Humility

Ok, humility is a quality I don't really have a problem with. I have very little of it, so, not a problem :0). Nope, the humility I'm talking about deals with the notion of the "humility" block. You know -- the block that is "not right" in a quilt that is supposed to show that the quilt maker is not perfect? (only Diety is perfect, etc. -- pick the name most appropriate to the way you worship) Um, yeah, that block. The one that is supposed to be "intentional". Ahem. Both Lisa and Nicole posted about a block like that recently and my only comment was -- who needs a humility BLOCK?!? I've got a humility QUILT.


Really. An entire humility quilt. In fact, the first one I ever made (at least the one I think of as the first quilt). I've commented to others (and maybe here -- I can't remember) that my first quilt is safely in my mother's protective custody where all first attempts at crafts belong. You know, the loving place where all is forgiven thanks to a mother's loving eyes (despite the fact that the same mother will mercilessly frog any knitting that doesn't pass muster and/or tell/encourage you to do it -- Hi MOM!). There were no pictures of my pathetic little quilt. This is a good thing. Then I had to help Mom buy a digital camera. Hmnn...yeah, well, there goes the no pictures thing.


So here it is, my first quilt. Not too bad in this shot. I mean, from six feet away on a galloping horse nothing wrong with it. It's bright, it's cheerful. The problem is when you get off that darned horse.


'Cause it's then that you notice a few things that MIGHT be "off" with this lovely. Such as, oh, I don't know -- um, those bear paws might want to have, um, POINTS?!?


Yeah, points would be nice -- though frankly, the points are easier to forgive than the mismatched seams. You mean, those seams were supposed to MEET?!? Welcome to the wonderful world of, yes, 1/4" seam allowances are MANDATORY -- not a suggestion. And yes, even if you think of them as a suggestion -- you really need to at least CONSISTENTLY screw them up adjust them.


Mom was kind of amazed when she took these photos for me to share -- she said she hadn't remembered it as being that bad (there's that Mom eyesight thing -- thank goodness for it) but that I have improved quite a bit. Um, yep. And that's the lovely thing -- after 6 years and who knows how many projects. I have gotten better. Much better. Good enough that I have a quilt hanging in a quilt shop as a sample. And my corners even match and everything. But the thing that hasn't changed is that I'm still having fun with it -- that this whole quilting thing has been a blast and a half, mismatched seams, pointless points and all.


And just so I don't get too cocky about my little shop sample -- um, while I may no longer make entire humility quilts -- I did just make a humility binding. (grumble, grumble) Instead of that lovely bias binding I mentioned -- I ended up making a continuous straight grain binding (or is it cross grain -- at this point, not sure it matters). In my own defense -- I probably shouldn't have been working on it at 1am after a particularly difficult night with my suddenly not wanting to go to bed 2 year old. (that's my story and I'm sticking to it -- had NOTHING to do with me just making a mistake)


So, another trip to the quilt shop (darn) and another yard of fabric. And maybe THIS week -- I'll get the binding made that I want! That is IF I can get my life back on track -- after two trips to the dentist (and the sore jaw both visits -- first from the hygienist, then from the cavity filling), new carpet installed in the computer room (and cleaning out the closet in that room because, hey, it all has to be put away anyway -- might as well do a deep clean), and a house that is screaming at me to CLEAN it and declutter it so I can find my sewing space again! (and this little rant paragraph is my way of saying -- sorry I haven' t been posting or commenting much, life has been keeping me from the computer) So -- back to the closet clean out and trying to get my life back together!