Hello,
Time flies by and I realise I haven’t sent any newsletters in a few weeks. After two months focused on a commission at the start of the year, I have moved onto looking at all of my half finished quilt tops, piles of fabric that need a project and trying to get my studio organised.
As mentioned in previous newsletters I have boxes and bags of off-cuts that I have held on to. This spring I decided to tackle the hoard. Most offcuts get worked into eye pillows, but some (a lot) I keep for quilt tops. Above are off-cuts from my stockings - you might remember me using the cream ones for my Pinwheel Quilt. I have wanted to make a patchwork quilt that makes your eyes go funny for a while, and I think this one is coming together. I really hated it to start with, but I gave it the weekend, took photos for different perspectives and now I think it’s coming together. The blue block above it was my attempt at a waves block which uses another stocking off-cut, the blocks above that are my first ever patchwork attempts from 2012.
A separate little project I have been working on is a couple of blocks for a quilt for Palestine. This has been set up by Sydney Shadeck-Triola (@sydney.makes on instagram) and will be made of patchwork blocks of 100 squares to symbolise the 30,000 killed (now standing at 32,400) in Gaza by Israel. Here are my 2 contributions to the piece. Go have a look at her account to see some of the other blocks - it’s going to be a beautiful tribute to those who should still be with us. Free Palestine.
Incase this all looks very productive I wanted to mention my current inner voice of negativity. It’s been hanging around for months and nothing sums it up better than this little strip of Hayao Miyazaki at work, it’s made me laugh a lot.
I have realised since it’s been hanging around that I need to stop listening and carry on, or when I can to just take some time away. Go stand in the garden. Have another tea. I haven’t really dealt with this much since starting to quilt - and that isn’t to say that I always love what I make, but I’ve had trust in myself that if it goes wrong, who cares! No one needs to see the mistakes if I don’t feel like sharing and half the time I learn something new. So, if you have been here, I feel you. Keep going.
Lucy x
Just so you know, I started and finished(!) my first ever quilt because I’ve been inspired by Tuck It In for so long now. Hope that nugget gives you a boost!
Oh I am a such a fan of Mr. Miyazaki. I love the photos you shared and laughed at the comparison of creative process- I think many of us share this but to see it in one of my heroes, is such a joy. Thank you for sharing.