Don't Worry, It Isn't Contagious

It finally happened -- after 2 years of non-stop quilting, I lost my mojo. For the past few weeks I haven't looked at any fabrics, or window/internet shopped, or turned on my machine, or ANYTHING.

Quilting doldrums.

Why? I am not sure - I know part of it was frustration over being unable to connect to my QATW chat. I would log in to talk to my girls and find out what was happening in the world and *KICK* I would be tossed out of the chat room for no reason. Talking 30 seconds at a time turned out to be beyond my skills. And quilting really is all about sharing to me.

I also know it had to do with the "Basting Blues". That is the point when all of the projects you want to progress with need to be basted. Lucky lucky me, I had 4 or more quilts all needing ironing (ick) and basting (double ick). I have to do all of my ironing in a 2x2 space because I have no ironing board, and I really am short on space to baste things properly in our tiny townhouse.

The other thing keeping me down was - yeah you guessed it - feeling inadequate as a quilter. Yes, I do pretty well on a domestic and I've made some nice quilts --- but they are never as polished or look like I wished they did in my head.

And then I realized that is a dumb way to think about quilting. Somehow, in looking at picture after picture of show quilts from Houston and Paducah and all over the world I tricked myself into thinking every quilt had to be 'show quality.'

My quilts aren't "polished" because I'm not running a stitch regulated long arm with a price tag equal to a year's rent, and I don't have pantographs to follow. They are made with points that don't match because I like to have FUN making a quilt, not obsessing over pinning every little piece. They are covered in cat hair cause I love my cat, and let him sit behind my machine. I like to have a glass of wine (or three) while I piece and baste and quilt, and that has produced some funny stories. None of my motifs match the others exactly because I hate marking.

The bottom line is - I quilt because it makes me happy, and I'm happiest doing it my way. It is a different matter with customer quilts, but as far as my own quilt making goes: There will be cat hair, mismatched points, a few tension wobbles, and whatever else I feel like!

And on that note, guess what I basted last night?

 

Hop To It

Pinterest

Here is a quick introduction to some new 'technology' stuff that has been rampant in the blogging world for a few months now.

{Disclaimer - I'm not associated with Pinterest, I just think it is a truly awesome site and I spend waaaaay too much time looking at pretty pictures, and pinning quilting pictures.}

www.pinterest.com

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard.

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.
Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests. 

Maybe it is my lack of coffee, maybe I just want you to experience the same awe and joy that I did when I first joined the site ---- But I really can't explain it much better than the blurb above that came from the official site. In terms of the computer skill level you need it is only medium-tricky. You request an invite (from me, or from them - it is just a way of confirming that you are a real person and not a spammer program), log in, and get the "Pin It" button. It is exactly like a bookmark button, but when you click it you won't be taken to another site. Instead you will be shown all the pictures that can be seen on the page you were looking at -- you select one and type a quick description in the window that pops up - and ta-da, you have pinned something.

Why are pins so cool?

They are bookmarks with PICTURES. Have you ever been frustrated while looking through your list of bookmarks because 1) you can't find the one you are looking for and 2) you don't remember what half of the darned things are for anymore? Your Pinterest boards replace your bookmarks completely. Now when you want to find a quilt or a recipe that you saw last week, you just open your board and scroll through your pictures. Once you find it - click on the picture and it takes you right back to the original website that the picture came from.

Like magic.

I have added another page that will take you directly to my Pinterest board, "Quilting Obsessed." It is my ongoing collection of inspirations and links and cool stuff to look at. Enjoy!

Calling Local Bloggers

It occurred to someone {not me} that we could all benefit from a list of local bloggers in the Oakville/Halton/GTA area.

So lets do that!

Simply type in your name and blog address and you will be added to the magical list!

TGIF Inspirations

Here are a few things I have been looking at lately. Fridays are great days to share inspirations, and some of them are especially appropriate for today.

Free pattern for ANZAC / Remembrance / Veteran's Day.

First Place - Art Painted Surfaces, Houston IQF 2011

Loved and Was Loved
by INGE MARDAL and STEEN HOUGS
of CHANTILLY, FRANCE

Dorothy Baker BoM 2011

And a free BoM from the lovely and talented Dorothy Baker, made with some of Lecien's new fabrics. I'm wavering between diving in headfirst and making this my second hand-applique project ever (HA) and modifying the pattern to accommodate my preferred applique method .... fusing & machine stitching. That's not cheating, right?

Here is the first block: Download Block One

Last but not least here are two websites every Canadian quilter should visit.
Quilts of Valor - Canada
The Canadian Comfort and Remembrance Project 

Brilliant Idea!

I was blog browsing this morning and on Kristen's blog So Happy I noticed something I hadn't seen before. The smart woman has a tab that links to a page of her current WIPs! (all of which are awesome, by the by)

That is "Works in Progress" for any of you non-quilty peeps out there.

I made one of my own of course. I like the idea of having an ongoing page to display what I'm working on. I have 2 tops, one basted sandwich, and one project that is still in the block stage --- and I'd like at least two of them finished quilts before the 'Sentimental Reasons" Quilt Show in May. Yup, someone is a little nuts.

At least if I don't finish anything else, my Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt is ready to go!