My daughter's birthday, my midlife mini crisis (aka 48th birthday), Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years are behind me, done - done well. I am stopping for five minutes to pat myself on the back for getting an 'A' on the mom, wife, and friend report card (don't mean to brag - but I feel good about it all). Now I can turn my attention to my long lost sewing room.
I locked myself out of the room because it had distracted me from my real job (wife, mom, transportation provider, cook, cleaner, laundress, fun facilitator and lastly my real project list: The bathroom where the wall paper was stripped two years ago and remains primed but not painted, the mail box with the broken door, oh and the dog run - needed before the rainy season . . . and most importantly: potty training my toddler!
My self exile was allowed a one-evening reprieve when I realized I was four blocks behind in my block of the month quilt group and the meeting was scheduled for the next day. It was during this evening sew that I had an ah-ha moment of self realization. I DON'T ENJOY BEING A PASSENGER!
You may wonder what quilting and driving have to do with each other. I can now explain or exclaim: A LOT - that is for a recovering control freak. You see whenever my husband drives I am always looking for the passenger side break lever. I never wear glasses for fear of an airbag deployment and we do much better if I deposit a Xanax deep into my blood stream before venturing out of the drive way.
While the block of the month club did not require Xanax, it was always a struggle for me. And I finally figured out why. I don't like the rules, squares, corners, and precision seemingly required. I don't like someone else choosing the route. While I was able to wear my glasses - and I wasn't white knuckled, I felt something was wrong in the pit of my stomach. So I redesigned the last three blocks and felt totally exhilarated. I have one more block to do. I think I am going to try one of Barbara's spirals. It is a perfect way to end last year and begin this year. With the desire and (a little more) confidence to be true to my own likes and dislikes.
I've attached some pictures of my sewing room. If you look at the second picture closely, you will see under the magazines and small ironing board - yes my class project. I am so glad I waited to finish this project. I feel ready to try the technique Barbara taught us with one I just saw on Quilting Arts TV.
Any way, how are you guys doing with your projects? How about an update?
