A Bookish Life

The Couch Potato Days

There's nothing that quite brings the creative march to a halt in its glittery steps like the words "pre-term labor." For the last week I have been following the midwife's orders to a 't', drinking lots of water and hanging out on the couch. I'm still taking it easy, but picking up a few easy hobbies like sewing, cooking, reading, and weightlifting (just kidding about that last one) along the way.

This, you may remember, was a Christmas quilt that got abandoned at the 11th hour in favor of something that seemed a little more appropriate. I've added a few more red diamonds, the border that Allison suggested, and it has now been backed and pinned. The double gray and red color scheme made it the perfect project to finish up in the Valentine's-week of the rain-themed-month. I haven't quite decided how to quilt it yet or what to do with it once it's finished. A fleeting thought was that if Cate did indeed decide to come early, in her 34th week, it would be the perfect Valentine's present for her. But I think the danger might be under control- keep those fingers crossed.

I have a few directions to go in at this point. Suddenly I feel remiss in all the baby clothes I haven't yet made. I also wanted to accomplish a few more things in the house and nursery. I also was reminded about the completely practical "hospital bag" when Brian asked if I had my bag packed and I replied that I was hoping to make a new bag for the occasion. He suggested that I go ahead and pack an old one until the new one was finished. Oh, ye of little faith, my love (but I guess he has a point, as usual).

Shh... no guessing who it's for.

So, I've been oh so good at not showing off the Christmas presents I've been making. This one should be safe to show, and I'm afraid I've hit an impass.

Halfway through any quilt I'm beset by second and third guesses. Are these the right colors? Is it too bright? Too plain? Too homemade?

We have 15, yes FIFTEEN, days until Christmas. Any I'm wondering if this will be a stunning or embarrassing gift. I need to perservere in order to get past the second-guess-middle. But I thought maybe it would help to see it on a computer screen for a day or two.

Thoughts? PS. If you know who the recipient is, please leave no clues in the comments. Thanks!

Persuasion

I always think Persuasion is my favorite Jane Austen novel, even if it isn't as infitinely readable as Pride and Prejudice. It's wiser, sadder, more solemn, and perfectly bittersweet. There's not the easy romantic comedy flair, but something just a little bit more real.

I finally finished this quilt that I started so long ago. It's persuasive. Don't you suddenly feel like taking a nap or reading a great book? It's a mix of neutrals, black, and orange with lots of vintage pieces and a lovely tulip fabric from Japan. The binding is vintage cotton and the back is a soft, washed muslin. The whole thing is lovingly rumpled, just the way I prefer a quilt to look, and was pre-washed so you can throw it on into the dryer.

I still need to make a carrying case, but I figure it will be in the shop this week. There's a baby quilt hot on its heels, so stay tuned!

Soft and pink

Most of my time these days is spent eating. At least I feel like a significant portion of my hours are spent desperately searching for something to eat or happily digging in to second breakfast, snack #4, etc.

Last night I made Brian take me on a mad dash around town to discover someplace open on a Sunday evening that would sell me black bean quesadillas. Thank you, Taco Bueno.

But the other delight of my weekend was to revel in this magical burst of energy that seems to mark the second trimester. I actually cleaned the house! Played with the puppy! Finished one baby quilt and started another!

With this quilt I'm not saying anything about the sex of my baby, we don't know yet what we're having! It does however give credence to the idea that Bookish Quilts might see a revival of the miniature sort. Small things are fun, and I think a few will end up in the shop.

For instance, this baby quilt, made with pink Liberty fabrics, soft flannel binding, and a cotton linen blend backing, entered the shop this afternoon! It comes with a carrying case that means packing up for Grandma's house is a snap and it's easy to wash- just throw it in the washer and dryer!

I loved working on this quilt so much that I almost finished its predecessor....something in blue.

