Thinking happy thoughts.

As you know, I have been somewhat under the weather for the last 6 months.  I try to stay productive, and some days I do, and other days, it's a bust.

Meanwhile, L plugs away at the studio.  Thank you God.

But there's more.

She is truly becoming a fiber enthusiast, as well as a weaver, in her own right.

And that my friends, is priceless.

Here are a couple of things she surprised me with the other day.

First, her seascape.

(not the greatest photo I've ever taken)

And next, my fave, which I call......Black and White, OR " it IS what is IS".

It is very exciting to me, that her interest in weaving has inspired her to EXPLORE.  That is the sign of a true love for weaving.
YAY.

On the other hand, there are those who are truly lounging, without one thought about all the work to be done.

Miss Puss is probably the bitchiest cat you will ever meet.
But somehow, she has endeared herself to us, L and I.
We love her, attitude and all.

Today, I felt like this.  I wanted to cover my eyes, and forget everything.

I wanted to forget that my poor DH is anguishing in Florida, with his only brother on a ventilator.

I definitely want to block out this doctor who is putting needles in my back and neck, asking questions/questions/questions, while my head feels like it is about to explode.
"How much does your back hurt HERE?  And HERE.  And HERE?"

"IT'S MY HEAD, MY HEAD, MY HEAD."




I want to think only of good things.  Stuff that will crowd out everything unpleasant.

Loons on a wilderness pond.
That new warp I wound this morning, turquoise, greens and clay...... for more towels on my little Leclerc loom set up  in my living room.
The "needs to be rescued" loom I found on  Craig's list, for $75, that I plan on refurbishing (if it works out) with a production wheel!!!
I want my brain to be overloaded.  But with good stuff.
Vacation. Maine.  Chowda.  Baseball.  Red Sox.  Hiking.  Adirondacks.  Good books.  Guitar solos.
Sweet grandkids.  My next scrabble move.  Colors.  Textures.
Propelling my kayak through serene waters.

A steaming cuppa tea.  A morning walk between the river and the canal.
Next coming out to greet me when I pull into the studio, rolling over on his back so I can scratch his belly.
Having Tammy come over to vacuum for me, so my head doesn't fall off from bending over that long.
And less I forget.....L vacuuming the studio.

I know that I can't keep the 'real world' at bay forever.
I can try though.
Right?

I am praying for my headache to recede, so I can weave for the next two days uninterrupted, and hopefully, inspired.

What good thoughts work for you?

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Honeybees

This Honeybee block is from a quilt in my book Flowers All Around. I've always loved this block and wanted to try it in modern fabrics. The inspiration fabric, used in the border, is Washi.When the blocks go together they create this cute ring of petals.
I used a tiny zig-zag stitch (1 width and 1 length) and matching 50 weight Aurifil thread for the appliqué stitch. I'm liking the organic look and this simple method of appliqué!

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Good to be home...

We've got some catching up to do! I've been home only one out of the past 5 weeks and had the granddaughters here that one week at home. It is good to be home and I hope to have something to show soon!

My husband and I just returned from a great vacation in Charleston, SC and Savannah, Ga. Am I the only one who looks for quilt shops first thing when arriving in a new city? I've been on the lookout for some modern shops especially, since they seem few and far between. My favorite was Fabrika in historic Savannah. Catering to the local students of Savannah College of Art and Design, it was filled with plenty of inspiration. I had to laugh when a student came in the shop to buy fabric for a project that was due at 4:00 that day! College students never change!

Here's a bit of my stash from the trip. I've been collecting washi tape - don't know what to do with it - but I love it. Any ideas?
I got back just in time to attend Saturday's sew-in with our STLMQG. I quilted this baby quilt that my daughter had pieced. We're donating it to our local Crisis Nursery.
I tried a new quilting design which you can see better from the back. It's from a new book, "Modern Quilting Designs", filled with tons of easy, good-looking patterns.

I came home to lots of bloom in the garden!
I had to share with you this perfectly formed bleeding heart. It made me think of Joyce Kilmer's poem, "poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree"... or a bleeding heart.
I'll be back soon! I've been tagged twice!

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Waiting

It's been a tense weekend, waiting to hear news of a family member who is critically ill in Florida.
So I've been staying close to home.

