I have a little confession. I haven't been doing all this baby-quilting simply for the sake of learning it. I've had a tiny bit of a motive. I know you've been seeing quilts flying past you the last weeks over here. You're wondering which quilt is what and who and how. Well, I've been nearly completing a quilt a day. And... I feel I owe you a bit of an explanation....
...I'm hoping, eventually, I can sell these quilt creations at the weekly art show here in town. The Brad has been selling his art there every Sunday (landscape photography) for the last 10 years and he's been trying to get me to join him - in one form or another- for all that time. Ya gotta come up with a craft- he tells me every year. And every year, I've been totally disinterested, until now.
So, I'm learning. Bit by bit. And the plan is that someday, I will be ready. I've been putting about 8 hours/day into quilting these last months, as you know, and I have learned a lot. None of the quilts I've made are fit for selling yet. But in the last few days I've stumbled on something which I think feels fun to delve into: applique. The one I finished today has "soft-edge" applique designs which makes the edges of the designs crinkly and soft. (The whole thing is delightfully crinkly and soft, actually, due to not washing the material until after the quilt is complete.) I came up with putting the bird in the nest and also the tree. The flower square was inspired by part of a pattern someone gave me yesterday. This latest quilt I made was the funnest yet, and the best in terms of sheer sewing. (see the perfect corner. ahem.) I just need to work on the quilting aspect a little more. Filling in the empty squares here and there with a threaded wonder, of some sort.
Here- let me open up to you. Do you know what? I've had a very hard time committing to any "work-type of thing" beyond my music. That said, writing songs came very easily to me and the modest income I do receive from it takes basically no work on my part. Because my kids are older and I'd like to (and need to) supplement the music income, in the last years I've thought about doing several things, including writing a book. I shopped my book idea (and even garnered some interest from a few publishers.) But, I couldn't pull the trigger when it came to the actual commitment aspect. The following through on the book, or whatever my latest idea was, eluded me. My poor husband has sat by and watched me start and stop things more than once or twice. Losing interest and probably also fearing the commitment that success takes has been my downfall.
The sewing, the designing and playing with fabric, the process of taking material and making something sweet and warm for children is very inviting to me. I don't think there has been anything I have done with the sake of "work" in mind, excepting my music, that has kept me happily working for hours on end, willing to make mistakes and start over again. I have been designing in my sleep at night and bouncing up out of bed at 6 a.m. (and earlier) to (often nervously) try things out.
As for my husband and the rest of my family, parents included, they are championing me. The Brad says: You're not bowing out on this one. I'm not letting you. He says: If you could just follow through with ONE of your great ideas, I think you would be pleasantly surprised.
Ok, husband. Um. Deep Breath. If you say so.
