Anna Scott Graham's Blog, page 20

Before I forget

The whole enchilada!
 

Here's a quilt I made, love, and would enjoy sewing again if time, energy, and the right fabric collection all align. The Seedlings Sampler quilt, designed by Jodi Godfrey, my version pictured above, based upon the fabulous Literary collection by Heather Givans.

Elderberry Quilt block

These shots were taken last month at my eldest daughter's home. My youngest granddaughter needed a cozy, and her mum brought out this fave blanket. I snapped it while cuddling with said grandgirl, pondering many things.

Yarrow Quilt block

How nice it is to snuggle with a beloved.

How lovely that when a quilt was required, my daughter offered this particular one.

How marvelous it was to create.

How blessed we were at that moment to be together.

How much I wanted to write a post about this comforter, but it took me a few weeks to do so, lol.

Feverfew and Cornflower blocks

This quilt was planned in September 2019, and I began stitching during Jodi's sew-along the following month. I worked on it during our trip to England, the first we took since leaving Yorkshire in 2007. I stitched throughout the end of 2019, then into 2020, and completed it just as Covid locked down this nation and others. Fortunately I was able to give it to my daughter right before everything altered, but I don't think of this quilt in relation to the pandemic. I consider it as the perfect answer to a fabric collection I bought in honor of my daughter's love for books, and how well I pulled off a sampler heaped with scraps and so much love.

Rosemary blocks in the sun and shadows

Sometimes the planets do align. Sometimes I get all my ducks in a row. Sometimes a group of fat quarters loiter within my stash, then are pulled out for a project like this, several designs arranged in a marvelous manner, sewn together by hand and machine. And sometimes a grandchild is chilled and needs a special cozy. This abuela pulls out her phone, snaps some shots, then writes about it weeks later, grateful for how technology and old school ways blend for a Tuesday blog post.

Myrtle block also in the sun and shadow

Sometimes that's all it's about, this strange, lovely collection of time we call life.

Loads of playing around

 

House rules call for Free Parking to be more than a quiet resting place.

Last week I visited my youngest daughter's family, helping out while her hubby was away on business. The weather in the Sacramento Valley was HOT for the first three days, and while later on we went to a park, splash pad, and pool, for the first few days we stayed inside and indulged in a different kind of entertainment: card and board games!

Fortunately my grandsons love games, especially the eldest. Crazy 8's and Go Fish have been staples of his childhood, and his younger brother got in the act, learning the basics of Go Fish and how to deal, hehehe. Board game-wise we enjoyed Junior Scrabble, Life, Carcassonne Junior, Yahtzee, Battleship, and finally managed to squeeze in a game of Monopoly, National Parks version, pictured above. My youngest grandson wasn't a participant of all those games, but many, and I was so pleased he's taking an interest in card games. A deck of cards will never run out of batteries, lol!

A friend of mine came to visit and taught us how to play Kings in the Corners, a Solitaire-type of card game, which quickly became a family favourite. I played one round of War with my eldest grandson, which he won, haha, but like Monopoly, War can stretch out for maybe longer than necessary. As I kid, board games figured heavily for pastimes, card games too, so it was great to reinforce those elements when stuck in the house while the temperatures soared outside. 

I'll be heading to the Midwest soon to spend time with family, the granddaughters along for that adventure. I left behind the pack of cards with the boys, so another will be tucked into my hexie box, just because you never know. Now it's time to settle back into my routine, savoring memories that hopefully will be rekindled soon!

Cornflower Quilt

My beautiful Cornflower quilt is DONE. This quilt was sewn by hand, except for attaching the front of the binding. I also machine-stitched the perimeter's edge. The rest was an English paper-pieced effort from my fave designer Jodi Godfrey.

Initially I made these blocks while stitching the Seedlings Sampler quilt in late 2019-early 2020. After that project was completed, I made a few extra blocks, but didn't plan on making a full Cornflower version until perhaps 2021. Then blocks were fashioned as I worked on other projects until it became obvious how much I loved making this particular design.

