My Third Arm
Some of you may be aware that I've had a running intention to work on my quilt. The quilt top that is ready to be paired with a back and batting. Some of you might be ready to sew my lips shut if I don't shut up and do it already. I'm happy to announce that I got out my iron yesterday and turned it on.
That's it. Did you think there was more? Wait! I did actually cut up the piece of flannel that I'm using inside the quilt with the batting for extra warmth and weight. It's ugly. But warm, see? It's a way to make use of some ugly functional fabric since I don't have two layers of batting. My batting is very thin. I like some weight to a quilt. 
The truth is- I've become kind of estranged from my sewing machine. We don't know what to say to each other any more after all that's passed between us. We've forgotten how to have fun together. We've drifted.*
I haven't done fun sewing projects for me much in a long time. The last one I did was the valance in the kitchen and it gives me joy every day. I come home and see my polka dotted fabric with the pom poms and know that I'm home. But that was months ago. And it was a lot smaller than this quilt. I haven't made a quilt in four years.
Creativity is one of those things you need to practice frequently in your life for it to flow. So I'm a little creaky. That's why I'm sharing my book project with you. I made this book from a kit a few years ago for my mom. I love collaging and obviously books are a great love of mine too. I am looking at this project to remind myself that I used to do creative things several times a week. Paper, glue, scissors, fabric. My sewing machine was like a third arm. No project was too big. No project was too challenging.
So. I have to go run some errands and then I might actually cut the lengths I need for the quilt back. If that's all I do today, that will still count as progress, right?
*And now I'm scared because the song "The Way We Were" suddenly started going through my head.
I haven't done fun sewing projects for me much in a long time. The last one I did was the valance in the kitchen and it gives me joy every day. I come home and see my polka dotted fabric with the pom poms and know that I'm home. But that was months ago. And it was a lot smaller than this quilt. I haven't made a quilt in four years.
Creativity is one of those things you need to practice frequently in your life for it to flow. So I'm a little creaky. That's why I'm sharing my book project with you. I made this book from a kit a few years ago for my mom. I love collaging and obviously books are a great love of mine too. I am looking at this project to remind myself that I used to do creative things several times a week. Paper, glue, scissors, fabric. My sewing machine was like a third arm. No project was too big. No project was too challenging.
So. I have to go run some errands and then I might actually cut the lengths I need for the quilt back. If that's all I do today, that will still count as progress, right?
*And now I'm scared because the song "The Way We Were" suddenly started going through my head.
Comments (2)
When I am feeling irritible and just off my mark I know where to look for the source and always find that its when I've been away from creating. Putting myself back at the sewing machine, surrounding myself in my fabrics and yarn always brings my spirit back to a place of comfort.
Posted by Kathy | February 26, 2009 7:20 PM
Posted on February 26, 2009 19:20
i'm in the same kind of place now -- it's been months since i sewed or made anything "for real" and my creative senses feel muddled, like i'm fumbling in the dark. lately it's been all seeds and garden and dirt, which is satisfying but not at all the same as making. i just realized that i haven't really been letting myself get into the studio (now ridiculously tiny) and into the creative mindset; i've fallen into the trap of thinking of it as frivolous recreation, even though i know it's necessary for my spirit.
Posted by miss lila | February 28, 2009 8:13 AM
Posted on February 28, 2009 08:13