Wednesday, February 08, 2012

My New Normal

I used to get a lot more done. I didn't have anywhere to go but my studio. But lately I have been gone at least three days a week, and when I get back home I am nowhere near ready to be creative, as the stuff I used to do, didn't get done and so I am always behind.
I am really happy to be doing the jazzercize and knitting and lunching with my sister...it's all so good for my well being, and having girlfriends again is fantastic.
So here we are in the beginning of Quilt Along With Melody and I feel like I should call it  Creeping -Along, Waiting for Melody, making two teeny pieces in a week instead of one every other day, which would have been my old routine. Add to that the bleakness that usually is February...well, SE Tennessee didn't get the memo and it is just so lovely and mild here, that I spend more time looking out the window and walking around the yard with the dawgs...O fooey. My bleeding hearts  have sprouted, the daffodils are blooming and the fish are floating in the not-sludgy pond for all to see. We have so many!
And Dave, the darling husband has been painting my studio woodwork, off and on, and all the ladders and paint supplies are in the way, visually distracting as well enticing to the dawgs (who bark to go out and bark again to come in, six times an hour) and I just haven't  had much in the way of quiet concentration time.
Surely there must be a way around this dilemma.
This must all sound so familiar to you.
 I am going to ask Dave if he can come back to the painting in March. Which only means that he will be playing his guitars and ukelele at 11, since he likes it loud, and I will be looking for earplugs.
Sigh.

O, wait, one more thing. Today for knitting, I wanted to wear a sweater that coordinates with a pair of pants that I haven't worn since 2007 when they fit me, but today I pulled them on and they fit. Yay! That is one thing that is working in a timely fashion...my diet.

I felt so good that I bought a tube of mascara.

22 comments:

  1. I'd be outside soaking it all in too. Much more winter to be had here in Minnesota...although not much snow this year....hopefully, I didn't just jinx us. The thought of buds and spring flowers blooming gets me all excited about my gardens! Thank you for all your visual inspiration, Melody! I look forward to our next project....and in the meantime, I'll be playing here at home filling my studio with color, color, color!

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  2. Anonymous5:14 PM

    I am glad you are slowing down a bit! I'd like to work on some of your ideas but have some other things going on this week (like digging out my studio!) Good to have friends...I am in a place where I don't have any. Enjoy!

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  3. It is all good. Enjoy it.

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  4. I was so looking forward to QAWM. Got all my stuff fused and ready to go. Then the allure of this weird spring like winter we're having up here in Canada got to me and I went skating.
    And broke my darn hand.
    So if QAWM stretches into March, it's okay. I might be able to sew by then.

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  5. I am not upset by the delay. I am running behind also. I have been in a class for work all week and it is "wearing me out." I have fused some green hand dyes for the ferns but I haven't cut them out yet. I hope that is all we were supposed to do so far. If we were supposed to make the quilt already, let me know! Yikes!

    And I hope you mean those fish are swimming..because when fishes float they usually start to smell bad soon afterwards.

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  6. i just got to JoAnn for the fabric and WU today! The batting won't be here untill next week! I spent some time cutting out ferns from paper...does that count? Take your time and enjoy the beautiful landscape.

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  7. Anonymous10:00 PM

    Glad to hear you're human! I know you don't need my opinion, but please enjoy it all. We, your fans and students, will gladly wait for whatever you do. I'm jealous that you have flowers blooming--we're finally getting some real winter temps again.
    Sounds like your dawgs have you trained well. I served my cats for years... tee hee
    ~Jillian in North Dakota

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  8. Glad you are enjoying life! You share so much, good for you for getting out there a few days a week.
    You are such an inspiration. Thank you!!

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  9. I don't think there are many of us that could keep up with a project every other day. So we will creep right along with you.

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  10. Anonymous12:25 AM

    Dear Melody, You don't have to be super-productive to be loved. We read the blog because we enjoy reading about your life. Sure, we love to see the fruits of your creativity but we don't think any the less of you if they come more slowly these days, in fact we're glad you're taking time to enjoy life.

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  11. Ditto ditto and ditto! Especially Lisa's comment - if you were completing a project every other day, I would be completely overwhelmed and discouraged! I like a little slower pace - it fits in with my goal this year of enjoying and savoring the process, not just being a quilt factory!

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  12. Yes to what all the other commenters said! I got as far as fusing some fabrics and cutting them into little pieces. Oh, and I cut out a piece of batting. Then I stared at all of it, and thought, 'How the heck does she get that done so fast?'

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  13. Actually I'm glad you're going slow. Maybe I can hurry up with my other stuff and then catch up. lol

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  14. I totally understand. Since I moved to Las Vegas and "officially" started retirement I've been so busy with new friends and new classes and fun lunches and casinoes and bowling and bocce ball, etc. I've done nothing creative and really missed it. But...your recent posts spurred me on to dye some fabric the last two days and to dream about what i'm going to do with it. And, I will have time to fit it in because I'm so excited again to have a project! Just do what you enjoy and know that you're always inspiring!

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  15. I agree with a another, enjoy it! It is the time to get out especially if spring is coming there. We will be buried under snow until April or May.
    However, it is sparkly sunny today and Gord and I are just heading out on the snowshoes. This is good!

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  16. Every body need a rest in your life, you too, in my country we tell "respira ondo, descansa, mira las cosas con nuevos ojos y vuelve a coger alas" Regards from Spain

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  17. So far, so good. I am now at the point of adding the batting and backing. Everything went smoothly and I am very, very pleased. Then...my husband started rewiring the house for a security system. Take your time.

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  18. Mascara. The universal reward.

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  19. Anonymous7:27 AM

    I cannot even keep up with your new pace...!

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  20. Ditto, my goal was to complete just one small piece this month - we'll see if I make it. In the meantime - is there a QUAM link for pics to ooh and ah over?

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  21. Oh boy, do I ever know what you mean! When I have to get out of the house, I cannot seem to get back into a creative mode when I get back home. It's neat that you have friends again though!
    D~~~~

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  22. Don't beat yourself up. Just enjoy all you are doing. When we moved to CT I said I wasn't going to commit to too much. Now here I am a member of the Windhan Art Council, the garden club (plus being a board member), a camera club and a once a month artists networking lunch. And I volunteer once a week at the food co-op. I'm creating art and entering every art show I can find. No, we might not have as much energy as we used to, but we are wisher now!

    Enjoy the moment!

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Hello,
So nice of you to drop by. I love your comments, and if you would really like a reply, please email me at fibermania at g mail dot com