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Category: autoimmune

On learning how to live in a different body

July 7, 2018Leave a comment

The thought of writing this post has been with me for a while. What made me finally write it, was a comment I saw in a support group for people who suffer from an autoimmune disease called Sjogren’s Syndrome. I’m a member of this group. I joined a few months after getting diagnosed (the path … Continue reading On learning how to live in a different body

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Here's a glimpse of spring from my design wall. I realized that my grid recently hasn't seen much color, but if been working on this project off an on for a few weeks now. It's one of those uplifting projects that help me recharge when life and the world seem frustrating. 🌸 This project combines some lovely flower prints (mostly Kaffe Fassett collective, I think) and a beautiful, harmonic geometric pattern found in Islamic art (BOU 014 : Les éléments de l'art arabe, Joules Bourgoin). 🌸 Swipe to see the slightly messy layout plan on my design wall and a screen shot of the geometric pattern. 🌸 #kaffecollective #islamicart #geometricart #designwall #quiltingismytherapy #flowerpower #patterninislamicart #showusyourmqg

With the first block for the #dcmqgblockchallenge being sent out yesterday, here is the last block from last year: Mod Z by Lori Miller. 🍃 I scaled the blocks down by 1 inch such that four combined would make a nice 20 inch squares piece, perfect for a pillow case. 🍃 #dcmqg #thirdthursdaychallenge #modzquiltblock

This is a dead chipmunk I came across today. As we are going through a particularly warm week in January here in Virginia, I'm reminded of what climate change is doing to animals and plants around the globe. Although a couple of warm days in winter are much less dramatic than the terrible will fires in Australia, this too is taking it's toll on ecosystems. Chipmunks typically hibernate in winter, but as winters get warmer some decide to stay active (perhaps because they have trouble down regulating their metabolism?). Unfortunately, chipmunks that stay active are much less likely to survive. This is just one of many examples of the challenges wild life faces due to climate change. We can only hope that (a) humanity is coming to it's senses and we start effectively battling climate change and (b) that nature finds ways to adapt extremely quickly. 🐿 Some more information can be found here: https://blog.nwf.org/2011/12/not-alvin-and-the-chipmunks-10-facts-about-the-real-rodents/ 🐿 #climatechange #chipmunk #arlingtonva

For the month of January our #dcmqgbeehive1 queen @emsta304 asked for blue and white Turn Style blocks. It's a cleverly constructed block with a stunning visual contrast and it looks great in blue and white. Unfortunately, it turns out that I don't have much blue in my stash... I hope these will still work for you, Emily! 💙 #dcmqgbee #dcmqg

Playing catch up with the #dcmqg third thursday challenge. This is Sparrow by Heather Black @quiltachusetts. I love birds, so this design had an easy way into my heart 🕊If I find time I'll try to make more of these! #dcmqgblockchallenge #thirdthursdaychallenge #sparrowblock

Here is my first ever hanging sleeve (an attachment used to hang quilts at shows). Thought I'd test it on my smallest quilt first. ➡️ Swipe to see my second one in progress. There I have to deal with an odd quilt shape... Given that it's taking me so long I wish I had started earlier, but there are a dozen other things I'd rather do. So time pressure had to increase first. 🤷‍♀️ #quiltsleeve #quiltcon2020 #verdigrisbreeze #verdigriscarnivalincairo

The last year passed quickly, but all in all it was a happy one. I feel grateful for many happy and some magical experiences, new and old friends, family and my partner. . . . It was only this year that I discovered modern quilting and the fabulous, inspiring community around this craft or art (the line between these is fuzzy and somewhat pointless IMO). In just one year quilting has become an incredibly important part of my life and a sure source of creativity and peace of mind. . . . Looking back at what I've created, there are a few finished and lots of started projects. The latter will lead me seamlessly into the new year! I wish all of you a fulfilled and peaceful new year. . . . The first image shows my personal top 9, the second image the "like-based" top 9. . . . #yearinreview #sewingismytherapy #creativehappylife #topnine2019

Today I had a chance to walk around the park in my home town that was on my mind when designing my "Golden Days" quilt. I was always attracted to the ornamental and luxurious Jungedstil designs. ✨In a direct comparison it's not obvious to me how this place inspired me, but I feel like it came from here. Something obvious that's missing is the fresh green of leaves -- I was thinking of golden summer days.🌱☀️ . . . The following text is what I wrote in my quiltcon submission: This quilt is a reflection of my love for "Jugendstil" design, which is closely associated with my home town, and lazy summer days. I tried to translate the joy of lying under a tree and looking at the sun through fresh leaves into a quilt using the ornamental yet architectural Jugendstil aesthetic. . . . ➡️Swipe to see some details of the quilt and a few more impressions from the "museum park". . . . #quiltinspiration #goldendaysquilt #verdigrisgoldendays #quiltcon #quiltcon2020 #dcmqg #darmstadt #mathildenhöhe #organicdiamondblock #finchmade

