Still Under the Weather

I am still under the weather with a bad case of bronchitis.  There hasn't been much stitching going on, or much of anything else for that matter.  I have had difficulty with bronchitis for most of my life.  The only reason I can subscribe this to is the fact that I have allergies.  Of course, I lived with heavy smokers for the first thirty years of my life, and that probably plays a role, as well.

This is a little block that I wanted to post.  It later became a small quilt, or quilt-lette, if you prefer.  The fabrics that make up the block were all painted with oil-based paintsticks applied directly to solid black fabric.  I remember that I really had a ball painting that fabric and making that block.  

There are many reasons to quilt.  Many writers have probably expressed why they quilt better than I can, at least right now when I am so under the weather.  But, I do remember very well making this block and the sheer joy I felt when making it from fabrics that i had painted myself.

My wish for you today is that you experience great joy in your quilting and other creative endeavors.  Creating is truly a joy!

A Lesson from the Quilt

In my last post I wrote about why I quilt.  I also wrote about how, at times, I try and make the quilt do something and, at other times, the quilt tells me!

The block I have been working on is a good example.  I had some nice, dark red cranberry colored perl cotton and thought it would be a good contrast color on the block.  I thought it would be great; however, the block had something different to say.  In fact, the more I looked at the block, the more it screamed to me, "Get this darn cranberry color off of me!!!"

Finally, after several attempts to salvage the motif with the cranberry red, I gave in and listened to the block.  The block was right, the red had to go.  The block was telling me that, although some of the green fabrics were quite dark, the embellishment and stitching I had chosen were more delicate.  The cranberry red was a contrast to the rest of the block, but it was much too harsh, nor was it tied in to the rest of the design.   The softer pinkish red used for small french knots was a much better choice. I think the lesson for me to learn from this is to let go of what I think should be happening, and trust what the quilt, or in this case, the block is telling me.

So, last night, I took out the dark cranberry red, let the block sigh a deep sigh of relief, and began remaking that section of embellishment.  Keep quilting in peace and happiness!