Tuesday Archives # 187: Rainbows

Hello! Hello! and Happy Tuesday Archives! 

The linky party that let's you rejuvinate OLD blogging posts.

If you are new to our linky, click over the here to read the details about this fun, weekly linky party. (You can also check out all our past Tuesday Archives themes by clicking right here.)

This week's theme is: "Rainbows!"

This Rainbow of Hexagons is one of my favorites made and as I skim back through my archives this week, I'm surprised to realize that it's been three years ago since I made it for Sarah's Annual Hands to Help Charity Challenge in 2015. I need to start thinking about this year's donation.

Speaking of H2H...sign ups have begun. Click HERE to read about the variety 

of charities to choose from and perhaps think about joining us. 

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.

The Need to CREATE in 2018!

Happy Happy New Year! WOW! 2018!

Boy this time of year finds many of us reflecting and taking inventory of many areas of our lives.

I have found myself doing the very same thing and came to realize that I have not kept an 

"idea/sketch" journal since 2015! I don't even know how that happened...but it did.

Yet, like many of you I'm sure, tons of  unmanifested ideas are always floating around in my little head. I have also found myself  more often than not, wanting to add more originality to my quilts and sewing. So I took some time this New Year's Day and set out to resolve this. I grabbed one of my 5"x 8" Moleskin books, some washi tape, pulled out my old scrapbooking supplies and walla:

YES! 2018 is going to be my year to:

I want to create more original quilts like THESE. 

I want to create more time IN my studio sewing. 

Thus, I'll be joining Kate's 15 Minutes a Day Challenge.

I want to create monthly goals that will help me empty my stash of kits/projects. 

Thus I'll be setting OMG and linking with everyone at: 

 I also want to continue to create opportunities for my Second Graders to explore sewing/knitting.

I'm in the process of creating a donorschoose.org project and will continue to share updates here on the ol' blog. And finally, I will continue to take good care of myself as I carry on the habits of  healthy meal plans with my hubby, my daily exercise schedule and walks with Jackson, sleeping well, drinking lots of water and green tea (and maybeeee less wine) and well, continue enjoying life.  

But most exciting to me, notice these aren't so much goals?  It's weird, with all that said, I've noticed over the past few years, my youthful "goal setting, go-getter" self has gradually morphed into this "self-accepting, content" middle aged woman. I have evolved through this transition finding myself wanting to have a more creative life. I have visions of my studio bursting with new projects. My roles of being defined as a mother and a teacher no longer feed my esteem. My children are grown. I can teach with my eyes shut. (It's been 29 years and though I still enjoy teaching, it just doesn't challenge me anymore.)I like to grow. I like to learn new things. I don't just want to sew quilts anymore, I want to create quilts. (Vivian..I DID order the Growing Gills book you recommended on your blog. Thanks!) But, I seriously have no idea what this is going to look like!  I just know I have this growing desire to be more creative and self-expressive in my sewing process. I know getting back to my sketch book will help. I know the fact that I work full time stands in the way of my creative process but with seven  more years still to go...I need to be more intentional in nourishing my creative heart now! I'm excited about the possibilities and kinda curious what changes will occur. It really is a "Happy Day" and seriously, thank you for joining me as I set out on this journey to evolve as a creative type in 2018. It think it's going to be fun! Well, Happy Happy New Year again and here's wishing you health, happiness and success with your 2018 intentions as well.

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.

Creativity: Remembering my "WHY" as I read: Our Family Quilt

Our Family Quilt

The Fabric of Life

by

Rhonda Cratty

Summary: Join and experience creativity and nostalgia through Grace, a master quilter, -as she shares her creative gifts with her young granddaughter, Audrey. Together their lives unfold around their family quilt.  The love between grandmother and granddaughter keep a family’s generations turning despite minor setbacks, disappointments and celebrations of life. As friends and family of this charming mountain town in Colorado come together for life’s moments. Creating an inspirational, heartwarming story to share with those you love.

