Friday, July 1, 2016

July Quilty 365 Linkup

Yeah! I am completely, totally caught up with my circles this month, all the stitching included! It's cause I have slowed waaaay down with my quilting and these little guys don't take much of my time. The greens and blue circles are surprising soothing, even against the black background. Love how they seem to sort of 'pop' and have my fingers crossed they will be a great spark in the final quilt.
All of the June circles for Quilty 365
It's interesting to me how the circle idea seems to hop into other quilty projects as well. {Uh huh, I'm combining a Quilty 365 post with a link back to Adhoc Improv.}  I hemmed and hawed and questioned my sanity, but finally left them in the border to one of my latest projects. Just feels like a circle sort of year and that's okay. We start in one place and sometimes bring ourselves completely back round to that starting place, tho perhaps with a better perspective at times?
My latest Adhoc Improv. quilt top--
An unexpected direction from my starting thoughts
The light was dreary on the day I took these photos, but this quilt feels very charming in a homespun sort of way. And oh, so very me on a very base level. I'm thinking this 'make-it-up-as-you-go-along' style is quite addictive. It works very well for making the sort of imperfect quilts that make me smile the biggest. The ones that I'm almost sheepish about showing people because of what it might accidentally reveal about this silly 'ol side of me.
Happy little applique flowers to make me smile
My enforced time off from intense quilting sessions has made me very reflective. Am I really as in love with quilting as it feels? Is it part of me, who I am, what I do, how I think? Or is is sort of a routine and more of an escape from life's difficulties? If it is, I've decided that, frankly, I don't care. Fabric love is good. What I've discovered is that my eye is constantly gravitating towards the quilts in my life. Studying them and enjoying them. Loving when I see a family member using one I gave them or displaying it on the back of a chair. It brings me great joy and what could be negative about that?
Not going to work for a larger project, but perfect for making me think!
And yes, it's more Adhoc Improv. play...
That feeling of resentment when I don't get enough quilting time. Okay. There's that. And I've been making a conscious effort to dial that back. Be more present and joyful with all of my life. Which means I'm going to continue to be a slow blogger this summer. Taking a step back from unimportant deadlines {and social media} is helping me feel more relaxed about everything. For instance, I spent about two hours working on those crazy improv. drunkards path blocks above. Whoa! Not much to show for two hours worth of work and what is it with the puckers?*wah! I am sooo not good at this!
The real project in the initial phases
I'll admit that I miss {quite dreadfully at times} the on-line journalling of the quilting process, but I just can't do it all right now. So I'm making a conscious effort to take what time there is for quilting and trying to use it more wisely. Those two hours of play were very contemplative and oh, so peaceful. Working with fabric and color  that spoke to me--just because-- felt amazing. Not worrying about the end result or how long it might take. Diving into things that felt 'right' and not stopping to consider the end result. Enjoying the moment more fully and not stressing over wasted fabric bits. And then deciding it wasn't the project I want to work on after all, completely guilt free. No remorse allowed! Instead I cut out squares for yet another Sujata Shah project that's been percolating in my brain for months on end. One that I had previously decided needed solid fabrics bought for. Nope, not happening! I'm jumping in feet first and will figure out the pesky little details later.
Finally have 100 blocks sewn together and, gasp! even trimmed.....
'Cuz that's the sort of quilter I really want to be--the way that seems to work the very best. If you're still reading, please feel free to link up with yet another Quilty 365 linkup. It's simple but slow work we're doing here. A bit tedious at times, but oh so interesting in other moments. It's a journey isn't it? If you're still traveling along with me, then thank you, thank you, thank you for putting up with my absence this summer. Quilty friends are the very best!  And in case you're interested, I, personally am at day 249 now {hallelujah} and well on my way to making it to day 366 some day in the future.....

Please link up with us if you haven't given up and gone on to something more interesting! Link a thumbnail picture to a current post on your blog detailing:
  • What particular day you  happen to be at now {such as 'day 200'}
  • A picture of all your June circles whether they are stitched to the background fabric or not
  • A link back to this post
  • Any thoughts or introspection you might want to add about this particular project
   
   

25 comments:

  1. Good for you for still getting in some quilty time doing just what YOU want to do when YOU want to do it. I am enjoying my circles and can't wait to look back at all the marginalia on mine a few years from now. Thanks for the Quilty 365 idea.

