I've been really quiet lately, but I have to admit....I've been locked out of my account.  While I am admitting things, I need to pull my foot out of my mouth or perhaps my fingers off the keyboard!

Anyhooo.  I was digging through my newly acquired stash, and ran across the block I was so upset about.  The one that was called, "Civil War."  Well, the darn thing is civil war fabric in the middle.  While the person I heard was correct, I wish she would have shown me my block and explained my error.  It would have been better than over hearing the comment, but she was right.  Live and learn. Tip of the day, don't buy fabric for a project when you are tired of looking at fabric, flustered, and just want the heck out of the store. The nearest bolt of fabric will look wonderful, whether appropriate or not.

Well, that's it for me.  While it is Sunday, I have work to do.  Perhaps I will get it done and have some free time.  Not so sure about that....the husband is wanting assistance fencing.  I might want to really think about how fast I want to get my work done........

Until the next time I feel I need to have "hoof in mouth disease"......

Quilting Should be an Olympic Event

I really think the quilting community should lobby to make quilting an Olympic event.  The amount of precision needed to make a quilt is amazing.  Have you really ever thought about it?  It hit me today as I tried to cut out 2.5" squares.  

Quilting requires precision from the beginning to end.  The pieces have to be cut exactly as directed.  Then the pressing, and I mean "pressing."  If you dare to iron, you have just shot yourself in the foot.  Take a piece of fabric with a directional print and iron it.  The print ends up being "wonky."  (Ask me how I know!)  Sewing requires an exact 1/4" or scant 1/4" seam.  One mistake in any of the process and everything gets out of whack.  I think quilting is an under appreciated art.  The more I try to quilt, the more I think I should find another hobby, but I am too stubborn to give up.  I do have one quilting "super power."  I can make an error so fast your head will swim, and as soon as I correct that error, I find a new way to make one!  

I think I am the only person that can cut something crooked with a rotary cutter, cutting mat, and quilting ruler.  I found a new method - PAINTERS TAPE!  My new buddy.  If I tape the fabric to the cutting mat, it does not slip around.  I only have to worry about not keeping the cutter next to the ruler and keeping the tips of my fingers.  I never have enough hands......

Well, enough of my blunders for the moment.  Don't worry, I'll be back with my latest mistake soon enough. The guild is having their new block of the month for the February meeting.  It is called, "Circle of Friends."  The tutorial can be found here: Emerald Coast Modern Quilt Guild  Kira does the tutorials, and she does an excellent job.  As long as you aren't me, the block should come out exactly as it looks before the tutorial.  

At our last guild meeting, we had a secret "little zippered pouch" swap.  The pouch my partner made was perfect.  I'm not able to put up pictures at the moment, but I am sure some will be up soon at That's Sew Creative.  

I had some pictures to post, but I can't get them from the camera to the computer.  I am learning this too.  I'll get the hang of it sooner or later.  (Most likely later...)

Freedom!

As I said before, I have joined a modern quilt guild.  I know the staff at A&E Fabrics hate to see me coming.  I am driving them crazy.  With every bolt of fabric I take to the cutting table, I ask, "Is this modern?"  I am petrified that I will make something for a guild project that does not meet the definition of "modern."  

Well, the dreaded moment has happened.  Our block lottery was a modified churn dash with low and high volume fabric.  Low volume was to be the background.  I asked for definitions of high and low volume fabric and was told, "High volume jumps at you, and low volume fades in the background. "  I ran to A&E to select fabrics after the block was announced…..I went through my "fabric ritual" with the staff and selected my fabrics.  My blocks were done!  I really liked them….

Fast forward:  Guild meeting.  The block lottery was held, and all the blocks were laid out together.  A lesson was being given on what was "modern" between a couple of other guild members.  Here are the blocks: 

My block is the bottom right.  The description of it was "civil war fabric."  Yes, I overheard the comment.  It stung quite badly.  The brown jumped at me.  I had taken time to select it, I had asked if the fabric was modern, and even gotten help selecting a low volume background.  The experts had helped me.  CIVIL WAR?!  While I do agree, my block stands out like a sore thumb compared to all the bright colors.  I have been pursuing the questions, what is modern fabric and modern quilting?  I can't get a straight answer to those questions.  I have read the Modern Quilt Guild's definition.  It seems to box quilters in to a set of rules.  I was told modern quilting was " The rule is, there are no rules."  The comment hurt quite badly.  I considered quitting the guild.  Over reaction - yes.   The person had not meant it critically at me, she was just trying to explain modern.  I had the bad luck of being within earshot, and being the example of what was not modern.  

The bottom line is:  I am not quitting the guild.  The experience has freed me.  I am going to buy what I like from now on without stressing if the fabric is modern.  Keep in mind, I do know civil war fabric, depression era fabric, and most past eras of fabric.  I will do my best to pick modern fabric, but I am not going to be asking the staff at the store if my fabric is modern.  Those days are done.  If my block for the lottery does not "fit in" with the rest, I will give the winner my full permission to trash it. I will do my best to follow the guild rules, but it is not worth getting sick from stress.

Freedom has arrived.  It does feel good!

New year, new experiences….

Another year has gone by in a blur, and a new one has begun.  I am working on new experiences, and getting "outside" of my box.  At the moment, blogging is the current new experience.  We shall see how this goes.