Have you ever heard the comedians who can run through an entire Shakespeare play in about 2 minutes? That is what the past couple of weeks have been like for me...yesterday I spent a couple of hours just chilling by the river. It helped!
Just before I left for Scotland I learned my niece's apartment in the states had burned down. She and my (gulp)
great-nephew were ok but shaken up. It is the helpless feeling you get living so far from family that makes you realize it may be time to go home. They lost everything. So I did what I could - pack a box, write a check and quickly start quilting. Today I have to put the binding on his new quilt so I can get it into the mail before the weekend. I'm also sending him this stippy star quilt that a made a couple years ago and Bonnie quilted. I think they need some brights right now.As I am working on the second quilt I have been thinking of how stress helps or hurts creativity. For writing deadlines and stress help me...for quilting they paralyze me! Maybe it is because I look at it as a hobby or something to spend time enjoying the process...like the 3 hours I spent pulling fabrics in my sewing room! Oh well...the quilt will be finished soon and if it isn't my best it is still a fun quilt and I am sure the little guy will like it.
My eyes are getting better but the slightest thing wears me out. I went to see a medieval dovecote yesterday and have lunch with friends. That was it. (Two hours of entertainment equals 6 hours of sleep.)The dovecote was part of a settlement of Knight of the hostelers (spelling?) The area was pretty much self sufficient with the dovecote to provide dove meat and eggs, a fish pool that come off the river Coln, and lots of fruit trees. The second photo shows the inside of the dovecote. There is a lot of light and an incredible ladder that swings
around the center pole! Amazing engineering! (love to have that in a library!) The holes for the doves are sort of J shaped and alternate directions of the loop by level. There have been several archaeological excavations on the site but few of the original building survived. It is all on private land but a local anglo- american group arranged a visit. The main gate also still stands and has this wonderful carving above it.
That's awfully sweet of you to send that gorgeous quilt - I'm sure they'll love it. ooh, pretty dovecote - that would be cool as a library. deadlines and "have to's" (even if they're self-imposed)definitely do horrible things to my quilting and creativity. yuck.
ReplyDeleteWhat am amazing place. Where is it? It's great to know that there are still places like that in private ownership and kept private.
ReplyDeleteGlad your eyes are slowly getting better. I can't think of anything worse for a quilter.
Take care.
I'm so sorry to hear of your niece's tragedy. Thank heavens that she and her son were not harmed physically. They will be in my thoughts and prayers. Hopefully dear family -- such as yourself -- and friends will pull together and get her back on her feet again.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely pics...and interesting history! Thanks for sharing!
How horrible! Material things such as beds, chairs and TVs can be replaced but things that have been made with love and photos are irriplaceable so your new quilts will show them that they are loved and special people.
ReplyDeleteSooo glad your niece and her son are both safe. Fire is such a scary thing. I know they will love the quilt and appreciate you all the more for thinking of them. The dovecote is fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing the details. Did you happen to notice the date it was built?
ReplyDeleteI am sure your quilts will be a comfort to your neice and nephew. They will be covered by your love when ever they use them. Thanks for the photos of the dovecote. Interesting!
ReplyDeleteA home fire! Scary!! I'm so glad you could help out immediately, as much as you can from far away. I'm sure they'll appreciate it a lot. Stress and deadlines paralyze my quilting, too. It is supposed to be creative and fun.. which can't be forced.
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