I did take my mother to the Salvation Army this morning, and I didn't feel my usual resentment at being there.
Thinking of the seriousness of the situation at hand, I guess. Praying, for real. Feeling very emotional.  I found myself being ok with being there.  It was somehow soothing, even to a skeptic like me.

I hemmed these 8 dish towels that I took off the loom the other day, and rethreaded the loom for more.

I wove one towel, and then took Roy boy for a walk.
Walking and weaving, they both make me feel better.
I count on it.

Here is the world.  Beautiful and terrible things will happen.  Don't be afraid.  ~Frederick Buechner

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Just quiet.

Looking back, the last year has been tough in so many ways. Most of our family's problems have been health related, from headaches to broken bones, and worse.

Sometimes, responsibilities weigh heavy.

Sometimes, you just look for some serenity, wherever you can find it.

Is it here?  In the mountains, by the water?

Or can I find it somewhere else?

Is it in inside me somewhere, hiding?
I don't know.

I only know that my yearning to reconnect with myself is like a song in my head, a tune that keeps playing.
And playing.

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Surprise.

I decided that I was going to make 20-22 of these new spring rugs......basically weave the 50 yards off the loom.

The warp is off white, and I love the way they look when they are done.  They are fun to weave, too, headache or no headache.

I was pretty productive today, finished 5, and tied all the fringe.

We do actually have a game plan at Crazy as a Loom.  Right now L is working on a 3 rug/runner order.
I am making container rugs........and when we are both freed up, we are going to make a 5x7 bright rug to finish off the warp on the Toika.
THEN, we are putting a warp on the Cranbrook for some double binding rugs, wait until you see these rugs....they are going to be awesome.
THEN, a bright white placemat warp, using some of that BLUE and WHITE fabric that I've  been playing with in these rugs, you know...........like these dishes......

In between all this, we have kits to be made, Sweet Bottoms to be woven, Chunky rugs, etc.

I can't even think about how this headache has stolen TIME from me.
It would just make me feel bad.
Luckily, for me, I have this Nazi in my head.  Seriously.
She is brutal.  She rarely lets me rest, she freaks out if I start feeling sorry for myself.  She
constantly pumps me up, keeps me positive.
If I start bitching about what is wrong, what makes me feel bad, she starts right in with the LIST.
The list of ALL that I have, and ALL that I am grateful for.
She's on my side, really.
It's just her way.


Weaving these rugs, is on my list of things I am so thankful for.

And then there's today....the only day I can really do.
Today.
It's mine, and I can handle it.
Not sure about tomorrow, but I can do today.

And who knows, it might be as good as today.
Or even better.

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And Hallelujah.

Every day I try to act "normal", whatever  that might be.

I try to act "as if" I do not have a headache.

Some days it works, some days, not so much.

When it works, I am busy making bright, spring rugs.  

Happy rugs.

Container rugs.  That's what I call them.

Today I had another diagnostic injection, this time in my right thoracic area.
It wasn't that bad.

I did, however, express my not very happy self.    For weeks, it seems like I have been hustled in, tortured, and shooed out.
I never get to SEE the doctor, because I am face down, with my bare back/neck awaiting his sharpened needles, when he appears.

I admit to being worn down, discouraged, confused, and generally disgruntled.
Very nicely, I indicated that I need a little attention, you know, BEDSIDE MANNER.
They teach it, or not, in med school.
Nurses, old or otherwise, make for lousy patients.  They know too much.

Surprisingly, I was put in an exam room, and voila!  He appeared.   Concerned, helpful, talkative, reassuring....all the things I needed.
It is true that the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

So after the injection,  I was happy to leave, even with the staggering list of injections ahead.

Can't think about them,  you know the rule.
 Stay in the day.
I'm trying, I really am.

I have made 11 of these rugs, but daughter #2 is the proud owner of two of them.  She saw them on my BLOG.
She LOVED them.

What are Moms for ????  Especially WEAVING Moms.

Tomorrow, I might get 3 or 4 more done, depending on my head.
All things depend on my head.
No wonder it's changed my perspective.

One of these days.......I'm going to blog..........."remember that horrible headache I had for months and months???"

Until then, I'm gonna keep on keeping on.
Amen.

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