Free or Not Free, That is The Question.

I mean, if free-motion quilting (FMQ) is highly planned, can it really and truly be called FREE-motion quilting? I doubt it severely. I mean, yes, I used all the same settings on the ol' machine, the darning foot, machingers et al... But I designed the above quilting pattern - the quilting is represented by the coloured bits, not the black bits. And then I marked my Dresden placemats with a slightly improved version of this design before proceeding with the quilting. So with all that prep work, does this still qualify as FMQ? And if it's not FMQ then what, pray tell, is it? Please educate me on this question if you could. I really need to know. Like, really really really. Like, yesterday if at all possible. Thank you.

Furthermore, despite the plan to have these done by March 25th (of this year), I'm still weaving in ends and sewing the binding on them, tarnation. So no finished placemats to show yet, blasted. Maybe they'll be done one day when we're all living on the moon and we've all learned to play the steel drums 'cause that's the only instrument you can make from moon dust... But no. No placemats today. Sigh...

♥M

P.S. I seem to recall having one more question for you... What was it again?... Oh ya! What would you say to some sort of re-use/recycled paper-based craft-along? I've never done a craft-along before so Gord only knows how it would go, but if you're game, I would love to give it a shot? Opinions?

Actual Thoughts On Hand-Quilting

Hand-quilting can be refreshingly quiet if you let it. In the absence of noisy machines and fast-moving needles, thoughts - actual thoughts - have a chance to spring to life, take a breath, grow, and fully develop in the mind as you stitch away.

In fact just the other day, I was hand-quilting my hexagon quilt and thinking how it is nothing short of impressive the time and effort it takes to a quilt a piece by hand. Whenever I'm lucky enough to behold someone's hand-quilted work, I take a closer look. Every little stitch stands by itself yet is connected to the rest. Every little stitch represents a breath in the life of its maker. And the completed quilt, when you stand back and really look, tells a personal story of perseverance and triumph over time, materials, distraction, inertia.

This may sound a little kooky, but when I'm hand-quilting, I feel like I'm communing with the souls of all those women who've ever worked to make their homes pleasant and their lives richer using only the simplest of tools and materials. I'm in awe of their industriousness and talent. Even today, women the world over do not have the luxury of powerful tools like I do, nor the wealth of fabrics available. They rely on ingenuity and the hard work of their own hands. They work with what they've got. Yet they make works of timeless beauty. That reminds me to be grateful for what I've been given. It inspires me to work simply. To see the potential in the materials that come to me freely. And craft with them as best I can.

And sometimes it's an escape, pure and simple, from the relentless dish-washing, craft-blogging, clothes-laundering, email-reading, kid-rearing that is my life. Do you know what I mean? The naturally measured pace of hand-quilting is my personal rebellion against efficiency. There are times when the urgent notion that says: "You must get this done NOW", can be folded up and tucked away for a bit. Deadlines are man-made fabrications after all. And I know that my world will not come to an end if I don't mop the floor, shoo away the dust bunnies or even (gasp!) respond to email this very moment. So I choose to savour the easy rhythm of hand-quilting, watch the up and down motion of the tiny needle, and infuse into every stitch of my quilt a little Michele-love.

♥M

Previous posts about this quilt: here, here, here, here, here, here and here!

No Rush.

Sometimes it's nice to set the speedometer to slow...

and enjoy the easy pace of a little hand-quilting...

♥M

Previous posts about this quilt: HERE

Peek-a-Shoo-Fly

A new baby in the family means a new baby shoo-fly quilt... Here's a quick glimpse just for you...

♥M

Mod Podged Hexie-Making Kit

Since I lug it about hither and thither, high and low, and everywhere I go, the hexagon-quilt-in-progress-paraphernalia needed its own little carrying case.

I made one out of junk mail and an empty ice cream bucket. I cut the junk mail into hexies before mod podging them onto the bucket. It had to match the quilt, eh? Not a question.

And speaking of which:

~ Hexagon quilt coming along famously.
~ A little over half-way there.
~ Approximately 1000 more hexies left.
~ Working working.
~ Bit by itty bit.
~ Every day for 68 days now.
~ Very pleased with progress.
~ Tunnel in sight but no light yet.

♥M

Previous posts about this hexagon quilt:  here and here and here

Other hexagon projects: here.

Getting 'Er Done

Corking or spool knitting. Part of a proj I started... oh... probably 8 months ago now. The goal is to finish it, get some closure, tie up loose ends, follow through, see its backside. Know what I mean? Wouldn't that be gRRReat?... Oh yeah.

Okay. I'm doin' it.

♥M

I Am a Work in Progress.

It wasn't my idea. It was my husband's birthday gift to us.

The boy talked about it for days before hand. He was super-excited. Me? NO! No, No. Terrified is what I was. At this stage in my life, careening down the snow and ice-covered slopes of Mount Pakenham while standing on two slippery sticks in the dead of winter seemed a little foolhardy to me. I didn't want to do it, and I didn't pretend otherwise. Oh sure, I'd heard all the stories. Alpine skiing is the funnest thing ever... You'll have a blast... It's easier than it looks... Blah blah blah... I assure you, I've heard those stories p-uh-lenty of times. I've also heard the story of Glen Bonsall, a classmate of mine who broke a leg in Grade 3 and had to stumble around in a cast for the rest of the year. I remember as a child seeing the 1975 movie "The Other Side of The Mountain", based on the true story of the skier Jill Kinmont who was paralyzed from the neck down after a terrible fall during a ski race. And most recently, I've heard the tragic story of the movie star, Natasha Richardson, who died after hitting her head while downhill skiing. These are the stories that did not sit well with me. These are the stories that scared the living snowflakes out of me and help to explain why it's taken me 43 years to finally do it.

But I put my fears aside. I did it. So did my son. We alpine skied. With the skis and the boots and the snow and everything. Down a mountain. Yesterday. And happily, we're still here to tell the tale. We also agree that we may just have to try it again someday.

Thank you to Peter and Miranda for teaching us how to ski. We very much appreciate you coming along and taking such good care of us up on the slopes.

And Lo, I'm glad you're brave enough to let me know me that I am a work-in-progress who still has a LOT to learn. Thank you for strong-arming me out of my comfort zone. I know I'm a bull-headed, stubborn, know-it-all sometimes. But lucky for me, so are you. ♥

Oh, and speaking of works-in-progress (WIPS), the above pictures show glimpses of a WIP that will be revealed on Wednesday when I take on my little sister Ariane from Ariane's Crafts in my next Make It Good Challenge... I'm so excited to see what she's been up to, I cannot wait until Wednesday! Eeeee!

Until then, have yourself a lovely day!