Thanks for all your nice comments on the mystery quilt post yesterday. I LOVED reading them! It's good to know that I'm not the only control freak out there!!! :) But I have to say, I am enjoying this project SO very much!
Here's what I've done so far....
First, I cut my strips. I
really love this fabric pull! From what I read in the comments yesterday, I believe this is a must!
Then I sub cut all my strips.
And then I cut some more. (That was a whole LOT of cutting all at once.) See those lovely piles of 2.5" squares? That is a great sign that this quilt is right up my alley! I almost did a jig when I read that there was no strip piecing involved.
I pulled out a paper bag to aid in random piecing. Well, I started out this way. Before the last few blocks were sewn up, I planned them out in order stitch rip as little as possible. It worked beautifully.
I was so excited to finally start sewing. Having each step broken down into sections allowed (forced) me to do other tasks in between. You know, like helping with homework, shoveling snow and cooking dinner. :)
I worked on this off and on all day long. I loved having all the steps ready and waiting for me rather than waiting for the steps each week. Not only am I a control freak, I'm impatient, too.
And here are my blocks. I'm half done with the clues...and I can't wait to see what happens next! So far so good!
As I was sewing yesterday, I kept thinking about how symbolic this quilt is for me at this stage in life. I haven't shared a ton about my current personal situation, but here it is in a nutshell. Last October my husband took a new job in central Minnesota. He started working there
5 days after he accepted the job. We live in Wisconsin and he's been commuting daily for 5 months now. It's an hour and a half drive (on a good weather day)
each way. Many days he gets home around the time the kids are going to bed. We have our house on the market (that was/is a huge task in and of itself) and we are beyond anxious to sell it so we can move. I haven't been handling the stress all that well. (To those of you who know me in real life, you can laugh at that statement. I totally would.) To say that I'm impatient would be an understatement. And that whole giving up control thing? I'm pretty terrible at it. It's been a long and hard road. Lots of dark days and many tears. I know we have a lot to be thankful for (a home, employment, food, and so much more) and I am beyond excited to think of the day when this will all be behind us. I can't wait. All that to say, I'm calling this quilt relinquishing control. Maybe I will have that all figured out by the time I get this quilt done? One can only hope.
49 comments:
May you have the strength, peace, comfort, and clarity you need to continue to take care of your family...you have a lot on your plate and I'm so glad you're enjoying this quilt! The colors are perfect for a happy smile and thoughts!
Good luck with all the craziness of selling a house and moving! I appreciate that you are keeping up your blog amongst it all! I check it everyday! You are so inspiring to me!
Good luck! I am sure it will all work out, though it doesn't look like it now...
Hang in there!
That sounds so hard. I wish you all the best getting through this transition. AND QUICK!
Oh my word!! You are amazing! That sounds like my own personal hell. I hope things turn in your favor soon. Good luck!
This quilt will surely make you remember always when it was made and what circumstances were there. And maybe it helps to make a new start and surviving the time until everything's done. I never made a mystery quilt and I don't know if I could give up the control. :) What if I don't like the finished quilt? I'm curious what the finished quilt will look like and what you think about it.
What an appropriate quilt and quilt name for you and your blessed life challenges.
I recently had an epiphany that would surprise many friends. Life is not always as we thought it would be and I realized (and I am a DEEPLY spiritual person) that I can trust God. His hands and heart are aware of each of us and our circumstances.
Blessings to you at this time.
I didn't know you were from WI! I'm originally from the Milwaukee area. :)
Good luck with your housing stuff!
Praying for a quick resolution and for peace and strength for you all.
Transitions are always difficult. I didn't realize that you lived in my neck of the woods so to speak (Midwest) and when you move to minnesota.... even more so. Hello from your next door neighbor in Iowa. Your quilt is going to be stunning:)and fun. Creativity always keeps things in perspective! Janita
Mystery quilt and an unknown future. I'm sure they are both going to be perfect and loved by the time they are fulfilled. Especially with those beautiful fabrics and your fortitude. I'm in a holding pattern myself now and I'm glad you shared your situation. It helps to know you're not alone.
I totally love your fabric for the mystery quilt. I hope the house sells SOON and all works out for you in a short time. Someday, looking back, this won't look so huge. But when you are living it, it is so all consuming. Take care and spend more time quilting - it helps! ~Jeanne
Have been and will continue to keep you in our prayers. God's timing is perfect, even when it doesn't feel like it to us. Love you all! (( HUGS ))
Being in limbo like that is the worst! Just having a house on the market is bad enough. Hang in there!
Can't wait to see how the quilt turns out :)
I can sympathise completely. Just before my son's first birthday my husband bought a run down business, 1.5hour commute each way 7 days a week. We managed to move house in July (10months after the job change), now he commutes 20mins each way 7 days a week.