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  2. i AM keeping up with the circles still but did not do a specific post for it this month...love yours with the black background on this round :)

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  3. well I finished my circles a couple months back as I couldn't do just one a day so I am on to other quilts. My circle quilt should be on the quilting frame by fall I hope. nice to see you are still quilting - we all need a break from social media I think which is why I limit my social media to facebook and family only so it doesn't get real busy, no instagram and whatever for me or I would get nothing done. I let myself read blogs in the morning, write a quick post up at night and that is it.

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  4. Love you oversized drunkard paths. I did a workshop with Msrianne Haak a few months ago with circles and quilt as you go, she recommends using el cheapo spray starch to help when pressing and I found it helpful.

    I'm six months into my 366 circles and up to date! I'm going with the 380 layout and have some ideas for those extra squares that I hope will work. Happy Canada Day/July 4th weekend!

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  5. I'm still circling too, in my own way. Yours are looking very lovely. Your finished quilt is right up my street; makes me smile just to look at it, and I'm happy you are enjoying this way of going at things. Sounds to me like you are finding a balance that works for you right now, so keep on with it.

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  6. Adhoc.Improv. is very influenced by Carolyn Friedlander's work. Please credit where credit is due.

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  7. Your June circles look like the phases of the moon in the night sky. I've always enjoyed working "from the seat of my pants" rather than following someone else's patterns or pleasures. It's good to take time periodically to reflect on our actions and motivations. Piece on!

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  8. Enjoyed your thoughts. I think we all are quilting in low gear this time of year because of family, holidays, heat, and for me - canning.

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  9. Nice post, Audrey, I think we all need to stand back a bit and decide just what it is that gives us true pleasure whether in quilting or any other craft. I am still not really ready to re-visit my Circles of Life, but did open the memory box and sift through them...but my heart still aches so, I closed the box and gently put it away...I love how your green circles came out...hugs, Julierose

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  10. I like the black background - the colors really do pop! You're right about circles in other quilty projects. I notice circles everywhere now and feel they will be something I'll keep incorporating into future quilts.

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  11. I look forward to seeing the link up each month. I got way behind on mine as may and the first two weeks of June are very busy at school....then it was a week in Chicago for the son's graduation! While in the windy city, I visited the nicest little quilt shop and picked up a few pieces of uniquely Chicago fabric...perfect for more circles! I'm almost caught up now!

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  13. circles looking good and glad you know what direction you are going in, I am trying not to rush my quilting but take more time to think about how to quilt a project once ready for the quilting stage and to relax and enjoy it rather that get het up about am I doing it right, could I do better etc

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  14. Your June circles look great ! I love these blue and green prints on dark background.

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  15. Hi,
    Love your circles, the black makes them pop out. Have a great day!

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  16. I love seeing your circles evolve and it's wonderful to get a peek at the inspiration that you have provided to other quilters as well. You go girl!

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  17. I'm really loving your dark backgrounds, Audrey. And it's so fun to see your improv projects and play. Glad you are enjoying your time with needle and thread, and whatever else comes along. Taking a step back is a good thing.

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  18. Your circles looks like a moon in dark background! I love them! Once again, I was late with my link and I don`t use twitter. Maybe next month or some other time. Have a nice week!

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  19. Yesss! Totally in love with the darker background; a great addition to your circles!
    Enjoy your summer!

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  20. Your June circles remind me of lunar phases. I like the dark backgrounds. Yes, I'm still circling though got behind in mid-June and can't seem to get myself caught up. Must be summer ...

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  21. I too like your dark backgrounds for your circles, and those blues and greens are very restful. I really like what you're doing with these! Yep, I see circles everywhere lately. Must be something in the air?

    Glad you're taking some time off from the blog and doing what you need and want to do. It's always good to take some time to figure out what we really want to be doing. I've decided I need more improv in my quilting this year. It makes me happy, and it's as simple as that.

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  22. Any quilting time is better than no quilting time.... my motto, because life does get in the way! Nice to see what you are up to - I too am struggling to find a balance!

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  23. I love the impro project! It's fun and different! And all of the circle projects are so wonderful, look at all the great things you have inspired!

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  24. Absolutely no remorse allowed in the quilting room!
    Enjoy your summer stitching!

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  25. Oh I love your newest homespun quilt Audrey and don't worry about blogging...I blog when I have time, which if you read my blog is when I can, but I don't have a lot of followers and that used to bother me, but had to let that go...I just do it when I can. I much rather be stitching :) Hugs, Mary

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