The time I have been off line served its purpose for rest and feeding the soul. I cleaned and slept, I mowed and wrote, I dreamed and logged what memories like that can hold on paper. For my soul's sake I wish you a belated Easter and hope you did a little rain dance in your heart. The moisture does us all good.
Formalities aside I started back in on templates. After the five hour stint with the house templates, I was primed to move ahead and plow through the remained of my hearts longing. I've been working on poster board so the template will hold up longer compared the the colored construction paper I have been using. Besides now I can work larger without having to spend drafting time on the computer then racing off to Staples when the budget has an opening. This way I can work direct and have my hands learn the shapes over and over and over again till forming the structure on the third step is not disturbing. I've got at least five more templates to make and it seems I'm building three variations on a theme.
The reindeer are above and below, some doll like others akin to ornaments. I'm hoping to have a bit of a bevy come craft sales in the fall. These are the first off the template table. Changes noted and I'm looking forward to the handwork. It seems I've temporarily given up the machine. I feel closer to the work, more than ever. Still it is the same type of intimacy I engender with the collage works. Handwork for all the quilts now. Kantha traditions have won me over. I've flipped to the point of choosing hand quilting over machine for the quilting 101 class I'm taking. It is one thing to be head strong proud about be self taught, it is another to humble yourself to admit to unknown functional mistakes and changing to improve your skill sets and the work. I didn't think I would, but trangely enough, I am learning a lot. I'm integrating the new skills into everything and better than that I like the results.
Other projects behind the scenes amount to quilting and wall-hangings. I'm proud of myself for getting closer on completing my unquilted stash of projects. I even got one on the long arm right now. I hope to have it of the rack next week. Seeing completed work astounds me. Especially considering I've moved emotionally though so many stages with the work and my eyes are seeing differently these days. Maturity maybe? Sher fear of leaving a large amount of unfinished work when I die. Mozart and Beethoven are encouragements, not emulations.