Processing 2012

1. X2Y4–6Z8O20(OH,F)4: Front, 2. Organic Imperfection (front), 3. Love in a (Snowy) Mist: Front, 4. The Arty Zig: Front, 5. Rainbow Challah Cover, 6. Warm Spring: Front, 7. Spring Green, 8. Topo Map: A Quilt, 9. Curves, 10. Berry Lime Sublime (front), 11. Circle Up, 12. Sand & Sea, 13. New Pillows!, 14. Foxy (front), 15. Challah Cover, 16. Orbs Away, 17. A Zig and a Zag Table Runner, 18. The Accidental Living Room Quilt, 19. Triangulate: Complete, 20. Scattered Color Pop, 21. Good & Plenty, 22. A Little Spice, 23. Sebastian, Literally, 24. Washi Dress!

I think of 2012 in two halves: the traveling half and the quasi-settled half. Despite a lot of roving dissertation research, I still managed to squeeze in quite a bit of sewing time last year. Not in a diligent, disciplined sort of way, but in an unrestrained, furious sort of way.

And so it is true: I am a binge sewer. The latest example merely illustrates my habitual tendencies: I didn't touch my sewing machine for about a month this fall, from Thanksgiving to late December, and then I pieced and quilted like a madwoman for a few days in late December. I finished three quilts (all of which need to make their way to their new owners before debuting here), I started two quilt projects, and I migrated some design ideas from head to graph paper. Then I cleaned up, hosted friends for New Year's Eve dinner, and crossed back into dissertation-writing (and less sewing) land. That's my way, my pace, my pattern, my flow, and it's not going to change. It's imperfect, but it works.

Likewise,  I've settled into my quilting style; I adore minimalism, negative space, and saturated color. Shapes matter, graphic sensibilities predominate, and color preferences drift between warm and cool. I don't think this will radically change, but it will stew, evolve, and mature. I'm starting to concretize a sartorial style as well. Sewing a dress for myself helped me think more about how garments fit and, most importantly, how I want them to fit. I saw a dress I wanted to make, and when I asked a friend about possible patterns for something comparable, she exclaimed "that is So You!" At which point I realized I know what I like and I can identify what will look good on me (a revelation many have before age 32, but late blooming is blooming nonetheless).

But here's what I don't know: where this style will take me, the views it will show me, the people to whom it will introduce me, the ways it will change me, the ideas it will instill in me, or the possibilities it contains. So given this: to curiosity, discovery, and fresh ways of thinking, doing, working, and living in 2013.

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A Little Housekeeping

Since I'm currently in Cincinnati (excited to check out Sewn Studio tonight), I cannot sweep or mop or vacuum or bleach or wipe or wash or take care of any other pertinent house cleaning tasks (a tragedy for sure). In light of this state of affairs, I decided it was high time I clean up the blog a bit. Or rather update it: it sorely needed some modernization and freshness. I made a new header, remembered how to install it, and altered the colors of sidebars and such. I'll still tweak things here and there, but I'm pretty pleased to check this off my to-do list. {Click on over from Google Reader to see, not just read about, the changes.}

Feedback--good or constructive--is much appreciated. If there's anything you'd like altered or added, removed or rethought, tell me! This holds for the blog more generally: if there's something you'd like me to post about, stop posting about or consider posting about, let me know.

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Half-and-Half, Or Thoughts on Confidence

I pieced this quilt top yesterday, and started quilting it last night. I resumed quilting what I'm calling "Kandinsky Squares" this morning. I decided to quilt large circles -- a first for me -- and that reminded me of Kandinsky's painting Farbstudie Quadrate (1913). I confess that I didn't know the name of the painting until just now; it was a common dorm room poster while I was in college, and I've seen it elsewhere since, but the name had escaped my attention or recollection.

I paused in the middle of quilting because I was listening to this talk by Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook, on "Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders." A friend had posted the link on, where else, facebook, and I like to listen to podcasts or watch internet TV while quilting. But Sandberg really got me thinking -- about my own education, about quilting, and about how I talk about both. And I had to pause, to record the thoughts that I knew would dissipate if I waited too long (PSA: listen to the talk. Regardless of whether you are pursuing a career or want to be an executive. It's an important message for everyone, female and male, to hear. The information is not new, but it's a well-packaged and funny 15 minute distillation of ideas in circulation).

Sandberg relays an anecdote from a college course that she took with a friend and her younger brother. While she and her friend walked out of the final exam lamenting what they hadn't achieved, her brother -- who she noted, had read all of one book and attended merely a few lectures -- announced that he would receive the highest grade in the class. He passed, he said, with flying colors. Whether he simply claimed that or actually believed it is not totally clear (and I could hear my younger brother, with whom I've never taken a class, make a similar statement). But that's not the point. The point is, of course, confidence.

