Blog Post No. 7- Handiwork
I am the way I am because of Harriet the Spy. I am the way I am because my grandpa was a bluegrass musician. I am the way I am because when my first boyfriend's mom saw us kissing she went, "AHT AHT," like we were dogs peeing on the carpet. I was born with intuition and a desire to record things, listen to things, find the sensations of things. It's why the sensation of shame I was steeped in still feels so disruptive in my adult life.
My niece came over yesterday after therapy. She's 14 months old and speaking in her own language. I love to listen and try to interpret it. I know her versions of that, mama, papa, meow, and my personal favorite, cheese. I want to know how she'll see things. If she'll be like her mom, my sibling, and be brave and upfront and indendent, or more like me. Big eyes, small mouth, shy heart.
Before I had the really bad flare this week I was able to finish a big project. I'm a quilter too, because of the elderly woman in my childhood church who offered lessons to a small group of us when I was around 10, and it's such a corporeal escape for me. So much goes on inside my head. I'm an writing tutor and editor for my day job, my hobbies for the most part include words, eyeballs, and brain. So having something I have to do with these two hands helps balance things out.
This is an original pattern. Not the first one I've made, but the first one I've written a pattern for and shared with people (granted I've only sent it to my mom and grandma to pattern test it for me). I've actually added steps that make the process harder and more involved, just to give myself more physical time with the project. I quilt by hand using a PVC frame, needle and thread. I tack the binding down by hand too, the final step of the assembly. It makes everything so personal (almost too personal, I know for a fact there are strands of my hair sewn into the binding because I didn't get them out before tacking it down).
Now that this project is done I'm in the early stages of designing the next. This is one of the best parts for me-- getting a vision in my head and starting to break it down into geometric shapes and angles. I really can't wait to dig into it once I can stand for a couple hours to iron and cut the fabric. This is a two part project, half will be mailed to my friend H and the other will stay with me. Twins-- if you will wink wink.
xoxo char/trill
April 24th, 2025
My niece came over yesterday after therapy. She's 14 months old and speaking in her own language. I love to listen and try to interpret it. I know her versions of that, mama, papa, meow, and my personal favorite, cheese. I want to know how she'll see things. If she'll be like her mom, my sibling, and be brave and upfront and indendent, or more like me. Big eyes, small mouth, shy heart.
Before I had the really bad flare this week I was able to finish a big project. I'm a quilter too, because of the elderly woman in my childhood church who offered lessons to a small group of us when I was around 10, and it's such a corporeal escape for me. So much goes on inside my head. I'm an writing tutor and editor for my day job, my hobbies for the most part include words, eyeballs, and brain. So having something I have to do with these two hands helps balance things out.
This is an original pattern. Not the first one I've made, but the first one I've written a pattern for and shared with people (granted I've only sent it to my mom and grandma to pattern test it for me). I've actually added steps that make the process harder and more involved, just to give myself more physical time with the project. I quilt by hand using a PVC frame, needle and thread. I tack the binding down by hand too, the final step of the assembly. It makes everything so personal (almost too personal, I know for a fact there are strands of my hair sewn into the binding because I didn't get them out before tacking it down).
Now that this project is done I'm in the early stages of designing the next. This is one of the best parts for me-- getting a vision in my head and starting to break it down into geometric shapes and angles. I really can't wait to dig into it once I can stand for a couple hours to iron and cut the fabric. This is a two part project, half will be mailed to my friend H and the other will stay with me. Twins-- if you will wink wink.
xoxo char/trill
April 24th, 2025