huge snow banks grow and grow eventually taking over my front yard.  Now of course, a person cannot be a snow lover and not like to move the stuff, after all the whole process does take a considerable amount of time and dedication. In my opinion, it is best to just suck it up and deal with it and just maybe you too will learn to enjoy making your little trails in the snow! It's like building your own labrinth, so shovel and enjoy walking the paths when your done. After all there is nothing like stepping out your back door after a fresh snowfall to see the trees heavy with snow, everything is pristine white, the air is so fresh and quiet. It's a whole new start, the epitome of a fresh new day! Yes, I breath and therefore I am.

As addictions go...Fabric isn't so bad.

Last week my resolve dissolved and I ventured into my favorite quilt shop for a little fabric therapy. It is time to pick out fabric for the new Jo Morton club that will be starting in January anyway, so that makes it kind of a necessity, right? A short time later I emerged with a hefty parcel that would make a satisfying addition to my stash. Two, count them two bundles of Jo Morton Fabric, (yummy) and a few yards from the goat cart outside that were 40% off! Oh how lucky am I to have such a bunch of FABRIC! After all this is a semi planned purchase or at least the Jo Morton is.

 "What do you need that for," my sensible self asks "didn't you just buy a bundle a few weeks ago?"

 "Well yes, I did." my quilt/fabric addicted self replied, "but this is required for joining the CLUB. So therefore it is a planned purchase and was required."

Now of course this debate in my head will continue for days, until the aforementioned FABRIC is washed, ironed, prepared, and put away, then I will be at piece with my purchase and will be subconsciously planning the next.

From where stand it ain't that bad, this addiction to FABRIC. I mean really what is the worst that could happen? Therefore, I declare that as part of my New Year Resolutions  I will buy FABRIC and enjoy doing so! Of course I will lose weight and get in shape too! After all isn't that required as well?

Blizzard Day in Maine

Is there anything better then a snowday to a quilter? I think not! Today's project is a Trip Around the World, because it isn't only a snowday but a BLIZZARD DAY! It is snowing and blowing to beat the band out there, the windows are covered with snow and we can't even see out! On the table in my studio is a charming twin quilt with pink, green, brown, and yellow. I am hoping to finish today, the top that is and maybe get it quilted by next week. Nevermind that there are at least a dozen in progress projects on my design wall, today is the day to start fresh and new with a cozy, springy project.

Yes, yes I know I have to finish those other projects. There is the one for Molly for Xmas and the one for Cass that was almost complete when she boldly annouced that she no longer wanted a quilt but would rather have a comforter from Target and the three that need to be layered for hand quilting (oh, okay so there are more then 3) and the Amish mystery project from online and four table runners, and the other BOM from online, and the 30's quilt with a million pieces per block that is just for me, and the new technique Pineapple block that I started better then a year ago as an "It's time for a fresh new start quilt". Yes, as you can see there is a pattern forming here, a hint at an addiction that gives a new meaning to the word "STASH". I do work at fine tuning this addiction and to bring it to a perfect end where my daughter says "what will I do with all this stuff!" Alas, I am not dead yet and there are many more fresh new starts to be had, so I will carry on and on and on.

And on Wednesday I will feed my addiction and add to my ever growing stash! Fabric that is, this Northeasterner's idea of Gold!