Stretching Limits

While visiting with my family I was reminded about what makes our family tick...you know, the threads that bind us together as a unit and it was fun to connect with my roots.  Some may think it weird but we get a bit of joy from a disciplined life.  As my brother pushed me through the rigorous routines of his gym life I found myself wondering...wondering...wondering again if the people in my life feel as pushed by me as I did by him??? I wondered if sometimes I push people beyond their limits without realising that this is not how everyone gets their thrills.  Usually when I know I will see Rusty I put some extra effort in my workouts in an effort to save face.  I tried not to admit it but...truth be told, I could not walk for five days without pain.  I begged for mercy and tried to avoid the next gym session but in the end, the family trait made me do it.  I could not give up.  After all, this guy never, ever and I mean EVER eases up on a disciplined life.  

It allows him despite being over 50 to get "big air" and in so doing to get respect from his kids.

The moral of the story is as the old saying goes...no pain no gain.  It's the push that stretches us beyond where we are at the minute.  Some days, hours, years I feel a bit more like making an effort than others.  At the moment I am enjoying a few lazy sleep in mornings.(realising of course that means 6am instead of 5:30!)  It just feels weird.  I am officially over my jet lag.  I am also recovering from the re-entry emotional roller coaster which always makes John say, "why take a holiday when the re-entry is so bad?"  I tend to agree.  Remove yourself from the routine of daily life for any amount of time and the burden of returning to said routine is always, well, a burden.  

I have had to ask myself some searching questions lately.  How does one digest all the wonderful input of the travel experience?  Well, immerse yourself in the workout that is life.  Choose your form of exercies and get moving!

We are starting up the block of the month programs.  The first few months are intense as we make the sample blocks, cut endless yardage into blocks, put blocks into bags and prepare to send them out and get all the systems in place and everyone on the same administrative page. 

In so doing I was reminded of my favourite applique product.  Frosted Donuts are bobbin size collections of cotton in a rainbow of handy colours. 

 

 

This is what they look like new and this is what they look like after a year of applique...

There are a few wayward threads but it still pretty good and I still love it. They transport easily to quilt group or class and I always have a colour I want. Good tools make getting the job done fun.

This is block one in the Kaffe Sampler bom. I thought I'd whip up the block...given that I am the "expert".  Well...lesson number one folks is always to make sure that the 1/4" foot on the machine is accurate.  This is a simple block but if the seam allowance isn't right on a machine it simply doesn't work!  I merrily went about making this block while chatting with the gals in the class the other day.  Happy as Larry, blah blah blah.  When the blocks were done instead of being 4 1/2" square they were 4 1/2" by 4 1/4".  Well...how could someone as "experienced" as me get that wrong?  Easy, I hadn't checked the machine.  When I did it was out a bit so we put some 1/4" tape on the machine and remade the block. 

Thing is, no matter how we look at it, accuracy is important.  I could have trimmed those blocks to be square but in the end when I tried to put the block into the quilt it wouldn't have fit and then there would be other problems.  So.  Easy solution, problem solved...gorgeous block made.  The other story about this block is the fabric combination.  The sampler is made in Kaffe fabrics so sometimes we will be working light, medium or dark like this block but sometimes we will work warm and cool.

In the other block this month the sampler has Jacob's ladder.  Here we still have light and dark but it isn't as defined as the block above so we rely a bit on the warm and cool colours to make the pattern show up.

These pieces are on the design wall and not sewn together so it was easy to see what they looked like with the colours in different places.

I chose the second layout because I liked the way the pinks showed up running through the  middle of the block.  They gave it more definition.  This block also uses  a "scary" fabric...a plaid.  Yes, it has stripes but because mr mably has made them wonky they are fun to cut across and our eye doesn't scream out "That's not straight!"  These plaids from his latest collection are dynomite to work with as they work like a stripe but are more fun. 

This is not part of the block of the month program but it is one of the new template sets by Merideth Clark. YUMMY! Believe me when I tell you it came in and I immediately put it in my bag and went home to play with it.  This is one of my all time favorite antique block patterns that I have wanted to try but was too scared. It was a thrill to see a template set to go with it!  Thanks so much Merideth!!!! I cut this one out on Friday night and then made stacks of fabric combinations for the next 11 blocks.  It is hand pieced but it was so accurately cut from the templates that it came together easily.  (While I sewed it together I watched a gun slinging cowboy movie complete with damsels in distress which I now remember when I look at it. ) The templates are $22.  Let us know if you would like one and maybe we can make it up together over the next few months!

This is another new template set by Merideth called Vortex.  I can't wait to see how this looks whirling around with other blocks.  We made a photo copy of it to make practice layouts but even in that quick layout trick format it isn't together yet as there are simply too many exciting things to play with at the moment.

I think I am ready to start gettingup at 5:30am again!  It just takes a bit of oxygen to the brain to get all revvvvvvved up again. If you could see my desk at the moment you would surely gasp at how many things are going on.  I know I do when I get home from work each day.  I come in, drop my bags and stand there wondering just which delightful little project will tickle my fancy in the evening.  Too bad I already had the holiday as really, the only place I need to vacation is right here in my studio!  Stay tuned for more! k

Comments

[cbabidge]

just checking...c

[Anna]

ah that simple quarter inch seam..kinda like life you need a guide sometimes.

[Meredithe]

Glad you're liking the templates Kathy! Thanks for the mention - Enjoy!! Cheers. Meredithe

[Marina]

I am SO in love with my frosted donut. I've had it for ages, but only just started using it, and the difference is amazing. The thread is so smooth and fine it just glides through the fabric like a knife through butter. Plus it hardly ever knots up into a tangle. It makes hand applique sheer bliss!

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