I make and create and that is what makes me happy

Tuesday evening, I discovered that some people only make a quilt when they have a reason to make one for someone.  What?  I don’t need a reason to do what makes me happy.  Also, there are plenty of people in the world that need a quilt and don’t have one, so let’s make donation quilts! 

There are people who claim to be quilters, but they won’t join the group activity/challenge, because they say they don’t know what to do with the thing once it has been created.  I am trying to be understanding, so I want to think these people are afraid of something.  Are they afraid others will find out their skill level?  We are not here to judge; we just want to engage with others while stretching ourselves to learn something new.  When we do these activities, it is fifty percent social interaction and fifty percent challenging ourselves to look at someone's work then add to it in a complimentary way.  The thing I like about group challenges, where multiple sewers add to your project, is I have a piece of each of those sewers/quilters in my project.  I can hang it on my wall and think of these people when I see it.  That gives the thing value and purpose.

I Have Been Working on Quilts, But . . .

I have been working on quilts, but I have been having friends and art quilters come over and have creative days in my quilt studio.  When I do that, I don' get much accomplished myself.  My accomplishment is growing other quilters' skills.  That is something!

A just retired, so she has come over a couple times and we made tote bags, that are not your run-of-the-mill tote bags.  

I finished my bag last evening.  I had a handle/strap problem that set me back timewise, but I persevered and got it done.  I went through all my big buttons.  It was this amazing green thing or a black one.  I wanted something bright and this fits the bill.  

Quilt Studio Gets Carpet Cleaned!

What a chore!  Whoa!  I have so much fabric and stuff in my quilt room.  It was a lot of work to clear the floor, so the carpet could be cleaned.  It is so nice now, but I have to put all that stuff back; boxes, bins, and bags of fabric.  On a happy note, I hosted my art quilt group, Unruly Quilt Artists, in my studio this past Thursday.  We actually had enough space for eight bodies in there.  I took out one of my six-foot tables, so there was space for chairs!

Of course, I cleaned all that crap off my tables.  Then put those spiky plastic sheets back down that allow your chairs to roll on thick carpet.

Today, my Cloverdale Ladies Society came over and we made gratitude journals and did some much needed catching up!  To make these journals, there is an amazing YouTube video by Jeri Bellini, that can really help you use up some envelopes and other papers you may have laying or stashed about.  I like to repurpose some of my paper instead of tossing it all in the recycling.  Check out Jeri Bellini.