Archive for ‘Dear Jane’

October 3, 2012

dear jane.

Dear Jane,

I wonder sometimes how your quilt progress looked. Were you a methodical patchworker, doing a bit each night? Did you sew when a pile of scraps took your fancy? Did you stockpile fabric and scraps and wait for inspiration to strike, and do your blocks in groups?

It’s been almost six months since I picked up my blocks, it seems life and other projects have intervened. My blocks and fabric have been “stored” in my studio, tucked away and slipped from my mind. But there they are, just begging for my attention. So with spring comes motivation, and for now, at least, motivation in the form of quiet contemplative hand work.

In my flurry of organising, one small but critical space is yet to be decluttered. On the bookcase that anchors the heart of our home, lives a brown wicker basket. Originally holding a couple of hooks and some yarn, it seems to have becoming a holding pen for my now-overflowing yarn stash in it’s entirety. My next move is to clear it out, sending ugly unused yarn to the children’s craft box, sewing a roll to hold my needles and hooks, and maybe a cute fabric to replace the drab black lining. Then, the basket clear, and with it my headspace, slowly start packing it, not with every single ball of yarn I own, but with a mix of handwork projects. My ripple blanket. Some embroidery. A wee dragon almost finished. And a block or two towards the quilt.

KISS. Keep. It. Simple. Silly.

January 13, 2012

G7

Dear Jane,

The final stitch fell into place, and the small child hovering at my elbow jumped excitedly. “Mummy, mummy, you’ve finished! Your Dear Jane is done, and it’s soooo pretty!” It seems my boy and I have had a bit of a mis-communication, but he has become fascinated with the DJ journey, at all of 5 years old. Next up, he is constantly tracking progress on “Oh Hi Ah Star” (Ohio Star – F7). I get the feeling he’s failing to grasp just how big a project his mummy has taken on. Though his faith in me is very encouraging.

Did your foster-children enjoy watching you quilt, Jane? Did you start when you were newly married and dreaming of babies of your own? How many tears did you shed as you stitched, wondering when you might be blessed? Or maybe you were happy as you were, not particularly concerned whether children were part of your grander plan.

I stitched a lot of this one by the light of our camping gas lantern, or as children napped in the tent, sheltering from the summer heat. It was quite pleasant, being unplugged from the electronics of the world, stitching away. I’m going to start unplugging more, I think, rationing my internet use. Funny how we have things “easier”, but seem to have less time than you must have, to stitch and chat and visit with friends.

 

 

So, without further ado. Indianapolis, AKA Dear Jane, AKA G7.

 

 

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