Carpet of Wildflowers

Once you get started, there's almost no turning back. I gave my first sewing lessons today to a sweet, polite 10-year old girl who is just starting to feel the potential and beauty of making things. I watched her eyes grow wide when we talked about drawstring sleepy pants, headbands, and pillows. Her wonder and delight over the slightest new technique (today she learned about zig zagging, one of my personal favorite stitches) was inspirational and fed my own growing urge to pick up a project, any project, and get to work.

There are a few commissions that popped up over the summer and this is a first attempt at once of them. A sweet friend had a baby girl and I wanted something that would be suitable to follow her through many stages of her life. Because she's in a loving family, I wanted to give her some roots. Because she's got a creative, daydreaming mother, I wanted to give her a wide open sky. I thought she needed a flock of three, since she's a third, to guide her way and a carpet of wildflowers to cushion her landings. Who doesn't need a soft landing now and then?

With my remorse over such a long break, I've been making wild, foolhardy promises to myself about posting every weekday. Here's day two. We'll see how I do.

It's bound to happen.

Here's a new quilt that's just waiting for a binding and a quick wash & rumple.

I'm sure I'll introduce it again in a few days, but of couse I couldn't bear to let a few days go by without a picture.

I don't know why, but I'm thinking in collections these days. I have a quilt collection in mind now too, but who has the time?

This sneak peak quilt will be named Persuasion, after my secoond favorite Jane Austen novel. It has a somber thread, written at the end of Austen's life. The bittersweet strain is so moving and poignant.

Read it. I'm sure you'll love it.

Unveiling

Today is cold for May, dark and stormy, sleepy and gray. I love it. It's the perfect day to stay inside and alternate reading and sewing. It is the perfect day to resurrect old soup recipes and bake bread.

I am almost finished "for I sojourn"-- the first piece in my new collection. The collection will be 14 pieces, titled "Pilgrimage" collectively.

I plan to hang them in a couple different stores- Make and Alter Ego, respectively.

Lesson in War Time

Last night I was startled to see a bug crawling in my vicinity. Outraged by the perpetrator's nerve (infitrating my territory!), I grabbed the first thing I could find and threw it at him. It was a plastic jar of black fiber paint.

I didn't think anything about this until later when I finished this background for my newest art piece and went in for layer number two-- a painted layer-- and couldn't find the black paint jar. I searched and searched the four corners of the room and came up empty handed, ultimately having to retire for the evening with my unfinished work waiting patiently on the ironing board.

Alone, and yet sometimes people understand

This is a large art quilt called "Alone, and Yet" that I finished just before the Urban Bazaar this past weekend. I apologize for the poor picture. I literally snapped it just before carrying the piece out the door. I was worried that the paint wasn't completely dry. It sold to a lovely couple who seemed to cherish it and mentioned they would be hanging it in their living room.

At the time I was touched, as I have been before, that people can really seem to read what I'm saying in these pictures. Granted, it's not a complicated message, but important to me nonetheless. I'm not a crafter artist by education, but by compulsion. I feel the need to create something inspired by loveliness and reflection, something to make a home more unique.

To this end, I've been thinking about which directions Bookish should grow into. I have some definate ideas and can't wait to show you over the next few months.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

This quilt was a long time coming. It is a housewarming gift that is a year and a half late, but I finished it just the same! I love naming these quilts after books. There comes a time, as the quilt is slipping into its final stages, when a name begins forming. I start to notice, "this quilt has a tinge of magic, sadness, light, or whatever the case may be."

The Midsummer quilt spoke up with its flaming red personality and proclaimed that fairies were involved, mischief and mayhem were par for the course. Passion reigned- just look at all that red, but there was also a hint of coolness in the sea green, and a hint of night-time in the black.

I have two new quilts on the cutting table now, and I seem to be on some sort of roll. Finishing projects is like eating something delicious- as soon as I'm finished I want another bite. There are smaller quilts in my future though. The larger ones tend to get unwieldy.

It will all have to wait until I get back from a quick trip to San Francisco! Just wait until I spend a couple hours wandering through Britex. My projects will probably look completely different when I get back.

Oh, I also decided that all the quilts need to come in a carrying bag and with a copy of the book they were named after. So, I guess I have some bags to make before my next show!