I enjoyed it so much that I enlarged the quilt, adding an additional row. I haven't measured it, but it's definitely a rectangle, and plenty long to snuggle under lying down.

Strangely enough, less than ten days ago I thought completing this wouldn't occur until perhaps summer's end. I wasn't in a rush per se, although I was tired of it taking so much space on the sofa. I wanted it done before autumn, which was a perfectly acceptable timetable. Then I found myself working on it instead of stitching other things. And suddenly a few nights ago the last hand-quilting stitches were woven through the quilt sandwich.

The binding is always last, whether I've made it previously or whip it up once all the quilting is over. I had to make this quilt's binding, but the strips were waiting. The end came as suddenly as how the hand-quilting emerged, as though after so many months this wasn't actually a long-term project. Since this photos were taken, I have washed it, lain under it, and admired it fully. Forty-two blocks later, it's finished.

As an aside; when I ordered it, I requested that instead of the small pieces which make up the adjoining four-inch squares could whole four-inch squares be substituted. When I received the kit, Jodi noted that swaps within kits weren't possible, but for free she threw in enough four-inch squares, bless her heart! Thanks Jodi for the design; it's one I'm hoping to make again someday.

All the things later realized

 

Not to give away spoilers, but in revising The Timeless Nature of Patience, the sixth Alvin's Farm book, I was stunned to find how much of my family's history was included.

Veiled yes, but pertinent. Especially in the wake of my mom's passing, which occurred six years ago on the upcoming solstice. 

What I realize now, a good dozen years after I wrote the above passage, is mostly due to what Mom told me shortly before she died. How she prayed for all of her kids to not make the same mistakes in life she did.

What's especially poignant is that three of us five weren't her biological offspring, me included. Yet she thought of us as hers, although my natural brother disliked her intently. Much as Tanner hated Alana, my brother Joe loathed our stepmom.

She knew it, loved him anyways. When Mom shared her insights, she didn't differentiate between her natural children, her sons, her daughters. We were five, although Joe was dead by then. Yet she still loved him.

When I wrote the prose above, Mom was still alive. She was Alana, perhaps I couldn't fully acknowledge that. But she was, and only now do I grasp the wonderful Mom she was, and how her prayers to this day affect our lives. Prayers that she could not apply to herself, in hoping we would return her affections. She didn't feel she deserved our love because of mistakes made, which to this day haunts me somewhat. It used to torture me more, but again, she's still praying for me in the best possible place, and through that love, my regrets have diminished.

I don't know if I'm a writer because all this forgiveness needs to be relayed, maybe I am. So many things to consider as I age, as time passes, as pain fades away.

So much love to be grateful for, and to pass along.

Cornflower quilting around

 

Edging the perimeter is a slow process, but very rewarding in the overall sense of almost being done!

Literally less than a week ago I mentally decided if I didn't get my Cornflower quilt done until late summer, I'd be happy. As long as I had it in time for autumn, woo hoo.

One more of the edging process because the fabrics are so pretty, lol.

Two days ago I finished the hand-quilting. I hadn't planned on it, but late in the afternoon I sat down to stitch and whoop there it ended. I hauled it upstairs, because it required perimeter stitching, a binding made, then attached, but wow, suddenly one great big task was over. Meanwhile I had started machine quilting a new comforter for my husband, and assumed the Cornflower quilt would wait patiently for its turn at the machine.

Perimeter sewing DONE!

Yesterday slipped away with no machine sewing whatsoever. I've been reading the last book in the Alvin's Farm series and spent most of my free time with that, sincerely enjoying the story and the memories of when I wrote it. It was like reliving my noveling past and who I was then, all within one tale.

I used seven strips for the binding, all from this particular print in four colourways from Tilda Bloomsville.

Fast forward to this afternoon, post-lunch. Suddenly I had all the necessary Cornflower quilt impetus necessary; first I ran the perimeter of the quilt under my machine, firmly securing the hand-stitched edge. Then I removed the walking foot, put on the regular presser foot, then sewed together the binding, ironing it smooth. Only then did I trim the quilt's excess backing and batting, then pinned on the binding, seating myself back at my machine. Within an hour the binding was on, and suddenly a project I thought would languish all summer was ready to go back downstairs so I could hand-stitch the binding to the back of the quilt; WHOA!

