First, I want to post a picture of my January journal quilt which I am calling "Left Behind". I think it goes along well with Project Spectrum's colors of the month with a splash of red. It is only 8 1/2 by 11 inches. This picture doesn't really show the sparkly sky which was added with star sequins and beads. I found it really challenging to get my point across in such a small space. Some details that I wanted to put in were eliminated because they made the overall quilt look cluttered. I am really enjoying this class.
Now, for what I think is a revelation, at least for me. I find winter a tough season to get through. Thanks goodness for quilting and women's college basketball! I have had a difficult time getting out of bed in the morning. I usually tried to start my day with a walk on the treadmill but lately I have been just burrowing into the covers until the last possible moment. I am not enamored with my day job lately and this is adding to the burrowing. So, this weekend, after I found that I had no trouble getting up super early to go to a quilt class, I decided that I would set my alarm an hour early and I would get up to QUILT. I would start my day doing something I love instead of thinking about it all day and getting to it at the end of the day if there was time available.
Sewww, this morning at 5:00 a.m., I got up, fed the two little meowers, grabbed a cup of coffee and headed off to my studio. I set a timer because I know that once I enter that room I lose all sense of time and place! I am pleased to say I got a back pieced and did some glitter work on a couple of blocks for a quilt I have been working on and when the timer went off, I set myself up for tomorrow morning. And, the day started on the right foot. I felt good because I got to do something that makes me feel good. If more time comes my way for quilting at the end of the day, then great but if not at least I had 60 minutes of pure pleasure.
18 comments:
I love your quilted piece, but the mittens look a little lost. This time of year gets tough in the U.P. of Michigan also. When I lived in Louisiana, I always wondered,"Who wore pastel sweaters"?? By the time "pastel" season came along -- it was too hot. I can tell you--- it's a definite cheerup in the feb-Apr time of the year up here. I know just how you feel.
I can see some sparklies!
Boy does that sound familiar - maybe I ought to try sewing in the a.m. to get out of bed... Let's see that would get me out of bed at 3:50 - nah....
Boy, I could have written this post. Can I lift your idea? Maybe this will help me get out of bed in the morning.
60 minutes of pure pleasure is a great accomplishment even if it does mean getting out of bed early on these cold, dark winter days... one can't blame the bears for hibernating. Your picture quilt is perfect for the month of January!
Cheers!
Evelyn
I love the mittens.
My baby is now up in CT at UConn Storrs, majoring in music, not basketball. We live on Long Island, so we are not too far away from you, I would think.
I envy your discipline getting up to quilt in the morning. I have been knitting over my morning coffee (after feeding my meowers, of course) but I haven't tried to quilt in the morning.
I really like your January journal piece.
I am a morning person so I have no problem getting up in the mornings but I do find that I would rather quilt then and get more done than if I wait fro the afternoon to start. 60 minutes of pure pleasure will go a long way toward making a good day. Sets the mood.
This time of year gets me down too, but it sounds as if you have come up with a great way to stave off the February blues. The journal quilt is beautiful--the red mittens against the stark blue and white is very effective.
I always feel so much better when I get up and do something creative. Most of my mornings would allow for at least a little something. Hey - I am a women's basketball fan too - are you a Husky by any chance? We used to follow the UConn team quite closely and we have Sue Bird in Seattle now.
Juliann
I like your journal piece. That's really not much space to work with - I think it says a lot with little imagery.
Hi Annie, it's a great little journal piece..very creative in the small amount of space.
And what a good idea to give yourself "that" block of time in the early morning. If the day falls apart after that, you've got that good piece already to lean on. Keep up the great work, hugs, Finn
That's a beautiful piece! Love the mittens...
When I awake early, by accident, I will often go to the sewing room. I may be tired, but at least I'm happy!
...And it is pure pleasure for our eyes, too ! It's beautiful !
Hugs & smiles,
NADINE.
I love your wintry scene with that gorgeous silver birch and those little mittens. I like the idea about getting up early to fit in some quality quilty time - in our house the racket my machine makes would have the whole house if not the whole street awake so I'd have to restrict it to cutting and hand stitching - mind you in winter I just love my bed soooo much that I have to be surgically removed from it each morning so I think I'd have to wait until the light summer mornings to try anything like this out :o)
I've done something similar for a long time - I get up at 5:00 for an hour of computer time. But lately I'm more drawn to the sewing room - I want to sew quilts more than I want to read and blog about them. I'm trying to figure out whether I can spend that time sewing instead of doing blogs, and not fall FAR behind with all my internet friends. Good for you - doing this for yourself. I find it harder and harder to go to my "day" job and leave my quilting at home.
I would certainly be more likely to get up early to sew than use the treadmill! Ugh. I hope this works for you; I can certainly sympathize with being tired of your job at this time of year. I bet we've all been there.
I like your journal piece too. I love trees and snow, and the mittens are perfect.
What a great reason to wake up in the morning. Great idea Ann.
Your journal quilt is great also.
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