Okay…Maybe that’s a bit dramatic.

Everywhere I’ve looked for information on whether to pre-wash fabric for quilting said the same thing.  ”If you don’t wash the fabric, you run the risk of having it bleed or shrink when the quilt gets washed.  It probably won’t happen, but it could, and if it does, it will be a disaster.”  Nobody says “you must” or “no, don’t do it.”  This, is not what a craft virgin wants to hear.  Ultimately, I decided I should probably not take that risk, since I absolutely adore this fabric.

So I washed the fabric last night, hoping to get started on cutting for the blocks right away.  After I ironed the fabric, I realized that now it’s crooked.  I’m sure it’s normal, but I’m totally paralyzed, because I’m afraid to cut it now that it’s crooked.  I’ve called the technical expert (I literally would not have had a wedding if it wasn’t for her execution of my crazy ideas), and she’s going to come to the Glade on Wednesday to talk me off the ledge.  In the interim, I’ve ironed the heck out of the washed fabric, and I have them hanging on a clothes rack.

This sort of thing is, historically speaking, the exact reason that I never finish things.  I am so afraid that it won’t turn out perfect, that instead of accepting it as a good try, I just don’t finish the project.  I really want to overcome that behavior, and that’s why I’m calling in the expert immediately.  If she can diagnose and help me work around the crooked fabric, then I can at least make it to my first botched rotary cut ;o)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ll have more quilt news when the expert comes on Wednesday.

I’ve got a few other projects to get started on while the quilt progresses, so I’ll have more news shortly.

CV

 

Today is an important day for the ladies of the house!  This morning, I finally built a proper abode for my girls!

I bought the coop on eBay, and it was a total nightmare.  It took about 9 days to arrive (free ground shipping, so I won’t complain), and it came while I was out of town.  So, 3 days later when I opened it up to build it, I found that nearly all of the pieces were broken.  We sent pictures to the seller and after about 5 days of back and forth, they decided to just send us a new one.  Another 10 days later, I was so relieved to open this one and find the pieces whole and ready to be assembled.

The instructions were not, in fact, instructions.  They were just crappy illustrations of the pieces, so it took all morning to put the thing together.  The girls spent almost a month living in a dog kennel.  They free range in the back yard all day so it’s not like it was cruel and unusual punishment, but it still wasn’t a very happy home.

In addition to my chickens getting a home, I’ve cleaned the Lady Glade so my inner artist can flourish.  I tend not to be a very tidy person, but I recognize that it’s not very conducive to accomplishing anything at all.  So, now that the Glade is work-friendly, I feel exceptionally psyched for starting some projects!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can’t wait to get started on my quilt!!  I’ll write again soon (maybe even tonight), since I think I’ll be washing the quilt fabrics shortly.

 

XOXOXOX,

CV

 

 

 

About 2 weeks ago I was hanging out in the Joann Fabric store (located dangerously near my home) when I came across the book The Practical Guide to Patchwork- New Basics for the Modern Quiltmaker.

I took a look inside, and sure enough, the patterns and pictures are very modern and very cute, and the instructions start from the beginning, so even a Quilt Virgin like myself can accomplish great things.   I bought the book, and considered my evening a success.

Naturally, I really wanted to start immediately on the hardest pattern in the book, but alas, I refrained.  I decided it would be fitting to make my first quilt from the first pattern in the book.

I spent the next week obsessing about a color scheme, and went to Joann Fabrics 6 times.  I find choosing colors incredibly intimidating.  It is probably my number 1 anxiety, and the reason that I spend so much time creeping around Joann’s.

After a week of obsession, I decided on yellow and gray, with a navy border.  Lucky for me, my favorite fabric store/3rd favorite place on earth ( #2 is my Lady Glade and my all time fave is on the couch with Duke and Captain Picard), Fancy Tiger Crafts was due to have a sale on Saturday!  I set my alarm and showed up bright and early at Fancy Tiger so I could have the best selection.  As I was walking in, I saw a sale fabric that really caught my eye, and I decided that I would buy it and figure out what to do with it later.

I was desperately searching for a yellow and gray pattern that would help my bring together this masterpiece, but I just couldn’t find it anywhere!  I think my raspberry bargain fabric had already hijacked my creative forces and I didn’t yet know it.

Anyway, long story short, I just kept going back to a collection that worked with my raspberry bargain, and I made the decision to let my inner artist take the reigns.  The wonderful Fancy Tiger ladies coached me through and I got all 9 fabrics for my blocks, plus the “fence” color.

 

I can’t stop admiring the intensity of these colors, and I’m sooo excited to get started.  I know that the moment I pick up the rotary cutter (or maybe even before then) the anxiety of imperfection is going to strike me down, so I’ve decided to take a few days to bask in my accomplishment.

xoxoxox,

CV

Welcome!  This blog is my way of documenting my journey as I learn to be an artist.  I’m a 26 year old with a project list that fills a college ruled notebook, because I constantly see things and say “I bet I could make that!”  Unfortunately, I have ZERO skills to execute any of those projects.

I hope to teach myself how to “make and do” as I go, using YouTube, Google, and books.  I am totally blessed to have a cousin near by to rescue me from most blunders, and I have a wonderfully creative and talented Sister-in-law to be my muse and provide long distance technical support.  I’ve recently conquered a deep rooted fear that I totally lack the “artist gene,” and I’ve decided the time to let my inner artist out is right now!

 

Here’s what you should know about me:

 

 

 

 

These pretty creatures are my family:

Belina    Wynona     Duke

I also have an incredibly supportive husband.  I know he cringes every time I say “don’t throw that away, I’m going to make something out of it,” but he never says anything to discourage me.  You’ll hear me refer to “my Glade,” or “the Lady Glade.”  That’s my craft room/office, and he named it the Glade (a sunny, grassy valley) when he realized that he had a super awesome man cave, but I didn’t have a place of my own.   He is really brilliant, and he kind of looks like Patrick Stewart, so for the purposes of this blog, I think i’ll call him “The Picard,” or TP for short.  (He loves Star Trek, so he won’t mind).

I love tattoos, finger rolled hair, hats, feathery fascinators and other fancy accessories.  I love to be around creative people and those who live alternative lifestyles, even if they aren’t like mine.  Someday, I want to be an urban homesteader.  I’ll do lots of things myself,  including gardening, canning/preserving my own food, raising my own meat, and all sorts of madness that makes my husband question my sanity.

I can’t wait to start some projects!  I hope you’ll enjoy and I invite your questions, comments, requests or encouragement.

XOXOXOX,

CV