Trimming the excess; I do this with scissors very slowly.

I took several pictures of all of that as it happened. Somehow documenting that process seemed vital, maybe due to my tripping down memory lane via a novel, or that this hand-sewn quilt deserved pictorial documentation. Or that I had my phone handy and why not snap snap snap? 

A binding before being pressed.

Because now that quilt sits in a heap beside me, one quarter of the binding DONE. If I feel inclined after I post this entry, I'll thread some needles and stitch a little more.

Attaching the binding; oh my goodness I like this Tilda print!

Making a quilt is meaningful to me, about as snazzy as finishing a novel. Completing a HAND SEWN English paper-pieced quilt is like wrapping up a series, in the publishing of the last installment sort of way. My husband asked if he should congratulate me, and I told him to wait until the binding was done. Then he can pat my shoulder and give me a hug. Well, he can hug me whenever, but don't mention the quilt until that binding is on all four sides.

After sewing the binding onto the front of the quilt, I press the binding flat so it's easier to fold to the back. Plus I find any loose strings that sneak out in the process.

Yet I needed to write this mostly because I truly didn't imagine this project's end happening this week. Or this month. And here it is, almost. This beautiful quilt that has been a couple of years in the making is nearly done.

One mitered corner looking so tidy!

Yay!

No regrets

 

After thoroughly checking every block of my Cornflower quilt, I have finished the hand-quilting. 

That element is DONE.

I did find three small sections I'd forgotten. Stitch stitch stitch....

What I thought was the last block until I found the incomplete sections, lol.

Stitch stitch stitch. So many stitches, so much love.

I told my husband this quilt is for us, the first English paper-pieced comforter I've made that hasn't been for someone else. I also told him if someone likes it, I'd gladly give it away.

So then I can make another, haha.

But for now it's ours, and I love it. I loved choosing the prints for each block, basting the papers, sewing them together. Making this quilt was indeed a labour of love.

Next up is machine-sewing the perimeter. Oh, and making the binding, then attaching it. When those steps are accomplished, I can't wait to share the completed quilt!

Meanwhile.... Here's another finish, a baby quilt. Happy week everyone!

Some regrets

 

Said quilt top prior to basting; hopefully it will be better featured once it's done.

But only a few; I never did get around to snapping pics of the latest quilt top on the laundry line. Now it's basted and well.... Hopefully tomorrow I'll get it under the machine for some quilting, then sit with it on the sofa for some hand-stitching. That's the plan, but certainly subject to change.

I am taking seriously this semi-retirement gig, in the letting things languish department, or not getting quilt tops photographed as I would previously have done. What's more, I am not at all bothered about it; regret might be just a little strong to describe my feelings. Other activities have emerged, like making playlists for my music player on my phone, reading through Alvin's Farm books and making small edits, then uploading those revised versions onto Smashwords. I cooked a pork roast for lunch today, after yesterday griping at my husband how I don't like to cook. I've been cooking since I was fourteen, and now, fifty-eight, I'm just not into it. Thankfully my better half loves cooking, but I need to take my turn every once in a while.

LOL.

I've also been good about reading a couple of chapters of The Hawk lately, yay! I've reached a turning point in the saga where everyone's lives go haywire, not that I plotted out all that hand-wringing from the start, but sometimes storylines go off the rails and not always for the worst. 

Sometimes quilts do that too, like the comforter I'm making for my husband. It's been basted for, um, several weeks, lying in a heap on the far corner of my sewing table aching for its turn under the presser foot. Before autumn, I promise, sweet quilt sandwich. I swear!

Before autumn I hope to be writing Book 5 of my current series, but if that doesn't happen, I'm not going to fret. Well, I might frown. But honestly, semi-retirement means pulling up the brakes a little. I'm still not completely comfortable with a slower pace, but I am thoroughly enjoying practicing, hah! Well, mostly thoroughly happy. A few niggles remain, mostly in my own mind when thinking of all I want to accomplish. Future Me has been VERY SILENT in this process, while Past Me is too absorbed in her own thing. Which leaves little old Present Me to muddle about with learning how to relax. To read for pleasure (mostly). To know that quilts and books will find The End at the appropriate hour.

