mmmcoffee....

It's early and I am off today to teach colour workshops with Reece but while I have my coffee we can have a chat.  If I am to be truthful about my life skill capabilities I'd say that 50% of me is chaos and 50% organised.  Somehow I manage to get through tasks but I am not sure how. These past few weeks we have been updating our data base while processing nearly 200 people into classes!  That my friends is a task.  Finally got all the emails out yesterday...many of them sent twice due to typos...I mean really.  If it is all about dates and times you'd think I'd check before hittig the send button.  But that is where the chaos comes in.  I like the order but details escape me.  Anyway!  Late last night as we were packing up boms I thought, "hey, don't be so hard on myself, it's not disorganisation...it's simply too much to do."  Fortunately there are lovely people helping me that stay calm in the riot of flying reciepts and packages. Relaxation spread over me, but only for a secon and here is why...

Cath's job is to find subject matter for our Starting Blocks bom.  This month it was Wend's The Zoo pattern. Big project....

little project... The Starting Block for this month...stop and stare at cute kits.

We're going a bit cushion top mad, maybe as a result of all the gorgeous cushions in the homewares magazines.  Think that oh yea, this starter block could live on my sofa...given I have a stack of inserts to my left right now begging for a top...later my pet, later.   Then there was last Sunday for this...

I do the sample blocks for the Fly Away with Me bom by Marg George and so this was my Sunday!...and a few other evenings as well.  I don't know about you but when I spend time on a project when I look at it I remember the sounds of things going on as I worked.  Last Sunday our Noah, who is residing in LA at the moment skyped us.  After a few minutes he realised that if we put my computer on a stool in front of the tv he could watch the cricket on his computer via Skype!!!  I had to put my work down and marvel at that moment in time.  So much technology.  We all walked away eventually and had lunch while he enjoyed the cricket. 

Then there is this little beauty coming along nicely.  The Kaffe Beginner Sampler.  This has been my journey back to simple blocks with a focus on using colour.  

Then for Twist Again by Sue Ross we had this traditional beauty, Feathered Star.  This is one of my all time favorite blocks.  Liesel makes the samples for this one but the instructions were long and confusing.  We have been working for months trying to simplify them and in the end I designed a template with only two pieces and in the process made a few of these blocks using Art Gallery fabrics. 

Oh, she calls to me for more more MORE! blocks.  As is often the case, I liked it so much I made it twice...thrice...and soon more but I can't decide if before or after the cushions.  This block was fun to make.  I think back to a day a long time ago when I had a dream of making this block.  Somewhere in a box in the attic is my attempt.  It is wonky and crooked and filled with lost points.  I thought I would never be able to make it right.  That is one of the best things about patchwork...the ability to keep on learning new techniques, attacking new ideas and adding skills to the base.

For another few weeks we will have Jenny Burtons' antique quilts for sale at the shop.  They are a lovely sampling of what women did before all the mad colours. 

This one caught my eye the other day.  I love the delicate cross stitch.

Block after block of beautiful cross stitch.  It made me stop and take a deep breath.  Ain't she sweet?

Now, my last sip is gone and so am I.  The year is certainly off to a colourful start.  Hopefully the foundation of organisation is nearly complete so we can just enjoy the flow!  k

 

Comments

[Sheila]

I enjoyed my coffe while reading this fabulous post, so full of lusciousness, I always marvel at the great design's and fabric combinations... really pushes me out of my "comfort zone"

[Anna]

A little Irish cream in the coffee might make you feel more organized...or at least better about the chaos! Lovely colors!

[Roz]

Wow. I wish I had the patience for all that cross-stitch. Gorgeous.

[Sally]

I, too, am in awe of the cross-stitch work. My oldest sister worked on many tablecloths during her years as a NAVY WAVE. Unfortunately there are many years between us and I didn't appreciate her work at the time. I remember how she purchased kits for them at places like Macy's in NYC. They used to have the most phenomenal fabric and handcraft department. When she passed away about 15 years ago I could not find a single one of her tablecloths and napkins. How sad! Why does it take us so long to appreciate things from the past?

[Andie]

I can't wait to get the templates for the feathered star! One of my favorites. As always, Kathy - great eye candy.

[Elizabeth E.]

Lovely post. I was at Road to California today and your MO books were proudly and prominantly displayed at the book booth--can hardly wait for the next one!