Thoughts on Blogging & 2-Color Quiltlet Swap Photos

Thank you all for the wonderful comments about the HB braid quilt. Consider this bouquet for you. (Yes, this is a current photo. My contrary roses bloom in late November, not June.)The thoughtfulness of the comments I've received since starting this blog over four years ago (!!!) have kept me coming back even when the logical little devil on my shoulder tries to convince me this is a self-indulgent time-suck. As a SAHM, my day is full of necessary and useful activities, but "success" -- both as a measure of a day and of long-term outcome -- is often determined by the lack of crisis and/or failure, both small and large scale. I am deeply grateful for my life and family, and I know that what I do matters and is appreciated, but having creative projects that are separate from my job definition is critical to me. Following these creative interests allows me to feel like the woman who once so enjoyed being thoroughly independent and self-focused. I don't want to return my life before I became Wife and Mom, but finding and nurturing a little bit of Me has been a good thing. I get so much gratification from creating, and being able to share my projects with like-minded people around the world is a gift of modern technology for which I am continually thankful.

My Christmas cactus was also a contrary bloomer this year, peaking before Thanksgiving. I missed photographing the full flush and the color is hard to capture, but it really cheers the room.

The search for community, and specifically a shared craft-oriented one, is something I know many of you think about. Over the last year I've read blog entries bemoaning what some feel is the decline of the knit blog community. I can understand that feeling, but I'm also thrilled by the growing community, even if navigation gets unwieldy sometimes. The small and intimate world in which I started blogging has grown and fractured. So many portals, so many voices. Where and with whom to connect? Four or five years ago the knit blog community was a virtual small town, with all the benefits andconstrictions that implies. You clicked through a few friend lists and in short order you felt like you'd met most of the inhabitants, or at least the town's movers and shakers. Everyone knew where the parties were (KALs) and everyone knew who the popular kids were. Now the on-line craft world has exploded as quilters, sewists and other crafters have joined the party and there are dozens of sites where you can share projects and photos. The small town has grown to a metropolis where you know that you'll never meet most people in except passing on the virtual highway (or in the tube, if you prefer*). Still, anyone who's lived in a big city knows they're often like a bunch of small towns forced into sharing resources and space. You bop along happily in your little neighborhood, then occasionally, when looking for something or following a stray link, happen into a whole world you didn't know existed. How many hours have been lost to "Wow! How did I not know about this?manic click fests? I know I don't want to count!

*Note for my Brit readers, here 'tube' refers to a comment from an ex-Senator from Alaska - not the London underground. He famously referred to the internet as a "series of tubes," which has created an indelible link in my brain. Even since Stevens let that one fly, whenever I think or hear the highway metaphor for the internet I get this mental image of a gray, grimy, ominous feeling warehouse with a huge bundle of pneumatic tubes dropping down to each workstation -  a very steampunk meets cyberpunk vision. It's been many years, but I think a midnight showing of Terry Gilliam's Brazil factors in there somewhere. Let's not go too deep into my warped brain!

All of us have "real" lives and obligations away from this screen and for most of us, the knitting, sewing and subsequent internet sharing is what we squeeze in on the side. Between blogs, Ravelry, Flickr, Yahoo Groups and all the other forums available it can become a challenge to juggle and maintain the connections we've made. I've come to terms with knowing I'm perpetually a little behind, sometimes even a lot behind - on reading blogs, on emailing, on reciprocating. Still, I don't want to walk away because of the spark of pure joy that comes every time a blogger writes exactlywhat I was thinking, only better; or a knitter on Ravelry, found ten pages deep in the pattern gallery, realized the pattern in such a way that I know I must make that; or a quilter or sewist on flickr shares a project that makes me want to cut fabric right now; or every single time one of you takes the time to write a comment or just to click through and read. So, thank you.

While I'm throwing around thank yous, I have to send out really big ones to my two swap partners from the Swap -til You Drop mini quilt group on flickr. The November theme was two color quilts These are the little jewels I received this month:

From Sudi Laura in MA:

Look at her amazing teeny, tiny piecing! Those center squares and triangles are about 1/4"! 

 

When I opened it I was knocked over by the piecing and loved the vibrant colors. I am honored to be the recipient of her first swap. While caring for a sick child she put together this care package for me:

So, before I even got my second swap, I already felt totally satisfied.

 

Then this came from Claire in GA:

 

 

 

Isn't it beautiful! So simple, clean and elegant. I love the Japanese style and the center medallion hand work, and the flowers just make it perfect! She included some pretty fat quarters that will fill a gap in another project.

 

 

Thank you both very much!

 

This is the design I made for them:

 

 

I've been wanting to try applique, so when this design grew in my head I got very excited about making these. Made three so I had a safety net for potential failure. I'll share a few tips and tools in another post.

 

Learned on the job, and each turned out slightly different, but each pleased me in its own way. I originally intended to keep one for myself, but when I saw that all would be shareable I just knew one should go to Brenda, one of the the first people with whom I traded mail art. My gosh Brenda! It's been 10 years!!! She's leaving her safe but unfulfilling job for an exciting and creative, but uncertain opportunity. I'm so proud of you! And since most of you don't know Brenda, I should be clear that she's done her research and has the skills. She's one of the most disciplined and creative people I've met. I know this will lead to something good!

