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Being Present

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It must be said, I cannot do it all.

Writing books and articles, quilting, patterns, and teaching. Mothering, being a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend. Cooking and cleaning. Being here. I cannot do it all. Something, somewhere, always falls to the side in a heap of lack of time or enthusiasm. 

Thankfully I have kids who don't see the mess that I do, who beg to go out for steak even when I do want to cook, and who patiently model for me. Thankfully I have a babysitter willing to put in extra hours and friends who will pour me tea when they see my shoulders hovering somewhere over my ears. And family who send texts and understand why I haven't called. And dear readers here who send notes because I haven't blogged in weeks.

The last few weeks have been a blur of a photo shoot for the latest book, then finishing all the details for that book. There were family visits and trips to the ER, movie nights and snuggles, afternoons enjoying the sun then evenings watching the snow. I had to work and sneak in living my life. Laundry optional.

But the manuscript is in, the photo shoot done, the bathrooms cleaned, and some brisket in the oven. So I can sew for fun again and laugh with the kids over bad knock knock jokes. I can sit down with my husband at the end of the day instead of burrowing into the studio. I can catch up with the world.








Speaking of the photo shoot for the book...

Kate Inglis came out to shoot this book as well. It is an insane collaboration that I am proud to be a part of. She shot A Month of Sundays too. We hit the ground and five days later it feels like we surface into regular light and reality. And along the way we shoot. Well, she shoots the things I tell her too and she translates my obscure thoughts into gorgeous images, capturing the light and the quilts in a way I didn't imagine. In between we eat and drive and talk and fall into dreams.

Now she is home, celebrating her own book, Flight of the Griffons. The universe may explode from her creative powers. 

And I am home, here. Quietly being who I am.

                                                
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Another Alturas Update and a Request

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26 Alturas blocks!

And I just can't stop making these. I now prep them in groups of five. Some weeks all five get done, some times I go weeks before I get any done. Either way is fine by me. Quite a bit of progress from those first nine!

Last week I decided to throw some yellow into the mix. I felt like the blocks needed a bit of pop. I wasn't sure at first, but now I really like it. In truth, it now reflects one of my favourite fabrics ever, Motif Madness from Tsuru by Rashida Coleman Hale for Cloud 9. Hmm, I wonder if I could get my hands on more for the backing?

I'm at the point now where I am almost out of the options I've got in my stash for blocks. I am trying to make no two blocks alike. Not a perfect charm quilt, as some backgrounds may get used more than once, but as close as I can get. So now I am putting out a call for help.

Would any of you be willing to send me pairings of fabric for a block? Just a 5 1/2'' square for the background and a 5'' square for the appliqué. You could pick any combo you like, so long as we stick with the colours I've chosen:

- coral (not pink, not orange)
- blue
- teal (not turquoise or aqua or mint)
- grey.

I've got enough yellows to tackle those blocks.

I'm not picky about modern vs traditional fabrics, loving them all. But I do know that batiks are no good for the needle turn appliqué that I am doing.

If you are keen on sharing a bit of your fabrics with me, let me know and I will send you my mailing address. I would appreciate it so much! So would this quilt. It wants more variety, it keeps telling me that.
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Friday Favourites - Beaches

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After reading all your comments about beaches I started thinking about the beaches in my life. In the past year alone I've had the opportunity to hit all three coasts of Canada, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Not to mention a few lakes along the way. Most of these trips have been for teaching, so I am very thankful for quilting taking me so many places. Just had to share pics from all these beaches!


Lake Superior. Sleeping Giant in the distance.


Lake Edith. Camping with family and friends.


Three Valley Lake. On the way to Vancouver to teach with the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Modern Quilt Guilds.


Long Beach in British Columbia. Camping and surfing with the kids.


Pictou Lodge, on the Northumberland Straight. Morning walks before a day of teaching at the Mayflower Quilting Retreat.



Ixtapa, Mexico. Morning cartwheels with my girl on a great vacation with half of my in-laws.


Turks and Caicos, a private beach for the day. First vacation Hubby and I took (alone) since our honeymoon twelve years ago.


Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories. On the top of Canada. Technically I am indeed standing on the edge of the Arctic Ocean.


Hmm... no wonder I've had all the blues in my head lately...