How can I have let another three years go by without visiting and updating this blog? Perhaps it is not really a blog...just an occasional stopping point to "check in." Too much life, too much complication. How I want to simplify my life! But to do so, I must simplify my interior life, and I do not know how to do that.
We are all so many people--spouse, parent, child, sibling; financially, emotionally, spiritually, physically, philosophically. And so complex. So how to start simplifying? Good question. I'll ask myself again when I come back. Now I have other things to do!
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Monday, January 24, 2011
Such a Long Time
How can so much time go by without keeping up with this blog? Easy: living takes time, and recording that living takes time. I guess it just means that the recording wasn't as important as the living.
April 2008 was nearly three years ago. Since that quilt show, I chaired the next two. That means I was in charge of the quilt competition, not that I did all the work! I found that my day job REALLY got in the way of doing what I have committed to do. Chairing a quilt show requires so much up-front effort - receiving the quilt entries, ensuring that the information about each quilt is complete, and coordinating with others engaged in the process. Finally, we set up, attempt to operate smoothly, take down and clean the space.
I'm so glad I do not have such an overwhelming responsibility for the 2011 show!
And what about my creations, my quilts? Not many have been completed in these last two years. I thought that was very important to me, but action speaks loudest. I have planned a lot of quilts. I have worked on projects. I have more tops to quilt.
But I also have a daughter who graduated from high school, started college, transferred twice and is back in town, although not living with us (that's good!). We have maintained our connection and grown in relationship since then. I consider that most important.
Perhaps I'll remember to come back soon to explore how I quilt my life together, and whether that involves finishing actual quilts. We'll see...
April 2008 was nearly three years ago. Since that quilt show, I chaired the next two. That means I was in charge of the quilt competition, not that I did all the work! I found that my day job REALLY got in the way of doing what I have committed to do. Chairing a quilt show requires so much up-front effort - receiving the quilt entries, ensuring that the information about each quilt is complete, and coordinating with others engaged in the process. Finally, we set up, attempt to operate smoothly, take down and clean the space.
I'm so glad I do not have such an overwhelming responsibility for the 2011 show!
And what about my creations, my quilts? Not many have been completed in these last two years. I thought that was very important to me, but action speaks loudest. I have planned a lot of quilts. I have worked on projects. I have more tops to quilt.
But I also have a daughter who graduated from high school, started college, transferred twice and is back in town, although not living with us (that's good!). We have maintained our connection and grown in relationship since then. I consider that most important.
Perhaps I'll remember to come back soon to explore how I quilt my life together, and whether that involves finishing actual quilts. We'll see...
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Accomplishment by Accident
The intense week that is the Ogallala Quilt Festival has ended for 2008. I'm relieved, exhausted and a little disappointed that I have to wait for the next one in April 2009. I'm also surprised and excited, because I won my first ribbon!
I won a second place (red) ribbon for my Theme category quilt, Fabrics are a [Quilting] Girl's Best Friend. The quilt started as a "pin quilt" for the auction we hold at the Friday night supper during the show. I had some quilt pins to attach, and used a variety of batiks to give it lots of color. When the sashing and narrow border were on, I examined the quilt at a distance and thought "I see diamonds; perhaps this could be a "Diamonds in Dimmitt" theme quilt." So I added a paper-pieced double diamond border. That really made the quilt.
That quilt had so many problems when I finished, of which I was very aware! But the NQA-certified judge's comments took those issues into consideration and still found my quilt worthy of a ribbon.
I love judging comments and always learn from them how I can improve my quilts. Judges are educators as well as evaluators. Diane ("Dee") LeClaire was our judge this year, and I recommend her, as she was thorough and conscientious. She told me her goal was to give the last quilt the same attention as the first. I only observed the judging of the first quilt, because I stood in for the scheduled scribe, who was late. OQS members were very happy with the judge, because she was as careful at the end as at the beginning.
Next year I will be the Show Chairman, responsible for the competition part of the Festival. I'm intimidated. What a huge job! I have been the Assistant for three shows. I ought to know the job. Not. Oh well...I have some time to figure it out. I'd better be more organized by then, though!
Time to eat my yummy dinner prepared by my husband--what a treat!
More later...
I won a second place (red) ribbon for my Theme category quilt, Fabrics are a [Quilting] Girl's Best Friend. The quilt started as a "pin quilt" for the auction we hold at the Friday night supper during the show. I had some quilt pins to attach, and used a variety of batiks to give it lots of color. When the sashing and narrow border were on, I examined the quilt at a distance and thought "I see diamonds; perhaps this could be a "Diamonds in Dimmitt" theme quilt." So I added a paper-pieced double diamond border. That really made the quilt.