Comments

[Katie]

Just to say that what you said resonates with me about blogging. I wasn't really around when the whole knit blog thing took off, but even now I still am inspired on a daily basis by something someone else has made. Sometimes I'm lucky, you put a post up and I get to be inspired by some of your wonderful work.

[Marit]

I loved to read what you said about blogging. I think one of the callenges is finding a pace in posting that fits one's personality, and the time that is available, without being rushed to much... I love to read your posts, and I like the fact that people blog with different time intervals ; )

[MichelleB]

Wonderful thoughts! I love the quilts that you received, and the on that you made. It's lovely. I really have to make some small quilts.

[Darcy]

I love doing swaps there so fun:)Hugs Darcy

[marissa]

You quilters blow me away with your magic! I thank Al Gore every day for inventing the Internet to keep me connected to the rest of the knitting world, which I would be otherwise unable to do. The inspiration I draw from you all is just icing on the cake!

[Moni]

Thank YOU for sharing your creativity with us! Your blog has been one of my faves through the year. Very inspirational :) Thanks for sticking with it.

[alisonb2]

Well worth the wait! The mini quilts are all beautiful and I marvel at the time you find to make them. My first quilt is progressing, but slowly - a time issue. This new world of blogging is addictive and inspiring but oh so big!! So, I have decided to limit my internet world for a while so I can enjoy them to the full and still find a little time for projects. Thank you and I await your next blog!

[Julie]

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! And thank you for the thank you. :o) Your blog was my inspiration and started me down all those various "tubes" to undiscovered countries and new friends. So I give the thank you right back. I agree, I think the knitting and crafting community has boomed, helped along quite a bit by Ravelry. But for all the growth, it actually makes the world much smaller, closer and more tightly knit as we discover artistic people all around the world to connect with. I may not have a neighbor who speaks to me but I have friends I've never met around the globe who are as dear as family. It is both daunting and comforting all at the same time.

[alice]

I found your blog several months ago thru those winding paths we take thru the "tubes" and never could do again. I was just amazed at your creativity and the beauty of your quilts. I spent the better part of an afternoon going back to the beginning and reading every entry. I found we had knit - or at least started many of the same knitting projects and grow the same beautiful roses ( you might be ahead of me on this). And I was blown away by the beauty of your quilts which I don't do. Please stick with the blog as much as you can. I know it must take alot of time but yours is really on the highest plain. I stop by every day or 2 to see if you have anything new for me. Keep up the good work.
Alice

[Brenda]

Dear Nancy,

It is unbelievable, but so encouraging, that we have been art friends and more for 10 years now. I have been graced throughout that time with your creativity and friendship, whether over the wonder that is the Internet or in person. From the first letter that I received from you, looking for an art exchange buddy, I knew that you were something special. And I continue to be amazed by the largeness of your talent in so many realms. I consider myself better for having known you, both as an artist and as a person.

Thank you for sharing a bit of my story on your blog and for your support and encouragement for my life change.

Hugs,
Brenda

[Anje]

I too do enjoy your blog. Your work, your garden, the photographs you make.... they are all so beautiful! The other reason I love your blog is I found in you someone who shares my interests and who is, like me, a stay at home mother. That in itself is in our country not that easy, because we women are supposed to be working. Being at home, raising your children in every way possible, is not a job.. according to too many people!(Although with the current financial crisis, women probably have to stay at home more, because that's way better for the children...) Being creative is just a nice little hobby... and so when I first read your blog it felt like meeting someone who was just like me. Finding time to blog can't be easy, but I really hope you will find it somewhere between your children, your garden, your no doubt volunteering work and all the other stuff you manage to do in just a day!
Anje

[juliet]

I don't think what you do on your blog is anyhing I would call "self-indulgent" - I think the effort taken to do anything creative is time well spent. I've just come back from a Christmas family holiday to Seville and one of the highlights was a visit to the Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares where I was humbled by an exhibiton of embroidery and hand made lace - the tiny stitches and the design and delicacy were humbling and also deeply moving, the detail was surreal. However, when you think about it the tiny stitch samplers and the edgings meant for the more intimate garments were not really made for anyone but those closest to the stitching - self-indulgent? Certainly not, it made me think of all the women who create these items and I felt quite sad that this sort of social glue and collective striving to offer up our best for even the smallest daily details is not something we celebrate so much anymore. I say - keep going and polish every stitch! self-indulgent is the laziness of making do with mass-produced and far-away whilst demanding we pay the makers a pittance and ignoring our responsibility to be the creative beings we are meant to be. Sorry -long reply, must stop my rambings and rantings in 2009

[alisonb2]

Just wanted to wish you a happy New Year and to encourage you to keep going with all that you do!

[Tracey]

Happy New Year Nancy, it's nice to know you in my own part of my "small town".

[di]

I couldn't agree more with your description of the internet and knit blogging community, and how it has changed over the years. Thank you too for what you have contributed to it, from someone who only drops in every now and then, but likes knowing that there will always be something interesting and inspiring here when I do!

[Brenda Wolfensberger]

I really enjoy reading your blogs when I have time and am very impressed and jealous of your quilts. I have just started quilting and have only finished a few. I would love to hear more about the mini-swaps and how they work. That sounds like fun! Can you share with me how you set that up and how it works?