Adjusting the Machine

I have been on the road for the better part of two months.  Living in three homes in Seattle within three weeks over the holidays, then ten days at home to unpack, do laundry and repack for a trek to WI and MN, staying in two different homes and caring for my daughter after her knee replacement.  That is why my blog has been sparse for awhile.  The sewing machine stayed home, abandoned and solitary, but we loved spending time with our family.

We arrived home safely, but were very tired.  Unpacking took time, clearing away the suitcases took more time.  The chaos was mentally stressful, and I couldn't even get near my piano.  We live in a tiny cabin in the mountains so clutter can accumulate quickly.  I was so tired I didn't even want to sew.  Whatttt?  Did I really say that?  First, I had to re-establish my routine, but I also knew that if I sat down to sew, I would probably make mistakes and have to rip.  As I recovered and began to settle into the old pattern I finally decided, "It is time.  Get busy and work on that quilt," and I did.  Oh joy, I do love to sew!  I feel so good after a session of wielding needle and thread.  I only made one mistake and that was because I had forgotten about a thread color change so had to rip a tiny bit.  Not too bad.  I was afraid it would take awhile to get back in the swing of FMQ, but it didn't.  It is part of me now.

Another thing that plays into quilting is maintaining mental and physical well-being.  I am getting back into my exercise routine.  This takes more time than the FMQ because I live at 7500 ft elevation and the altitude must be taken into consideration.  I no longer experience altitude sickness after spending time in low country, but a little fatigue is apparent at first on my walks, so Dixie and I are working back up to our 2-3 miles a day.  Exercise keeps us physically fit, slows aging, tones the muscles, and provides quiet time to breathe the fresh, mountain air, and do some free motion, creative thinking.  It adjusts our bodies' machinery so it can do its best work.

Dixie on a winter walk.

How we both feel after exercise - happy, happy! 

Sew a happy seam this week.  I wish you time to adjust your inner machine.

More of Mother Nature's Motifs

We have just returned from another junket across the country to MN and WI to honor our grandson who was awarded Eagle rank in the Boy Scouts.  We visited two of our daughters as well.  As we drove I was once again reminded of my quilting passion as the scenery stretched before us.  We drove on a sashing of highway between patchwork fields of spring green, fallow tan, and plowed brown embellished with wheat rolls and black cattle.  Neon furrows followed natural contours like echo quilting around appliqué, seeming to move and change with the perspective of our progress.  Curving waterways in the rectangular blocks added interest and contrast.

We stopped for a day in Rapid City, SD, and drove through Badlands National Park east and then turned around and did it again west.  It is an amazing place featuring sharp peaks, deep gullies, grasslands, bison, bighorn sheep and much more.  One thing we thankfully didn't see were rattlesnakes, except on the many warning signs.  Since I haven't been able to sew for this month of travel, I could only think about it.  Below are some photos that remind me of things I do when I make quilts.

Fillers:

Mud cracks

Popcorn soil on the rocks

Mc Tavishing - sort of

Variety of textures

Trapunto:

Mounds

Outlining:

Edging of white clay washed off the rocks above

Stripes:

Jelly roll stripes

Contrast:

I never would have seen this interesting formation if
it hadn't been darker than the light shale around it.

Borders:

Borders are important (Bighorn sheep)

OT - Who doesn't love a baby?  They are standing way up high on a very, very steep slope.  At one point the lamb was jumping and playing!  BTW the sheep are losing their winter coats.  That's why they look so scruffy.  The collar on the ewe's neck is placed by the National Park Service to keep tabs on the animals.

Bighorn ewe and lamb

Sew happy stitches this week.  Try some from Mother Nature's album.