quilted hearts, part 2
July 3, 2017It’s time to get started.
September 25, 2017| Hello all, Mary Ellen here. | | |
| What have you been up to this summer? I have not done nearly as much sewing as I usually do. I’ve been enjoying some of my other loves. I bet that many of you are like me, and have several hobbies that you enjoy in addition to quilting. | | |
| I like to paint. I used to take decorative painting classes, and have many lovely things around the house that I painted while under the tutelage of a wonderful teacher, Beth. Sadly Beth no longer teaches classes and I haven’t found another teacher that suits me. I now and then will tackle a decorative project on my own, but my confidence isn’t enough to take on some of the sort of things we would do together in class. My main painting project for this summer was accomplished with the help of a pair of twin boys, ten years old. We painted the garden shed. Hardly a “decorative” painting project, even though the three of us ended up with some painted “embellishments” on each of us! | | |
| I like to cook; mostly baking actually. My mom and her sisters were all wonderful bakers and all of the girl cousins have inherited at least some of the talents. I have great memories of “helping” my nana bake at her kitchen table as well. Whenever I need to take a dish to a get-together I try to get the baking assignment. My buttercream frosting (made with Nana’s recipe) is to die for, if I do say so myself. Lots of sweets have come from the oven this summer; those twins are an appreciative audience and are always willing to be the testers for a new recipe. | | |
| I like to papercraft. The more I get into it, the more I can draw similarities to quilting. Of course there is the color and pattern, texture and weight of papers just like we have in fabric. Did you know that paper has a grain. If you fold it against the grain it will often wrinkle and crack, just like an off grain crease in fabric doesn’t want to lie smoothly. Both hobbies have multitudes of gadgets and tools. I have to admit that I am as much of a paper hoarder as a fabric hoard. All of this resides in one craft room so often there are clashes for space. Although perhaps the limited space issue helps me rein in my desire for the newest “must have”. | | |
| I could continue…knitting is mostly a cooler weather hobby, although if a new baby is announced the needles have to come out. Gardening…more fun in the spring than the fall. Not nearly as enjoyable putting the garden to bed for the winter as waking it up for the summer. Reading…always have several books going. Puzzles… Origami… | | |
| What are your other loves? Please share in the comments. | | |
| Knock, knock?? Is anyone out there? |
4 Comments
I just started learning to knit (because I need another hobby) and am working on a pair of mittens. I also read, cross stitch, crochet and Swedish weaving. It’s all therapy and grounds me.
Hmmm, Swedish weaving. Sounds familiar–is that the “huck toweling” craft? Another thing for me to try. How about an early bird demo for the guild about it? Would you?
My goodness. Where do I start. With quilting, of course. I can’t say it was my first love. Let’s see. It all started as a very young teenager with crocheting. I got hooked on making earrings with tatting thread. I crocheted little double flowers, started them with sugar water and glued them on earring backs. All my girlfriends got them for Christmas that year. Then I followed my mom in sewing clothes, tried my hand at knitting, learned to love working in the garden. “Huck toweling” embroidery, oh yes, did a lot of that and I probably have some around the house. Huck cotton never seems to wear out. I can’t bend over to garden in the dirt outside, but I can reach those hanging planter on the porch and house plants. There is so much to do and so little time. But I still try to do it all. Consequently I have a lot of UFOs around the house. I keep running out of time!
I certainly understand the UFO issue you hinted at. Sometimes it’s hard to stay with a project to the bitter end, because I’ve spotted another fun idea in the interim!