This is an awesome month to be a quilter in Southwest Ontario! There is the Quilts of the Netherlands show in Ailsa Craig until the end of the week and this weekend is the Canadian Quilters Association annual juried show here in London!
You know where I'm going to be!
Heather Stewart has a quick review of the Quilts of the Netherlands show on her blog, and I will be checking it out before the 28th for sure!
The CQA show is up at the University of Western Ontario starting May 25th, today, and I am so there! There is also going to be a merchant mall!
You can read about it in the local paper.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Hodgepodge Of things, very little quilting
I owe a lot of people an apology. I've been so behind in everything I don't even know anymore who I'm late for!
I have mug rugs to send out, patterns that need printing, others that need writing and emails that need responding.
I've received many emails over the time I've had my blog from people who also suffer from chronic pain conditions. Often they tell me I'm inspirational to them because even with the pain I manage to complete a lot of projects, take care of Little Bit and generally enjoy life.
Most of the time these emails make me feel really good. I mean who doesn't like knowing they give people some hope or inspiration to live their lives as much as they can?
But I feel I need to be honest.
Lately however I haven't been doing so well.
In fact I've been floored for the last several months. Between the chronic pain, a headache I've had since January and other chronic issues I've done very little, and in fact not done half of what I'd committed myself to.
And this has led me to feel somewhat depressed and anxious.
I'm trying to move myself through this with several techniques I've learned over the years, the first being trying to give myself permission to feel what I feel.
The second is to accept I have limitations and to rebalance my life so that those limitations are stretched but not ignored.
I will accept that taking care of my daughter is good enough, she is loved and she knows it. This is a success even if I can't work or keep my house spotless.
Part of my problem is I get frozen, almost paralysed when I feel this way. No matter how much I talk or yell at myself I simply cannot do somethings. There is no choice in it. I can't force it. I hate this weakness and it is the worse part of the cycle for me because it furthers my feelings of depression and anxiety and low self worth.
Eventually I will break out of the cycle and it will be a surprise to me. One day I simply will be able to move again. I will be able to force the motivation and things will happen again. I don't know when it will come, I don't know how to make it happen sooner then later. But I do know it will happen and I hold on to that fact to get me through.
I also admit to feeling some jealousy of my fellow bloggers and am really trying to put that behind me and just be happy for the opportunities they have.
Things just aren't right yet for me to have those opportunities. Hopefully that will change but if not I will be thankful for all of the awesome things I have been able to do. And if no one asks me to join in their patterns, giveaways, blog alongs etc I will accept that.
But somedays it can be hard. I know I have talent. But maybe not the patience or the personality. We'll let time decide that.
For now I will be happy to see others fly high and get their dreams.
So why have I told you all of this? Mostly because I felt it in me and needed to put it down. Once I start writing I felt I should share. Maybe knowing that it isn't always easy but that you can get through it, even if it comes back, will be helpful to someone.
I also think I just need to feel I've given myself a voice. I've felt voiceless, ignored or unwanted far too much in my life. That is something I can change. I can give myself a voice, even if no one listens, because the only thing in life I can control is me.
And now I'm going to go sew. Because even if I get only one seam done it will be something.
I have mug rugs to send out, patterns that need printing, others that need writing and emails that need responding.
I've received many emails over the time I've had my blog from people who also suffer from chronic pain conditions. Often they tell me I'm inspirational to them because even with the pain I manage to complete a lot of projects, take care of Little Bit and generally enjoy life.
Most of the time these emails make me feel really good. I mean who doesn't like knowing they give people some hope or inspiration to live their lives as much as they can?
But I feel I need to be honest.
Lately however I haven't been doing so well.
In fact I've been floored for the last several months. Between the chronic pain, a headache I've had since January and other chronic issues I've done very little, and in fact not done half of what I'd committed myself to.
And this has led me to feel somewhat depressed and anxious.
I'm trying to move myself through this with several techniques I've learned over the years, the first being trying to give myself permission to feel what I feel.
The second is to accept I have limitations and to rebalance my life so that those limitations are stretched but not ignored.
I will accept that taking care of my daughter is good enough, she is loved and she knows it. This is a success even if I can't work or keep my house spotless.