And that maybe, if we do get a bit of rain this weekend, I'll finally get around to weeding the irises. Uh-huh, sure I will. Insert winking emoji HERE!

Seeing through new eyes

 

A screenshot from this morning's revisions of The Hawk.

Coming home, even from a brief absence, usually proffers an altered vision. That used to not be the case on a consistent basis, but lately I've found even a weekend away brings insights not previously considered. I don't know if it's aging, I guess it must be. Suddenly I see things, from writing to sewing, in a different light.

Perhaps it's the light itself, altering from spring to summer, adding to the emerging notion of change. The lengthening days are a beauty in themselves, as though the winter months were fiction. I know better, lol, but it's still a sight to behold.

Currently I'm reading from the Alvin's Farm series, not having checked out those books in a while. I make notes where I find prose that needs a lift, then last night I scrolled through the story on my phone, updating the manuscript. I'm not alone in this task, recently reading about Alice Munro, the Canadian short story author and Nobel prize winner who also invested her time in rewrites. I was grateful to know such an accomplished writer felt the need to revise, and that perhaps she enjoyed her own work as much I do mine.

While rereading my books, I'm both amazed at my growth as a writer, as well as keeping the perspective of not ravaging older stories, leaving them mostly for what they are, steps on my authorial journey. However I did use my virtual red pen this morning while reading through The Hawk; all the redundancies in the Alvin books spurred me to eliminate those in a series I am hopefully revising for the last time. While I love the story line in The Hawk, its length makes me hesitate to consider a future revision. Although, if I live as long as Munro, who knows?

Part of the ease is modern technology; I read on my phone, make notes, then scroll through the ebook, correcting the manuscript. How simple is that? I'll be away from home in July, visiting family in the Midwest, and am uncertain if I need to bring my laptop. Hanging out with my granddaughters doesn't allow for heavy revisions, so The Hawk will stay at home. But reading through other books and making notes will occur, and I only require a phone for that. Modern technology is a boon for twenty-first century writers, and I'll use all the help I can get.

Yet at the end of a writer's day is the necessary sense of wanting to tell a story, and wishing for said tale to be as interesting and vital as one's ability permits. I made great strides from when I crafted Alvin's Farm to The Hawk, and I am not at all interested in restructuring the former series, although it could certain benefit from extensive alteration. Those benefits would merely be cosmetic; that collection of books needs to be left mostly as is. I'd never get anything new written if I delved too deeply into my older stories, so best to use my time wisely. I'll revise what most requires it, enjoying the stories for what they are and who I was when crafting them. Then harness those lessons into my current series, of which I am eager to return to.

Just a little snapshot of my life as a writer, all done for pleasure and that I honestly don't have a choice in the matter, lol.

Friday afternoon realizations

My husband and I are spending the Memorial Day weekend with family. We drove yesterday and will see all the grandkids tomorrow and Sunday, always a thrill to be gathered together. The weather is forecast to be sunny but not hot, a perfect combination of relatives and camaraderie.

A few days ago in the early morning I was seated under a lap quilt I did not make, but have mended. The quilt was a gift from my sister-in-law, in that it was a thrift store find that I fell in love with at her house and she gladly gave it to me, aware she had too many thrift store treats. The quilt required significant repair, so I patched it with my fave fabric scraps. Yet it was difficult laying those lovely prints over the painstaking EPP that was ages old, but starting to fray. The eight-point diamond stars were carefully designed, beautiful in their simplicity, but well loved, and perhaps partially bleached, the colours washed out in places along solid strips forming the borders. Still it's dear to my heart, in part from the English paper piecing, and for my own mark made by the repairs.

