That I may need to move someplace sunnier. I'm one of those folks who notices a distinct downturn in mood when it's cloudy outside, and we have had nothing but dreary, overcast days for the past week. You'll notice that I mention the weather quite frequently in my posts. It doesn't help that I sew in a basement room, and have but one window, that faces....northwestish? In any case, I don't get any direct sunlight down here, which is not only depressing but downright awful for taking pictures. Which is why I haven't yet shared my latest apron creation. (I will, soon...right Mother Nature?)
I needed a little bit of faux sunlight to perk me up this week, so I did what anyone else would do--I did some flickr-surfing. And I found this fantastic quilt. I think I gasped audibly when I first saw it. And I knew I had to make one. Had to as in I was going to be obsessed with this idea until I started making a string quilt of my own. And it had to have white center strings because that is completely brilliant.
After staring at my fabric stash for a moment or two, I started grabbing print after print. I think half my stash was on my ironing board at one point (it now lies in gloriously high piles on my cutting table). A little confession: I've always been terrified of scrappy projects. My brain has a serious problem with putting any old fabric next to any old fabric. Everything has to match, perfectly. I truly envy people who can throw a pile of random fabrics together and it ends up looking fantastic.
So this was also somewhat of attempt to just let go.
Except that I couldn't.
You have no idea how not-random these quilt blocks are.
But I'm okay with that. That's just the way my mind works I guess. In any case, I sure had fun creating a bit of sunshine on my own. And I have about 44 more quilt blocks worth of sunshine-making left to create!
Hope the weather is better wherever you are...
Kim
Beautiful! You are so funny! I can relate, I'd be rearranging as well until I thought everything was in the perfect place :) I can't wait to see your finished quilt! Here in MN it has been cloudy as well and cold! Hopefully summer will come this weekend to both of our homes! Have a good one!
ReplyDeleteI am in a rain-cloud mess today too! I am making the best of it and getting ready to settle into the couch with some quilt binding. I love your blocks, un-random and all! They are cheerful!
ReplyDeleterandom or not they look great! and i know what you mean about the weather... i sew in a room with 3 windows and its really hard to be motivated on icky days... i can't wait to see where you end up with this one!
ReplyDeleteI love the colors you chose! You could try moving to S. TX. - in the 100s for the last week with more to come and plenty of sunshine!
ReplyDeleteIt's dreary where I am too - rainy season - but looking at your photos really cheered me up! That quilt will be so beautiful. I'm thinking making some of your pears should do the trick for me.....
ReplyDeleteJust lovely! I have been working on a string quilt this week too:)
ReplyDeleteI love the cheery fabrics.
ReplyDeleteMood disorders due to lack of sunlight are real and lead some to have to be on prescription medication. Have you thought about purchasing a light box? You would spend a specified amount of time looking into it each day. I would suggest doing a little research about that. You could also get one of those special lamps for sewing that provide natural lighting for the basement. That may help to lift your mood when you are sewing.
You are welcome to move to my neck of the woods, Texas. It is definitely sunny land here. I live in the Houston area. I have a friend who moved here just for that reason and her moods cleared up. She suffered from tremendous depression, and now she's all better. She was able to get off her meds, which is good, because her meds caused two miscarriages.
Regards,
Trudy
www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com
Thanks for the info, Trudy! I do have one small Ott light on my sewing table, but I think it would be worthwhile to invest in more!
ReplyDeleteLooks like we may be getting a peek of sunshine today. Hopefully my Midwestern neighbors are enjoying it, too!
I too have my sewing room in a basement room with one window-and the weather here in CT has been cloudy for what seems months! I feel your pain! I love your blocks-they are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI understand about the dreary moods when the weather is grey, and especially if you are sewing in your basement. I have a very light bright sewing room, and a nice window facing north and love being in there. I am also doing a string, scrappy quilt, but doing it randomly. Good luck with yours.
ReplyDeletePlease visit my blog today as am having my first FREE giveaway.
thanks.
It is looking very nice indeed. How big are the blocks?
ReplyDeleteWow, I saw the same picture about a month ago, immediately made a string quilt and gave it away as a high school grad gift. I love it and will be making more very soon. Don't worry about what fabrics you use in each block, it really gets lost in the final product. Relax and enjoy the ride!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement everyone!
ReplyDeleteFor anyone interested, the blocks are 9x9", I'm aiming for a nice sized lap quilt.
I só relate to you saying that you just can't do random! I like scrappy quilts and tried often not to fret about colourcombo's, but I just can't either!What counts is that your blocks at least look random:)
ReplyDeleteOh, I love how your blocks look! i know what you mean about the weather, I have been sewing for a few days and couldnt even take a picture until yesterday because it was so dark outside!
ReplyDeleteThose blocks are beautiful. And they look random lol. I'm such a perfectionist nut too, but I'm trying really hard to let go these days. Who knows, some day it might even work :D
ReplyDeleteThese blocks are gorgeous!! And I love the bright, cheery fabrics you used.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
BJ
this quilt will be beautiful. I also saw the string quilt and love the colors. I made one for a boy using browns and blues - not so cheery :)
ReplyDeleteSimply gorgeous blocks!
ReplyDeleteWe are having the same weather here in little Rhody and I am like you. This rainy, cloudy, overcast weather is making me feel blue. I want sunshine!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove those squares. They look so bright and cheerful.
Ruth
Hello, I included your creations on my blog. The you can see on www.decoreblablabla.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI hope you like it ;-)
Hello, Elena °*°
xxx
so pretty and super cheery!
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog, love your work.
ReplyDeleteSandie at Rag Rescue.
These are GORGEOUS, thanks for the great pics and inspiration:) AND I LOVE your planned randomness:)
ReplyDeleteAmazing quilt blocks! It reminds me of some reversable quilt blocks I made not long ago...you can do two sides at one time...it is an amazing technique. Love you blog. Will be visiting again...SOON!
ReplyDeleteYou can not help but smile at this quilt, the colors should brighten any mood!
ReplyDeleteFunny. I've just recently finished my quilt top of this variety, too, and I had a hard time just grabbing fabrics . . I ended up making just a few really non random blocks but for the most part went random(y). . .how will you quilt yours? I've not moved on as I can't decide!
ReplyDelete(entry about my string quilt can be found at http://www.kindredcrafters1.blogspot.com if you're interested!)
- Donna
I know this is an older post....but I had to comment! I found that quilt too, in a totally random way, and now I HAVE to make it! Nevermind that I've never made a quilt before....haha! I also found your blog in a random-round-about-surfing-of-craft-blogs sort of way and love it! I'll be adding you to my favs so I can come back again. Thanks for some great inspiration, and I wish you many sunshine-y days in a row! :-) (I grew up in the Arizona desert but now I live in northern Ca--after many years under the grey skies of England, so I know what you're talking about!)
ReplyDelete