The hardest bit for me is working 5 days a week, plus running the house, plus looking after my 2 year old all weekend. Crafts are my escape when I find time
Keep your chin up, I feel for you, it will get better, it has too xxxx
P.s. I love the colours on your quilt, can't wait to seethe finished article
The name for your quilt is perfect and symbolic. You know you are always in my thoughts and prayers.
Chin up. We, too, were separated by his job, but for 3 years, and he was 8.5 hours away at a minimum. So, we waited for him to come home every other weekend or so; we planned our school breaks to be up there with him; we missed lots of family moments together. What got me through, were my friends and neighbors, and knowing that at the end, and there was an end point, we'd be together again. Yoga, and a lot of breathing, just one breath at a time, also worked wonders.
I love the name of your quilt, although you know, Faith could also work.
Hi!!! Wonderful colors and fabric!!!! Sending prayers and best wishes on the house sale and hope life gets back to normal for you soon!!!!
I can't imagine your poor husband driving 3 hours everyday with the winter we've had this year. E-gads! May all this be behind you soon!!! I will be praying for a buyer for you.......it only takes one! Keep your chin up!
Praying it will soon be something that was... and that soon you will be in the "new season" that awaits your family! You know we in our home are going through some things ...and what I am calling a 'adjustment time' and I know there are so many lessons to learn in everything God puts in our path through this life....may you find a joy and be thankful each day for even 10 things and soon they will come easily and then all the sudden you will be onto the next...chapter!
Keep up your beautiful work that God has blessed you being able to do..and have a 'out-let'...smile!
Thinking of you over here in the central area of WI!
~Lori
It looks like the mystery is coming together and so will the stress of having to not be in control of every thing. Take heart that all will fall into place, just like the pieces you are sewing.
Hugs and prayers for you :) Lack of control and the unknown are the worst boogie men, aren't they?! Loving your fun mystery quilt to go along with it, though. Throw enough sunny color and fun at a crazy situation and things can be at least a little enjoyable - maybe that's the message.
First off, I love the quilt idea. Is there a way to either get the instructions or the steps? I love the pictures you are showing and it also looks like something I would enjoy.
Second, I understand that stress. I was the one doing the driving, but same situation, except in Colorado. It's hard and stressful, but remember, it's just one stage in life. You will not be in this stage forever. I know it seems like it keeps continuing, but it will end and you will move on. But it seems like you will have a wonderful quilt to show for all of the stress, whichi s a wonderful thing. :-)
I absolutely LOVE what I am seeing. I am not a big fan of mystery quilts. But you have a point. Praying for your house/move/job/stress... etc. God has been doing a lot of pruning in my life as well. It is never easy. But it will be so worth it on the other side. Hang in there! And thank God for husbands who can handle a few tears!
Your mystery quilt looks wonderful. You have a great sense of colour. I know how tough waiting to sell your house can be. Spring is coming and I am sure the buyers will be out in full bloom real soon. Stressful yes but you can get through this. Best Wishes.
Bless your heart ! We all need to feel that we have control over SOMETHING ! Of course, it's mostly illusion, but that's part of being human. Lately, it gives me more comfort to just surrender control to the ONE with all the wisdom. I surely don't have alot of it !
Enjoy this project, ......... as usual, your color choices are amazingly beautiful.
I'm liking what I see so far. I just recently used one of the fabric in my first ever quilt. It's the one that's orange with little white leaves. I just found your blog and absolutely love everything I see. Can't wait to see more.
I'm liking what I see so far. I just recently used one of the fabric in my first ever quilt. It's the one that's orange with little white leaves. I just found your blog and absolutely love everything I see. Can't wait to see more.
As a wife of a US Navy officer for 23 years of active duty, I can really understand the problems that come with separations. My husband was not in the USA when either child was born. We lived in 15 houses in 23 years - all around the USA and UK. I wouldn't trade it for anything, but it is great to be retired in VA Bch. "one day at a time" Good luck.
That's so hard! The last time we had our house on the market, my husband was constantly travelling (no help), so I feel your pain. I hope it sells soon - Spring is great for that!
The good news: that quilt looks amazing and gorgeous. :)
The fabrics you've chosen for your mystery quilt look gorgeous together. Can't wait to see the final result! Here's hoping that this stressful time will soon be over for you. Lots of good times ahead. Xx
I love the colours you are using and look forward to seeing the final article.
You are such an inspiration to lots of people, you say about being a control freak, I find it really hard to let my Goddaughter near my fabrics, let alone touch them, she's three and as much as I love her, I just can't do it.. maybe when she is older - but it's always nice to hear of people with other controlling issues, such as those with letting your daughter do her little quilt, you are fab and I love reading your blog on a daily basis, the ideas, the freshness of colours and the anicdotes are brilliant.