While on break in college about a decade ago, I returned to my high school while my siblings were still there. My sister desperately wanted to leave and I was still chatting with a few people. A teacher I'd had in 7th grade and again in 11th grade laughed and recalled that my 7th grade self would never be casually talking to people for fun: I was silent in 7th grade, he had no idea if I knew anything until I did well on the first exam. Indeed, 7th grade Bible class terrified me; it was taught in Hebrew, I was less than confident in my Hebrew skills and shy to boot. By 11th grade, I was much more comfortable with language and speaking. Indeed, the academic realm now makes me quite comfortable. It's far easier for me to walk into a classroom and teach 25 students I've never met than walk into a party and converse comfrotably with 25 people I've never met.

How does this relate to quilting and blogging? While listening and guiding the quilt through my machine, I realized that I had been thinking about all the imperfections I would talk about in a blog post. It's easy to do: the circles are imperfect. And the imprecise circles are simply one flaw among others. But if Sandberg's brother (or my own) were to have made this quilt and then blog about it, they'd say it's awesome.

Because it is awesome.

I always have doubts about the quilts I make midway through the process. I stand at my ironing board and wonder, "Are these blocks really going to come together? Did I choose the right colors? Maybe I should have left that fabric out?" But in the end, I like what I make. The doubts are part of the process. From a blogging perspective, I think it's important to acknowledge those imperfections. Or to tell you that I don't baste my quilts every 2 inches, and I leave loose threads hanging out until I remove them later. Because I'm not a textbook quilter or a perfect one. But that's not the whole story.

Rae has organized a fantastic SE Michigan Crafters Meetup. Each time I've gone, I've been inspired by other people's work and learned some tricks of the trade. Each time people have complimented the work I do. Last time, someone asked me if I sold my quilts. Thus far, the answer has been no. I make them as gifts or donate them. But I've been thinking about selling some. And to sell effectively -- whether it's selling a product or an idea -- confidence is key. I want my work to be high quality, but maybe the imperfect circles are part of the design. Look back at Kandinsky: his painting has graced the walls of museums but also dorm rooms and waiting rooms. His circles were intentionally impressionistic, not precise. It worked for him, and it can work for me. Honesty matters and self-critique has a role. But both need to be productive, not destructive.

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Playing Catch-Up

It's been a nutty week. A subletter is moving in tomorrow afternoon, at which point I'll drive off to Lexington, KY for a minute (well, 24 hours), come back for a night, head home to the DC area to see my family, and then go to NYC for 6 weeks.

How much closet and dresser space does my subletter need? I'm not sure, but I've left 2 out 3 dresser drawers empty and the primary closet rod vacant. The rest of the closet is another story. And then there were the pictures. After about 10 months of thinking about what I want on my bedroom walls, I finally hung a nice mirror my mom found for me as well as a collage of framed pictures. Prior to that, I rearranged the room. Inspired by new roommate, I opted for less floor space and a more grown-up bed protruding from the wall, rather than tucked in the corner (there are only so many options in a 9 3/4' x 9 3/4' room with 3 doors (hallway, closet, porch)). But I like it. I'm happy with it. I'm now pretty used to it (just in time to leave!). And if it hadn't been grey and rainy for the past few days I might have even grabbed a picture. Maybe tomorrow morning, in between washing all the linens.

Fabric has offered a lovely break this week. There's this bird print, an IKEA find:

And an array of awesome fabric acquired through swaps, the one I hosted and a couple of private swaps:

I've already got some projects planned out. Some of the blues and greens will make it into a chuppah I'm making, some of the blues and browns will go into another quilt that exists only in my head, and the pinks and oranges will find a home too. I'm very excited for all this fabric -- I don't have any of it and some I've admired from afar for a while. Moreover, I received fabric that I might not have bought but can't wait to use because it's just plain awesome.

Because I'll be without a sewing maching for about 7 weeks, I raced this week to finish several baby quilts. I need to bind the last one, a scrappy, wonky log cabin for Craft Hope, but aside from that I'm done. I'm saving some of the pictures since I won't be making anything for a while. Kind of weird that absence.

In the meantime, I'm going to ask you for your advice and knowledge:
*Any great vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Lexington, KY? Any good fabric shops?

*I'm from the DC area but haven't lived there in a while. Any new restaurants I should check out? What fabric shops should I know about that I don't (G Street Fabrics is about my limit).

*And, finally, the big one: New York. I'll be living in Brooklyn and attending classes at NYU. But I'm ready to venture anywhere. Please post any suggestions, recommendations, must sees/dos. I'm truly open to any and all information -- food, fabric, excursions, favorite hidden spots, free activities (in parks or elsehwere), somewhat known but unheralded must-dos? I've been to NY before but this will be my first time living there for any (short) length of time, and I want to explore as much as possible. Also, your favorite Thai restaurants are much appreciated!

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Ahh, Delinquency

Pretty.

