a lesson and an excercise

Remember this post? 

Well, things haven't worked out as I had hoped.

This is both an exercise in futility and a lesson in humility. How very poetic!

I had my strips cut and sewn into panels. All in the right order.

Then it was time to cut angled strips.

After happily zipping along, I discovered I had cut min on 60 degrees instead of 45 degrees.

Well, I have more fabric, I will just remake those mis-cut sets. 

I start sewing the angled strips together and the points just will not meet.

Guess whose 1/4" seams were off? Yup, mine.

 My mis-sewn and mis-cut strips. 

No worries, these will make an awesome contemporary quilt!

Well, I know a couple of my classmates read this blog, as does my delightful teacher!

And I know I will not be happy with it if I just try to "make it work".

So, I recut my strips, and I am going to make new panels.

I said I would share the process on this project, so here I am keeping it real!

I am first checking my 1/4" seam and adjusting if necessary. And I am using my large quilters square with the well-marked 45 degree angle.

And I am beginning anew.

depleted....

my sweet Pepper gets tired too!

...burned out, washed up, overextended, pooped, sapped, run ragged, fatigued.

Get it?

Well it has me. And so I must take a break. Not that blogging really requires a lot of high-maintenance, but I need to try and rebalance so I can spend more time doing what I want to do, instead of tending to others. Maybe now is just the time I am supposed to be taking care of others? Don't know, I just know that it is frustrating to have an 8-to-5 job, commute, ill hubby and MIL, family commitments, etc, and make time for my passion. So, now, for a little while, the passion has to take the back seat. But I know that situations change and time passes, so I will be able to jump back on in a little while.

Fear not! I am sketching during this time and doing much reflection. I hope to blog next the answer to this burning question:

What kind of quilter am I?

Stayed tuned, gentle readers!

Pardon me while I whine a bit*

*yet another non-quilting-related post, but I am homeless and the househunting is getting to me.

We spent another Sunday afternoon with our realtor looking for a home. Got in 5 houses, drove by a 6th. The 5th and final was the one I want. It was empty and bank-owned. So we prepare paperwork and are now at the mercy of the parties on the other end.

Of the other 4, 2 showed well, they were clean, uncluttered and smelled good. They just were not what we are looking for. The other 2? Sellers: there is a reason why your houses haven't sold yet. Have you heard of CLEANING? And DECLUTTERING? One of the houses was a For Sale By Owner. Hello? Can you please clear us a path? How can your house make a good impression if I can not see it because of the piles of stuff and boxes of belongings and basements packed full?

I told hubby that we are seriously purging AGAIN as we unpack. All these homes full of crap have made me feel so claustrophobic. I know we do not need to hang onto all this stuff.

I am beyond frustrated in this process. I am now actively looking for a decent rental. Let the market settle. Bank some more cash. Set up my sewing space and get back to that.