Quilting - Putting in Together

That's what I did on tour! Pieced the squares together. Making sure no 2 batch of 9 looked the same. 

Until I did all 20!

Then I cut the strips of blue for in between.

And went to town on those.

Done with 20!

Found the best places for them all, and turned them around to number them. 

4 together!

6 together!

Almost!

And.... DONE.

Pretty top. Next up, the back!

Quilting - Diving In

I wasn't sure if I wanted 9 different fabrics for each 9-square, or if I wanted two-toned squares of 9. (like the top photo) (so glad the rice cooker is in the shot)

 I decided to go for 9 different fabrics! The squares of 9 are oranges and yellows, and the border is the blue. (two of the fabrics are missing from this shot - they came from a skirt, and a pair of PJ pants)

 Then I went to town ironing around the cardboard, basting, and piecing! After texting these photos to my Mom, she promptly called me (and interrupted Breaking Bad!..) to tell me my stitches were waaay too close. "You'll never finish!" I've loosened up since then. A little. 

First block was finished in Kenyon, MN, while staying at a goat farm and performing in a historic home! Felt just right. 

Quilting - The Beginning

So, it all started with my Mom. She loves linens. She loves fabric, quilts, sheets, you name it.

When I was about 10-ish, we had antique quilt shows in our living room. Two other American women brought their collections to our Paris home and the Parisian ladies would walk around our house, as my brother and I came home from school and grabbed snacks before going upstairs to do our homework. 

I learned a lot about caring for antiques, and the history of quilts. 

My first quilt was a Bear Claw design, only big enough for a doll. I pieced it together, and quilted it myself, all by hand. I think my Mom did the binding. 

I've been dreaming of making another quilt for a long time. A big one. I've been collecting yards of cool fabric here and there, or keeping a skirt that is too tight, but had nice flowers. 

Then this summer, with a 5-week theatre tour on the horizon, it was time to start it for real!

My inspiration came from a blog that called this a "weekend project." Yeah right!

I like the squares and strips, and I like the random-looking colors. 

So I cut up some squares and laid them out:

 Felt like it would take a million squares to fill it out. 

Samelia's Mum had squares of 4, but hers were bigger. It felt a little empty on mine.

Squares of 9 it is!

Quilting

I am making another stuff.
I was on a 5 week tour, and I started a quilt. A real, old school, hand-stitched quilt.

Now I am home, and no where near done, but addicted to the stitching!

Manual Labor

Found this little gem at a friend's garage sale - only $3!

Oooh, how I hate that varnish! I munna strip you!!!

I munna strip the crap out of you.

And return you to your natural beauty. DAMN. Look at that yummy wood!

I don't know how old it is, but this is NOT from Target.

This makes me want to do more with my hands. I love to strip, paint, sand, and I want to learn more things. I think I want a fixer upper house (and a chunk of cash) and just learn how to make stuffs beautiful again.

What should I put in it??

Valemtimes

Piece of pomegranate cheesecake and the "I choo-choo choose you" card from the Simpsons.

"And there's a picture of a train on it!"

Could this love be more perfect? No.

Food

This year's resolution has to do with food.

Eating real food, cooking and preparing more of it, eating at home, feeling better in general.

So we've been eating at home as much as possible.

It's not haute cuisine and some of it still comes from a package, but it's a step!