I was trying to hold out on posting until it was time to post the winner of the May SMS Giveaway, but I'm here now.

Sooooo, if you're looking for the SMS Giveaway (ends tonight), go here.
If you're looking for the SEWN Giveaway (ends June 7), go here.
If you're looking for the super-duper Fat Quarter swap (sign-ups end June 3), go here.

Some real hippos (Lake Naivasha, Kenya)

Now on to other delicacies and delights, or just delinquencies.

*Last week I managed, just barely, to post a recipe for a Soba Noodle salad. I said I would be returning to Friday recipes. I meant to post a custard fruit tart and/or cheesecake recipe this week -- it was Shavuot, one of my favorite Jewish holidays in part because of the tradition of eating dairy feasts. (Other highlights of the holiday include the emphasis on learning through all night learning sessions the first night, the reading of the book of Ruth (my favorite Biblical text), the barkey harvest (or just that it's the edge of the spring/summer divide), and the fact that it's a reasonable 2 ay holiday). In any event, delicious dessert recipes to come...sometime sort of soon.

*Way back when, about 2 weeks ago, I posted about the gift I made my mom for mother's day, out of the delightful Alexander Henry Juicy fabric. I promised to post pictures. But then I forgot to take pictures while at home in range of the gift. As a result, I'll have to wait until the next time I'm home to grab some photos and share it. Apologies.

*Finally, even farther back into the past, I posted about this whirligig quilt. In the comments, I promised a tutorial on my non-template method. I still owe you that one. It's on my list of June things-to-do. I'll do my best.

On the non-delinquent front, I offer you one of Laura Gunn's new fabrics, Climbing Lantern Pods in Turquoise. Can you really not swoon over this one?

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Pay It Forward

Pay It Forward (PIF) is making its way around the crafty blogs (maybe others too, but I'm less attuned to those). The basic idea involves doing something for someone with no expectation of receiving any benefit and with the expectation that the recipient will in turn pass on the kindness to someone else.

I joined PIF over at Piecemeal Quilts, and I'm committed to *doing something* within the next year (365 days) for the first three people who comment on this post. By "doing something," I mean that I will make and mail something to you and do something for the greater good of the community. I'm adding the last part on myself, as I'm excited to do something for those who read this blog, but I also want to help those in need in my area. I'm not sure what it will be -- a donation of some sort (time, money, items) -- but I will do it in your name to a local organization that I think could benefit from resources and/or help (and in Michigan, there are no shortage of such places these days). I'll let you know about it when I send you a present of some crafting variety.

If you sign on, as one of the first three to comment, you commit to doing the same, to Paying It Forward via your blog. If you comment, please make sure I have a way of contacting you.

And apart from PIF, I'm committing to organizing a fabric swap later in the spring. Once I get it organized, I hope you'll help spread the word.

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Maybe

Just a quick update and apology. I spent Friday driving to my parents' house (8.5 hours, $21.25 in tolls, 3 gas/food stops, 6 cops sighted without stopping, no stop-and-go traffic), and hence apologies for no Friday recipe. I'll be immersing myself in the archives Monday-Wednesday, so no guarantees about posting. But if I find anything incredible, I might be compelled to post about it.

Thanks to those who let me know that they received their fat quarters in the mail!

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Google Reader Question

I started using Google Reader this summer and, for the most part, it's stellar. However, sometimes it shows complete posts with pictures and all, sometimes it shows text without pictures, and sometimes it shows only the first paragraph. I don't see a pattern in how this plays out -- blogger, typepad, specific domain name...they're all mixed up in how they get presented. Is there a way to fix this in Google Reader or is this a function of the blog settings themselves? If you know what's going on or have any suggestions, please comment and tell me. Thank you!

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Unintended Hiatus

Apologies for my unintended hiatus over the past week. Traveling, canines, and a conference got the better of me. But I promise quilt pictures are forthcoming now that the latest completed quilt is in its new owners' hands. More tomorrow!

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Color Changes

As you may have noticed, I've altered the background and text colors of the blog. I think I outlived the other colors, and needed to change things up. Actually, what I really need to do is make myself a fancy and fun header, but I'm waiting for the inspiration to strike or, um, to find the time. Which is to say that if you find yourself inspired on my behalf, I'm happy to accept your offers of cool headers.

In other update news, I will post pictures of the apartment in all its semi-painted glory soon. I'm also midway through a baby quilt that needs to be finished in time to give it to my parents who will serve as my awesome couriers.

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Moving

I know it's been a while since I posted....moving will do that to you. I'm (finally) mostly moved in and started drafting a design for a new chuppah. Hopefully I'll cut the pieces tomorrow and start sewing such that I have something to show for it soon.

Thank you to those who have emailed me, and I hope most of you are figuring out the comments section which I know was a little messed up for a while. I believe its fixed now, so please comment away if you wish.

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