Knotty Thoughts....

While I was at the LQS (Local Quilt Store) today, we got into a conversation about my Knotty Thoughts quilt (the one pictured on my blog page) and how I came up with the name for it.  For those of you that know me well, I am a thinker...well too be more exact and honest I am an OVER thinker. It is certainly a blessing and a curse to be this way and I sometimes wonder if I have been this way my whole life or its something that I have perfected over time?  Guess I should consult with the mom on this question.  Anyhow, while I was in the process of making this particular quilt, I had a lot on my mind and I was thinking about how my thoughts get all knotted up sometimes and wallah!  The name of this quilt was born.
Getting back to the over thinking though...now that I have brought it up.  It makes me wonder if this is part of having a creative mind or do I border on insanity?   I have lately taken to carrying around a small spiral with me to jot down ideas that I come up with when I am in one of these over thinking modes. I don't want to forget the ideas and at my age that tends to happen.  I will admit that I have even called myself on the phone to leave myself a message about a great idea that I have had just so I don't lose the thought. Or I have woken up in the middle of the night and jotted down something that has come to me.  Do you think this is bordering on insanity,  is anyone else doing this?  I guess I have just been too embarrassed to ask.
I guess the creative over thinking part of me has been okay with this process because it has only had positive results - great ideas have blossomed from it and to me that can only be a good thing.  It is the negative part of the over thinking that I find challenging and I am working on trying to avoid.  Things like wondering if I shouldn't have said or did something or over analyzing what someone said to the point where I make myself crazy wondering what they really meant.  I am trying so hard to just let these things go and my mantra to myself has been "Don't worry it away".  I guess the "it" is my sanity?   I think that understanding my weakness is a good step in the right direction, and also realizing that even though this is a weakness it is also a strength because I garner so much creative thinking from it.  I guess in the long run I am saying that I am accepting this as one of my personality traits, one that I realize has good and bad aspects but I will continue to work on the bad because the good overcomes it.  And I think that those that truly understand me and love me will be able to overlook this attribute as well and see me for the wonderful person that I really am...my faults and all. :)  

Layer Cakes...

So I got the most beautiful Kashmir Layer Cake this week and I am just loving it and cannot wait to figure out what I am going to make with it.  For those of you that are not familiar with this term, Layer Cakes are 10 x 10 inch fabric squares that are usually from a specific fabric line from Moda.  You get about 42 squares in each Layer Cake.  Purchasing a Layer Cake gives you a more varied selection of the fabric line as many local quilt shops don't carry the entire fabric line.  I tend to gravitate towards scrappy quilts anyways and so the idea of using lots of fabrics appeals to me. So...now I just need to decide what project to do with it.  I would love it if I could get a few people to join me in a project so I will share my pattern once I have decided and maybe I can get a few more followers to join in. :) 
The Austin Quilt Show is coming up this weekend and I plan on being there!  I love to look at other peoples work and see what they have come up with as well as admire their piecing, applique and threadwork.  I am really looking forward to going and plan on taking photos as well.  Another great thing about these shows is that if you are in to Art Quilting as well you can pick up some really cool products at these shows.  The last show I went to I acquired some silk thread pods that are just incredible and really get my imagine going on things that I could do with them.  Art Quilting is another avenue of Quilting that I really enjoy because it really allows you complete liberty to be as creative as you would like with all types of varied media that some might not even think to use. I have learned how to recycle some really cool stuff that I never would have thought previously to use. Isn't imagination wonderful?   I really need to finish up my Under The Sea art quilt and get a picture posted as well.  I guess I just have my hands in so many projects at one time...but I think from the way all my fellow quilters speak this is pretty normal for us.
Well I hope everyone is enjoying their September, it is National Sewing Month after all!  I don't know about you but I am looking forward to the weekend and my extra quilting time.  Happy Quilting! 

You Tube as a resource.

There are so many free tutorials and just informational videos on You Tube that are free!  I have been watching tutorials this morning on Long Arm techniques and tips that are very helpful.  I am so glad that there are people in the quilting community that are willing to post these videos for free!  I was looking at some of the classes that are offered at the Houston International Quilt Festival this year and would just love to go but don't think its in the budget for me. All of the good classes start early in the morning which means that I would have to get a hotel room the night before (another added expense) unless I wanted to leave my house at like 4am to get there on time.  If I did that I would be so tired in class that I wouldn't be able to focus and learn. So, for now I guess I will continue to watch the tutorials and practice on my own machine and maybe think now about budgeting for next year to take some classes at the festival.  Hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday, let me know what you are working on too! :)

Short Vacation means lots of Quilting!

Having a short vacation means that I have extra time to focus on my quilting.  I don't want to get caught up in housework over this holiday but instead want to enjoy myself and spend some time quilting and designing.  Lazy days filled with plenty of starbucks, great music and a no hurry attitude.  Hope everyone else is planning to enjoy their holiday weekend as well!