Progress

I have been making slow progress on my quilt.  I made the stems out of a red, green, and white paisley.  I wanted the stems to be like a transition from the red "blood" stain to the cream of the new wall paint.  I have started putting the flowers on, but I am just learning how to applique and they are going very slowly.  I added the border to tie in the leaves.  So far, I am pretty happy with where it is going.

How are the rest of you doing?

I finished the book

I made some time this afternoon, after finishing up some friendship stars, to finish the book.  I am not sure who has finished and who has not, so I won't give away the ending.  I did find so many interesting things about quilting and the philosophy of quilting as I was reading.  I was really struck on page 195 when Natalie explained why quilting helped her deal with stresses of everyday life.  She says:

Nancy says it's a right brain, left brain activity . . . . .There's a lot of math and figuring out patterns and amounts of fabrics, so that's one side, then the other is taken up with the whole creative process.  So when you're quilting, you are completely involved it it.  There's no space in your brain left over for worrying about your problems.

I find that is so true?  How about the rest of you?
I am toying with a couple of ideas for my quilt.  It will be a small wall hanging I think.  I really like the idea of a watercolor style quilt with some applique, only using solids instead of florals.  I will have to sketch my ideas out and see how it works out.

I would love to hear from the rest of you.  How are you enjoying the book?  Do you have quilt ideas?  Congrats to Cathy for being the first one done.

Find out more about Clare O'Donohue

I spent a little time reading the author's website and blog, Clare O'Donohue: Author, and discovered some interesting things.  First, and most importantly, she is a quilter.  I think I could tell that by the way she describes the quilts.  Secondly, Archer's Rest is based on a real town set between the Hudson River and a cemetary - Sleepy Hollow, New York.  Above is the cemetary, and below is part of the town.

Another tell that the author is a quilter can be found on the bottom of page 25 of Lover's Knot.

"With every quilt you make you have a picture in your mind of what it should be,"  Bernie continued.   "Then you start.  You pick fabrics, you cut the fabrics, you sew the pieces together.  All along there are compromises, mistakes, inspirations.  When it works, then you are truly holding your dreams in your hands.  When it doesn't . . ."  She shrugged.

This is very true for me.  What about the rest of you?