Crazy to Quilt

Before any passionate quilters get upset that this post is being disrespectful of their favorite obsession, it’s really just me questioning my own sanity.

In some recent posts, I mentioned that my husband and I purchased an Airstream travel trailer. Our model is a 1979 Sovereign. I can’t speak for others, but aesthetically, the 1970s are generally not my favorite decade. It goes without saying that the interior will be getting an upgrade. (Along with signal lights, holding tanks and anything else not working or too inefficient in its energy use.) See our progress at www.thestellarlandyacht.blogspot.com). Since my husband has MS, we aren’t able to work on it every day. So on those days, after I’ve dealt with daily household matters, I work on other projects. Such as a quilt for the Airstream’s queen size bed.

For a lot of the interior projects, I’ve actually been searching the house for items I can repurpose or make into something else. My younger daughter has a gold queen-size quilt she doesn’t use any more. While its polyester satin block top is pretty enough, we’ll be traveling with pets. They take lying on our bed for granted. Polyester satin won’t hold up for very long. Already some of the blocks have torn at the seams. I suppose I could find a way to repair them and dye the quilt the color I really want. But I have an artistic vision for the Airstream, and come heck or high water, that vision will become reality. (I’m sure other Project Queens and Kings will understand.) So, I’m making a new quilt top for my daughter’s old quilt. Why not just buy all new materials for everything? Even though the back is also polyester, it’s woven and is actually pretty sturdy. It’s also one solid piece of fabric with no seams. The batting is 100% cotton. Cotton batting for a queen size quilt isn’t cheap. And a large quilt back without seams isn’t possible unless you use a top sheet.

By now, I’m sure some are asking, “Why are you crazy to quilt?” It’s because of the pattern I’m working on. Even non-quilters should recognize the design that accompanies this post. It’s known as either a mariner’s or rose compass. For someone like myself, who hasn’t done any quilting in a long time (or much of it for that matter), it wouldn’t be a pattern experts recommend a quilting newbie tackle, with its circles and many tiny points. Generally, I would agree, but I have a long history of jumping headfirst into involved and complicated projects. The internet friendly version posted here of the entire top shows 49 center squares (3 different color ways), each with five different colors and 1 center circle carried throughout. In total, I have 17 different fabrics for the top floating about my studio, most of them draped over the sewing machine. The same fabric used in the block centers is also part of the border. I’m not going to bore anyone with the number of pieces which have to be cut out to produce the design I put together on my computer. I don’t even know the exact number. I’ve learned from past experience that sometimes it’s best to just know the bare minimum, or you end up being overwhelmed from the very beginning. Using the count from the blue squares (color with the most squares), I calculated the number of pieces for each of the five shades and determined fabric yardage needed.

At this time, I have cut out all the pieces for the purple blocks. Hardcore quilters will probably think it nuts, but I’ve been drawing in the seam lines on every piece. I’m not leaving it to chance that I will get all those tiny points lined up precisely otherwise. Or have perfect circles. There is a good chance all the smaller pieces will be hand basted together before getting anywhere near the sewing machine. We’ll see.

Since I haven’t started sewing yet, my brain isn’t fried right now. If at some point, nothing but jibberish is posted here, I’m sure you will understand. Some people may wonder why I’m going to all this trouble. Turning the Airstream into our own special (Stellar) Land Yacht is a once-in-a-lifetime project for my husband and I. And we’re hoping to make many wonderful memories with it. After evenings of stargazing, what could be better than snuggling under a comfy quilt made with love?

There is a stack of quilt pieces sitting on the table behind this computer. They’re waiting for their seam lines. I should get back to work now. Wish me luck.

The Project Queen

Confessions of a Middle Aged Project Queen

Wow! This is my 100^th post. I suppose visitors are wondering why a photo of a cluttered room accompanies it. It’s because I feel like a fraud. To stage a pretty photo, I often have to relocate other items somewhere else in my house. Quite frankly, a lot of the time I don’t feel like doing it, even though as a graphic designer, I understand the power of images. Let’s face it. Pretty or compelling photos capture attention. Depending on subject matter, they’re like catnip for creative people, myself included. But as the full-time caregiver of a spouse who has MS, most of the time I have more important things to worry about than trying to pretend my life is perfect.

This is my personal work space. When my older daughter moved out, I moved in. Of course, I had to personalize first by repainting walls in one of my favorite colors, and ripping out the old carpet (hate carpet!) for something much easier to keep clean. While I was doing all this work, dreams of organization filled my head. Everything would be put away. I would know just where something was when I wanted it. Though it pains me to admit it, sometimes my memory needs all the help it can get.

My studio started out organized and clutter-free, when I first moved into this room three years ago. I had sorted through all the project materials I had in the spare room. (Which used to be my space until a man who shall remain nameless squeezed me out with his clutter.) Leftovers, or items that were never used, were donated or went to the school where I worked. I was starting with a clean slate.

I can’t say with any certainty how long the slate stayed clean. Someone once told me they thought I had ADD. (Not a family member.) I do have a tendency for many different projects to be in progress at the same time. Eventually, they get finished. Some just take longer than others. I won’t call it a problem, but ideas seem to constantly flow through my brain. I get so excited about some of them I can’t wait to make them a reality. Especially if I have some really good coupons, or something I want is on sale.

I think I suffer from a split personality. My mom should be pictured in a dictionary next to “organized”. She abhors clutter/dirt and doesn't need a lot of belongings to be happy. I would prefer the majority of my house to be clutter-free/clean, and usually have very tidy work spaces when I’m employed outside the home. My dad, The Project King, has never met a tool he doesn't like. He’s quite skillful when it comes to restoring or transforming junk. If he finds something interesting, he brings it home. I get my project and accumulation genes from my dad. When I start complaining about the mess that’s been allowed to accumulate around the rest of the house, my husband points to my studio as “Exhibit A”. He doesn't understand how I can allow my personal play space to get overwhelmed with stuff, then have the nerve to b—ch about someone else’s clutter issues. I have to admit it’s not the most comfortable personality conflict to possess, but are any of them, really?

It can be distracting, not to mention guilt inducing, to have so many projects waiting to be finished. Sometimes, I feel like I’m being mocked by them. There are many days when I just don’t make it into this room to work on anything.  Still, it’s nice to know they’re available when I find the time for them. Producing tangible things with my hands is my stress reliever. It’s also just who I am.  And with so many projects to choose from, I shouldn't be bored for a very long time. In fact, I may have to live 100 years to finish them.

The Project Queen

This is a small glimpse of my studio when I first moved in.

In my fantasies, I believed it would stay this way forever.

Well, the first step in fixing a problem is admitting you have one. (Supposedly)

As I'm fond of telling others (my husband) knowing and doing are two different things.