Hi, this is Elizabeth's friend Ginny, just saying a quick hello, and introducing my husband Jonny. He is guest posting for needle & thREAD today! I'll mostly keep quiet and let him tell you about our latest project:
I was much too young and fickle the first time I bought a rotary cutter. I only have a slight memory of the excitement that went along with that purchase. But I do remember standing in Joann’s trying to pick just the right cutter for so much and no more money. Simultaneously I procured one of those flexible cutting board things and a handful of fat quarters. You see, I had it in my mind that I was going to make a quilt. Where that idea came from, I am not really sure. I must have been about 21 years old. I was either freshly married or just about to be.
Back then, Ginny did a little bit of crocheting. She taught me how to make granny squares. Once I made a couple, I decided I would make enough to put together a blanket. Somehow making those granny squares heightened my craftiness. Just about the time I made enough to actually put something resembling a blanket together, the idea of making a quilt came into my head. So, naturally, the granny square blanket was sidelined, and the trip to Joann’s ensued.
I never made a quilt. I tried to. I must have cut over a hundred squares out of the fabric. It was actually a lot of fun. I definitely had enough to complete a twin size quilt. But, I lack focus. I mean, I have focus, but only for a little while. And back then, I had less of it altogether. I can start a project with all kinds of motivation. Then, during the course, something happens and the motivation fades. Along with it, my interest goes out the window. Then, a new project materializes, and all my focus goes to it. So, by the time the squares were cut, my interest faded.
You might be wondering when I’ll get to the point. Well, here it is. I want to make a quilt again. This time, though, I’ve enlisted the aid of my clever and crafty wife. Whereas my first attempt was solo, this will be a joint effort. This way, I’m hoping to see the project through.
It was totally all my idea to make a quilt (again). But, I have left the pre planning and decision making to my wife. I have feigned involvement. For instance, when we were trying to pick out fabric online, I would point to a bundle and say something like “what about that” or “that looks nice”, all the while knowing that it really wouldn’t do. I had to stand there and wait until Ginny found the perfect bundle. Which she did. Some Heather Robert or Rose or Ross (covering my mouth and mumbling) something or other…which I’m sure is going to make for a fantastic, fun yet practical, color scheme! Yay! (Oh my goodness. It's Heather Ross, dear.)
We are going to make a Log Cabin quilt. I don’t really know much about what that means, but I do know that we will be hand tying it in 99 places.
(Hi! This is Ginny. Specifically we are planning to make the log cabin quilt from Patchwork Style. Each square is quilted and then squared up before they are all joined. We don't totally understand it yet. I do know that this doesn't eliminate the need for the entire thing to be quilted at the end, but the pattern calls for tying it, so we can avoid machine quilting, which is good because we aren't equipped for that.)
And while I had hoped to actually show off some of my sewing skills, Ginny hasn’t accepted that the fabric needs to be cut. She says it’s too pretty. (Isn't it?)
I’m not really reading anything right now. I just finished one of my birthday presents, Confessions of a Bad Beekeeper: What Not to Do When Keeping Bees (with Apologies to My Own). I’m planning on keeping with the bee theme and reading The Queen Must Die: And Other Affairs of Bees and Men next. I don’t really think it’s possible to read too much about bees.
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What about you? Sewing? Reading? A little of both? Or are you embroidering? Pulling a needle with thread through lovely fabric to make life more beautiful somehow? Would you share with us just a single photo (or more) and a brief description of what you're up to? Will you tell us about what you're reading, also? Would you talk sewing and books with us? I'd love that so much.
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