Part of my problem is I get frozen, almost paralysed when I feel this way. No matter how much I talk or yell at myself I simply cannot do somethings. There is no choice in it. I can't force it. I hate this weakness and it is the worse part of the cycle for me because it furthers my feelings of depression and anxiety and low self worth.
Eventually I will break out of the cycle and it will be a surprise to me. One day I simply will be able to move again. I will be able to force the motivation and things will happen again. I don't know when it will come, I don't know how to make it happen sooner then later. But I do know it will happen and I hold on to that fact to get me through.
I also admit to feeling some jealousy of my fellow bloggers and am really trying to put that behind me and just be happy for the opportunities they have.
Things just aren't right yet for me to have those opportunities. Hopefully that will change but if not I will be thankful for all of the awesome things I have been able to do. And if no one asks me to join in their patterns, giveaways, blog alongs etc I will accept that.
But somedays it can be hard. I know I have talent. But maybe not the patience or the personality. We'll let time decide that.
For now I will be happy to see others fly high and get their dreams.
So why have I told you all of this? Mostly because I felt it in me and needed to put it down. Once I start writing I felt I should share. Maybe knowing that it isn't always easy but that you can get through it, even if it comes back, will be helpful to someone.
I also think I just need to feel I've given myself a voice. I've felt voiceless, ignored or unwanted far too much in my life. That is something I can change. I can give myself a voice, even if no one listens, because the only thing in life I can control is me.
And now I'm going to go sew. Because even if I get only one seam done it will be something.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Little Bit's First Communion
I just remembered I haven't posted about Little Bit's First Communion! She received the Sacrement a few weeks ago.
For those who don't know First Communion is when a person received Eucharist for the first time, often done at age 7-8, so grade 2.
Our new parish doesn't have the entire class, she goes to a Catholic school, do their sacrements all at once, but spread out over several weeks. This is way nicer because it means Mass isn't super long because of the number of kiddos.
Little Bit picked out her dress herself and was so proud of it! She looks gorgeous and I can't believe how grown up she is getting! What happened to my baby??
LOL she looks so tiny compared to Shane and I but my little girl is really growing up!
For those who don't know First Communion is when a person received Eucharist for the first time, often done at age 7-8, so grade 2.
Little Bit picked out her dress herself and was so proud of it! She looks gorgeous and I can't believe how grown up she is getting! What happened to my baby??
LOL she looks so tiny compared to Shane and I but my little girl is really growing up!
Shawna's doing it again!
That crazy Shawna over at 1 Choice 4 Quilting is having a crazy huge giveaway on her blog! Go check it out to win all sorts of prizes and fabric!!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Bloggers' Spring Quilt Festival 2011
This is my third time participating in the Bloggers' Quilt Festival and I love visiting and seeing everyone quilts, and even more reading the stories attached to the quilts.
For me so much of quilting is about storytelling, everything from why you choose the fabrics and pattern to the process of making it to the person it goes to, is interesting and fun.
Some stories are short and not particularly significant, others touch your heart, but they are all interesting and speak about the quilt and the quiltmaker.
This quilt falls more into the short category. I made this quilt for a pattern, the fabrics provided by the manufacturer. I'm absolutely in love with basicgrey's Max & Whisker's for Moda. It is such a crazy fun line. Perfect for a boy or a girl and not overly cutesy.
However the quilt didn't come along well, the original pattern wasn't working out and I put it aside.
One of the things if you know me is that you know I can have confidence issues, and lots of health ones as well.
Something I have been trying to do is work through and above those. And that means scaring myself by pushing through when things aren't going well.
In one of my moments of resolution I picked up the fabric again and started working and re-imagining the quilt design. It came easily, used up an entire charm pack and jelly roll! Here is Snowball Fight!
The pattern is still waiting to go to the printer, a small issue with bar codes, but other then that it is ready and I'm thrilled with it.
Some friends are using it for the block instructions to make a charity quilt for the tornado ravaged South, and even the beginners have been able to follow the instructions and that is so satisfying for me as a writer.
As to where it's going, well that's still undecided.
So thanks for stopping by and reading my ramblings! Enjoy the festival!
For me so much of quilting is about storytelling, everything from why you choose the fabrics and pattern to the process of making it to the person it goes to, is interesting and fun.
Some stories are short and not particularly significant, others touch your heart, but they are all interesting and speak about the quilt and the quiltmaker.