Our Family Quilt immerses readers in:

• Family Life
• Contemporary Women
• Quilting ideas
• Creativity for everyday living
• The secret world of Grandmothers and Granddaughters and the people they love…

 I was flattered and happy when author Rhonda Cratty, sent me a copy of her book, The Family Quilt for me to read and offer as a give-away here on my blog. I'm enjoying this book in-between quilting my "monster" ragged roses/nine patch quilt. (Which your guys, is almost done!!!) After a few e-mail correspondences between us, it was fun to get to know Rhonda and learn about her path to quilting and how much we have in common. She lives in beautiful Colorado and like me, enjoys walking, hiking, and cross country skiing. And like many of us quilters, when she is not writing, she enjoys traveling, quilting, crocheting, cooking, reading and painting.

Remember our WHY!

As I read, though I don't have family nearby, or any granddaughters, I love the idea how quilting connects people. Like you and I. And lately, it's so wierd, but I have been asked why I quilt. What do I do with all my quilts. Why don't I just sell them. I even been kinda laughed at for having a dozen (okay more) quilts just piled around my house and that even the dogs have a quilt! They gasp...while I'm internally thinking: "Of course they do! LOL!"  

I hate when I don't have a quick answer....I always find myself contemplating others views and comments rather than having a quick response. Hmmm....more often than not, I do ask myself those very questions. Am I evolving into a lonely, old quilt lady? Why do I do what I do? 

While reading Rhonda's book I'm intriqued how writing Our Family Quilt began as a book idea but then moved her into research of quilting as an art form in America. The characters in this book evolved through quilting classes, quilting shows, museums, shops, the Columbine Quilt Guild, inspiring speakers, and encouraging quilters. Each experience inspired the Rhonda to add a different dimension to both her quilting and writing.

Like Rhonda and I'm sure many of you, I find the quilting process moves me forward and inspires my NEED to be creative. It adds that different dimension to my life that I like. I value the quiet time it provides me to recharge. It's a way I take care of myself....a healthy outlet during times I may feel lonely or sad from life's challenges.   But it also allows outlet to my creativity. I love that I can create original gifts for others. I can give to charities. It allows me to continuously grow and learn. Example, while quilting the "monster" I have gained a new confidence in my quilting and with that, took a pile of business cards to my favorite quilt shop for distribution. Out of the blue...while rhythmically quilting those 99 blocks, a brand new idea has been formulating in my mind. Each day I have found myself enthusiastically capturing those ideas in my sketchbook for later reference. I'm learning that confidence comes from doing something you thought you couldn't do. Inspiration comes from sources we don't predict. That's why I quilt. As Rhonda's book so wonderfully interweaves throughout her story it's the value of living a creative life quilting allows. 

How about you? Why do you quilt? Please do comment and share and perhaps an inspiring email conversation will evolve? Annndddd....if you can't wait for my September give-away of Rhonda's The Family Quilt book and want to get a copy of it now, she forwarded this info. for to me to share:

https://www.acreativespin.com/home.html

·         ASIN: B01N8WSCV7

https://www.amazon.com/Our-Family-Quilt-Fabric-Life-ebook/dp/B01N8WSCV7/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1480736270&sr=8-2

·         ISBN-10: 1537796852

·         ISBN-13: 978-1537796857

           Keep an eye out as I continue my series of  "Creativity" posts.

                       Coming up soon: Being Prepared followed by Making Time . 

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.

WIN quilt batting this summer. Click HERE to read how.

Fun Happy Mail!

The mailman delivered my turn with Bernie's, over at Needle and Foot,  Fabric and Fiction book share. (Click HERE to read all about her cool happy mail/quilters book club of sorts.)

We receive (and send forward) three new fat quarters that relate back to the novel in some fashion. My person sent me these three fun fabrics below, each representing one of the main characters in the story. Her character captions have me intrigued.   

