For the love of sissies

Because I have tried it now three times, I can say with confidence that sewing quilts is not for the faint of heart... It is also not for people who live in a house of small rooms, people who have little floor space, or for those who do not have a Ph.D. in Mathematics or other such nonsense. There is something to be said about a beautifully made, well executed quilt and what I would say is "it is entirely impossible!". I still stare in awe at the $50 quilts at Target likely made by small children forced into labor in China. How is it possible?!

 (my work station in the electrical closet sitting on a child's high chair)

As you might remember, I made AnaSofia a quilt for her 4th birthday (that was completed six months after her birthday, did I mention quilting is not for sissies? It takes time and dedication!) and a picnic quilt for my sister's daughter the next year... This November I started my third quilt - a winter quilt for the cold months ahead made entirely of fabric already in this house. Well, I just finished it this week as temperatures peak at an unseasonable 48 degrees Fahrenheit.

I always start my quilts with good intentions and lofty ambitions (which is likely the problem). Rather than making a quilt of squares joined together I tend to want to do something a little different, wild and crazy which leads to late night discussions with Soren.
Me: "Can you help me figure out how to cut this for a quilt? It is simple geometry but I am nervous to make the first cut without talking it over with someone."
(Huge eye roll from Soren heard from here to California)"What are you trying to do?"
Me: "I want it to be eight triangles joined together as four squares with the fabric strips all coming out from the middle of the quilt like rays."
(Soren is actually paying attention right now because what I am saying makes no sense to him and he can sense I am going to just start rashly cutting into the fabric and make a colossal mistake that will cause even more colossal tears)
Hubs: "Let me get my square from work and we can cut it tomorrow."
Five days pass. Finally after some urging the square comes home. I stare at it for two days, attempt a cut on the third day and chicken out. On the third night after some pleading and another epic eye roll Soren sits down to the task of cutting a 15 foot piece of fabric into pieces with me. He tries to square the end.
Hubs: "Nothing is square here?!"
Hm... I used a 12" by 18" cutting mat and a 12.5"x12.5" square to cut the fabric strips into varying lengths. This requires folding the 42" long pieces of fabric before cutting, that coupled with my dull cutting tool makes for some wobbly bits of fabric.

Me: "It should work if we just square each one and make each triangle fit inside the fabric limitations."
Soren begins cutting and gets one square done and throws up his arms in frustration. He uses the kids washable markers and carefully marks another one and tries again. He gives up for good.
The next day I rashly cut up the rest and end up with 5 wobbly triangles and a lot of no good scraps. I proceed to dig further into my stash and find some beautiful pieces of fabric to make 4 more squares to fill in the problem areas. So I cut these triangles to "match" the missing parts of the other wobbly triangles and to make a full square for each. It is comical and not at all pretty...

I sew the top all together in late November and buy batting and cut it to fit. Then it is time to decorate for Christmas and I give up on the quilt because it does not fit into the holiday house and I have a tent, three pairs of pants, a skirt and some mermaids to sew in the meantime!

Finally in the third week of January I pull out the forlorn quilt top and vow to finish it. I trim down the sides to make it look square. Then trim some more. I attach a backing and sew around the outside of the whole quilt to anchor the three layers together. It is puffing up, bunching up and still looking non squarish... I continue unperturbed in my little closet throwing it around with abandon and just sewing on the binding strip already!

 (Do you see the problem here? The binding strip is a good 3" in by the middle of this side although it is supposed to be against the edge and then there is my anchoring stitching that goes awry...)

 Sigh. More cutting down. I wrap the binding strip around and sew it down on the other side and voila - finished quilt! Thankfully it is so big and our house is so small that no one will ever spread it out and really see the flaws. The kids are using it for all kinds of activities and today?! Well, this a little under the weather Mama is quite happy with it for its warmth while reading a good pile of books next to a cuddly cat.

For the love!

 

Little bears

Mama Bear and her little bears took some real time to hibernate this week, tuck in, take off from school and just rest and recoup from some busy days... It felt soooooo very good... I love having them all gathered in around me, tucked in tight and cozy. We took some time to bake because like all hibernating bears are known to do, we were craving a little sweetness. We had a surplus of grapefruits from before Christmas and rather than let them go to waste I researched and found a sweet little recipe to make grapefruit jam (who knew?)... So nice to be canning in the middle of winter rather than using up all the canned goods from our glorious garden...

And wouldn't you know it... All that hard work led to each child consuming at least 3 grapefruits a piece during the process, which was fine with Mama because we still had plenty o' grapefruit left to make our jars.

We might have also made some sweet oatmeal bars that are a summer camping favorite for their quick digestion and extra calories and were just perfect to pack up for our ice fishing adventure in the cold.
You can find the grapefruit jam recipe here just in case you need a little hibernation inspiration or extra sweetness in your day!

Introducing (a few months late)...

You know the ladies... My favorite five chickens that are my breath of fresh air and clarity each morning...

This year, five became four as we lost our favorite Virginia Lacey, and then three, when Penny Lane was found missing one night... So on a whim that same weekend the kids and I traveled to Cape Rosier - one of the most beautiful places for a chicken to live really - and brought home three new ladies. AnaSofia named two (Feathers and Pitter Patter),

while Kasper named his Lady McQueen (he couldn't decide between Lady Gaga or Lightning McQueen and thus put them together into one fancy name - she's on the left in this picture of course, can't you see her regal air?!)...

The late Fall days that followed were filled with Mama hen (ME!) worrying about the welfare of each chicken and taking special care of everyone to make a seamless transition without a lot of lost blood. And wouldn't you know it? That on day seven of Penny Lane being missing I looked out the window to observe the chickens (to make sure kindness was evident) and saw the one and only Penny Lane strolling into the yard thirsty and hungry after a week away. SIGH. What an adventurous week she must have had! How a bear, coyote, bobcat, raccoon or other animal we often see did not take her is beyond me, but now we have seven chickens to cuddle together in their little coop this winter. Everyone is finally getting along (I do believe the single digit temperatures are helping) and it feels like quite a happy family again if they will just start laying more eggs!

Acceptance of the New Year

Happy New Year! What a fresh breath of air it has been, warm (balmy even!) with many days together to play, be home and let Mama wrap her children up in the cocoon of our family... My resolution last year was to follow through on my word of intention that you may remember was L O V E.

2012 was a a year of filled with love for me...
:: I began the year saying the word "love" to all those who I dearly love and who do not hear it enough,

:: then I began doing love - remembering to hug and kiss those close to me and sending out handmade love to those farther away. Each week a package left our house filled with love in 2012 destined for someone we loved...

:: then when Fall came I tried to BE love. Just be L.O.V.E. It was easy to do because all around me was love - a new baby, a family who loved him, friends who called on us... Words cannot express how wonderful it all felt. Being love and embracing it.

This past week I have been meditating on my word of intention for 2013 and true to knowing what was really needed (read on), I kept fighting it... Why? I am not sure, it was the first word that came to me and I just wanted it to be something bigger or better and then finally I accepted it. The word? Acceptance. Yes, deep belly laugh needed. It feels good now that I have tried it on for a day. Much of my days are about not fighting the little things, trying to be mindful of the moment and bringing grace into our lives and most often all that requires is a moment to bow my head, breathe deep and accept the moment is what it is... This year feels good to me already. Filled with love and beauty in these warm days of embracing my family and thinking of all the wonderful adventures to come. Join me on the ride and let me know what your word of intention will be. Much love to you for a happy and healthy 2013, don't forget to love...