Time Flies

Not sure what inspired this dress up session some odd 45 years ago but when I found this photo the other day I went straight back to the moment.  The tortoise shell shoes were my favorite...they were my granmothers as was the dress.  I can still remember wishing...dreaming of a day it would fit me.

Oh what I would do to still own this outfit today!  From what I can remember, my grandmother got the skirt and top in Jamaica!  I could think of nothing better than wearing it to a party when I grew up.  I did finally grow up (sort of!)  and went away to college.  One year I remembered the outfit and went searching for it but the dress up box had disappeared.  Perhaps that loss is singularly responsible for me being a...well...quite frankly...a bit of a clothes hoarder.  I just can't throw clothes away.  Under my bed in a box I still have some double zip up overalls from 1975!  I still have a very funky spotty mini skirt from New Year's Eve 1984 and a pair of army edition, peace sign screen printed wool undies!!! Did I mention they were mustard coloured and very itchy?  Why do I still have them?

Over the last decade or so the save it obsession has changed.  Now instead of clothes I save fabrics...WHAT! YOU DON'T!!! Of course you do. 

This past weekend (after a day of sport that lasted literally 10 hours) I settled into my sewing room with a new stack of fabric destined to be my next project.  I have been pulling out a few favorites as they come in the shop...of course...who wouldn't?! But one of my favourite activites is still to stand and stare at my stash.
Here is a portion of said stash.  It was once sorted very nicely by colour so it is handy to use but some rushed activities made it sort of messy.  There before my eyes I  saw a collection of bits that were just like fingers itching the creative corners of my mind.  I NEED a new project (like a hole in my head).  Having just finished quilting non stop since January I feel lost at night with nothing to quilt.  It feels oddly lonely. So as soon as I can clear up the chores and work issues of the day I head in to my space.

The other night I sat down and organised my ideas file.  Yep.  I stopped and planned.  Yikes, what a feeling.  Each page has the picture or idea with a few starting tips for the cutting.  That way when I arrived home Saturday evening completely exhausted from sideline anxiety I could literally pick up my fabrics and start cutting.  Before I knew it, I was completely absorbed in my new project, humming along...making choices...considering options...and just generally enjoying the MAKING of something.
This is my friend Kathy Ford. She and I have been sharing creative time on skype. (see me in the corner with my camera!)  Also a quilter, Kathy gets up and spends a few hours in the morning light sewing or quilting.  This time coincides nicely with my sewing time so after many years of a visual void in our creative spaces we now share heaps and I have to say I am loving the exchange. 

We met when my family moved in next door to hers in Rochester, NY.  I have many great stories about fun times we shared as kids.  Then my family moved away but we hooked up again in NYC in 1980 as young "adults".  Looking at this photo I see our friendship.  Its a friendship that has defied the odds and that has lasted the many tests of time.  Half a world away...me in Sydney Australia and Kathy in Amherst, MA we can now meet up again.  The distance is wiped away by the computer.  It has been great fun talking and quilting with my old friend.  We have shared concepts, ideas and frank, honest reviews of each other's work.  This July we are meeting up to go to Quilting by the Lake in NY to do Rosalie Dace's workshop together for one entire week!  Too good to be true.

 
  And speaking of too good to be true, check out Wendy hugging this fabric.  We couldn't even get the bolt out of the plastic before it was in her arms, deemed to be in a quilt by midnight.

We had a visit from our connection in Istanbul and got more scarves this week.
Then I got this photo showing the traditional way to wear the Oya style crochet.

Sweet...but really...how does one wear such decorative beauty on one's head and then have bullets around your neck? Ying and yang or what!!!

Anyway... 

Jen brought this quilt in looking for a border.  It's one of Wendy Williams quilts and done up in Jen's colours it looks very different...different but nice...different but individual which is what we like to see.

Here we have Baby Splat...Splat done in Anna Maria's flannels in a sideways world. 
Connie has been coming to Material Obsession since the very beginning.  In that time she has traveled to all corners of Australia and made a number of quilts that I can't even count up to.  This is one she has done recently in Wendy's class...pretty in purple.  It has been fun watching Connie learn more and more and more skills as she makes quilts for everyone she knows. 
Wendy has a very handy knack with technical issues.  She is forever coming in and showing us how to make things.  This pin cushion is a twist on Cathedral Windows. It is so fun and so easy to make up that we will be sharing the experience in craft workshops at the Quilt and Craft Show at Darling Harbour with this as the feature item.  Kits are available in Kaffe Fassett coordinating fabrics for $18 and the workshops will be held daily at the show.  You can get a kit and book in by calling the shop or visiting our stall at E28 at the show....That is one way to get a slice of the MO pie this year and the other is to join Reece Scannell and myself as we talk colour...colour and more COLOUR!! Reece will give you the technical terms and then we'll talk about fabric and exciting quilts.  Put it on your calendar...go on...do it!

By the way...if you are coming to the show we are releasing FIVE new quilt patterns and kits that we are very excited about.  We also have some hot new items in production right now that I am sure you will love.  Be sure to make a bee line to E 28 before the best gets got! 

That's it for now. Yikes, time flies when posting!

 

 

Comments

[Laurie]

where do I start? you lived in Rochester when I lived in Brockport. I want to make a very fun skirt from the bird fabric Wendy is holding! thanks for mentioning QBL. I live in upstate NY and can easily take a day from work to go to the quilt show. it's a good thing I live on the opposite side of the globe from your shop; I would spend all my money on fabric and would need a separate building to house it, which, of course, I wouldn't be able to afford because of spending all my money on fabric. your blog is always inspiring. thanks, Kathy. :-)

[katherine]

Love your stash plus all the other wonderful things you share with us on here. My stash is so sad it fits into a 56 ltr plastic tub LOL.

[anna maria]

what the heck.

I keep trying to respond to your email and it keeps kicking back to me. Sorry for dropping this in your comments section ;-P

[Phyllis]

I love the fabric Wendy is hugging (I understand the hugging) - especially the bird fabric. Where can I buy these fabrics? Thank you.

[jordan shoes]

Your blog is great. Your thoughts are also very good and i am very inspired from your post. That is why I visit this blog again and again and will come back in future too. Thanks

[Nina-Marie]

Ohhh I love Kathy too!!! I'll be at QBL first session so hopefully I can say hi to both of you!! I'm trying to scavenge my supply list for Jane's class now!

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