Fractured Finished (2)

In my last post, I wrote about working on a quilt I called Fractured. Well, IT IS FINISHED! As I'm writing this, it is in the washing machine. I finished hand stitching the binding last night. First, let me show you all the "help" I had while stitching that binding. 

What is it about quilts that cats like SO much? Every time I took a break from working on it, I had to shoo a cat off of it!

I took the quilt (minus the binding) outside to take a photo, so here is the "finished" quilt.

I fretted about the quilting (even though I knew it wouldn't show too much), and decided upon script--making it a diary entry of sorts. It tells a short story of the quilt and these times. I explain in the quilting that the three Xs in the quilt represent loss for me--Nate (my husband), my Dad, and my stepmother. I lost Dad in 2018, Helen (my stepmother) about two months later, Nate was diagnosed with cancer in the fall of 2018, he died in June of 2019. I remember thinking (at the end of each year) that the next year would HAVE to be better. Then, a global pandemic hit! I felt broken, but kept in mind that a fracture can mend--it takes time, but it WILL mend. 

Here are a couple of closeups of the quilting. You can read it if you look closely. 

When I wrote about the pandemic, I thought it would be pertinent for me to include some statistics about the virus. The quilting contains COVID statistics--globally, United States, Indiana, and Dubois County--on the day the quilt was quilted. 

It scares me a little bit to put this out there, but SURELY 2021 will be better! 

Working on "Fractured" (1)

I've been busy working on my "Fractured" quilt--making block after block. As Kathy suggested when she commented on this blog post, "Make lots and lots and then make some more." Well, I have done that. In the last week or so, I have made approximately 75 blocks. I haven't yet decided what size I'm going to make the piece, but I wanted to have a variety of blocks from which to choose. I MAY end up using all of them (and maybe more) in this quilt--or not. I'm sure I'll find a use for any leftover blocks I might have. I'm leaning towards tall and skinny (but not TOO skinny). Right now, I'm playing with the pieces on my design wall. This particular wall isn't wide enough for me to put up all the horizontal or vertical blocks, but this gives me a good idea of what it will look like. The blank spots in this picture are blocks I'm currently working on.

My upstairs studio is jam packed with bright scrappy strips of fabric. I'm really drawn to the chaotic combination of colors. Maybe because I feel the chaos in my own life with this pandemic and all. 

I have also finished a couple of little wool projects--a little scissors keeper and a needle case.

This is the outside of the folded case.

This is the inside of the case with it open.

I think I'll make good use of both of these. I have a wool pin cushion yet to make. Hopefully, it won't take me too long to get to that.

I had a nice porch visit with a friend of mine from Louisville. Part of the time, when Nate was in the hospital, I stayed with her and her husband. Since her visit was close to my birthday, she  brought me a journal she made. Isn't it beautiful? I think I'll use it to keep notes and ideas from my Textile Artists Stitch Club workshops.

I will update you, again, when "Fractured" is further along. Now, back to work!