That quilt had so many problems when I finished, of which I was very aware! But the NQA-certified judge's comments took those issues into consideration and still found my quilt worthy of a ribbon.
I love judging comments and always learn from them how I can improve my quilts. Judges are educators as well as evaluators. Diane ("Dee") LeClaire was our judge this year, and I recommend her, as she was thorough and conscientious. She told me her goal was to give the last quilt the same attention as the first. I only observed the judging of the first quilt, because I stood in for the scheduled scribe, who was late. OQS members were very happy with the judge, because she was as careful at the end as at the beginning.
Next year I will be the Show Chairman, responsible for the competition part of the Festival. I'm intimidated. What a huge job! I have been the Assistant for three shows. I ought to know the job. Not. Oh well...I have some time to figure it out. I'd better be more organized by then, though!
Time to eat my yummy dinner prepared by my husband--what a treat!
More later...
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Quilt a Life: Beginning
How does one begin to explore what a life can be with the time that remains? Dump words onto a page and see what shows up...then edit. But not edit too much. That isn't how I usually write--I am a careful editor, choosing words for precision, and often editing before the next. The problem with that is I can forget what I meant to say. So my motto for this blog will be "brain dump for authenticity!"
How does one "Quilt a Life?" That is what I want to explore. Take multiple fabrics (and other elements), cut them and stitch them together to result in a whole that is way more than its pieces. My life has so many apparently unrelated elements, but I know they are linked -since they all come from me. How can that whole be more cohesive, where I won't feel splintered by my interests and the people about whom I care the most? Which elements are extraneous and do not contribute to the whole, and therefore may be discarded?. I'm sure I could discard a lot; I'm somewhat of a packrat and collector.
I have expressed that I have too many interests to focus on a few, a dilettante. But I want to excel at more of those interests, and especially my creative, artistic self, whom I want to express in quilting. This blog will help me do that. It will be personal, revealing some but not all of me; some people in my life like to keep the personal as confidential, although I am not like that. I want to respect their wishes.
What are my interests? I'll give you a list, but it won't be complete yet:
My husband of 20 years
My 17 year old daughter
My 81 year old mother, who has lived in my town for almost 4 years
My 81 year old father, who travels the world with his wife
My brothers and sisters and their families
My job as a workforce planner in the public sector, for almost 19 years
My love of fabric, color and texture that seems best focused on quilts and quilting
My desire to learn and understand more
My desire to travel to places I have never been, and back to places I enjoy or admire
My fondness for the Big Bend region of Texas, and its very alive desert
Successfully managing a chronic illness so that I can live the life I wish, with minimal restrictions
My escapist love of reading
This list is just what comes to mind now. I am already thinking of the categories within categories that I could add, but will wait to express. I'm already overwhelmed by the above items!
quilting a life, in progress...
How does one "Quilt a Life?" That is what I want to explore. Take multiple fabrics (and other elements), cut them and stitch them together to result in a whole that is way more than its pieces. My life has so many apparently unrelated elements, but I know they are linked -since they all come from me. How can that whole be more cohesive, where I won't feel splintered by my interests and the people about whom I care the most? Which elements are extraneous and do not contribute to the whole, and therefore may be discarded?. I'm sure I could discard a lot; I'm somewhat of a packrat and collector.
I have expressed that I have too many interests to focus on a few, a dilettante. But I want to excel at more of those interests, and especially my creative, artistic self, whom I want to express in quilting. This blog will help me do that. It will be personal, revealing some but not all of me; some people in my life like to keep the personal as confidential, although I am not like that. I want to respect their wishes.
What are my interests? I'll give you a list, but it won't be complete yet:
My husband of 20 years
My 17 year old daughter
My 81 year old mother, who has lived in my town for almost 4 years
My 81 year old father, who travels the world with his wife
My brothers and sisters and their families
My job as a workforce planner in the public sector, for almost 19 years
My love of fabric, color and texture that seems best focused on quilts and quilting
My desire to learn and understand more
My desire to travel to places I have never been, and back to places I enjoy or admire
My fondness for the Big Bend region of Texas, and its very alive desert
Successfully managing a chronic illness so that I can live the life I wish, with minimal restrictions
My escapist love of reading
This list is just what comes to mind now. I am already thinking of the categories within categories that I could add, but will wait to express. I'm already overwhelmed by the above items!
quilting a life, in progress...
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