neutrals with a pop

I was actually able to get a quilt top together before I left.  Did I get the back made or it quilted?  No.  But it is together.  The edges of the quilt did not come out well but I used a lot of red, burgundy, or browns that were trending toward reds.  I did have a bit of help taking the pictures.  Blue likes fabric.

With everything going on in the last two weeks, my head is really not on straight.  There is not much I can do but I have a lot of knowledge.  It is called I have an interesting group of friends and acquaintances due to the oil industry and ice skating.  I have particular knowledge because I have always wished to live for from any urban areas.  Southeast Alaska in the woods in particular.  Maybe not so much now but I still would not mind.

I am still working on being creative but I am being pulled in many directions.  My Mom.  My Beloved's business.  Taking care of short people, no matter the age!  I do know I need to take care of myself but that only seems to be possible in small pockets.  I almost wrote this sentence with out being positive but I am not taking the best care of myself.  I may be flying to be with my Mom next week for her first treatment and I am thinking of the flight as a moment of quiet.  Truly.  

This is an interesting period of my life.  I do believe all will be well but I may be in and out of this space a lot.  Now, if I could only focus!

soul work

The curves of the road of life have been many this week.  More then I have wished.  But they were curves that did not surprise me greatly because I saw them coming about two years ago.  A person behaved as I expected.  No better.  But it does add curves.  Even more curves then the leak in the wall.

I had pictures of what I wanted this quilt to look like in my head.  But I started down a different path.  That was such a no go that I could not get back to the pictures.  So I laid this out.  I had a small bit of help from Blue.  Koda Bear was playing.  But now, I can sit and sew.  I am working on bags for the shop so I will add this in as I go.  This quilt will probably end up in the shop too.  I love the colors but they are so pale that they would not work well in my life.  Unless there was a cabin I could retreat too for quiet.  And I still would probably end up dyeing it with tea.

I have two books checked out from the library about plant dye currently.  One I have already put on my Amazon wish list because it is about growing indigo as well as dyeing with it.  The thought of growing my own indigo and woad is intriguing.  As my yard changes, because the boyos are now filling in the "swimming hole" they were digging, I may have more room for a garden.  First, it was a play structure taking over my old garden space.  Then the hole.  It is just a good spot for keeping an eye on the garden. 

I have not even got to the other book yet.  Or played with the pigment I was sent.  I have spoiled myself with a monthly subscription to pigment.  I cannot go out hunting pigment where I am currently.  I have too much city around me.  And too much mud below me.  Pigment is easier to find with stones and rocks around.  Maybe sometime too I can go hunt pigment.  The mountain does not really have any likely spots.  It is mostly granite.  Igneous rocks are not as good for pigment as sedimentary rocks are.  Most of the rocks on the mountain are igneous with a small bit of metamorphic.  And, the geophysicist comes out.  Oh well.

I will be going to the mountain soon so I thought I would take a look around where I know some outcrops are.  That is if there is enough time with cutting plants back.  We have not gotten a chance to get up there this year with all the changes.  But, it is there.

river quilt

While I have been building the show room, I have also been trying to find the time to finish this quilt.  I did something different then I had in the past and I really like it. I have another idea in my head that I will want to start working on.  I will need to see how long that one takes because I have another possible wood project starting soon.

I like how the back turned out as well.  I used new fabrics, fabrics from other projects, and thrifted fabrics in this one.  I put it in my shop.  Over at Etsy. 

I like how the sun hits it.  

I wish I was more with it today but I am not.  I am a bit deep in learning more new things and I think I have gotten to the point of just needing to rest.  My concentration has gone.  Or maybe I need to do something very the same so I do not have to think about it.  Or maybe just quiet.  There is not a lot of quiet.  I have to figure this out and I will.

almost

This quilt is almost quilted!  I am finding everything is taking much longer then it used to with two small boys in the house.  As well as helping more with the boyos' knife business.  It used to be I only worked on the business cards and ran errands.  Now, I am being asked about cut lists for cabinets.  I will actually help build those cabinets so I am not surprised.  It is what happens when you gain more skills.

I had the conversation with Koda Bear about finishing what is started today.  I have a lot of works in progress and I am focusing on finishing each.  There are some works in progress that are really about me keeping my skills sharp, like spinning.  Or for the shop, like this quilt.  But I find that works in progress keep multiplying.  I am finding I need at least one day a week for mending.  I like the intention of very much but it does take away from what I am trying to do otherwise.

This is my life.  And that is okay.  Building these cabinets will be interesting.  Then, I will build the truck cabin for sharpening.  The plan is for me to continue doing what I am doing and become the mobile sharpener as well.  The biggest impact is that I do not get to travel as much as I would like.  That could change with time. 

Everything changes.

playing with quilts

I decided to do something different with the quilts I am making.  This is it.  I still really love the nine squares so they are a component but I wanted to see what happened when I added larger pieces of fabric.  I have done some of the backs of my quilts this way and people seemed to really like them.  

This is the top.  I had thought about just using a large piece of thrifted flannel for the back but decided to piece it as well.  It will be interesting to see what happens.

I am also dyeing fabric for my quilts.  I have purchased used 100% cotton sheets at thrift stores and have started to put them in dye pots of dye made with plants.  I am very curious what will come of that fabric and quilts that will be put together with those fabrics.  I have a feeling they will be quite harmonious in a strange way.  Combining two things I love will be so cool.

I am hoping my schedule for this week goes better then last but we will have to see.  I am starting to count how many bowls of dough or just dough I have going at any one time.  I will have to share Koda Bear's favorite bun soon because it is pretty fabulous as a cheese sandwich with prosciutto.  That and some fruit, veg, and tea, I could drive cross country.  Yes, ice cream and cookies would also make it pretty spectacular but I could go many miles before I sleep with his favorite buns!  

Life has not slowed down any at all but I have adjusted to the current new normal.  It will change when we start building the sharpening truck.  I will be helping to design and build that before I start doing mobile sharpening.  I am actually very excited.  I could put a small stove top in it for making tea and plant dye.  I have thought of this.

The sharpening truck could mean never again stepping into an office!  In some ways, I hope the truck cabin takes off too!  I just feel like I need to hold on to life because it is going different ways then I could every forsee!