This quilt falls more into the short category. I made this quilt for a pattern, the fabrics provided by the manufacturer. I'm absolutely in love with basicgrey's Max & Whisker's for Moda. It is such a crazy fun line. Perfect for a boy or a girl and not overly cutesy.
However the quilt didn't come along well, the original pattern wasn't working out and I put it aside.
One of the things if you know me is that you know I can have confidence issues, and lots of health ones as well.
Something I have been trying to do is work through and above those. And that means scaring myself by pushing through when things aren't going well.
In one of my moments of resolution I picked up the fabric again and started working and re-imagining the quilt design. It came easily, used up an entire charm pack and jelly roll! Here is Snowball Fight!
The pattern is still waiting to go to the printer, a small issue with bar codes, but other then that it is ready and I'm thrilled with it.
Some friends are using it for the block instructions to make a charity quilt for the tornado ravaged South, and even the beginners have been able to follow the instructions and that is so satisfying for me as a writer.
As to where it's going, well that's still undecided.
So thanks for stopping by and reading my ramblings! Enjoy the festival!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Layer Cake Winner!
Thank you to all who entered! I loved reading your choices for a layer cake, a really diverse group!
The winner of the layer cake from 1 Choice 4 Quilting according to Random Number Generator is....
Congrats to my fellow Canadian and blogger Flo @ Butterfly Quilting!
I'd hoped to hit the 400 followers mark so I could give away 4 charm packs too but unfortunately that didn't happen. But because Shawna is so awesome she said I could still give away 2 charm packs!
So Karin and I am Just One Mom are getting a charm pack in their choice!
Email me at caraquilts @gmail.com to claim your prize, and let me know the line you want.
Keep your eyes out for another giveaway in the near future from 1 Choice 4 Quilting!
And for those of you on twitter, tomorrow night's Talkin Tuesday (#talknt) is being sponsored by 1 Choice 4 Quilting so you can imagine what we have for prizes!
The winner of the layer cake from 1 Choice 4 Quilting according to Random Number Generator is....
Congrats to my fellow Canadian and blogger Flo @ Butterfly Quilting!
I'd hoped to hit the 400 followers mark so I could give away 4 charm packs too but unfortunately that didn't happen. But because Shawna is so awesome she said I could still give away 2 charm packs!
Email me at caraquilts @gmail.com to claim your prize, and let me know the line you want.
Keep your eyes out for another giveaway in the near future from 1 Choice 4 Quilting!
And for those of you on twitter, tomorrow night's Talkin Tuesday (#talknt) is being sponsored by 1 Choice 4 Quilting so you can imagine what we have for prizes!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Layer Cake Giveaway!
Shawna over at 1 Choice 4 Quilting is sponsoring a giveaway here on my blog!
I really just adore Shawna, she is a fun, sweet woman who is so generous with her time, knowledge, and anything else she has to offer.
We've been friends since before she opened her online shop, having met through Talkin Tuesday.
But you want to know about the giveaway!
The winner gets a Layer Cake of her/his choice from 1 Choice 4 Quilting!!
All you have to do to be entered is go over to 1 Choice 4 Quilting and look at what layer cakes are in stock. Come back and let me know which one you would like to win!
And don't worry, if more lines are added during the course of the giveaway I will check with the winner to make sure that is still the line they want.
The only catch is you have to remember to come back and check if you won, I'm not a fan of having to chase after someone who only visited my site to enter a giveaway, so I'm not going to do it.
I will draw on May 9th and the winner will have until May 16th to contact me. If no one does then I will redraw.
I really just adore Shawna, she is a fun, sweet woman who is so generous with her time, knowledge, and anything else she has to offer.
We've been friends since before she opened her online shop, having met through Talkin Tuesday.
But you want to know about the giveaway!
The winner gets a Layer Cake of her/his choice from 1 Choice 4 Quilting!!
All you have to do to be entered is go over to 1 Choice 4 Quilting and look at what layer cakes are in stock. Come back and let me know which one you would like to win!
And don't worry, if more lines are added during the course of the giveaway I will check with the winner to make sure that is still the line they want.
The only catch is you have to remember to come back and check if you won, I'm not a fan of having to chase after someone who only visited my site to enter a giveaway, so I'm not going to do it.
I will draw on May 9th and the winner will have until May 16th to contact me. If no one does then I will redraw.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Quilter Blogs & Store Search