As mentioned earlier, @modernlymorgan 's Santa's Greeting block inspired me to experiment a bit with 1 inch strips. Inspired by @tigheflanagan and my love for geometry, I've been looking at design principles underlying the multitude of patterns in Islamic art and simple ways to construct them in a quilt design. There is a great website with hundreds of drawings of different patterns! . Indeed there are some that can be constructed quite easily on a hexagonal grid made from regular triangles. The design lines of the pattern can be inserted using a simple 1in strip insertion method. And you even get a "weaving effect" for free with this approach! . This small test set of blocks was made from solid in my stash and Kona Essex linen as background (it's actually a bit more violet than the photo suggests). . #patterninislamicart #strippiecedquilt #quiltinspiration #geometricart #geometricquilt #dcmqg

The days before Christmas are always very busy, so making my last block for #quiltmasspectacular took a while. The block was Snowy Night by @prowhousequilts It took me a while to decide how to place my fabric but I love the end product, which makes me think of a sunset in the forest. . It didn't help that I printed the paper piecing template at the wrong scale and only caught my mistake when the block was practically finished (top right). Now I get to make a pot holder that will match this holiday table runner. . For the table runner featuring all the Quiltmas blocks, I think I've finally settled on a layout (left side), though I might redo the #blitzenquiltblock with a quieter background. I really like this block on it's own but it doesn't play well with the others... I initially considered placing the blocks in a square (bottom right) but I think with my scrappy blocks this looks too busy. Besides, the shape seemed rather impractical. Now the only challenge left is to decide on which fabrics to use for the sashing. Maybe echo the color gradient layed out by the blocks? . #quiltmasspectacular #snowynightquilt #adventsewing #verdigrisquiltmas #foundationpaperpiecing

For the twelfth and final day of #quiltmasspectacular, Anna from @waxandwanestudio gave us this fun and quirky block called Wanderstar. What a cute little creature and a perfect finale for Quiltmas. . If you are following closely you may have noticed that I skipped a block. I'm planning to finish that one tonight and a family photo of all finished blocks will be coming up shortly. . . . #wanderstarblock #wanderstarquiltblock #verdigrisquiltmas #adventsewing

Another bit of advent sewing. The last week was turbulent, so making this block was a little delayed, but these were fun and easy to make! It's called "Deck the halls" and was designed by @cottonandjoy. . . . #quiltmasspectacular #deckthehallsblock #adventsewing #verdigrisquiltmas

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Here's a glimpse of spring from my design wall. I realized that my grid recently hasn't seen much color, but if been working on this project off an on for a few weeks now. It's one of those uplifting projects that help me recharge when life and the world seem frustrating. 🌸 This project combines some lovely flower prints (mostly Kaffe Fassett collective, I think) and a beautiful, harmonic geometric pattern found in Islamic art (BOU 014 : Les éléments de l'art arabe, Joules Bourgoin). 🌸 Swipe to see the slightly messy layout plan on my design wall and a screen shot of the geometric pattern. 🌸 #kaffecollective #islamicart #geometricart #designwall #quiltingismytherapy #flowerpower #patterninislamicart #showusyourmqg

With the first block for the #dcmqgblockchallenge being sent out yesterday, here is the last block from last year: Mod Z by Lori Miller. 🍃 I scaled the blocks down by 1 inch such that four combined would make a nice 20 inch squares piece, perfect for a pillow case. 🍃 #dcmqg #thirdthursdaychallenge #modzquiltblock

This is a dead chipmunk I came across today. As we are going through a particularly warm week in January here in Virginia, I'm reminded of what climate change is doing to animals and plants around the globe. Although a couple of warm days in winter are much less dramatic than the terrible will fires in Australia, this too is taking it's toll on ecosystems. Chipmunks typically hibernate in winter, but as winters get warmer some decide to stay active (perhaps because they have trouble down regulating their metabolism?). Unfortunately, chipmunks that stay active are much less likely to survive. This is just one of many examples of the challenges wild life faces due to climate change. We can only hope that (a) humanity is coming to it's senses and we start effectively battling climate change and (b) that nature finds ways to adapt extremely quickly. 🐿 Some more information can be found here: https://blog.nwf.org/2011/12/not-alvin-and-the-chipmunks-10-facts-about-the-real-rodents/ 🐿 #climatechange #chipmunk #arlingtonva

For the month of January our #dcmqgbeehive1 queen @emsta304 asked for blue and white Turn Style blocks. It's a cleverly constructed block with a stunning visual contrast and it looks great in blue and white. Unfortunately, it turns out that I don't have much blue in my stash... I hope these will still work for you, Emily! 💙 #dcmqgbee #dcmqg

Playing catch up with the #dcmqg third thursday challenge. This is Sparrow by Heather Black @quiltachusetts. I love birds, so this design had an easy way into my heart 🕊If I find time I'll try to make more of these! #dcmqgblockchallenge #thirdthursdaychallenge #sparrowblock

Here is my first ever hanging sleeve (an attachment used to hang quilts at shows). Thought I'd test it on my smallest quilt first. ➡️ Swipe to see my second one in progress. There I have to deal with an odd quilt shape... Given that it's taking me so long I wish I had started earlier, but there are a dozen other things I'd rather do. So time pressure had to increase first. 🤷‍♀️ #quiltsleeve #quiltcon2020 #verdigrisbreeze #verdigriscarnivalincairo