How many times have I sat under that amazing cozy, not thinking more about it than gratitude for the warmth. But on the most recent morning, I snapped a few pictures of the EPP inner stars, just because. What I found upon inspection brought relief as well as wonder; the diamond points aren't at all precise, meeting haphazardly in the star's center. Never before had I studied it so closely. Never before had I felt such thankfulness for it, mostly in the sense of, "How gorgeous is this and not perfect!"

Beautiful just as it is.

One of my favourite aspects of the Cornflower quilt was in stitching petals around the center octagon, not worrying if the points met up properly. In stitching six-point stars, I'm finding my stars are rarely on point, sometimes awkwardly. I'm not overly bothered, although a little annoyed at myself for not figuring out how to correctly meet the points together on a consistent basis. But now, seeing how these points don't match up at all, I'm allowing Future Me to do the best I can to align the diamonds, and the rest becomes its own beauty.

Future Me smiles, then winks. We're both relieved.

Past Me wrinkles her nose a little, but says nothing. Present Me breathes deeply; this isn't the only revelation I'm currently encountering. Reading over some of my older stories, I am embracing them as steps on my fictional journey, which is suddenly feeling to me differently than it has felt in a long time. My novels, old and new, polished and period, are like my quilts, gifts to whomever requires a cozy, be it tangible or virtual. I also realized about the fiction is that in my current series while I know the end, I have been hampered by how that conclusion will come about. Well guess what Present Me; that's part of the joy of writing. The journey itself, be it fictional or not, is why I do this, and what fun it will be to see how I reach The End.

 

Another star with a pretty patch.

I haven't felt that way in.... Maybe since writing The Hawk. After time, I knew how I wanted the story to wrap up, yet I rarely fretted about steps leading to that last chapter. It was merely the act of the storytelling, perhaps how my thrift store quilt was stitched. Maybe the diamond stars came first, then the attaching squares and triangles, the border at the end. How things end certainly matters, but getting there shouldn't be paralyzing. That how I have felt about The Enran Chronicles; certain aspects of this saga are firm in my mind, tickling my authorial fancy yet at the same time scaring the crap outta me because I don't know how I'll reach those delicious aspects. Listen here, Present Me; stop being afraid! Just breathe deeply, do other things until it's time to write, then know that JUST LIKE ALWAYS the muse will provide.

It always has and always will.

So with that, I wish you all a lovely weekend, holiday or typical. May you know joy, peace, and inspiration for whatever artistic endeavor awaits.

Sunday morning musings

One quilt top completed, perhaps photographed later today.

Many scrunchies sorted, and many more to stitch. (Which led to three different fabrics being used up from my stash, yay!)

A bowlful of hair adornments!

The Lavender Quilt (EPP) is also starting to coalesce, in a manner that will move my butt from the couch to a better place for design, although not the wall because paper pieces don't stick to batting.

Lavender quilt being arranged last night. More room definitely required!

A Myrtle EPP block is nearly done; somehow that quilt, started at least three years ago, might end up as a near-finish by the end of the year. (Hopefully I haven't jinxed it by such a claim.)

New hand-quilting needles arrived this week so I delved into the Cornflower Quilt, hurray! All the inner squares are stitched, but several outer blocks and the perimeter triangles remain, yet I love the new needles and hopefully those will inspire me to finish the hand-quilting and COMPLETE THAT QUILT!

Cornflower stitching; so satisfying to return to this beautiful cozy.

Ahem....

I did finished reading through The Enran Chronicles Book 4: oh wow, I really like how that story turned out. If I had more time, I'd start writing Book 5, but that probably won't happen until August due to summer travels.

However that frees up time for me to focus on The Hawk revisions, which I had been doing haphazardly in the afternoons. Those edits will move into the morning fiction slot and we'll see how much I can accomplish by the end of July.

Then there is the state of my gardening output.... Notice how this fall in last place, lol. I have three calendula plants and four poppies to get into the ground, maybe this coming week. The iris bed screams to be weeded: I know, I know! I never was into gardening previously, yet I thought in a new environment perhaps green thumbs would sprout. They haven't. I need to accept that passion isn't one I actively want to pursue no matter how I wish otherwise.

That's the current state of my world. Wishing you all a marvelous week!