I have to say these are my absolute favorite colors!! Just a beautiful combination. I can't wait to see how this turns out.
Oh dear, Ms. Crazy! I hope things will settle down for you soon and that your house will sell pretty soon. In the meantime, it looks like you're trying to take your mind off of the situation -- as any good quilter would LOL.
I love the colors you've chosen and I admire your spirit of adventure. I can't do mystery quilts. Everyone's tastes are so different and what if I ended up making a quilt that I thought was fugly??? I couldn't bear the thought of the time spent that could have been put toward one of the bajillion quilts on my someday list! Control Freak? Indeed!
I totally love this quilt. SO much. The cheery colors, the gray background -- metaphor for life? I think so. ;) Hang in there. Limbo is such a hard place to be, I know. It's so hard to be patient beforehand, and always much easier to look back and think it wasn't so bad. But at the time . . . it's so much to be handling and still posting on your blog regularly! I'm impressed. Love you.
Ah, I know what you're going though. My husband got a job overseas and it took quite a few months to get everything settled before my son and I could join him.
Sending good thoughts for selling your home FAST and getting on to the next home!
Love the name you're giving the mystery quilt. Not sure I could do it.
Loving the fabrics you've chosen.
This will sound worse than my intent but...
I am so glad to hear that there is another region other than Washington DC with that kind of commute. I am at my desk at 5 a.m. to miss that commute time.
I feel your pain. My job moved to another state in November. I am renting a room from a coworker to avoid a 2 hour one way commute. The rest of the family is still at home in California. Its tough to say the least. I wish you luck...
I follow your blog but am not very good about commenting until today. I so relate to your control issues and can only imagine how hard the current situation must be. The mystery quilt has such deep meaning in this case and the colors are just full of happiness so I hope and pray that is what is in your very near future.
AmandaJean we're in the same boat! We just had our house on the market for 6 months (felt like forever) but it finally sold. Fingers crossed it will happen all in due time. And I loved hearing about MN, I was born and raised there so I hold a special place in my heart for Minnesota. Best of luck with the sale and move, here's to a shorter commute for hubby!
This quilt is JUST what you need for your journey,
This quilt is JUST what you need for your journey,
Thank you for sharing both your beautiful quilt, and your challenges... I hope you get the control you relish back soon. Handling a commute like that must be a nightmare for the entire family.
I follow your blog and admire your creativity and all you accomplish. I too am a control freak and am very impressed with your willingness to try something new at this time in your life. I LOVE the colors you chose! They are so sweet and cheerful and make me think of spring and new beginnings. Your house will sell soon!
I just lived through a year of my husband living in a different state because of the job situation. I have finally moved but we are still working on getting our other house sold. It is so tough and at times so difficult to maintain a positive attitude. Sending many prayers and good wishes your way that things will be settled for you soon!
Thinking of you and hoping for a quick house sale. I have been where you are and know how hard it is.
Good luck with the sale of your house! With spring here (if this snow would ever melt...) your house should fly off the market! Your life sounds like a more stressful version of mine. We live in Minnesota (about an hour NW of Minneapolis) & my husband started a new job in Wisconsin in January. He is driving about 80 minutes each way. Luckily his office will be moving about 20 minutes closer this summer & he is able to get to work EARLY so he can leave early to be home in time for dinner most nights. If only he was getting enough sleep! He is amazing, I'm not sure how he does it. Good luck with your eventual move to Minnesota & if you need a friend to go fabric shopping with once you get settled in, let me know!
Goodness...you sound like me! Wish we could get together and sew and talk fabric and scraps and take a break from all of life's stresses. Hang in there. It will all work out and settle down.
I have never heard of a mystery quilt before!!! I wonder if this is something special to the USA? I'm in the Uk. Really looking forward to seeing how it turns out x
Hang in there. It will get better - I know it will (this is what I keep telling myself, at least). My husband took a job 2 years ago in Nashville (4 1/2 hours away from where we lived in KY). I remained behind for 6 months or so, hoping our house would sell before I joined him. It's still on the market. BUT . . . I found out I had breast cancer within weeks of moving here. Instead of letting that add to my pile of stress, I have chosen to be thankful. Yes, our house is still for sale. If we hadn't moved, though, I don't think I would have gotten the great medical care that I can get here at Vanderbilt. Sure, it sucks having a house in another state and living in a single bedroom condo, but I'm alive. And I'm going to enjoy that, because it's a gift. :)
PS - I'm not telling you this to make you feel guilty about being a control freak. I'm one, too. It's just to let you know that sometimes we have to look at things from a different perspective, and embrace the challenge.
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