Friday Morning Reflections
Well here we are. Meadowsweet is finished, bound and everything. It’s single bed sized and several people seem to already have their beady eyes on it….
It’s amazing how throwing a whole lot of completely crazy fabrics together ultimately results in something so, well…subdued.
I loved having my very own sewing retreat. (It would however have been nicer if there hadn’t been demolition going on outside my window or if my ipod hadn’t given up the ghost). It was still a day of total self-indulgence and it did me the world of good. Today I’m lovely and mellow and relaxed…and I’m keeping my eyes firmly closed and ignoring all the boring stuff that needs doing round here.
It really is true though that however hard you work, there are never enough hours in the day to do all the things you’ve planned to do. It was great to focus and get a project finished and otherwise I would never spend such a concentrated block of time getting something done and dusted. I’d hoped to get more done, but maybe that was just a bit unrealistic. Ticking one more UFO off the list is ALWAYS a great feeling!
The Bernina stitch regulator is an absolute wonder and the longer throat of the Bernina 820 makes machine quilting an absolute joy. Even though I had real doubts about my machine at the beginning – and let me tell you, she does need handling with kid gloves – I’m really won over now.
I did miss the laughing and chatting you get in a real retreat though – because quilters are just nice people – but hey, beggars can’t be choosers!
I sort of think I should do this every week!
Helen
June 24th, 2011 at 11:09 am
What a beauty! I really like the fabrics you used.
June 24th, 2011 at 11:10 am
What a gorgeous quilt, Helen! Have you ever counted how many quilts you’ve completed in your lifetime? We went to a funeral service recently and the older woman had been a quilter, although I don’t think as dedicated as you. Among her photos and memorabilia set out in the lobby of the funeral home were piles of her folded quilts. It was a cold and windy day (even in June here) and when the family left to go to the cemetery burial, each of them took a quilt. We heard later that as they stood graveside, they all had a quilt of hers draped over their shoulders for warmth, and it was a wonderful, symbolic memory for them, as this woman was well-loved and brought such comfort to their lives. Have a great weekend, Helen!
June 24th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
I love the quilt! Well done for keeping to your special retreat day and for not letting ordinary life take over! It is a delight to get something finished, isn’t it. And I think one day a week to do special things you want to do sounds like an excellent idea. It is just a matter of organizing things to work for the other 6 days – go on – you can do it!
June 24th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
That turned out lovely (as I knew it would). So glad you enjoyed your day despite the construction racket. Since you managed this day (and the house did not fall down in ruins nor did the weeds invade the home) there is no reason you cannot do it again on a regular basis – perhaps you could alternate between the things you really enjoy doing, i.e. knitting, writing, quilting, reading.
Have a great weekend.
June 24th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
I think you day retreat was a wonderful idea and your quilting is fabulous. So nice to hear how your machine went, I will be up for a new one soonish, so I’m interested to learn how each machine handles itself! Love your quilt. xo
June 24th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
It looks great Helen and you had such doubts about that fabric as you laid it out in your garden – I remember. I love to see the backs of quilts too – could you show us a photo of it as the fabric looks lovely.
June 24th, 2011 at 4:15 pm
this turned out even prettier than I imagined. Don’t you just love to see the transformation of the quilt top after it has been quilted and laundered? I love all the little bumps and dimples it gets.Really lovely, Helen!