One of life's little jokes is waking me up 5 a.m. when I have no reason to be awake or up that early. There are new meds in my life and I suspect that is part of it. On the plus side, look what greets you as the day begins...
Just about 5:30 and the sky seems to promise a beautiful day ahead. I do love this view from my little patio, looking southeast.
The visit from DD#1 last Sunday also brought home an old friend of mine, the Pumpkin Soup quilt. This is one I did back in 2001. Many of the utility stitches were placed with tears in my eyes as I watched CCN's coverage of the 9/11 disaster. This one is all flannel except the pumpkin soup fabric. It's a KP Kids fabric with a funny little ditty about pumpkin soup and stinky witches boots. DD was in love with this one the whole time I was making and quilting it. I swear I had barely snipped the last thread from binding and it got whisked away to her house. I asked her to bring it back for a label and a better picture. I was kinda sad to find it smells like her cedar chest. I guess that means she MIGHT have collected enough quilts to NOT have them all out in use...LOL.
For about 2 hours yesterday afternoon, I reveled in quilter heaven. That's what it took to do the cross hatching on this little doll quilt from the Prairie Children book. I don't do much of the fine hand quilting anymore, with thread and the small needle. Which is sad, because I do love it so. I suppose in some sense I'm reaching back for that feeling these days, despite the extreme difficulty with my vision. As before, I find that my hands remember how it goes *VBS* I have alot of numbness in my hands now, and I stop frequently and let them dangle, that's ok...it just means it takes longer to finish the quilting. I'm thinking of getting a bigger top basted with the good old Mountain Mist batt and once again plying needle and thread in this fashion. My stitches still are looking pretty darn good. I'm slowly making my way around the inner border, doing both the ecru and the blue at the same time, but just one needle. That's plenty to keep track of when they are less than an inch long! I'll do something simple in the red border, a scallop or some such thing. I love the Amish pumpkin seed design, but my stencil is wider than that border. I've begun to piece the Bear Paw from the same book, and will be moving on to one with pink fabrics next *VBS* And I'm still plugging along with the Quiltville Mystery blocks...slowly!
Just about 5:30 and the sky seems to promise a beautiful day ahead. I do love this view from my little patio, looking southeast.
The visit from DD#1 last Sunday also brought home an old friend of mine, the Pumpkin Soup quilt. This is one I did back in 2001. Many of the utility stitches were placed with tears in my eyes as I watched CCN's coverage of the 9/11 disaster. This one is all flannel except the pumpkin soup fabric. It's a KP Kids fabric with a funny little ditty about pumpkin soup and stinky witches boots. DD was in love with this one the whole time I was making and quilting it. I swear I had barely snipped the last thread from binding and it got whisked away to her house. I asked her to bring it back for a label and a better picture. I was kinda sad to find it smells like her cedar chest. I guess that means she MIGHT have collected enough quilts to NOT have them all out in use...LOL.
For about 2 hours yesterday afternoon, I reveled in quilter heaven. That's what it took to do the cross hatching on this little doll quilt from the Prairie Children book. I don't do much of the fine hand quilting anymore, with thread and the small needle. Which is sad, because I do love it so. I suppose in some sense I'm reaching back for that feeling these days, despite the extreme difficulty with my vision. As before, I find that my hands remember how it goes *VBS* I have alot of numbness in my hands now, and I stop frequently and let them dangle, that's ok...it just means it takes longer to finish the quilting. I'm thinking of getting a bigger top basted with the good old Mountain Mist batt and once again plying needle and thread in this fashion. My stitches still are looking pretty darn good. I'm slowly making my way around the inner border, doing both the ecru and the blue at the same time, but just one needle. That's plenty to keep track of when they are less than an inch long! I'll do something simple in the red border, a scallop or some such thing. I love the Amish pumpkin seed design, but my stencil is wider than that border. I've begun to piece the Bear Paw from the same book, and will be moving on to one with pink fabrics next *VBS* And I'm still plugging along with the Quiltville Mystery blocks...slowly!
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15 comments:
Thanks for sharing your beautiful pumpkin quilt. I love that color. I'm glad you find so much joy in making your doll quilt. It's precious, and you're right, the hand remembers even when the eye doesn't see so well.
I enlarged the pumpkin quilt photo to look at all those cute words! Fun. I was doing a handwork project when the phone rang with the message that my father had just died, and I always associate that piece with his death, so I well understand your remembering 9/11 when you think of the pumpkin quilt.
Must be hard when the hands and eyes are not cooperative. Glad your muscles remember!
Both of these quilts just shout that "LOVE" has been hand stitched in each and every stitch. I love them!
I know what you mean about your problem with your hands...my fingers are often swollen in the morning when I get up...especially if I have quilted three or four hours the night before...just part of getting older...I suppose!
Amelia in Oklahoma
I'm glad you are still able to enjoy hand quilting. I had to give it up because of my MS. My hands can't do the work any more but my brain still longs for the slow, quiet process of pushing the needle through fabric with a thimbled finger. It's such a contemplative, prayerful activity. Enjoy!
I really like the pumpkin soup quilt. DD knows a good thing when she sees it! It might be in the cedar chest now but I bet it got lots of love when she first took it home.
I id with the sore hands. I dread the day when they hurt too much for me to keep doing what I love. I have found if I keep doing things it is better than if I just do hand work now and then. Use it or lose it I guess.
Wish I could stand on that porch and see the morning sky, I would even drag out at 5 to do it, at least once anyway! Take care!
Love that Pumkin Soup! I have a quilt top I have called the same name, but it is nothing like yours! Also love the little doll quilt, very sweet.
Very pretty pumpkin soup! I love the quilting you did on it, so even and neat and making the best texture. And your prairie children's dollie quilt is lovely with wonderful colors, just like would have been made for a doll in the 1800's. You stitches are so good! Only you would ever know you have any kind of vision problem. I too have to let my hands rest due to numbness. I am glad your quilting gives you joy!
Beautiful,Finn...the sunrise, the lovely quilts, and the fact that you keep on doing the things you love. I've always believed the heart sees what the eyes cannot. Be grateful for the gift of beautiful sinrises...five was my waking time for 35 years, now I can't sleep past 3. I get to see the raccoons on the back deck, the oppossums waiting for them to leave so they can snoop, listen to owls and frogs all night long..still wishing I could sleep more than 4 hrs. Then I think of how much I get to experience, to think, to dream, to pray or to hear...and it helps ;)
Uh, Finn...let's not make it 'sinrises,' in the second referencing above... let's make it sunrises! Did I mention I'm sleep deprived? Ha! If only comment boxes had spell check!!! :)
I get up at 5am everyday and think it's the best part of the day. Love the quiet before everyone else wakes! Love the doll quilt!
Love the pumpkin soup quilt.
Love the pumpkin quilt!
Frustrating at times when the hands don't work as well as they used to, and the eyesight has changed... I have to double up on my glasses and the cheapies. Looks funny, but it works!
Love the new lil' quilt. You can create your own pumpkin seed template by using a pill bottle cap that is marked at the top and bottom to create a curved line,i.e.1/2 of the seed. Just another lightbulb moment from San.
How wonderful that 'the hand remembers' so that you can enjoy the process of quilting up your little 'dolly dishes' *s*
As much as I would far rather be snoozing happily, I always love when I wake early and have the chance to experience the sunrise. There is just nothing quite like the promise of a new day quietly illuminating itself on the horizon. So glad that you are enjoying them, too.
Love your Pumpkin Soup Quilt!!
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