I laughed a little when she said the circle design represents the character Samantha whose thoughts seem to keep her running in circles. I smiled in thought of the pink representing the character Lydia, because older women often mentor younger women without even knowing it. And finally, those trees, they represent King, the character who is cool with himself, steady and stable. (I'm so grateful to have my own King) After this wonderful introduction, I'm looking forward to meeting these characters myself as I spend a few hours this chilly morning reading: Open House.

Next week's theme: Anything GREEN!

Tuesday Archives #149: Reading

Welcome to the linky party that rejuvenates your old quilting/sewing posts! 

Please click here to read more about this linky party.  

This week's theme is: READING

Oh my...I've had one of those days where I kinda forgot what day of the week it is! LOL!! Anyhooo....this week's Tuesday Archives theme is reading. I know, not a quilty theme, but never-the-less, a past-time I notice many of us quilters do enjoy. I usually read in the summer as I always get so caught up in a book and end up staying up way too late reading!

But last Friday temptation got the best of me as I found myself enjoying our beautiful weather by strolling through our downtown shops: A "vintage" shop going out of business, "country collectibles", and yes, the used book store...in which I almost immediately found a good read. I then treated myself to a few hours at our favorite coffee shop downtown. I relaxed  with a yogurt lunch, some green tea and let myself get lost in the beginning of a new story. (Of which is almost done!)

I enjoy the Elm Creek Quilts novels by Jennifer Chiaverini. Lucky me, my mom keeps me well stocked. (THANK YOU MOM!) But in-between, I like a new read. I got hooked on this series below after Carole's blog post.  (I'm off to the public library soon to check out the last one of the series!) 

Bernie over at Needle and Foot  came up with the most creative idea and started a Fabric and Fiction book share. I got in on the Winter Book Share and am looking forward to my turn. 

Click HERE to read all about her cool happy mail/quilters book club of sorts.

And I know many of you also post your "current" read on your sidebars too. (Cause I'm always looking) So this week guys, really, feel free to create a new post with your favorite recommendations and/or rejuvenate your already published book/reading posts.  I'll leave the linky open till next Monday but know this week's linky theme is open to anything that has to do with reading. Enjoy!

What I'm Reading:

On my bedstand: Elm Creek Quilts novels by Jennifer Chiaverini. I received my first, The Giving Quilt, for  Christmas from our youngest daughter. She thought I'd enjoy it due to my love of  quilting and involvement with Project Linus. 

She was right! Now I check in with our little  bookstore down the street often with the mission to collect them all.  I really like the main character Sylvia and her young friend Sarah and their developing friendship. I love the setting of the Elm Creek Manor and the birds eye view we as the reader get of their many quilt retreats. I am inspired by the development of friendships through quilting.  It's an easy, peaceful read before lights out each night. 

If you've ever been interesting in reading the series too, I've including the list of the novels in order. Don't worry about the titles with lines through them. I love making lists, and even more, I love checking things off my "lists". So, "crossed out" novels are the ones I've been gifted to by my mom. ( Also, the * = her historical fiction novels.)

• The Quilter's Apprentice (1999)
• Round Robin (2000)
• The Cross Country Quilters (2001)
• The Runaway Quilt (2002)*
• The Quilter's Legacy (2003)
• The Master Quilter (2004)
• The Sugar Camp Quilt (2005)*
• The Christmas Quilt (2005)
• Circle of Quilters (2006)
• The Quilter's Homecoming (2007)*
• The New Year's Quilt (2007)
• The Winding Ways Quilt (2008)
• The Quilter's Kitchen (2009)
• The Lost Quilter (2009)*
• A Quilter's Holiday (2009
• The Aloha Quilt (2010)
• The Union Quilter (2011)*
• The Wedding Quilt (2012)
• Sonoma Rose (2012)*
• The Giving Quilt (2012)
• Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker (2013)*

Happily reading,

Val:)