I love this guy

Another quote from G. K. Chesterton about Mothering:

How can it be a large career to tell other people about the Rule of Three, and a small career to tell one’s own children about the universe? How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone and narrow to be everything to someone? No, a woman’s function is laborious, but because it is gigantic, not because it is minute.
G.K. Chesterton, ”The Emancipation of Domesticity”, What’s Wrong with the World (1910)

I'm thinking I might need to read this book. Once again I found this on Solstice Letters. I haven't exactly figured out that blog, but it is full of great quotes.

To learn new things

In January I joined the local quilt guild. I think I was one of maybe four ladies who don't get the senior citizen discount, but that just let me know there was enough experience in the room to help me learn something. And that is what I want. I've cobbled together my quilting skills over the years starting with the sewing my Grandmother taught me and then adding to it with the internet and a few books.

At the meeting they handed out instructions for a quilt block with the idea that everyone makes a block, brings it to the next meeting and then they raffle the blocks off to a few people who then have most of what they need to make a quilt top. I hope they do this every time. Since this blocks incorporates a couple of things I've never done before it is a good way to learn new skills.

This is what I have so far. Sort of a basket weave. It will attach to two appliqued semicircles to the sides to make a heart shape. At the top of the photo you can see another one of these blocks. I had to do it twice to get the pieces to line up. The second time worked out fine. So, you see, I am learning something. Maybe I'll use the first one to make a potholder.

The disappointing news for me, is that the fabric bundle I'd decided to buy to make my next quilt with is out of stock. Hmmm . . . . what to sew?

Where I've been all this time . . .

I found this great quote from G. K. Chesterton over on a new-to-me blog, solstice letters (my first embedded link!):

Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun; and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.

So much of my life is repetitive and monotonous. I didn't think anyone, anywhere would want to read about how many diapers I changed today, or how I washed the same laundry I washed just last week. As much as I'd like to, I don't always have creative projects on the cutting board or in the sewing machine. Sometimes my life is about kissing boo-boos and cleaning bottoms or a myriad of other surfaces. I sometimes have to remind myself that boo-boo kissing is a legitimate line of work. That although they may not realize it, everyone in the house is grateful for a clean potty to pee/poop/barf in. That just being present for my children is important in and of itself.

Then I read this quote, and I think there are mothers all over the world who feel just like me. And maybe just commiserating and celebrating our work here, on the internet, might be enough to help us keep our own daisies growing.

By the skin of my teeth

I pulled the warm quilt from the dryer with just enough time to tuck it into a tissue paper filled bag and head to Grandma's.

In one day

In one day I: finished marking a quilt, basted it, and quilted the entire thing. I also took out the garbage for pick-up (blessing upon the person who invented trash pick-up), washed, dried and folded two loads of laundry, and cooked dinner for my husband, myself, my sister and five kids.

So, if there are any typos in this post, please pardon me. I'm a little tired.

I can only hope the stitching will hold up for more than two washes. I'm a little nervous . . .

as promised

This is the first quilt I've truely done from start to finish with patterns. On my other three there have always been significant parts that I either made up or I outright just flew (sewed) by the seat of my pants.

For the

quilting I'm using a heart pattern. Now, I'm not normally a heart kind of girl, but this quilt is for my Grandma. The woman who taught me to sew in the first place. So, for her, I'll do hearts.

If you look closely, you can see glasses I'm having to wear to get all this fine detail work done without headaches. I really hate them.

Here is a slightly more close-up view. I'm hoping to finish the marking for the quilting lines and get it basted before this evening. Ambitious, I'm afraid.

Scaredy cat

There is nothing like taking the 326 piece quilt top you've just finished piecing together and drawing all over the top of it with a blue marker! (Photos to follow)

Given the sporadic nature of my posts, low readership shouldn't be surprising. But, I am thrilled to discover there is someone reading this pitiful, directionless, and sporadic blog - and she isn't even related to me! So, thanks, Meghan.