There is currently a discussion on my favorite HSing mailing list to basically evangelize our communities for HSing. Well, I honestly believe that the only way HSing will be successful is when the parent believes it is the best educational option for their child, and if they aren't convinced of that it won't work. So I guess I'm a renegade.
Although to be honest, some families do HS so their children can have a life -- my 13YO spends 10 hours a week at the gym taking classes judo, tae kwan do, gymnastics, speed and agility training, and/or weight training, and he would never be able to do that if he was in school until 3 and then had to come home and do homework for 3 hours a day.
The trouble is, I don't know when I am ever going to finish this (hopefully before she graduates LOL -- she's a first-semester freshman right now) and I just didn't feel like I wanted to post there because of that. And I follow here lots more than I look there, so I figured I would post where I participate.
Oh, you are so thoughtful to suggest that, but seriously, I want to do it myself. After all, I did buy that package of fat quarters for half the price I could find anywhere else that they are the perfect colors for her. And not only that, but I think it would mean more to her, since she is my more precious gem, my one and only daughter who understands how hectic my life is, if I did it all myself, because she would appreciate what it took for me to do it myself. (And I am *not* saying it because this particular child's first sentence was, "do by self," LOL, but rather because I don't think it would mean as much to her if a bunch of people she didn't know made the blocks than it will if her mom made the whole thing.)
Besides, she deserves *my* best. Let me explain -- My [now prodigal] husband used to come up with original, handmade Valentines every year, whether it was a drawing -- the first year when we were just friends, it was a drawing of Yosemite Sam with both guns aiming out and saying, "Be my Valentine, Melinda, or I'll blast ye!" to one year he made booklet with a half-dozen crossword/word search/word scrambled/etc. puzzles, and the year he was taking electronics courses when he made me an electronic Valentine's schematic with Valentine's expressions that were all electronics terminology puns, etc., and the year we were about to turn into a nuclear family explosion, even though he said he was trying to work on our problems I didn't get an original Valentine, and it wasn't the fact that it wasn't handmade as much as it was the expression (or lack of), feeling (or lack of), or whatever you want to call it that it was given with that spoke volumes. (and it was the first time in 20 years that he hadn't done this)
Anyway, I don't want her to think that now that she is away from school that I have written her off and she doesn't mean as much to me as she did when she was here. I hope that makes sense and that you aren't upset/offended/whatever by my saying, "thanks for the thought, but I dont' think it will work."
I am going to try to get organized and make myself do at least half of block a week (the 7 x 12 inch block is divided into one large and two smaller parts), which I will have plenty of time to do on Sundays between church services now that I'm not on call on the weekends any more, and at that rate it will take me (checking on spreadsheet where I have fabric requirements and such all charted out) and it's going to take 32 blocks. And if I tell myself I am going to do half a block a week, it should be easier to do more. The biggest obstacle will be finding a place to permanently leave the sewing machine out so I can work on it easily. And maybe I could interest my sons in helping with some of it at times (they both sew), and to be that would be acceptable, because it's still coming from her family who knows her, warts and all, and still loves her. Does that make sense?
Hi, This is my first time coming to this group and I wanted to say that that quilt looks like a wonderful project, and unique. I have always thought of my grandmother as someone who would be considered a "quilter". She always had a quilt going. She would no sooner finish one then start another. She bought fabric scraps by the bag at Factory Mill Stores back in the 1950's and 1960's. Once in a while her friends would gather at her home for a quilting bee where all the ladies would sit around a frame and work on finishing a quilt. All of her quilts were stitched by hand, at least for the putting top and bottom together. She made all kinds of qults, some blocks, some applique, some traditional patterns like the Wedding Band pattern. She made two for each of her grandchildren for wedding gifts, she has 9 grandchildren. I still have two of her quilts from the 1960's. They have faded a bit but still in one piece. I rarely use them now though, but I keep them in case and for sentimental value.
The hand stitching is so tiny I am amazed by it. She never sold a quilt or put one on display but everyone knew her as a qulter. I have only made about 3 quilts myself. But a wrist injury prevents me from doing all that fine hand stitching. I did try a Cathedral Window quilt and got it to about a size 5x4 ft. when I threw in the towel with the hand stitching. Still it makes a nice addition to my sewing room. Now I make round quilts by machine which are lap quilts or wall hangings. They are much easier and still satisfying.
I wouldn't worry about getting the quilt done "on time". They last forever and the memory lasts even longer. Best of luck with it.
Melinda, that makes perfect sense to me, although I had thought you might ask for help on some of the blocks and had already checked some of my stash, too. Emily
and Mel> Oh, you are so thoughtful to suggest that, but seriously, I want to do
Geeze louise! "Just say no!" :)
...Sundays
You got rid of one big impediment, sounds like, so use DH's former space for the SM.
I like the idea of brothers helping make it. And having done lots of deadline-based projects, try picking her b-day or Xmas or Sal Mineo's b-day later this year or next, and get it done by then. Depending on your climate, she might not want it for spring break.
Note that major sewing projects for warm stuff tend to take a vacation in the summertime. Also note that a kid who's just gone off to college is likely well aware that the family hasn't written her off.
HTH
--Karen M. who has a woven afghan with a book motif
I know this is an "un-quilty" thing to say....... But is there any reason us non-quilters couldn't just applique the books on a black background with "picture frame" strips for the bookcase??
Um, yeah, but it's been a zoo around here this week, and I don't have the black fabric for the back of the shelves yet. Don't have the fat quarters prewashed yet. That's all on the schedule for this weekend, except that I think I'm going to order the fabric from fabric.com
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